Dr. Shin Seonhan: The Doctor Who Sees The Future [EN]: Chapter 88

#88 Breath (19)

Throb—

Song-yi frowned.

What’s wrong with me?

Could it be because I studied too hard for the first time in a while?

My breathing feels a bit more labored, and I feel discomfort inside my chest where I had surgery.

‘Well… I looked it up online, and it said it’s normal to hurt after surgery. I must be okay.’

Song-yi shook her head.

Studying is more important than that.

I should take a fever reducer.

Song-yi swallowed the pill and tried to concentrate on studying again.

Just then, her phone vibrated in her pocket.

Buzz—

[Seonhan]: Song-yi, why didn’t you come to the hospital?

Huh?

Could this person be…?

Song-yi checked the sender’s profile picture with a mix of doubt and anticipation.

It looked familiar.

I thought I wouldn’t see him again after being discharged, but I felt happy to hear from him again.

[Song-yi]: OMG, Teacher???

[Seonhan]: Yes.

[Song-yi]: This is a major event. How did such a noble person contact me on this humble number?

[Seonhan]: I’m asking again, why didn’t you come to the hospital?

Scary!

I feel like I’m going to get scolded.

Judging by the way he usually talks, I thought he had a kind personality, but his texts are so stern.

Song-yi sent an affectionate reply along with a blue cat emoticon twisting its body.

[Song-yi]: My mom said I have to go a week later because of exams… I’m sorry…

[Seonhan]: You should have come alone.

[Song-yi]: My mom won’t let me go anywhere during exam period ㅠㅠ I’ll definitely go after the exams, Teacher!

[Seonhan]: Okay.

Phew.

Song-yi stroked her chest.

Then, another message popped up on the screen.

[Seonhan]: By the way, Ban Jin-ho is coming to our hospital tomorrow.

A question mark appeared above Song-yi’s head.

Why Ban Jin-ho all of a sudden?

It must be a joke.

But then a poster is sent.

It seemed to be a small charity event for children with cancer, hosted by Yeon-guk University Hospital.

[Seonhan]: Ban Jin-ho will make a surprise appearance here tomorrow and do a fan service.

[Song-yi]: Really?

[Seonhan]: Yes. It’s a secret, so only you know.

Is it real?

Nah… it must be a lie, right?

No way. Why would Ban Jin-ho suddenly show up at the hospital?

As she was thinking that, Seonhan’s message continued.

[Seonhan]: I was going to let you see him from the front row if you could come tomorrow, but I guess not. Front row?

Song-yi’s eyes widened.

That means she could see Ban Jin-ho up close.

She had never seen Ban Jin-ho up close because she had never won a fan signing event before…

Thinking about it, Song-yi’s heart fluttered.

‘Could it be real?’

With that thought, Song-yi accessed Ban Jin-ho’s SNS [Social Networking Service] account.

Then, a new post had just been uploaded today.

Underneath Ban Jin-ho’s selfie, a meaningful message was written short and sweet.

#27_WED #Babies_Wait

With that one post, the fan community was in an uproar with all sorts of speculations.

—OMG our Jin-ho ㅠㅠ

—A surprise event ㄷㄷ

—How long has it been since the concert ended? He’s working so hard.

—But what does the tag at the bottom mean? ‘Babies, wait’?

—Does he call us babies?

—I guess so.

—Wow, Ban Jin-ho, I gave you so much attention, and now you’re treating your fans like babies. I’m so speechless. Boo-hoo-hoo—ㅋㅋㅋ

—ㅋㅋㅋ

People were letting their imaginations run wild with the new information.

Meanwhile, Song-yi had a hunch.

‘Babies, wait?’

If you think of it as a performance for pediatric patients, it makes sense.

It seems that what Teacher Seonhan said was true.

‘Ah, I want to go… but if it’s Wednesday evening, it’s 5 days before the exam? No, no!’

Song-yi shook her head vigorously.

The final exam is coming up soon.

No matter how much she likes Ban Jin-ho, she can’t waste her precious study time…

‘Wait. No.’

Song-yi’s eyes sparkled.

The academy [private tutoring school] is a 7-minute taxi ride from Yeon-guk University Hospital.

She thinks it’s close enough to go.

‘The performance starts at 7 and the academy’s special lecture starts at 8… so if I skip dinner, I can go here and then run to the academy, right?’

If she gives up dinner, she can see Ban Jin-ho up close?

Thinking about it, Song-yi’s mind started calculating.

Just then, the door opened slightly.

“My daughter.”

“Huh? Mom.”

“You weren’t on your phone instead of studying, were you?”

“No.”

Song-yi already had a pen in her hand.

The phone was already in Song-yi’s pocket.

It was a reaction speed honed through numerous experiences.

Anyway, if Mom finds out about this plan, it’s over.

‘I’m going to study hard for that day!’

Song-yi clenched her fist.

Suddenly, the desire to learn began to burn in her heart.

Song-yi resolutely stood up with her textbooks and notebooks.

And she opened a small wooden door installed in one corner of the room.

“Mom, don’t disturb me tonight.”

A study booth.

It was a piece of furniture that Song-yi’s mom had installed in her daughter’s room.

A closed space about 1 meter wide and long.

Inside, there is a desk and chair that can barely fit one person.

The entrance door has a small window so you can look inside from the outside.

In some ways, it looks like a prison for studying, in short, a small reading room.

“What’s wrong? I spent a lot of money to install it, but you said it was stuffy and you didn’t like it.”

Creak—

Ignoring her mother’s muttering, Song-yi opened the door.

She had a solemn expression, like a monk about to undergo a retreat.

Flap flap!

Soon, the pages of Song-yi’s book turned at lightning speed as she entered the study booth.

I can see Ban Jin-ho!

With that one thought, Song-yi was spurring on her studies.

‘My daughter has finally learned the joy of studying!’

Meanwhile, Song-yi’s mom was making a touching expression, thinking that.

* * *

“So you really invited him? Ban Jin…?”

“Shhh.”

Sodam and I covered Yeonseo’s mouth without either of us saying anything first.

“This is beyond imagination. I wondered why there were so many cameras for a charity performance.”

Yeonseo said, looking around.

Buzzing—

The lobby on the first floor of Yeon-guk University Hospital was full of people.

There was even a Jimmy jib [a type of camera crane] installed.

It was quite luxurious equipment for a simple charity performance.

At the front of the central stage, children with cancer in wheelchairs were sitting.

And behind them, guardians, parents, and medical staff were mixed together, watching the stage.

“But why didn’t they promote it? They’ve invited such a great guest…”

“I guess they’re going for a guerrilla concert feel.”

“Ah. A surprise event?”

“If it had been announced in advance, the second-floor hallway would have been packed, and there wouldn’t have been room to step.”

“I guess so…”

While the colleagues were talking, it felt like the event was about to begin.

Soon, MC Jo Se-oh, who was in charge of the event, grabbed the microphone and began to skillfully take control of the stage.

He was a comedian-turned-entertainer who often appeared on entertainment programs, so he was well-known.

Small laughter spread among the people taking pictures and videos here and there.

Wahaha—

Laughter spreads again.

Because he was proceeding with a funny tone like a comedian, the children sitting in the front row were enjoying themselves, unable to take their eyes off him.

“So where is Ban Jin-ho?”

Yeonseo whispered.

Then Sodam pointed to one side with her finger.

“He’s over there.”

“Where, where?”

Our eyes shifted.

Ban Jin-ho was sitting near the staff.

How fascinating.

He was wearing a hat and a mask, but you could tell he was a celebrity at first glance.

Even though he covered everything he could, a celebrity is a celebrity.

Anyway, no one around him noticed.

Because they can’t imagine that a famous idol would come to a place like this.

‘Okay. The stage is set…’

The bait is ready.

But Song-yi is late.

I was waiting with a slightly anxious heart when a message arrived.

[Song-yi]: Teacher! Did Ban Jin-ho come out?

[Seonhan]: Not yet. Where are you?

[Song-yi]: I’m almost there now! In front of the bakery!

I looked around.

It’s relatively quiet now because they’re doing a magic show.

Some of the people who came to see MC Jo Se-oh at first had left.

But if Ban Jin-ho shows up, it will quickly become a sea of people.

“I’ll go get Song-yi for a second.”

I told my colleagues, pushed through the crowd, and waited in front of Gate 1 where Song-yi would come in.

Then, opening the revolving door, Song-yi came in, panting.

“Did you run here?”

“Yes. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to see my oppa [term used to refer to an older brother or male friend, also used by young female fans to refer to male celebrities]…”

Song-yi gasped for breath, then widened her eyes when she saw Ban Jin-ho sitting far away.

“Wow… it’s real, wow…”

Is she an eagle eye?

She found Ban Jin-ho right away among more than a hundred people.

I was newly surprised by Song-yi’s fan power.

“Can you tell even from this far away? Even though he’s covered up?”

“Yes. Just by looking at his neckline and shoulder silhouette, I can tell it’s Ban Jin-ho. I can even guess it’s our oppa just by looking at his wrist bones.”

Amazing.

Even Ban Jin-ho’s mom wouldn’t be able to do that.

While I was admiring, Song-yi stomped her feet and looked at Ban Jin-ho and said.

“Oh, what should I do… I get to see him this close… Teacher, if my heart stops, please give me CPR.”

Don’t say scary things, Song-yi.

I don’t think your words are a joke right now.

Thinking that, I looked at Song-yi’s profile, who was out of her mind over Ban Jin-ho…

“Song-yi.”

“Yes?”

I looked at Song-yi closely.

Her breathing is fast, and her breathing seems a little rough.

Does her voice also have a bit of phlegm?

She definitely wasn’t like this when she was discharged.

Is it because she ran here?

No.

It seems that her basic deep breathing is faster than usual, just to say that.

“You’re not feeling well, are you? How long have you been sick?”

Song-yi’s eyes widened as if surprised by my questioning.

“Well, it’s not that I’m very sick…”

“Look here for a second.”

I reached out and touched Song-yi’s forehead.

…I can feel the heat in her body.

The sweat on her forehead doesn’t seem to be from running.

‘Tachypnea [rapid breathing] accompanied by sputum [phlegm] and fever [fever].’

I coldly assessed Song-yi’s condition.

Then Song-yi looked at me with an uneasy expression and said as if making an excuse.

“I’ve been feeling a little weird since last night, but it wasn’t like I was really sick.”

“You should come to the hospital right away if you feel even a little strange. It hasn’t been long since you had surgery.”

“Actually…”

Song-yi hesitated and answered.

Just then, a loud voice was heard from behind us.

“Hey, Yang Song-yi!”

Song-yi was startled and turned around.