Dr. Shin Seonhan: The Doctor Who Sees The Future [EN]: Chapter 128

#128 Heart Beats (12)

Budadada―

A Harley-Davidson speeds down the road.

I clung to Teacher Pung’s back like a cicada.

Wow, this is no joke.

The vibrations from the engine were enough to make my jaw chatter.

“How is it? The performance of my beloved horse! Amazing, right!”

Teacher Pung shouts with his helmet on.

The performance is good, but…….

Please slow down a bit!

I feel like I’m about to fly off!

“Teacher, can’t you go a little slower?!”

“What?”

“I said, go slower!”

“Freeeeedom―!”

It seems he can’t hear me.

Teacher Pung increased the bike’s speed even more.

I was horrified and clung even tighter to his back.

Screech―

A little later.

The place we arrived at was a shabby house.

It was somewhat unexpected.

I thought that if Teacher Pung worked as a pay doctor [a salaried doctor] at a local hospital, he would be able to earn quite a lot of money.

Compared to that, his house is very simple.

“Why? Surprised that my house is shabby?”

“No, it looks peaceful and nice.”

“You little rascal, trying to avoid the question.”

Clang―

Teacher Pung opens the blue gate.

A small yard is visible inside.

There are old flowerpots, but they are empty now, as if no plants are being grown.

Instead, something is piled up.

That’s… canvases and paint cans?

Looking closely, I can see lacquer spray cans rolling around.

‘Does Teacher Pung also paint?’

As I was thinking that, Teacher Pung says,

“Welcome. It may look shabby on the outside, but the entry method is state-of-the-art! Hahaha.”

Beep, beep, beep―

Teacher Pung presses the door lock.

Of course, it’s not state-of-the-art. It’s just an old door with a door lock attached.

“Come on in!”

“Excuse me.”

I went up a few steps and entered the front door.

Click―

The living room light turns on.

The scenery inside the house is, how should I put it…….

Like my grandmother’s house.

Doesn’t Teacher Pung care about interior design?

It seemed like he was using the decades-old furniture that had been in the house from the beginning.

“Just sit on the sofa over there! I’ll go get some alcohol.”

“Yes.”

Teacher Pung hummed and headed to the kitchen.

In the meantime, I looked around the living room.

It really had the atmosphere of an old country house.

Then, I found a dusty photo on top of the display case.

‘This photo is……?’

I looked at Teacher Pung’s photo, which was casually placed in the corner of the display case.

‘This is Yonkuk University Hospital, right?’

No doubt.

Is this from about 10 years ago?

The scenery in the old photo looks familiar.

Several doctors in surgical gowns are making V signs.

In the middle is Teacher Pung.

Unlike now, he has no beard and his hair is neat.

And on the far right is Doctor Baek.

With sharp eyes like blades, he is staring at the camera with a blank expression.

‘Teacher Pung and Professor Baek… I was right.’

Looking at the photo, I finally became convinced.

To meet Doctor Baek’s disciple in a place like this!

It was a strange connection.

No wonder his suture movements were unusual…….

‘But why is someone like that here?’

Once again, curiosity arises.

Well, I can just ask him.

I put the photo down.

Just as I was about to sit on the sofa, I noticed a pile of letters next to the table.

And so on…….

Thank-you letters arrived from various charities.

It contains pictures of smiling children from both domestic and foreign countries.

‘Is he doing this much charity work alone?’

That’s amazing.

Judging from the looks of it, he seems to be sponsoring dozens of children at once.

Is he perhaps spending all the money he earns on this?

I suddenly feel respect for him.

At that time, Teacher Pung appeared majestically, holding something.

“Okay, let’s drink!”

Ttang!

He puts down alcohol on the table that looks expensive at first glance.

As the wooden case slid open, a luxurious bottle of liquor revealed its dignity.

“Isn’t this very expensive alcohol?”

I asked, dumbfounded.

Even I, who doesn’t know much about alcohol, can recognize it.

Isn’t it called a masterpiece in the whiskey world?

Moreover, it is 30 years old.

Then, Teacher Pung takes off the bottle cap and jokes.

“Hey, what’s so expensive about this? I don’t drink alcohol for less than 1 million won [approximately $750 USD]. I only drink the finest single malt whiskey.”

Is that really true?

You should only believe half of what this person says.

This alcohol might be fake too.

“Here, take this!”

“Yes.”

I took the glass that Teacher Pung handed me.

Gurgle, gurgle―

The dark amber liquor flows down the glass.

It is a sight that any alcohol lover would swallow 침을 꿀꺽 [chimeul kkulgeok – a Korean onomatopoeia for swallowing 침 (saliva)].

“I’ve grown fond of you over the past month, so I’m going to send you off with a glass of good alcohol.”

“Thank you.”

“You worked hard for a month.”

“I learned a lot too.”

Clink―

I clinked glasses with Teacher Pung and put the alcohol on my lips.

Whoa―

The strong alcohol quickly spreads in my mouth.

It smells like fruit, and it smells like wood.

“How is it? Isn’t it great?”

“Teacher. Maybe some ice…….”

“Hey, man. Men drink it straight! You’re weaker than you look. When I was your age…….”

“Are you going to tell another ridiculous 허풍 [heopung – exaggeration or boasting]?”

“How did you know?”

Teacher Pung laughed loudly.

“There’s a refrigerator, so get some ice yourself.”

Then, this time, he takes out a cigar from the wooden case.

Click―

He cuts off the end of the cigar with a cutter, then skillfully lights it with a torch.

Whiskey and cigars…….

If Geun-uk were here, he would have fallen in love with him again, calling him a real man.

Long hair, beard.

Shabby house, bike.

Numerous charitable activities, expensive alcohol and cigars, etc…….

In a word, he was living a bohemian life with a free spirit.

“Teacher Pung, you seem like a mysterious person.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your style is very different from other doctors.”

“Hey, is it fun if all doctors live the same way? The world is fun because there are guys like me.”

Whoa.

Teacher Pung exhaled cigar smoke.

A person with a beard and long hair looked like a European musician.

I decided to ask what I was curious about.

“Why is someone as great as you, who used to be on Doctor Baek’s team, here?”

Pause.

Teacher Pung’s hand, which was pouring whiskey, stopped.

“How did you know?”

I pointed to the photo in the display case and said.

“15 years ago, Professor Baek created a dream team at Yonkuk University Hospital. You were with Professor Baek at that time, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. I worked under Professor Baek.”

He nodded.

Doctor Baek.

He was the best surgeon and issue maker.

When he returned to Korea after a long life overseas, the media paid attention to his every move.

And, on the day of the press conference.

Doctor Baek gathered reporters in the conference room of Yonkuk University Hospital and made a surprise announcement.

Also known as Doctor Baek’s team.

The motto was to raise the clinical level of cardiothoracic surgery in Korea by three levels.

At the time, opinions were divided as to whether it was innovation or showmanship…….

Anyway, after that, the reputation of Yonkuk University Hospital gradually rose vertically and became the number one in Korea.

“Only surgeons with the best skills will be recognized as team members…… I remember Professor Baek saying that at the time.”

At my words, Teacher Pung smiled.

“Why do you know so much? Are you a Doctor Baek 덕후 [deokhu – a Korean term for a passionate fan or enthusiast]?”

“Yes. I’ve seen all three parts of the documentary.”

“What? You watched that cringeworthy documentary?”

“I’ve probably seen it twenty times? Teacher Pung, you’re in it too.”

“Damn it, you saw my dark history.”

Teacher Pung grumbled.

Dark history?

Not at all.

In the documentary, Teacher Pung was a young and handsome doctor.

He was mainly in the role of being scolded by Doctor Baek.

“I heard that a truckload of doctors couldn’t stand Professor Baek at that time and ran away…… Teacher Pung, weren’t you a survivor among them?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Gulp.

Teacher Pung swallowed the whiskey and frowned.

Is it because of the strength of the alcohol?

No. It seems that the old memories that suddenly come to mind are bitter.

“That’s all old news.”

“Please tell me some old stories. For 후학 [hu-hak – junior colleagues or students] like me.”

“Hey, you want me to recall those nightmarish days?”

Teacher Pung shuddered.

“I’m the kind of person who grinds my teeth just hearing the 백 [Baek – the family name of the professor] in Baek’s name.”

“What was it like?”

“Don’t ask. That 영감탱이 [yeonggamtaengi – a derogatory term for an old man]. You have to 갈아 넣어야지 [gara neoeoyaji – literally ‘grind and put in,’ meaning to overwork someone] people 적당히 [jeokdanghi – moderately]…… we’re not machines.”

Shakes his head.

Teacher Pung shook his head.

I think I know without hearing it.

Doctor Baek was also famous for being a perfectionist and having a quirky personality.

He probably 들들 볶았던 [deuldeul bokkatdeon – constantly nagging or pressuring] Teacher Pung in the operating room.

“Well, I learned a lot because of that guy. He didn’t stress me out with other 잡일 [jabil – miscellaneous tasks] besides surgery. But…….”

Teacher Pung’s words that followed were completely unexpected.

“Around that time, my mother was diagnosed with cancer.”

“……Teacher Pung’s mother?”

“Yes. Pancreatic cancer stage IV.”

Stage IV (4).

Having any cancer at stage 4 means that distant metastasis has progressed.

Teacher Pung smiled bitterly and filled his glass with alcohol.

“It’s a funny thing. What’s the point of having a son who is a doctor? I couldn’t even take care of my family properly because I was busy treating other people.”

Whoa.

Teacher Pung exhaled cigarette smoke.

As if to express his 허무한 [heomuhan – futile or empty] feelings, the smoke spread like a sigh on the old veranda.

“Then this place is…….”

“Yes. It’s my mother’s hometown house.”

“Ah…….”

I became 숙연해졌다 [sukyeonhaejyeotda – solemn or subdued].

Teacher Pung had such a past.

I thought I knew why he couldn’t leave this old house.

“I’m sorry for making you recall unnecessary memories.”

“What, man, it can happen.”

Teacher Pung’s words continued.

When his mother’s cancer was discovered, it was already too late to reverse it.

It was too late to receive surgery, and even if he used chemotherapy, the remaining life expectancy was not long.

He submitted his resignation.

And, for a year, he traveled around the country with his mother.

Of course, in the second half of that year, his mother spent most of her time lying down in this Gokdam house.

“After resting for a year and holding my mother’s funeral, I didn’t want to go back to the operating room.”

Burnout.

To translate it literally, should I say it’s a state of being burned white?

It means that you can’t stand the fatigue from work and become exhausted.

“I found that living in a village with a view of the sea and doing what I wanted suited me. In the end, I think this is my path.”

In the end, the life routes of doctors can be largely divided into three categories.

1―University professor.

2―Private practice.

3―Pay doctor.

Among them, Teacher Pung chose number 3, pay doctor.

Whatever route you choose to live, it’s your freedom.

“Still, it’s too bad.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s a shame that someone as skilled as Teacher Pung is here…….”

“Hey, do you look down on emergency room doctors? There are so many things to do in the emergency room.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

I felt regret.

Teacher Pung is a skilled surgeon.

He is more suited to working in the operating room than in the emergency room.

“Teacher Pung, you’re no different from a hidden expert buried in 재야 [jaeya – among the common people or outside the mainstream] right now.”

“Puhahaha. 재야 [jaeya] expert?”

Teacher Pung burst into laughter when he heard my words.

“You shouldn’t say that until you’ve seen Professor Baek’s surgery once.”

“Was it that good?”

“Yes. In short, if I’m an expert, that person was a monster.”

Teacher Pung said that and made a somewhat sentimental expression.

I suddenly became curious.

How good was Professor Baek’s surgery during his active days?

* * *

United States, California.

Scribble, scribble―

The sound of a pencil echoed in the shaded workshop.

A white-haired man was diligently moving a pencil on the wall.

It’s been several hours already.

The man is not resting his hands.

“Oh my god. What is all this?”

At that time, a woman who appeared behind him exclaimed.