Fifth Vital [EN]: Chapter 360

361. Hair Dryer

After the surgery was scheduled, Patient 1137 was moved to a private room a bit away from the other wards.

Before the surgery, after receiving explanations about the tests and instructions, he lay on the bed, having been given a dose of narcotic painkillers.

“Then, if you need anything or if the patient is in a lot of pain, please press this bell here.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you.”

“1137, are you feeling a bit better?”

“Yes… It’s bearable, thanks to the pain medication.”

Perhaps it was the painkillers, but Patient 1137’s face definitely looked better compared to before.

If earlier his face showed he was suffering from extreme pain, it wasn’t as severe now.

“The nurse said earlier that it’s a narcotic painkiller. They said it’s very effective, so it’s a relief that the medicine is working.”

“His expression looks better than before.”

“Indeed. But looking closely, his eyes are swollen, and his whole body is covered in bruises.”

The prison guards, who had been *jeongshini eopdeon* [mentally exhausted/distracted] from the prison to the hospital, could now see the bruises and injuries all over Patient 1137’s body in detail.

“I know this well, it’s going to take quite a while for these bruises to fade…”

“Hey, how do you know how long bruises last?”

“When I was in college, I fell and hit a table while singing after drinking at a family gathering during a holiday. The bruises on my face lasted quite a while, so I know.”

“I thought this guy was quiet, but it turns out he can be quite the drunk?”

“I often act up when I drink intentionally with my family.”

“Drink in moderation. Drinking too much increases your tolerance and is bad for your health.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Anyway, you there?”

The senior guard, who had been chatting with his junior, turned his head and called out to Patient 1137.

“Yes, officer.”

“Why were you getting beaten by those guys? The inmates in the next room said you were getting your ass kicked.”

“Well… It started because I said something to that friend about gambling.”

“Gambling? You mean that gambling addict in the same cell?”

“Yes.”

‘*Noreumi*’ meant someone who was crazy about gambling, and ‘*Shilshili*’ was the nickname of an inmate who was always giggling.

“He seemed like he hadn’t broken his habit even after suffering and causing trouble because of gambling. So, I’ve been nagging him for the past few days to come to his senses and live right. He’s still young, so he can get a certificate in prison, serve his time, and make a fresh start.”

“That aside, why did the others gang up on you?”

“*Shilshili* was in a bad mood that day. So, when the other inmates defended him and told me to stop, I told them all a thing or two. I told them to come to their senses and live right, and that they should live the rest of their lives properly. Then they all got angry and beat me.”

“This, this is exactly what Mr. Lee Ji-guk said.”

The guard sighed and continued after hearing Patient 1137’s words.

“Ha! You know, you’re good in many ways, but sometimes that’s the problem. You know, the inmates in prison aren’t all like you.”

“You’re right, sir. Some people come to their senses and leave as new people, but there are also many who just go in and out like they’re stamping their attendance card.”

“That’s what I’m saying. Why are you acting like this when you should know better? Especially those who live as they please like *Shilshili*, they won’t listen no matter how nicely you talk to them. So, don’t bother giving advice or anything like that, trying to help others. Advice is for those who are ready to listen.”

“I know. But I can’t help it.”

“Take this opportunity to reduce your meddling.”

“Yes, I really need to now.”

Knock knock-

A knock was heard on the ward door while the three were talking.

“Yes, come in.”

“I came to give you two this.”

The person who opened the door slightly and showed his face was Oh Chang-gyu. He showed the two men the coffee he was holding.

“Isn’t that Americano? We were just talking about how much we wanted coffee.”

“I heard you two talking about coffee earlier. It’s the coffee the staff drinks, but please have it if it’s okay.”

Oh Chang-gyu got permission and brought coffee from the staff cafeteria.

“Of course, it’s okay. Thank you so much.”

The two men guarding 1137, upon seeing the coffee, immediately brightened up.

Oh Chang-gyu, who had fully entered the ward, was handing out disposable coffee cups to the two men when it happened.

“Oh!”

In an instant, Oh Chang-gyu stumbled, lost his balance as he hit the leg of the chair the guard was sitting on, and spilled coffee on the senior guard.

The coffee was completely spilled on the center of his pants.

“I’m sorry. I tripped over my leg… I’m really sorry. Are you okay?”

“It’s okay. It’s not like you did it on purpose. But my pants are all wet, what should I do?”

“Why don’t you dry them with a hair dryer?”

“Is there a dryer?”

“Yes. It’s in the shower room used by the staff. Go wash up and dry your pants.”

“Could you bring me the dryer?”

“I’m sorry. It’s only for the shower room, so I can’t move it.”

“It’s hard for me to leave my post… I guess I’ll just let them dry naturally.”

“I’ll stay here!”

Oh Chang-gyu said as the senior guard said he would just stay there with a helpless expression.

“Yes?”

“I’ll stay in the ward with the *gyodogwa-nim* [correctional officer] until the guard comes back. Your pants got wet because of me, so please go and change.”

“That’s right, sir. I think it’ll be fine if you’re with the nurse? You don’t have spare clothes, and it’ll be uncomfortable if you stay like that.”

“Are you sure it’ll be okay?”

The junior guard whispered quietly in the senior guard’s ear.

“And honestly, this guy is in better shape and much more reliable than you, sir.”

“That goes for you too. Alright. Be careful and call me immediately if anything happens.”

“Yes, don’t worry and go.”

The guard with the wet pants headed to the shower room that Oh Chang-gyu had told him about.

Oh Chang-gyu cleaned up the coffee spilled on the ward floor and threw the remaining coffee in the ward’s bathroom. Then, he informed the nurse at the station about the situation and decided to stay in the ward.

“The coffee is really delicious.”

The junior guard spoke to Oh Chang-gyu to break the awkward atmosphere.

“It’s delicious, right? The cafeteria lady grinds the beans herself. So it’s fresh and delicious.”

“Really? No wonder it’s different. Isn’t it hard working at the hospital?”

“I find this job fun. It’s rewarding too. Isn’t it harder for you guards?”

“It’s hard sometimes, but I also feel a sense of accomplishment, so I’ve been doing it until now.”

“Excuse me, officer…”

While the two were having a formal conversation, Patient 1137, who was lying on the bed, raised his head.

“Oh, why?”

“I need to go to the bathroom.”

“Now?”

“Yes, I was going to hold it in until Officer Choi came back, but the signal is getting stronger, so I can’t hold it in any longer.”

Patient 1137 was making a face like a puppy that really needed to pee.

“How can a person hold back a physiological phenomenon? Wait a moment.”

The guard rechecked the bathroom in the ward, which he had checked earlier.

Then, after handcuffing one side of the bed to his hand, he unlocked the handcuffs on Patient 1137 in front of the bathroom in the ward.

He wouldn’t have unlocked the handcuffs if it was just a small matter, but he unlocked them because he said it was a big matter.

“Hurry up and come out.”

“Yes, I’ll be as quick as possible.”

After that, Patient 1137 did his business inside for about 5 minutes, then came out, and the handcuffs were put back on his hands.

The guard went into the bathroom he had come out of to check if there was anything strange, but there wasn’t.

Before Patient 1137 came to the ward, Tae-kyung, after hearing the guard’s words, had his staff remove all items that could be dangerous.

“Was everything alright?”

“You came back quickly?”

“I can’t leave my post for too long.”

After that, the senior guard came back after drying his wet pants, and Oh Chang-gyu brought him coffee again and left the ward.

“I’ll leave the coffee here, officer.”

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

“You’re welcome. Please contact me if you need any help.”

“Yes, thank you.”

* * *

The next day-

In the morning, Patient 1137 was preparing to go down for surgery. Next to him were two guards in plain clothes, the same as yesterday.

Oh Chang-gyu moved the bed where Patient 1137 was lying to the front of the operating room.

“Excuse me… The patient is about to enter the operating room.”

“Yes, I know.”

Oh Chang-gyu continued, looking at the guard.

“But we need to unlock these handcuffs to perform the surgery.”

“Ah… Is that really necessary?”

“Yes. We’re going to use something called an electrosurgical unit, so we need to unlock these handcuffs.”

“Can’t we just wrap the handcuffs in cloth?”

“No, that’s not possible.”

Lee Chan-hee answered as he approached the bed.

“It’s difficult because you can get burned if the metal is touching. And I don’t know if the handcuffs would have any meaning in a situation where you can’t even fix them in place.”

“I’m just a layman, so I’m asking because I don’t know as much as the doctors, but is the anesthesia general anesthesia?”

“Yes, the patient will have general anesthesia.”

“Then, can we stay in the operating room until the inmate loses consciousness after being anesthetized, and then put the handcuffs on him as soon as the surgery is over?”

“Just a moment.”

Lee Chan-hee moved to a corner and immediately called Tae-kyung to ask.

“I think that’s possible. I just asked the director, and he said it’s okay.”

“Really? I’m sorry for the trouble and thank you.”

“It’s nothing. Please fill out the form you see over there if you’re going to enter the operating room. And please wear the green gown next to it.”

“Yes, doctor. Thank you.”

Even though he was a model prisoner and well-behaved, 1137 was still an inmate.

The guards’ attitude towards him showed no gaps whatsoever.

Unlike in movies or dramas, there was no room for the inmate to escape in reality. Moreover, Patient 1137 was currently handcuffed to his right leg.

After all the preparations were completed, Patient 1137 was moved to the operating room bed.

Soon after, the anesthesia *d担当者* [in charge] Choi Dong-hoon explained the anesthesia in detail, but the person in question only stared at the air and didn’t say anything.

“Patient, we’ll start the anesthesia now. Don’t be nervous and count slowly from 1 to 10 with a comfortable mind.”

“Yes. One, two, three…”

The anesthesia was carefully administered, and Tae-kyung entered the operating room.

Except for the fact that the patient was an inmate, it was the same operating room scene as usual.

When 1137 first arrived yesterday, most of the medical staff and employees were nervous. However, unlike what they had imagined, they were able to relieve their fearful tension as they saw a polite, quiet, and well-mannered inmate with an ordinary impression.

The operating room scene was no different from other patients.

If there was a difference, it was the patient’s position. Since 1137 was having back surgery, he was lying face down on the bed.

Unlike Tae-kyung, who was calm as usual, Lee Chan-hee, who was assisting, was a little nervous.

It wasn’t the nervousness he felt because of 1137 like yesterday, but the nervousness that came with his first back surgery.

‘Don’t be nervous and do well.’

Lee Chan-hee *maeumeul gada듬eotda* [composed himself], shouting fighting inwardly.

“Okay! Let’s start the surgery. Everyone, please concentrate and follow along until the end.”

“Yes, Director.”