Fifth Vital [EN]: Chapter 133

Episode 133. Important Experiment

Yeoul Fire Station –

“Ugh. That was a good meal.”

“It’s weird, but I feel even hungrier after going on a call in the morning.”

The firefighters finished their lunch and returned to the office.

“Doesn’t the Chief feel the same way?”

“It’s because of the tension. Isn’t that right, Seung-won?”

The Chief, who answered the youngest member’s question with a hearty laugh, asked Firefighter Do Seung-won, who was sitting across from him.

“You might feel that way in your first year. When I was the youngest, I was always so hungry after going on a call.”

“As expected, you’re the only one who understands me, Senior.”

“Look at him, he’s so happy because his direct superior is taking his side.”

“By the way, I really want an ‘Ah-Ah’ after lunch today. Don’t you think so, Team Leader?”

“What’s an ‘Ah-Ah’?”

“They say it’s an abbreviation for ‘Iced Americano’ that young people use these days.”

“Forget it. Just do what you always do. What’s a 40-year-old doing saying ‘Ah-Ah’?”

“Come on, Team Leader. 40 is still young these days.”

“The Chief is right about that.”

“How about we all get an ‘Ah-Ah’?”

“Sounds good. Is the Chief buying?”

“Hey, coffee prices are no joke these days. We should do a ladder game to be fair [a random selection game].”

“I’ll pay.”

Do Seung-won, who had been looking at the monitor, stood up with a cool expression and held up his coffee charge card.

“Oh! That’s an expensive Star Coffee card. Did your senior buy it for you?”

“No. Seung-hee gave it to me as a gift to use when I have coffee with the team.”

“Wow! Seung-won has it all. He’s good-looking, tall, and even has a pretty and kind girlfriend.”

“Come on, Chief. Stop it and just tell me what you want to drink.”

“Look at him, he’s even quick-witted. He’s the treasure of our team. Then I’ll have a Java Chip Frappuccino with lots of whipped cream.”

“Then I’ll have a Green Tea Frappuccino.”

“Frappa what? Forget it, everyone just get an ‘Ah-Ah’. People who are getting a free drink shouldn’t be so picky. Seung-won, ‘Ah-Ah’ for everyone.”

“Yes, Team Leader. Then coffee……”

Knock knock-

“Yes.”

Do Seung-won was about to get up to buy coffee when he heard a knock on the office door.

Click-

“Hello, everyone.”

“Seung-hee?”

“Oh my. What brings Seung-hee here?”

The woman who came to the office was Do Seung-won’s girlfriend, Lee Seung-hee.

“I was passing by and had something to deliver, so I stopped by for a moment.”

With a charming smile and dimples, she shook the coffee carrier she was holding.

“Team Leader and Oppa [term for older brother/boyfriend] get Iced Americano, Chief and Jae-won get Java Chip and Green Tea Frappuccino, and I have everything for the others too.”

Lee Seung-hee knew the team members’ coffee preferences so well that she was close to them.

“Thank you, Seung-hee.”

“Thank you for the coffee.”

“You’re welcome. Everyone have a safe day today. Then I’ll be going now.”

Click-

“Why did you buy coffee?”

Do Seung-won followed Lee Seung-hee out of the office, expressing his gratitude and apology.

“It’s just once in a while. Today is Oppa’s week, right?”

“Yeah. I’ll pick you up after work. Let’s go eat meat today.”

“Meat sounds good. I’ll see you then. Don’t come out.”

“Seung-hee?”

Do Seung-won, who had stopped Lee Seung-hee from really leaving, looked down the hallway and quickly kissed her on the cheek.

“You have an experiment today, right? Be careful.”

“I’m all about safety first. You be careful too, Oppa.”

Do Seung-won’s eyes were filled with honey as he watched Lee Seung-hee wave and leave.

Click-

“Did Seung-hee leave?”

“Yes, Team Leader.”

“Thanks for the coffee. Make sure to tell her I said thank you.”

“Me too.”

“Me too. But how did you two meet?”

“Come to think of it, the youngest one doesn’t know.”

“The two of them met while on a call.”

Do Seung-won had gone to a fire scene in a studio apartment a few years ago. He met Lee Seung-hee, who was living in that building at the time, while rescuing her, and the two have been growing their love ever since.

“That’s amazing. It’s like a radio story. Seeing this, I guess fate really does exist.”

“Seung-hee is a very good person. She’s sociable, has a bright personality, and is just the best.”

“The Team Leader is right. There are many people, but it’s rare to find someone as good as her.”

Do Seung-won puffed out his chest as if he had been praised, hearing the Team Leader and Chief compliment his girlfriend.

To Do Seung-won, Lee Seung-hee was his heart and the person he loved so much that he wouldn’t hesitate to give his life for her.

Even when carrying over 20kg of equipment and risking his life in the fire, he wasn’t afraid because of the love of his girlfriend, who believed in and supported him.

Do Seung-won, who dreamed of being a firefighter, was working hard to achieve his second dream these days. That dream was to marry his beloved girlfriend and build a happy family.

Do Seung-won was working hard today for that dream.

“I’ll definitely support you until you get married, Senior.”

“Thank you.”

“Have you met Seung-hee’s parents?”

“I think I’ll be having dinner with Seung-hee’s parents soon.”

“What! Are you going to get their approval for marriage?”

“No.”

Do Seung-won laughed and waved his hand at the word marriage.

“Seung-hee told me to come over for dinner, so I’m really just going to say hello.”

“That’s the same thing. Hurry up and treat us to noodles [a celebratory meal].”

“Yes, I’ll try.”

-Fire reported in a residential area of Yeoul-dong. 1st floor of a 4-story villa at oo address.

As they were laughing and talking, the dispatch signal dropped without warning, as always. The expressions of Do Seung-won and his team members, who had been having a pleasant conversation until just now, changed in an instant, and they hurried to prepare for the dispatch.

There was still time left for lunch, but the dispatch signal was more important to them. With the siren blaring, the fire truck left the fire station.

Shortly after, the fire truck that had gone to the scene returned to the fire station in a fairly short amount of time.

“It was a prank call?”

The Team Leader, who came out of the office, asked the team members who were getting out of the truck.

“Yes, I thought there hadn’t been any prank calls lately, but it’s starting again.”

“Still, it’s a relief that there wasn’t a real fire.”

“That’s true. Anyway, I wish the prank calls would just stop.”

“Seung-won?”

The Team Leader approached Do Seung-won, who was organizing his equipment.

“You have a visitor. Go to the cafeteria.”

“A visitor? I don’t have anyone who would come……”

His family all lived in Jeju Island, so there was no one who would come to visit.

“It’s Seung-hee’s father.”

Do Seung-won’s face hardened slightly at the sound of his girlfriend’s father.

“Just go for now, and if a dispatch alert comes, we’ll go immediately.”

“Yes, thank you, Team Leader.”

Do Seung-won quickly headed to the cafeteria.

* * *

“Hello, Father.”

“Has Seung-won been well?”

Lee Yong-hyun, wearing glasses with a simple impression, was using honorifics to Do Seung-won, who was younger than him.

“I’m sorry for coming to visit you so suddenly without contacting you, even though you’re a busy person.”

“It’s alright, Father.”

He had already met Lee Yong-hyun because he always took Lee Seung-hee home after their dates.

After retiring as a teacher, he ran a convenience store with his wife. He was a sincere, polite, and kind-hearted person.

He was such a good person that Lee Seung-hee chose her father as the person she respected without hesitation. And Lee Yong-hyun cherished and loved his only daughter, Lee Seung-hee, very much.

“Take this and share it with your team members later.”

Lee Hyun-seung handed Do Seung-won a box of drinks that he had brought.

“You didn’t have to bring anything……. Thank you, I’ll enjoy it.”

“Okay. I actually stopped by to talk to Seung-won about something.”

“Yes, Father, please speak comfortably.”

“Seung-hee asked me when would be a good time for Seung-won to come to our house to say hello, but I was wondering if you could not come to our house.”

“Is there something wrong?”

“Seung-won, are you thinking about marrying our Seung-hee?”

“Yes, Father. I want to marry Seung-hee.”

“I’m really sorry, but……”

Lee Yong-hyun spoke with difficulty to Do Seung-won, who was sitting across from him.

“I want you to think carefully about that marriage.”

Do Seung-won was a good person with a good appearance, tall, respectful of elders, and reliable. Lee Yong-hyun knew that too. But there was only one thing that bothered him, and that was his job.

He was honestly not happy about his daughter’s boyfriend’s job as a firefighter who put out fires.

He knew very well how noble the firefighters’ spirit of sacrifice was and how great they were.

However, he also knew the danger of that job, where they risked their lives, so he couldn’t easily allow his daughter’s marriage.

“I know that Seung-hee prays every night before going to bed and checks on Seung-won’s well-being frequently even on her days off. Every time I see that, my wife and I don’t feel very comfortable.”

Do Seung-won didn’t know what to say.

He knew in advance that his girlfriend’s father was against the marriage, but he didn’t know what to do when he heard the story directly.

Do Seung-won knew best what kind of heart the family of a firefighter lived with.

The Team Leader’s mother and wife still went to church in the early morning to pray for their husband’s safety.

The families of the Chief and the other team members were all in similar situations.

“I’m sorry, Father.”

“It’s not Seung-won’s fault. I’m the one who’s sorry for bringing up this story.”

“Father, I really love Seung-hee very much.”

It seemed like a cliché and obvious answer, but he couldn’t find a more honest word than that.

“I can’t say that my job isn’t dangerous. But one thing I can say for sure is that I’m confident that I can make Seung-hee really happy.”

Do Seung-won, thinking of words that could turn Lee Yong-hyun’s heart around even a little, brought up words that he could promise.

“If you say that the other way around, it’s the same as saying that Seung-hee can’t be happy without Seung-won.”

“…….”

“If something happens to Seung-won, even by any chance, Seung-hee will live a desperate life from that day on.”

It was a word that he couldn’t deny. His head was dizzy and he felt like a huge rock was stuck in his chest.

“I’m sorry.”

Lee Yong-hyun left a short apology to Do Seung-won, who had lowered his head, and left the cafeteria.

“Ha!”

After sitting in that spot for a long time, Do Seung-won let out a heavy sigh and the Team Leader was standing in front of him as he left the cafeteria.

“Team Leader?”

“Looking at your expression, Seung-hee’s father opposed it. Right?”

“How did you know?”

“How would I know? I know because I’ve been through it all. From the perspective of a father with a daughter, he can definitely do that. Don’t feel too bad.”

“Of course. I don’t feel bad.”

“So, are you going to give up on the marriage?”

“No. I won’t give up. But how did you get his approval, Team Leader?”

“Is there a great reason? I just waited steadily and stubbornly for his heart to be relieved and for him to see me as a person.”

“I’ll have to wait stubbornly too.”

“Yeah, there’s no one as stubborn as our Seung-won. Cheer up.”

“Yes, Team Leader.”

Do Seung-won, who was energized by the Team Leader, regained his composure.

He thought that it wouldn’t be easy right away, but he would have to keep showing a good image. Then he thought that there would definitely be good results.

“What’s that?”

“This? It’s a drink that Seung-hee’s father gave me. Would you like one, Team Leader?”

“No. I’m full.”

Do Seung-won, who entered the office with the Team Leader, went on two dispatches to small fire scenes.

“It’s almost time for shift change.”

Do Seung-won, who looked at his watch at the youngest member’s words, was about to text Lee Seung-hee when it happened.

-Ding-dong

-Yeoul Fire Station dispatch preparation.

With the alarm sound, the dispatch signal dropped.

-Dispatch preparation.

The team members sprinted as if competing with each other and arrived at the fire truck in an instant.

-Fire at oo University oo Laboratory.