Fifth Vital [EN]: Chapter 281

Five Vital Signs – Episode 281 (281/502)

Episode 281. Did You Choke?

The gazes they exchanged were full of affection, their lips slowly drawing closer.

Just as their lips were about to meet,

Clunk-

The front door of the quiet house burst open.

Startled by the sudden noise, they broke apart and looked toward the entrance.

“There’s nothing to eat in the house…”

The unexpected visitor was Tae-kyung’s mother, Mrs. Lee.

“Oh, Mom?!”

At the sound of “Mom,” Ui-jin, who had been so close to Tae-kyung, quickly stepped back, her eyes widening with clear embarrassment. Tae-kyung was equally surprised.

He couldn’t understand why his mother, who should have been at their house in Yangpyeong, was at his rooftop apartment.

“Tae, Tae-kyung?”

“What brings you here without any notice? Is something wrong?”

“Nothing’s…”

Mrs. Lee was just as flustered as they were.

While a grown son meeting a woman might seem ordinary, it was significant for Mrs. Lee.

Unlike her outgoing eldest son, Tae-hoon, who had many friends of both genders, Tae-kyung had always been focused on his studies.

Seeing him like this was astonishing.

“Mom, is something really wrong?”

“What do you mean? Soon-yi’s eldest is getting married in Seoul, so I stopped by to bring you some side dishes.”

“You should have called me.”

“Of course, I did. I left you a message because I thought you might be in surgery. Didn’t you see it?”

Even though it was her son’s house, Mrs. Lee wasn’t the type to visit without contacting him first.

Tae-kyung realized his mistake and checked his phone.

– Tae-kyung, Mom is going to a wedding in Seoul and will stop by to bring you some side dishes. If you’re busy, don’t worry about it and go about your work. I’ll put them in the fridge and leave.

– Always be careful during surgery and say a warm word to your patients. Eat well and stay strong, son.

Sure enough, there was a message. He had been busy all day and hadn’t checked it.

“Ah! I’m sorry. I was so out of it that I didn’t check.”

“Sorry for what? Where were you coming from?”

“It was my day off, so I went to the wedding of a patient’s daughter I operated on a while ago.”

“Good. You should rest at times like this. But Tae-kyung?”

She spoke calmly, but Mrs. Lee was bursting with curiosity about the mysterious woman. She lowered her voice so Ui-jin wouldn’t hear.

“Who is that young lady over there…?”

“Ah! Just a moment. Ui-jin?”

Tae-kyung took Ui-jin’s hand and walked toward Mrs. Lee.

“Ui-jin, this is my mom.”

“Hello. Nice to meet you. I’m Jung Ui-jin.”

Ui-jin greeted Mrs. Lee politely with a smile.

“Nice to meet you too.”

“Ui-jin is a doctor working at the same hospital as me. She’s my girlfriend.”

“What! Girlfriend?!”

The way they were holding hands suggested they were more than just friends, but when Tae-kyung introduced her as his girlfriend, Mrs. Lee couldn’t hide her surprise.

She had always hoped Tae-kyung would meet someone nice, date, and get married, but she never expected him to actually have a girlfriend.

‘Tae-kyung, would you like to go on a blind date?’

‘I’m seeing someone.’

‘You’re seeing someone?’

‘Yes. I’ll introduce her to you when I get the chance.’

She thought he was just saying that to avoid the blind date, but it was true.

“Gi, girlfriend?”

“Yes.”

“Oh my goodness! How can she have such big and pretty eyes? It’s so nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you too. Please, speak comfortably, Mother.”

“You speak so beautifully too. No, I’ll speak comfortably later. But Tae-kyung, haven’t you had dinner yet?”

Mrs. Lee noticed the grocery bag on the porch.

“No, actually, I bought some groceries to grill meat with Ui-jin.”

“Really? Then I’ll be going, so hurry up and grill it. Ui-jin must be hungry.”

“Mother, if you haven’t had dinner, please join us.”

Friendly Ui-jin was the first to suggest it.

“What about Mom’s meal? Please eat with us.”

“Then Mom will quickly prepare dinner. Tae-kyung, you stay here and talk with Ui-jin.”

“Mother, let me help you…”

“Oh my! No, no!”

Mrs. Lee strongly dissuaded Ui-jin from helping and prevented her from entering the house.

“You must have been surprised to suddenly run into me, so just relax and have fun today. Tae-kyung, if you let Ui-jin come into the house, you’ll be in trouble with me.”

“Did you hear that? Ui-jin, you stay put on the porch.”

“How can I do that? Sunbae [senior colleague], I think it would be better if I went in and helped…”

“No. Mom will be more comfortable that way. By the way, are you okay with eating with my mom?”

“Of course. Of course, I’m okay with it. Your mother has a very kind face.”

“Thank you for saying that. Ui-jin, just sit here for a moment. I’ll go help my mom.”

“I’ll help you too.”

“No, just stay still today. Got it? Don’t move.”

Kiss-

“If you get up again, I’ll keep kissing you.”

“Okay.”

Tae-kyung sat Ui-jin down on the porch, quickly kissed her, and went inside.

After a while, the porch was filled with food, enough to break the table.

With the side dishes Mrs. Lee had prepared, along with soybean paste stew, fresh kimchi, acorn jelly salad, and more, it was a feast that rivaled a restaurant, making their mouths water.

Sizzle-

On top of the scorching hot lid, the sizzling sound of delicious pork belly was the perfect finishing touch.

“You must be hungry. Ui-jin, eat quickly. I don’t know what to do since I haven’t prepared much.”

“You say you haven’t prepared much? This is a feast.”

“I don’t know if it will suit your taste.”

“Wow! The acorn jelly is really delicious.”

“Really? I made it myself. That’s good. Eat some meat too.”

“Mother, please have some too.”

“I’ll grill the meat, so Mom, please eat quickly.”

“It’s okay! I ate a lot at the wedding. And I tasted so much while cooking that I’m full. You two eat quickly. The moment my baby has something delicious in his mouth, I’m full.”

She wasn’t particularly hungry, but Mrs. Lee was happy just watching her son bring his pretty girlfriend home and eat together, which made her feel full.

After enjoying dinner, the three of them ate fruit and had a conversation.

“Thank you for treating me to dinner tonight. I really enjoyed it.”

“You eat so well, and I’m more grateful. I’ll make you something delicious again next time. See you again, us.”

“Yes, Mother. I’ll see you again. Then I’ll be going.”

“Okay. Go carefully.”

After a pleasant conversation, Ui-jin said goodbye to Mrs. Lee, and Tae-kyung went outside with Ui-jin to wait for a taxi.

“Were you uncomfortable having dinner with my mom so suddenly?”

“Uncomfortable? Not at all. The food was delicious, and your mother took good care of me, so I felt good.”

“That’s a relief.”

“And no matter how busy you are, please contact your mother often.”

“I understand. I will from now on.”

“I really had a great time today.”

“Me too. I had a great time. Let’s go to a better place next time.”

“Yes. Oh! There’s a taxi coming over there. Sunbae, go back in.”

“I’ll watch you go. Call me as soon as you get home. And if anything happens, call me right away. Got it?”

“Sunbae, I’m not a child, you know?”

“You look like a child to me.”

“What is that? Okay. I’ll go now.”

“Okay, go carefully.”

Tae-kyung stared intently until the taxi carrying Ui-jin disappeared down the alley and then went up to the rooftop.

“Did she leave safely?”

“Yes. It’s late, so sleep here and go in the morning.”

“I should.”

“But our Mrs. Lee’s mouth is wide open. Are you that happy?”

“Of course, I’m happy. What parent wouldn’t be happy when their son, who is only at the hospital day and night, brings a girlfriend home? She’s very kind and bright, and Mom likes her very much.”

“She’s a good person.”

“Yes, it’s written on her face that she’s a good person. Marriage… you’re thinking about it, right?”

“Of course.”

“You have to treat her well no matter what. Women don’t need anything else. They like men who listen to them, listen well, and are the same from beginning to end. And always give in. Always tell them they’re pretty. Do you know what I mean?”

“Did Father do that too?”

“Of course. Your dad was secretly a romanticist. Later, he loved alcohol more than your mom, which was a bit of a problem. Anyway, remember what Mom said.”

“Yes, I will keep our Mrs. Lee’s words in mind.”

Tae-kyung finished the day with Mrs. Lee, looking at the night view and sharing happy stories.

* * *

Our Hospital the next day-

“Are you out of your mind?”

“I can’t be that out of my mind. I’m okay.”

Tae-kyung, who had been seeing outpatients since early in the morning, finally had time to leave the clinic and have a cup of coffee.

“Did you have a good wedding?”

“Yes, I had a good time. Choi Sun-hae’s family asked me to tell you that they are all grateful.”

“I got a call from the hospital earlier.”

“A call from Choi Sun-hae?”

“Yes, I’m telling you now because of the outpatient clinic. Everyone is grateful for sending the congratulatory money, so they sent rice cakes to the hospital.”

“They didn’t have to do that…”

“Even if I said I would only accept the thought, they said they had already placed the order.”

“I should give them a call separately.”

“I think that would be good.”

“There are no outpatients now, right?”

“Yes, not for now.”

“Then I’ll go to the ward.”

“Yes, Doctor.”

Tae-kyung, about to enter the cafeteria for coffee before heading to the ward, stopped and turned around.

“What is it?”

He addressed Lee Chan-hee, who was entering the cafeteria behind him.

“…Yes?!”

Tae-kyung was bothered by Lee Chan-hee’s piercing gaze, which he had felt since he came to work.

“You have something to say to me, right? What is it?”

“Me? No. I came to get coffee too.”

He denied it, but Lee Chan-hee did have something he wanted to ask: how Tae-kyung ended up dating Ui-jin.

He knew asking about someone’s love life was rude, but he wanted to hear the secret and get advice.

It was simple curiosity.

“Really? Are you sure?”

“No. Actually, there is something I want to ask you, Doctor.”

“Don’t tell me you made a mistake with a patient?”

“Hey, Doctor! It’s not like that.”

“What is it that you’re hesitating about?”

“Can I ask you a personal question?”

“Then can I ask you a personal question first?”

“Yes, I don’t care, so feel free to ask.”

“Chan-hee?”

“Yes, Doctor.”

“Do you like Mona?”

“Puhah!”

Lee Chan-hee, caught off guard by Tae-kyung’s direct question, spat out his coffee.

Coffee mist sprayed on Tae-kyung’s face.

“Cough!”

“This, Doctor, what’s wrong with you?”

Oh Gye-soon, the kitchen manager, stroked Lee Chan-hee’s back and handed him a tissue.

“Did you choke on the expensive coffee? Why are you suddenly spitting perfectly good coffee into the air? Doctor Lee, are you okay?”

“Cough! I’m okay. So, I’m sorry, Doctor.”

“It’s okay. My face was dry anyway, so it’s good. I’m going first.”

“I haven’t asked my question yet… Doctor? Don’t go?”

“What are you saying while spilling coffee? Hurry up and wipe it off.”

Tae-kyung, amused, patted Lee Chan-hee on the shoulder and left the cafeteria.

* * *

OO High School.

Ding-dong- Ding-dong-

With the bell, students began moving to their seats.

Creak-

“Okay! Okay! Sit down quickly.”

“Ah, Teacher, why did you come so early?”

“Come early? I came because the bell rang.”

The teacher nagged the students to prepare for class.

“Everyone, open your books. Continuing from last time, today…”

As the teacher wrote on the blackboard,

Thud-

A female student in the back slumped to the floor.