Dr. Shin Seonhan: The Doctor Who Sees The Future [EN]: Chapter 118

#118 My Heart Beats (2)

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“There’s no use hiding it anymore. I’ve noticed it all along.”

Geun-wook’s eyes, pressing me, are quite sharp.

I tensed up for a moment.

‘Did this guy sense something strange?’

Geun-wook is my closest friend, sharing a room with me.

So, he might vaguely suspect my ability.

As I was thinking that, Geun-wook opened his mouth.

“Do you have something going on with Yeon-seo?”

“…….”

I was deflated.

I was nervous for nothing.

Geun-wook’s brain seems to be all flowers right now [meaning he’s only thinking about romance].

He’s in the middle of a passionate romance, so everything probably looks that way to him.

“He’s just throwing out random words since he started dating.”

“I’m asking seriously, man.”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

I chuckled and brushed it off.

Of course, there was such a rumor once.

When we were rotating in internal medicine in March.

There were a lot of talks about whether there was something between Yeon-seo and me.

“That was just a rumor.”

“Yeah. It was a rumor. But has Yeon-seo ever avoided you since then? If she hasn’t, that means she has some feelings for you, at least.”

What is this?

It’s quite logical.

Did Geun-wook become an expert in romance in just a few days?

“Decisively, look at Yeon-seo coming all the way to Gokdam this month. Changing her schedule to do so.”

Creak―

He pulled his chair a little closer and said to me.

“So, Seon-han, what about you? Don’t you have any feelings for Yeon-seo at all? Don’t lie to a friend.”

Sparkling.

The muscular Geun-wook’s eyes shine 부담스럽게 [b 부담스럽게 (b 부담스럽게) – 부담스럽게 (b 부담스럽게)] (uncomfortably).

Why is he like this today?

“I…….”

Just as I was about to speak, I heard someone approaching from the door.

“Wake up!”

Knock knock!

The door is knocked.

Speak of the devil.

Opening the door, Yeon-seo peeks into our room.

“What. You’re both awake?”

“Yeah.”

“What were you two talking about so interestingly that you didn’t even wash up?”

“We’re going to get ready now.”

“Hurry up! It’ll be really fun if the four of us hang out at the festival today…….”

Yeon-seo tilts her head, stopping mid-sentence.

“But where have you been looking while talking since a while ago?”

Yeon-seo stares at my face and smiles.

“That’s weird. You usually look at my face while talking, but you’re avoiding my eyes?”

“What are you talking about.”

“Uh-oh? You keep looking away.”

“When did I…….”

“Did the eye contact avoidance disease spread from Geun-wook?”

Yeon-seo tiptoes and follows my gaze as if it’s fun.

Damn it.

Why is it so awkward?

I’m disturbed by what I heard from Geun-wook a little while ago.

I usually didn’t mind looking at Yeon-seo’s face…….

Not now.

I’m 신경이 쓰인다 [shingyeongi sseunda – 신경이 쓰인다] (conscious) about Yeon-seo’s gestures and expressions.

I said, trying to erase the awkward feeling.

“I’ll get ready soon, wait 30 minutes.”

“Okay. See you at the back gate later!”

Yeon-seo turns around and disappears with a light step.

It’s so amazing.

How can women smell like shampoo from just one gesture?

As I was thinking that, Geun-wook flares his nostrils and leans his face on my shoulder.

“Doo doo roo doo. Doo doo roo doo…….”

He plays romantic BGM [background music] with his mouth.

Stop it!

Did this guy’s brain turn rose-colored since he started dating?

I pushed his disgusting face away.

* * *

In the middle of August.

The summer sun shines 뜨겁게 [tteugeopge – 뜨겁게] (hotly) above our heads.

And even more than that, the heat 뿜어내는 [ppumeonaeneun – 뿜어내는] (spewed out) by the people was 뜨거웠다 [tteugeowotda – 뜨거웠다] (hot) as well.

“Kyaaaa―”

City of passion, Gokdam.

The festival was a frenzy.

As soon as we arrived in the city by taxi, the air was already 뜨거웠다 [tteugeowotda – 뜨거웠다] (hot).

Heading to the beach, the voice of the celebrity host was 울려 펴지고 [ullyeo pyeojigo – 울려 펴지고] (echoing) from the microphone installed on the outdoor stage.

“Waaaa!”

Is this what they call a sea of people?

Young people in swimsuits are 북적거린다 [bukjeokgeorinda – 북적거린다] (crowded).

Of course, we were wearing 적당한 [jeokdanghan – 적당한] (appropriate) casual clothes, but 오히려 [ohiryeo – 오히려] (rather) this kind of outfit stood out more.

“Wow, were there this many people?”

“I know. They said they’re going to do fireworks 좀 크게 [jom keuge – 좀 크게] (a bit bigger) this year.”

“Wow, there are so many people…… I can’t. I think my camera will break.”

Yeon-seo stopped filming her vlog and put her camera back in her bag.

“But where did So-dam go?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t seen her since a while ago?”

“She’s short, so you can’t even see her.”

“Should we report her missing?”

We looked around.

After a while, we could find So-dam walking towards us, 머리에서 발끝까지 [meorieseo balkkeutkkaji – 머리에서 발끝까지] (from head to toe) wet.

“Hey, So-dam, why are you so 쫄딱 [jjoltak – 쫄딱] wet?”

“I got hit by a water gun on the way…….”

“What kind of water gun do you have to get hit by to get like that? Wouldn’t that be like getting hit by a water cannon?”

So-dam makes a 울상 [ulsang – 울상] (crying face).

She’s 처량하다 [cheoryanghada – 처량하다] (miserable) like a wet hamster.

Geun-wook chuckled and ran to a nearby sales booth, saying.

“Hey, you can’t just get hit and do nothing, can you? Let’s 참전하자 [chamjeonhaja – 참전하자] (join the war)!”

Then he buys four water guns.

The one I had when I was young was 앙증맞게 [angjeongmatge – 앙증맞게] (cute), but…….

The water guns that come out these days look like shotguns.

“You guys do it 끼리 [kkiri – 끼리] (among yourselves). I’m not interested…….”

The moment I said that.

Splash!

A shower of water is 끼얹어진 [kkieonjyeojin – 끼얹어진] (splashed) on my face.

Water guns these days have a lot of 화력 [hwaryeok – 화력] (firepower).

Turning my head, Yeon-seo was smiling at me, aiming a water gun at me.

“Hehe…….”

“Is that a challenge?”

“덤벼라 [deombyeora – 덤벼라] (Bring it on) Seon-han!”

“Geun-wook, give me a gun.”

After a while.

We all became 물에 젖은 생쥐 [mure jeojeun saengjwi – 물에 젖은 생쥐] (wet mice) without exception.

Isn’t it a children’s game?

Not at all. It’s more fun since we became adults.

We came out of the crowd, laughing so hard that our backs were bent.

“Ah, that was fun.”

“What do you want to do next?”

“It looks like they’re selling something in that tent?”

“Let’s go!”

Yeon-seo and Geun-wook 신나게 [shinnage – 신나게] (excitedly) took the lead, and I followed behind with So-dam.

There were 은근히 [eungeunhi – 은근히] (surprisingly) many things to see at the festival.

We played for a long time and then enjoyed the afternoon 백사장 [baeksajang – 백사장] (beach) 느긋하게 [neugeuthage – 느긋하게] (leisurely), taking off our shoes.

The salty sea breeze.

The 푸르게 펼쳐진 [pureuge pyeolchyeojin – 푸르게 펼쳐진] (blue) horizon.

I feel 선선해진다 [seonseonhaejinda – 선선해진다] (refreshed).

The time spent with the closest friends I met at the hospital passed quickly.

“I’m hungry. What time is it now?”

“It’s already this late.”

“They said the 공연 [gongyeon – 공연] (performance) starts a little later, are we going to wait and watch? Celebrities are coming.”

절레절레 [jeollejeolle – 절레절레] (Shaking our heads).

We shook our heads with one mind.

Rather than watching celebrities who can’t even be seen well in a crowded place, it’s more fun to play 끼리 [kkiri – 끼리] (among ourselves).

“Let’s have dinner.”

“What do you want to eat?”

“I think it would be nice to buy something from the nearby food truck.”

“Are you all going to eat dinner and watch the fireworks too?”

Then Geun-wook said.

“I’m sorry, but I’m just going to eat and pass on the fireworks.”

“Huh? Why?”

“I’m going to watch the fireworks with my girlfriend. Hehe.”

“Wow, 배신자 [baeshinja – 배신자] (traitor)!”

Yeon-seo pointed her finger and shouted.

Then So-dam said 조심스럽게 [josimseureopge – 조심스럽게] (carefully).

“I’m going to pass too…… Tomorrow is a holiday, so I have to 출발 [chulbal – 출발] (depart) to meet the family elders in 지방 [jiban – 지방] (the countryside) tonight.”

“Family elders?”

역시 [Yeoksi – 역시] (As expected) Royal [referring to her high social status].

Even the choice of words is 남다르다 [namdareuda – 남다르다] (different).

So-dam’s family has been doctors since her grandfather’s generation.

I heard that if the whole family gathers, they can almost set up a general hospital.

“Hey, what is it? Fireworks are the 하이라이트 [hailaiteu – 하이라이트] (highlight).”

“Sorry, sorry.”

So-dam said to us, as if she was sorry.

“Instead, my dad…… said he reserved a restaurant because you guys are together. Is everyone okay with that?”

Dad?

Ham Gyeong-il, the 부원장 [buwonjang – 부원장] (vice director).

Suddenly, I remembered his round face that looked similar to a hamster.

“Wow, the 부원장 [buwonjang – 부원장] (vice director) reserved a restaurant?”

“Yeah. He wants you to have dinner with him. You can cancel the reservation, so it doesn’t matter if you go to the food truck I mentioned earlier…….”

“The 부원장 [buwonjang – 부원장] (vice director) reserved it, so what’s a food truck going to do? I don’t know where it is, but let’s go!”

We followed So-dam’s suggestion without thinking.

* * *

The place So-dam took us to was a 초고급 [chogogeup – 초고급] (super luxurious) restaurant.

As soon as we entered the entrance, water was flowing in an interior that made a miniature 계곡 [gyegok – 계곡] (valley).

The employees came out to greet us with 칼로 잰 듯한 [kallo jaen deuthan – 칼로 잰 듯한] (precise) greetings.

In a word…….

It wasn’t a place to go in such a 젖은 차림 [jeojeun charim – 젖은 차림] (wet state).

“It was a place like this?”

“Wow…… I’ve never been to a place like this before.”

“I’ve only been here once with my parents before. Let’s go in.”

Soon, the employees guided us to a room with 깍듯이 정중한 [kkaktteusi jeongjunghan – 깍듯이 정중한] (very polite) attitude.

So-dam soon orders a few things from the employee.

After a while, as the food came out in order, we could tell at a glance.

The food that comes out on big plates in small portions is just a collection of expensive and small things.

“Hey, the 요리 [yori – 요리] (cuisine) here is 심상치 않다 [simsangchi anhda – 심상치 않다] (unusual)…….”

“Somehow, even the 도자기 [dojagi – 도자기] (ceramics) looks expensive.”

Then Yeon-seo took out the menu and 속삭인다 [soksaginda – 속삭인다] (whispers) in horror after looking at the price tag.

“헉 [Heok – 헉], So-dam 언니 [eonni – 언니] (older sister), how can we come to such an expensive place……!”

“It’s okay. It’s my dad’s card.”

“헐 [Heol – 헐] (Wow).”

“He told me not to even think about coming home if I eat less than 300,000 won [Korean currency] per person.”

“…….”

“Eat a lot. It originally takes 3 months to make a reservation here.”

덜덜 [Deoldeol – 덜덜] (Trembling).

Is this the 위엄 [wieom – 위엄] (majesty) of a 금수저 [geumsujeo – 금수저] (gold spoon [born into wealth])?

Geun-wook said, 황송한 듯 [hwangsonghan deut – 황송한 듯] (as if honored) emptying his plate.

“Hey, it’s delicious, but…… I don’t even know what I’m eating right now.”

“Red sea bream.”

“What about this?”

“Mingeo [croaker fish].”

“Hey. How does Seon-han know so well even after looking at it 대충 [daechung – 대충] (roughly)?”

“I’m the son of a 횟집 [hoetjip – 횟집] (sashimi restaurant).”

“Ooh.”

Everyone 감탄했다 [gamtanhaetda – 감탄했다] (admired) at my words.

But even I am tasting a taste I’ve never tasted before.

The red sea bream I knew wasn’t this 맛 [mat – 맛] (delicious).

Creak―

Soon, the door to the room opened and a person who looked like the chef entered.

……But, it’s a face I’ve seen a lot on TV.

‘헉 [Heok – 헉], it’s Wang Bi-ryong?’

He’s a celebrity I’ve seen a few times on cooking shows.

Why is that person here?

Soon, he handed out a plate with a few pieces of sushi, saying it was today’s 요리 [yori – 요리] (dish), along with expensive-looking alcohol.

“Are you enjoying your meal? Ham Gyeong-il 선생님 [seonsaengnim – 선생님] (teacher/Mr.) said to prepare it with special care.”

“Thank you.”

So-dam thanked the chef and handed him a tip.

An 익숙한 [iksukhan – 익숙한] (familiar) gesture.

It’s like a 재벌 2세 [jaebeol 2se – 재벌 2세] (second-generation chaebol [conglomerate heir]).

After a while, as the chef left the room, Geun-wook sighed deeply and said.

“I’m starting to feel 거리감 [georigam – 거리감] (distance) from So-dam…… I felt like she was similar to us, but 알고 보니 [algo boni – 알고 보니] (come to find out) she was a person from a 먼 세상 [meon sesang – 먼 세상] (distant world)…….”

“What are you saying.”

퍼억 [Peoeok – 퍼억] (Thump).

So-dam kicked Geun-wook’s knee with her foot.

That’s how we had the most luxurious meal in our lives.

* * *

As we came outside after finishing our meal, the sun was setting.

It’s a bit far from the heart of the festival, so the cheers of the people are 들리고 [deulligo – 들리고] (heard) like an echo from afar.

“What time do the fireworks start?”

“I think there’s about an hour left.”

“We should start 자리 잡아야겠네 [jari jabayagenne – 자리 잡아야겠네] (securing a spot).”

Ttururu―

Then Geun-wook’s phone rings.

Geun-wook 냉큼 [naengkeom – 냉큼] (quickly) answers the phone and says in a 달콤한 [dalkomhan – 달콤한] (sweet) voice.

“Woong 자기야 [jagiya – 자기야] (honey), where are you? I just came out after eating.”

“Ugh.”

The three of us 인상을 팍 썼다 [insangeul pak sseotda – 인상을 팍 썼다] (frowned).

It feels like the 고급 요리 [gogeup yori – 고급 요리] (gourmet cuisine) we just ate is coming up 통째로 [tongjjaero – 통째로] (whole).

Geun-wook smiles 히죽히죽 [hijukhijuk – 히죽히죽] (grinning) and hangs up the phone, then says.

“Hey, I’m going to meet my girlfriend! You guys have fun watching the fireworks.”

Geun-wook winks at me and disappears, humming.

Soon, So-dam also 잡고 [japgo – 잡고] (caught) a taxi and said to us.

“I’ll go quickly too. Have fun, you two!”

And she gets in the taxi and says to the driver as if 간청하듯 [gancheonghadeut – 간청하듯] (pleadingly).

“Please go slowly, 아저씨 [ajeossi – 아저씨] (mister)…… Please.”

“Ah, why take a taxi if you’re going to go slowly? Hold on tight.”

“히익 [Hieok – 히익] (Eek)!”

The taxi 출발하며 [chulbalhamyeo – 출발하며] (departs) at 초고속 [chogosok – 초고속] (high speed) and 멀어진다 [meoreojinda – 멀어진다] (moves away).

Soon, only Yeon-seo and I were left in front of the restaurant.

“What should we do now, us?”

Yeon-seo says that and looks at me.