Dr. Shin Seonhan: The Doctor Who Sees The Future [EN]: Chapter 11

#11 Malignant Among Us (2)

……I’m screwed.

This is definitely screwed.

I despaired, looking at the results of the ladder game in the break room.

There are a total of 8 interns assigned to the emergency room, and we have to divide ourselves into two groups of 4 to work in 24-hour shifts.

For the next month, four of us will be a community bound by fate, working together.

But…….

The state of the members is, no matter how I look at it, utterly bleak.

Oh Joong-won.

Jo Jin-gi.

First of all, this duo is the problem.

“Ah, what are you going to do about your hand?”

“Nothing I can do. I have a cast on my hand, do you think they’ll make me do hard work? I’m going to slack off this month. Hehe.”

“Ugh, you sly bastard.”

Joong-won *hyung* [older brother or male friend] gets angry.

I looked at Jo Jin-gi with a pathetic gaze.

Emergency medicine is already known to be tough, but one of our classmates can’t use his hand?

It’s a disaster, to say the least.

There’s already a lot of work, but it’s like our manpower has been reduced to three-quarters.

‘I should have helped him not get hurt at the last get-together?’

I even regret that much.

“Hey, Sun-han. We’re in the same group.”

“We’ll have to try harder.”

I replied to Joong-won *hyung* and glanced at Jo Jin-gi.

Jo Jin-gi avoided my eyes, pretending not to hear, and disappeared from the break room. That guy has been avoiding me since that day.

Then Joong-won *hyung* says.

“What are you talking about? I’m just going to rely on you.”

“Pardon?”

“I’m old and tired. You’re the ace, right? I’m counting on you this month!”

He said that and patted me on the shoulder.

It seems the rumor that Joong-won *hyung* is quite the slacker is true.

‘Ah, this isn’t good…….’

I suddenly remember my college days.

I vividly recall the memories of my practice group being unlucky and the results being terrible.

The intern evaluation is the same.

Isn’t it much more important than when you were a student who you’re in the same group with? It’ll be more, not less.

I have a feeling this month won’t be easy either.

As I was thinking that.

“Excuse me…… I need to get through.”

A small voice was heard from the side.

I turned my head and had to lower my gaze slightly to find the owner of the voice.

……Hamster?

That was my first impression.

Royal Ham So-dam.

She’s supposed to be the daughter of a rich family, but she’s only up to my chest, as if she didn’t eat well growing up.

Maybe it looks even more so because of her slightly hunched shoulders.

Anyway, she has an overall small and gloomy impression.

“Oh, you’re Ham So-dam, right?”

“…….”

“We’ll be spending a month together. Let’s get along…….”

The moment I was about to reach out my hand.

Whoosh—

Ham So-dam passed by me in her hunched posture, and my hand lost its way in the air.

……I can’t help but sigh.

Can these four really get through the difficult EM (Emergency Medicine) life?

I’m already worried about the future.

* * *

That evening.

After receiving all the handovers, I headed to the gym in the basement of the hospital.

As expected of Korea’s best Yonkuk University Hospital, the facilities for medical personnel are quite well-equipped.

Weeing—

Tap, tap, tap.

I run on the treadmill.

100m.

200m.

300m.

As I run without thinking, I feel like my heavy body is getting lighter.

After running about 2km without stopping, all the *jap* [雜, miscellaneous/random] thoughts evaporate and disappear with the sweat.

“Hoo.”

I pressed the cool-down button and got off the machine.

Alright, so what.

No matter what the state of my team members is, I just need to do well.

As I was washing up in the shower room, I ran into Teacher Yeo Bong-cheol naked in the locker room.

Thud!

I was surprised.

I thought it was a *sandojeok* [山盜賊, mountain bandit].

I was a little surprised by his fierce impression, but I greeted him cheerfully first.

“Hello!”

“Oh, who is it?”

“Yes. I’m Shin Sun-han, an intern working in EM from tomorrow. Please take care of me.”

“Ah, is that so.”

Yeo Bong-cheol glanced at me.

He has a very wild impression, with stubble on his face and a lot of chest hair.

He looks like he has a short temper.

But according to rumors, he has a friendly personality once you get to know him.

My goal is to get a good evaluation from the emergency medicine residents, including Teacher Yeo Bong-cheol, for the next month.

And it would be even better if I could become friends with them this time.

But…… it’s awkward to meet him naked.

I should have put on some clothes and greeted him.

“What’s your name again?”

“It’s Shin Sun-han.”

“Did you say you’re from Ilwoon University?”

“Yes, I am.”

“I’ll tell you in advance.”

Thud!

Teacher Yeo Bong-cheol leans against the locker in the locker room and sets the mood.

“I don’t care if you’re from a *jibangdae* [地方大, local university] or not. I know what it’s like to be looked down on by Seoul people because I’m from the countryside.”

“Thank you.”

“But…….”

He stared into my eyes and continued.

“I can’t stand *eoribari* [어리바리, being clueless] or not being able to do your job. I won’t ask for much, just do your part.”

“I’ll do more than my part.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“Good mindset.”

He nodded in satisfaction.

Then, he slapped me on the back and passed by.

“You little rascal. You’re in good shape too.”

I smiled and changed into my doctor’s gown.

I have a feeling that I can get along well with Yeo Bong-cheol because our personalities match.

That’s how my first day as an emergency medicine intern began.

* * *

.

Abbreviated as ER.

Patients with sudden illnesses outside the hospital visit the emergency room 24 hours a day.

In addition, Yonkuk University Hospital must also be responsible for treating patients sent from outpatient clinics.

Out of 10,000 outpatients a day, all the urgent patients are sent to the emergency room.

Therefore, contrary to general prejudice, the emergency room is much more crowded with people during the day on weekdays.

7:40 a.m.

I ran into Jo Jin-gi in the conference room where no one was yet.

“You came early.”

“Uh, uh.”

He quickly avoided my eyes and looked at the distant mountains.

I can’t stand to see it.

I said.

“How long are you going to be awkward?”

“Huh?”

“We’re going to be seeing each other for a month, so let’s not be uncomfortable, even if we don’t become friends.”

“That…… should we?”

Jo Jin-gi smiles awkwardly.

In the end, he’s a jerk who doesn’t even apologize, but there’s nothing I can do.

If I don’t break the ice first, he’ll act like that for a whole month.

Soon, So-dam and Joong-won *hyung* arrived at the conference room.

“Oh, you guys came early.”

“What did you buy so much of?”

“Hey, it’s the first day, so I bought some expensive bread and drinks with *sense* [센스, a sense of occasion/good taste]! This is what social life is all about.”

Joong-won *hyung* smiles and takes out a lot of things from the convenience store bag.

It’s important to make a good first impression since we’ll be meeting the residents, fellows, and professors of the emergency medicine department soon.

It’s not as much as the first turn in March, but I’m still nervous.

I glanced at So-dam, who had been silent since earlier.

“…….”

So-dam has no particular expression. I don’t know what she’s thinking behind her gloomy hair.

Then a voice was heard from outside the door.

“Wow, it must be spring. The weather is great.”

“Teacher Yeo, are you feeling the spring?”

“Don’t call me Teacher Yeo. People will misunderstand and think I’m a female teacher.”

“Then can we call you Yeo Bong?”

“Hey, are you trying to ruin someone’s marriage prospects?”

Soon, Yeo Bong-cheol, like a *sandojeok* [山盜賊, mountain bandit], and nurses laughing entered the conference room.

“Hello!”

“Oh, the interns were here.”

“Yes!”

“Ugh, when will these interns be made into people and sent back…… huh?”

Yeo Bong-cheol’s eyes narrowed.

He picked up the orange soda in the conference room and yelled.

“Hey! What is this!”

“Yes?”

“Even if you buy soda…… why *Fanta* [환타, Fanta] of all things…… are you performing a *gosa* [고사, ritual] to make the emergency room overflow with patients today?”

Only then did Joong-won *hyung*, who had bought the soda, make an “ah” expression.

<*Fanta* [환타, Fanta]>.

It’s a word used with a slightly different meaning among doctors.

It means ‘riding patients.’

In other words, it’s a slang term that expresses the situation where too many patients flock to the hospital and suffer from excessive workload.

“*Fanta* [환타, Fanta] from the first day. If patients overflow today, it’s all because of you interns. Got it!”

As Yeo Bong-cheol growled, the nurses covered their mouths and tried to hold back their laughter.

I feel like things are starting to go wrong from the beginning.

“Wow~ Our *gicha hwatong* [기차 화통, locomotive] Yeo Bong-cheol teacher is starting again.”

“Don’t get too heated from the morning. The interns will be scared and run away on their first day.”

The emergency medicine teachers laughed and entered the conference room.

Soon the room was full of people.

We greeted them politely.

“Hello!”

“Hello!”

* * *

Start the day in the conference room.

The emergency room of Yonkuk University Hospital is based on 24-hour shifts.

From 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. is the time when shifts are changed with the workers from the previous day, and at this time, the patient is handed over.

Clap clap!

Shin Seung-woo, head of the emergency medicine department, claps his hands and says.

“Then, since it’s the first day, shall we get some introductions from our intern teachers?”

“Yes!”

The interns, including me, jumped up.

So-dam, who was closest to the professor, bowed her head first.

“I’m intern Ham So-dam.”

“Is your grandfather healthy?”

“Pardon?”

So-dam looked momentarily embarrassed at the professor’s sudden question.

“I’m talking about your grandfather.”

“Ah…… yes. He’s recuperating in his hometown.”

“He’s my mentor, so I should visit him, but it’s not easy. Please be sure to give him my regards.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Anyway, you seem to resemble your mother more? You seemed to resemble your father when you were young. Hehehe.”

A friendly conversation continues for a while.

Wow…….

Is that the dignity of a medical family for three generations?

There was a reason why Ham So-dam was called the super royal among the royals.

This is the difference in class!

I finally realize it when I see the professor, who is like the sky, treating her like a relative.

The professor’s words continue.

“Your child has grown up well and is now taking his first steps as a doctor, so your parents must have great expectations. Do your best in the future.”

“……Yes.”

So-dam is trying hard to answer, but she seems to be stiff somewhere.

She seems a little uncomfortable.

After their long conversation ended, Joong-won *hyung* bowed his head next.

“I’m intern Oh Joong-won!”

“You look a little old?”

“I’m thirty-two.”

“Oh, are you from medical school? Work hard.”

There were no further comments.

What, are you being too discriminatory??

How can interns who aren’t royal live?

“I’m intern Jo Jin-gi!”

“Why is your hand like that?”

“Uh, that’s…… I was injured in an accident!”

“A doctor shouldn’t hurt his hand. Be careful in the future.”

Jo Jin-gi, with a flushed face, bowed his head.

Next is my turn.

“I’m intern Shin Sun-han.”

“Oh, is that so. So there are four of you?”

What, is that it?

I don’t even have any comments.

It seems like he was only interested in Ham So-dam, who was royal from the beginning.

I’m embarrassed by the blatant discrimination.

“Everyone, do well for a month, and you have to do well, not just work hard.”

That’s how the professor’s words ended.

“Okay, let’s all have a good day today.”

“Yes!”

We got up from our seats with embarrassed expressions.

Teacher Yeo Bong-cheol scratched his head with a pen and said.

“You four interns!”

“Yes!”

“Follow me. I know you’ve received the handover, but I’ll give you a rough explanation of the emergency room.”

We soon followed Teacher Yeo Bong-cheol.

Thump, thump.

Soon, the things from earlier were all erased from my head.

Finally, my first experience in the emergency room.

As I was looking forward to it and following behind…….

“Do you guys know what *apocalypse* [아포칼립스, apocalypse] is?”

“Yes?”

Suddenly, Yeo Bong-cheol asks.

Everyone looked at each other in confusion.

After a while, Joong-won *hyung* scratched his forehead and answered.

“That…… isn’t it the end of the world or something? Pillars of fire fall from above and the gates of hell open from below…….”

“You know it well.”

Yeo Bong-cheol nodded and smiled meaningfully.

“Welcome to the apocalypse.”

And he opened the door leading to the emergency room.