Dr. Shin Seonhan: The Doctor Who Sees The Future [EN]: Chapter 24

#24 Gangnam Station (3)

The first conversation is always a little awkward.

But in situations like this, my name feels like a cheat code.

“Excuse me?”

“Your name is Sun Han?”

“Wow!”

Sitting face to face at the bar, introductions began in a friendly atmosphere.

Should I thank my father for giving me such a unique name, at least for today?

I went ahead and told them my sisters’ names, and the laughter grew even louder.

“Sorry. Did I laugh too much?”

“Why be sorry? I think my name is funny too.”

My words caused another burst of laughter among the women.

So far, so good…….

If they’re reacting this much to a trivial conversation, it means our first impression was good.

Not missing this momentum, Jungwon *hyung* [an honorific term for an older brother or male friend] takes over.

“Well, now that we’ve introduced ourselves, shall we start with a drink?”

“Already?”

“Yeonwoo has been longingly holding onto her *soju* [a Korean distilled beverage] glass since earlier.”

“Oh my gosh, why am I holding this?”

Woman #2 looks down at her hand in disbelief, and laughter erupts once more.

Come to think of it, Jungwon *hyung* is quite the talker.

Slightly messy hair and fluent *tiki-taka* [a style of play characterized by short passing and movement] banter that comes out when he’s drunk…….

That’s why he’s been called the among his Yeon-Kook University classmates.

I think we’ll be able to see his true worth here today.

“Alright, cheers!”

“Cheers!”

The glasses clink cheerfully on the table.

Soon, questions filled with curiosity about each other are actively exchanged.

“If you’re doctors, what are your specialties?”

“Hey, you’re asking too early. We’re still interns, so we don’t have a specialty yet.”

“Ah, I see. Actually, we’re interns too.”

Their words continue.

They said that after joining the company, they have two years of internship, and many quit within six months after their first flight.

They chose the job with a fantasy, but in reality, it’s more demanding and difficult than they thought.

“Oh my, hearing that, it’s no ordinary job. I didn’t know flight attendants worked so hard when I was on the plane.”

Jungwon *hyung* chimes in with an appropriate reaction.

At that moment, Geunwook asks with a serious expression.

“Um…… I’ve always been curious about this, where do flight attendants sleep on the plane?”

At the unexpected question, the women burst into laughter.

It seems they found Geunwook’s slightly clumsy appearance cute.

“Is that something you’re so seriously curious about?”

“I’ve always wondered whenever I’ve been on a plane since I was young.”

“We sleep in our bunker.”

“There’s a bunker?”

“Yes. We take turns going there for short periods on long-haul flights, but of course, we can’t rest comfortably. We have to maintain our uniforms and hairspray, and be mindful of our seniors.”

“Ah, I see.”

We nodded.

After talking, we realized that we surprisingly had things in common.

Both sides are interns.

We work in places with strong organizational cultures.

And, most of all, the work is hard.

Although we work in different fields, it’s a moment when empathy is formed between young professionals.

Of course, they also had many questions for us.

“Is it true that doctors stay up all night every day and stuff like that?”

“Oh, yeah, when we’re doing our ER rotation, we work 24 hours straight. By the end of the 24-hour shift, we’re practically zombies. Sigh…… but what can we do when patients are waiting.”

“Wow, that’s so cool……!”

While Woman #1 is exclaiming in admiration at Jungwon *hyung’s* words, Geunwook and I barely hold back our laughter.

Jungwon *hyung*, the who would go to the ultrasound room to sleep whenever he had a chance during his ER shifts…….

At this moment, he was being portrayed as the noblest doctor working the hardest in the hospital.

“If you work in the ER, there must be a lot of different things happening?”

“Of course, just yesterday…….”

Jungwon *hyung* begins to tell interesting stories that happened at the hospital, with a bit of exaggeration.

The women are staring at Jungwon *hyung’s* mouth, completely captivated.

Of course, if this conversation goes on for too long, it can get boring, so I chimed in at the right moment.

“Let’s talk about work later and have another drink.”

“Shall we?”

“We all came out here to have fun together today.”

Saying that, I raise my glass.

“Alright, cheers!”

“Cheers!”

Favorable glances are exchanged, and a good atmosphere continues.

As the alcohol kicks in, the conversation increases, and laughter never stops.

Tonight, the atmosphere feels good for some reason.

* * *

1 hour and 30 minutes into the meeting.

We’ve already emptied six bottles of alcohol.

Everyone seems ready to relieve all the stress they’ve received from work at this gathering.

“Fold if you’re wearing white!”

“Fold if you’re a man!”

“Fold if your dad owns a sushi restaurant!”

Everyone shouts excitedly.

It’s the so-called [a popular Korean drinking game].

The person who folds all five fingers has to drink.

Fingers are folded each time someone says something in turn.

The initial awkwardness is long gone, and a pleasant tension is maintained.

At that moment, Woman #1 shouts provocatively at Jungwon *hyung*.

“Fold if you’re the oldest one here!”

“Wow, that’s too much!”

Jungwon *hyung* gets angry and gets up from his seat, then shouts with revenge burning in his eyes.

“Fold if you have a smaller head than me!”

“That’s basically telling everyone except yourself to fold!”

The women burst into laughter at Jungwon *hyung’s* words.

A commotion ensued for a while as they argued about measuring each other’s head circumference.

The atmosphere is great.

Seeing everyone laughing and chatting happily, the meeting is already half successful.

Soon, it’s my turn.

I decided to liven up the atmosphere on purpose at this point.

“I have a crush on someone here. Fold.”

“Ooh…….”

Everyone exclaimed.

The well-timed comment heats up the drinking party.

Everyone discreetly folds one finger at a time, exchanging meaningful smiles.

Then, I felt a gaze and turned my head, and Woman #3 was looking at me.

Smile—

Woman #3 makes eye contact and folds her finger.

……It seems like tonight’s atmosphere is unusual.

Shortly after, while the women went to the restroom.

Geunwook and Jungwon *hyung* say with beaming smiles.

“Wow, this is amazing.”

“I didn’t know it would be this fun either.”

“I thought they were just pretty, but they’re all so proactive?”

Maybe the women are talking about us too.

Now that the fierce preliminary skirmish is over, it’s time to start planning the strategy.

“I like Yeonwoo. She has a refined style.”

“I like Mina. Her easygoing personality is exactly my style.”

They point out their favorite person.

Then suddenly, Geunwook asks abruptly.

“By the way, Sun Han, don’t you really have any thoughts about dating?”

“Yeah, Sujin has been staring at you since earlier?”

Sujin.

Woman #3.

The one who has been boldly sending glances since earlier.

“Why don’t you try to do well with her?”

“Yeah, Sun Han! If you miss an opportunity like today, you’re admitting you’re a eunuch!”

I chuckled.

A eunuch?

What are you talking about!

Of course, it’s not that I’m not interested in dating.

It’s just that I want to focus on work without being distracted during my internship.

It’s enough to just have fun today.

“I’m not interested. I’ll just match the atmosphere and help out, so you two try hard and do well.”

“Really?”

“Seriously, Sun Han, your stubbornness is something to acknowledge.”

The two clicked their tongues.

But they knew my stubbornness well, so they didn’t persuade me any further.

“By the way, I think we should go to the second round soon, what time is it now?”

“It’s 8:30, so we still have time.”

“Let’s move!”

“Do you know any places?”

“We can find some. There are so many bars in Gangnam…….”

I filled my water glass while listening to the two’s conversation.

At that moment.

Suddenly, I felt a sense of unease.

Gangnam…….

Bar…….

The words Jungwon *hyung* said strangely bothered me.

I felt like time was flowing a little slower.

I feel like I’ve felt this feeling before…….

Flash—

Then, as if a theater curtain was closing, my vision went dark.

* * *

Blur—

My vision warps.

Reality disappears as if time is stretched out like taffy and twisted.

‘What. At this timing?’

I’m flustered.

I knew that precognition started randomly, but I didn’t expect it to happen even during a meeting.

What on earth is going on this time…….

Static—

Soon, a rough video passes before my eyes.

Flash—

The YTN news screen appeared before my eyes.

April 26th?

That’s today?!

A video that appears to have been taken from a car’s black box is playing.

Several men are seen standing leaning against the railing of the 3rd-floor outdoor terrace.

Crack!

Suddenly, the precarious iron railing falls off completely, and the men flail and fall!

Soon, the screen connects to the accident site where the reporter is dispatched.