Dr. Shin Seonhan: The Doctor Who Sees The Future [EN]: Chapter 184

#184 Taking a Step Forward (7)

The day I became the intern representative, Yonkuk University Hospital was practically draped in celebratory banners.

“Dad, you really don’t need to come.”

“Please, don’t do that.”

I vehemently dissuaded my excited family and hung up the phone.

Even though I said that, I was actually quite bewildered myself.

It still didn’t feel real. Me, receiving an award as the intern representative.

“Wow~ You’re not even from Yonkuk University, yet you’ve boldly planted your flag as the intern representative. A true victory for humanity, a victory for humanity!”

Geun-wook congratulated me as if he were even more moved than I was.

“Sun-han oppa [older brother or male friend], congratulations! It’s the first time an intern from another university has received the Intern of the Year award!”

Yeon-seo smiled and rejoiced like an excited puppy.

“I knew you would get it. Who else among us would receive an award if not you?”

So-dam smiled calmly as usual.

Although their styles were different, I could feel that they were all genuinely happy for me, as if it were their own accomplishment.

Amidst the crowd of people, I walked stiffly towards the stage.

This video would probably be broadcast live on the hospital’s intranet.

“Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

Vice President Professor Ham Gyeong-il handed me a glass plaque.

Professor Ham Gyeong-il’s hand, which shook mine, was thick and warm.

“Alright, everyone, smile~ This photo will remain on the Yonkuk University Hospital website forever, so make sure you look good!”

Click, click!

The head of the public relations team snapped photos of me right next to the professor.

This feeling is awkward no matter how many times I experience it.

“We should have a meal sometime.”

“Yes, Professor.”

With a warm smile, the professor said that and moved on to the next award recipient.

‘Wow… I’m standing in this spot….’

I remembered when I first came to this hospital.

I felt like I had drifted ashore from a shipwrecked boat.

Since I had no alma mater to return to, I had to work hard to adapt to the new environment.

And now.

The feeling of being the most noticed person in the hospital wasn’t so bad.

My vision was blurred by the lights coming from the ceiling, but I could vaguely see people holding up their phones and taking pictures from various seats in the auditorium behind me.

—Professor of the Year: Eom Seo-yong

—Resident of the Year: Kim Eun-seong

—Nurse of the Year: Im Jeong-hyeon

—Intern of the Year: Shin Sun-han

The sound of applause echoed through the auditorium.

I took a few more pictures and came down from the stage, and I saw a familiar face.

Ryoo Myung-in.

‘What is he doing here?’

As I stared at him in bewilderment, he walked up to me with a face as white as wax and said abruptly.

“I’ve never had someone take first place from me before.”

“Is that so?”

“I’ll concede this time. I’ll take first place on the specialist exam when I finish my residency in four years.”

As he said that, he suddenly held out something.

A small bouquet of flowers.

…I really can’t figure this guy out.

“…Did you buy these flowers yourself?”

“I bought a bouquet of flowers in advance to give to myself. I was going to ask you to deliver the bouquet to me, hyung [older brother or male friend]….”

Typical Ryoo Myung-in.

Still, he’s a smart guy.

He knows he doesn’t have any friends who would buy him flowers.

“Okay, thanks anyway. Let’s take a picture together.”

“No thanks. What kind of picture does a loser take? Let’s see what happens in four years.”

After saying that, he turned his back and disappeared.

He’s really a unique guy.

I chuckled at the thought, and then I saw some welcome faces in the crowd.

“Oh? Doctors!”

Ma Dong-seop and Song Yoo-joo.

The two of them came and handed me a second bouquet of flowers.

They must be among the busiest people at Yonkuk University Hospital, yet they came all the way here….

“Congratulations.”

“Thank you. You must both be busy….”

“How could we just let it pass? The Department of Thoracic Surgery has had something to be proud of since before the New Year.”

.

My heart fluttered at Ma Dong-seop’s words.

It’s good to belong somewhere….

I felt good that I was already being considered one of their own.

When spring comes, I will officially become a thoracic surgeon.

“Come to think of it, Yoo-joo, you were also the Intern of the Year, right? How does it feel to have someone who looks just like you as your successor?”

“Looks like me, my foot.”

Song Yoo-joo had a sullen expression.

It was obvious that Ma Dong-seop had forced her to come.

“Hey, don’t be so blunt, say something. He’s our family now!”

At Ma Dong-seop’s prompting, Song Yoo-joo said one thing to me.

“Hey, welcome to the Department of Thoracic Surgery.”

“Thank you.”

“Do well.”

I smiled and said confidently.

“I will.”

A new beginning is always exciting.

For some reason, I felt like everything would work out.

January, when snow piled up outside the window.

I finally started working in the cardiac section of the Department of Thoracic Surgery.

#Shin Sun-han of the Department of Thoracic Surgery (1)

Kim Deok-sang hated snowy days.

He was 49 years old.

In his entire life, nothing good had ever happened on a snowy day.

The day his father passed away, the day he divorced his wife… it always snowed heavily.

Especially on days like today when he had to do delivery work, he resented the weather even more.

“Damn it, I shouldn’t have taken that last delivery….”

He headed towards the house through the snow.

In his hands, reddened by the bitter winter wind, he held a tightly packaged chicken.

Bbrrr—

As he straightened his hand, bent from the cold, and pressed the doorbell, a prickly voice came from inside.

“Hey, why are you so late?”

“Well, I was coming in the snow….”

“It must be cold. I specifically ordered it as a lightning delivery, so what are you going to do?”

How can a person move like lightning in this weather?

I wanted to say that, but I couldn’t bring myself to say what was on my mind.

Deok-sang stammered.

“It probably hasn’t cooled down much.”

“You still don’t have an apology to the end?”

“……I’m sorry.”

“Did you buy the water?”

“Pardon?”

“I wrote in the additional request to buy some water. I’ll give you errand money.”

Deok-sang sighed and replied.

“We only do deliveries. We don’t do errands.”

“Ugh… forget it, just give it here.”

Bang!

The door closed.

Deok-sang’s face turned red with anger.

Of course, it didn’t take much effort to cool that heat. As soon as he left the apartment building, a chilling cold rushed in through his worn-out padding.

“Damn it, it’s freaking cold.”

He helplessly rubbed his collar.

He’ll be 50 the day after tomorrow, and he doesn’t know how long he’ll have to live like this.

Other people his age are supposedly living leisurely, rolling around the money they’ve earned….

‘Leisurely my ass, all I have left is debt.’

He chuckled.

How did it come to this?

Looking up at the sky where snowflakes were scattering, he reflected on his life.

When he quit his job and started a business.

When the business was booming, he thought the world was all his.

He bought things at the department store without looking at the price tags.

He had a lavish wedding and dressed his children in only the best.

…Then the business failed.

Failed twice.

A third chance was never given.

When he came to his senses, all that was left in his life was separation, divorce, debt, and ruined health.

“Damn it, I don’t even have any cigarettes.”

He shook the empty cigarette pack.

Suddenly, he thought of his father, who had passed away 10 years ago.

His father, who died of a heart attack, also smoked so often.

He felt like he could now understand his father, who had worked day and night without holidays.

‘Rest? What rest? How much money is it for a day off… I have to work to pay off my debts.’

Deok-sang had a sense of responsibility.

He didn’t neglect paying off his debts or child support.

He had been delivering non-stop for 7 hours since lunch today, so he wanted to soak his body in hot water.

As he thought that and headed towards his studio apartment, someone appeared in the alley near the entrance.

“Sir.”

“Oh, jeez, you scared me.”

“It’s not like we’re meeting for the first or second time, why are you so surprised? It’s not like I’m the Grim Reaper.”

Wasn’t it said that someone scarier than the Grim Reaper is a debt collector?

What appeared in front of him was a man hired by a loan shark company.

He was about the same age as his son.

He didn’t have the face of a gangster like in the movies, but rather an impression that looked like a decent office worker.

“……Isn’t it illegal to come and harass me for debt at this late hour?”

“It’s not illegal until 9 PM, sir. Our company complies with the Debt Collection Act, you know.”

The man with the pomade hairstyle spoke in a businesslike manner.

Deok-sang glanced at the time on his phone.

8:50 PM.

Not illegal, damn it.

He took off his wool hat, shook off the accumulated snow, and sighed.

“……Why did you come again? I’m working hard to pay off my debt.”

“I didn’t come because I wanted to see your face, sir. I wanted to leave work on time too. You didn’t answer the phone this morning.”

“I was working….”

“What kind of work are you doing these days?”

“Just all sorts of part-time jobs.”

It wasn’t a lie.

In the years after his business failed, Kim Deok-sang had done all sorts of part-time jobs.

Among them, delivery is the best these days.

If you work hard all day, the income isn’t too bad, and money is accumulating in the account, albeit little by little.

“I know you’re having a hard time paying off your debt. You’re a model debtor, sir. I hope you pay it all off quickly so we don’t have to see each other.”

“Yeah, that’s what I have to do.”

Deok-sang nodded and rummaged through his pockets.

Ah, I ran out of cigarettes. Damn it.

Seeing that, the pomade man took out his own cigarette.

“Would you like to smoke one?”

“Sure.”

Cheek—

The fire lights up.

The two men smoked cigarettes under the streetlight for a while.

There was an age gap that wouldn’t be awkward even if they were father and son, but the sight of them standing face to face and smoking didn’t feel awkward.

“…….”

……How many months has it been already? These awkward encounters.

A debtor and a debt collector could never be on friendly terms.

But still, this man was the only one who came to visit him and ask how he was doing.

He thought that the debt that was tormenting him was, on the contrary, the last remaining connection to the world, and the cigarette tasted bitter.

“I just came to check on you today, so don’t resent me too much. There’s no one who harasses you for debt as gentlemanly as I do.”

“I know… I know.”

“Are you eating properly? Are you getting some exercise?”

“Well, I eat whatever… looking at stocks is my only joy during the day.”

When the topic of stocks came up, the man who was smoking a cigarette raised his head slightly.

“Stocks?”

“Ah, that’s….”

“Are there any good stocks these days?”

Hew, that’s a relief.

I thought he was going to scold me for investing in stocks with the money I should be using to pay off my debt….

As expected, the man in front of me is also just one of the ordinary young people in Korea.

It’s an era where everyone is desperately looking for ways to make money in order to escape the life of living from hand to mouth.

“There’s WangBio.”

“WangBio?”

“You know it, too, right?”

“I’ve heard of it. I think it was always in the top 10 of the stock search rankings?”

A company that everyone is looking forward to ahead of the Phase 3 announcement.

It was becoming a hot topic as it was said to become a global K-bio company.

“Right, but it’s probably too late to get in now. I was lucky enough to get in at the waist [bought the stock when the price was neither at its highest nor lowest].”

“Oh…….”

The man shows interest.

He immediately opens his smartphone and searches the stock chart.

However, his expression soon hardened.

“…….”

“Why… why are you looking like that?”

“Sir.”

“Why, are you going to tell me off for investing in stocks with the money I should be using to pay off my debt? It’s a good thing because I can pay off my debt faster if I make money.”

However, the words that came out of the man’s mouth were shocking.

“It plummeted when the market closed today.”

“What……?”

Deok-sang’s eyes widened as if they would pop out.

His return rate was pretty good even until 20 minutes before the market closed?

“According to the news, they announced a rights offering [issuing new shares to existing shareholders]….”

“What? They did a rights offering last year too?!”

The man frantically turns on his smartphone, then suddenly clutches his chest.

“Sir?”

“Ugh…….”

“What’s wrong? Are you not feeling well?”

Like a falling stock chart, Deok-sang’s complexion was turning bad.