Fifth Vital [EN]: Chapter 39

39. What Happened to the Cripple?

Knock knock.

“Come in.”

Before the knock even finished, Choi Mona entered the office upon hearing the voice.

Click-

“You were looking for me, Director…?”

“Choi, come in. Sorry to call you when you were resting.”

“It’s alright.”

“By the way, do you like worms?”

“Pardon?”

Tae-kyung pointed to the giant worm jelly hanging on Choi Mona’s gown.

“There, in your pocket.”

Some of the jelly she had been eating had fallen and gotten caught in her gown pocket.

“The worms are so colorful and pretty.”

“Ah, yes. They are.”

Choi Mona crammed the dangling giant worm into her pocket as she answered.

“Have a seat.”

“I’m fine. I’m more comfortable like this.”

“Alright, be comfortable then. Anyway, I was wondering how your hospital life is going, Choi.”

“It’s fine.”

“Are there any inconveniences while working?”

“No, there aren’t.”

“Then, are there any difficulties?”

“None of those either.”

It felt like she had to make up some difficulties to say.

“If you have any difficulties while working, tell me anytime.”

“Yes, Director.”

“Actually, I just wanted to say thank you for your hard work earlier. It feels like you did all the work and I received the greetings.”

“Ah… It’s nothing.”

“You worked hard earlier. You can go now.”

“Pardon? Is that all you wanted to say?”

“Yeah. That’s all.”

Choi Mona blinked her eyes.

She naturally expected a lecture, scolding, and even a triple dose of nagging. Because it had always been like that.

‘Is that all he has to say?’

But to hear that she had worked hard? It was the first time she had heard those words while working at the hospital.

“Why? Do you have something to say to me?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

“Go on then.”

“Yes, I’ll be leaving then.”

Choi Mona bowed and turned to grab the doorknob when-

“That’s right!”

Tae-kyung, who had deliberately waited for a moment, called Choi Mona again.

“Choi?”

“Yes.”

“I almost forgot to ask you something.”

“Please, go ahead.”

“You know the Geneva Declaration, right?”

“Yes, I do.”

Every doctor knows the Geneva Declaration. It is recited during the Hippocratic Oath ceremony, which is called the graduation ceremony at medical school.

“Do you still remember the Geneva Declaration now?”

“I don’t remember it well now.”

“I figured. Alright, you can go.”

Click-

Choi Mona bowed her head once more and left the office.

” 까칠이 (Kkachil-ah) [Rough/Prickly One – a nickname]. Now you won’t be able to get by without memorizing it.”

* * *

[I will take good care of the two turtle friends you asked for, Director.]

Kim Cheol-gi, after eating breakfast, sat on the hospital’s walking path and read the email Tae-kyung had sent him on his phone.

[We plan to supplement the workforce because security personnel are needed at the hospital.]

“He’s quite the head of a hospital now.”

[Dr. Kim, it’s your hospital, so take care of everything. Don’t send me any more emails. Take care.]

Whenever Tae-kyung sent news about the hospital, Kim Cheol-gi always left the same reply.

He told him not to send any more emails, but Kim Cheol-gi was actually waiting for them.

Because it was a hospital he had been with for a long time, it was fun just to hear the news. So he was very grateful that Tae-kyung didn’t forget to send him emails even when he was busy.

“Still, it won’t be easy to find security personnel.”

“Honey?”

Kim Cheol-gi’s wife called him as she approached, reading the email again.

“How do I look? 꽃분 (Kkotbun) Auntie [Flower Bun – a common, affectionate nickname for older women] did my hair.”

Lee Ok-bin, with her hair neatly styled, hugged the Min-gi doll tightly and smiled brightly.

“You look like a movie star. It suits you well.”

“Thank you. Min-gi, Dad says Mom is pretty. Our Min-gi thinks Mom is pretty too, right?”

“Of course. Min-gi is smiling because Mom is pretty.”

김꽃분 (Kim Kkotbun) [Kim Flower Bun], who lived in the same nursing hospital, sat down in front of the two, wearing a hat over her bald head.

“I’m always grateful. Thank you for taking good care of my wife.”

“Why are you thanking me, Doctor?”

Since it was a nursing hospital with many people who were physically ill, no one wanted to be close to Lee Ok-bin, who had dementia.

Kim Kkotbun was Lee Ok-bin’s only friend. Kim Kkotbun, who was of a similar age, took care of Lee Ok-bin, who had dementia, like a younger sister.

“I’m the one who’s grateful that you tell me so much about medical information. And it’s not that I’m playing with Min-gi’s mom, but Min-gi’s mom is playing with me.”

“Is that so? Hahaha. But where are you going today?”

Kim Cheol-gi was puzzled by Kim Kkotbun’s appearance, who was wearing an outing outfit and even had a carrier.

“I think I told you about it before, right? About my son.”

“You mean your youngest son.”

“Yes. I’m going to settle things with that rascal today.”

“Settle things?”

“Yes. It’s embarrassing to say anywhere, but he’s living off other people’s backs.”

“Living off their backs?”

“His sisters say he’s doing loan sharking. I only found out about it recently. Ha!”

Kim Kkotbun pounded her chest with her fist as if frustrated.

“Oh dear…”

“I feel like I’m having a seizure even when I’m sleeping just thinking about my son.”

“You must be very worried.”

“I had a really bad experience with loan sharks while selling fish at the market. They’re thugs, not people. But my own child is doing that, so my blood is boiling.”

Kim Kkotbun, who had nowhere to vent, revealed all the stories she had kept inside.

She was a person who talked at length once she started, but it was not a difficult task for Kim Cheol-gi, who had been listening to patients’ stories all his life.

“He didn’t work out after exercising. After graduating from college, he wandered around and got a job as a security guard and worked there for quite a while.”

Kim Cheol-gi perked up his ears at the word security guard.

“Your son used to be a security guard?”

“Yes. He was doing a good job in his own way.”

Although he had a quick temper, Kim Kkotbun’s son worked hard as a security guard.

But Kim Kkotbun’s husband made a bad guarantee, and the family’s finances declined. Just in time, a senior lured his son into the loan shark business with the excuse of high pay.

“I’m sick, so I don’t know when it will recur, and I want him to stop being a thug before I die.”

“Actually, there’s a place I know that’s hiring security guards. How about he goes for an interview?”

“…Pardon!? Are you serious?”

“Of course.”

Kim Cheol-gi didn’t just make the offer because he felt sorry for Kim Kkotbun’s situation.

He wanted to ease Tae-kyung’s efforts a little because it wasn’t easy to find security guards.

And he was drawn to the fact that Kim Kkotbun’s son had lived a rough life.

When treating patients, medical staff are sometimes threatened and sometimes their lives are threatened. In particular, our hospital sometimes has inmates from nearby prisons come for treatment.

Therefore, the place that needs someone with a lot of guts the most is here.

“Would it be okay if I saw your son for a moment later?”

“Of course.”

“I think it’s better to know what kind of person he is before introducing him.”

“Of course. I have some manners too. If you don’t think he’s the right person, please tell me.”

Kim Kkotbun’s face, which had been covered in shadows because of her son’s problem, was much brighter.

* * *

A construction site for a new building.

[나락 (Narak) Construction [Hell Construction – likely a sarcastic name] must pay the 27 million won in unpaid meal expenses.

Answer the call. Keep your promise.

Pay the money like blood!!]

A skinny man with a limp stood in front of the building, where exterior construction was in full swing, holding a picket as big as himself.

“Pay the overdue payment as soon as possible.”

The man made a sound so that people inside and outside the construction site could hear from the main gate where work vehicles were coming and going.

“Keep your promise! Pay my money like blood that I haven’t received a penny of!!”

빵빵 (Bbang Bbang) [Honk Honk]-

A large work vehicle honked next to the man who was making a sound while inhaling all kinds of dust and fumes.

빵빵 (Bbang Bbang) [Honk Honk]-

The driver, who had turned on the emergency lights before entering the construction site entrance, hurriedly got out of the car.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I think I blocked the road.”

“Excuse me?”

The driver went forward as the man, thinking he had blocked the road because of the honking, apologized first.

“Mr. Choi?”

“Driver Lee?”

“No, what’s going on? Why are you doing this, Mr. Choi?”

The driver who got out of the car was someone who had worked at the same construction site.

“Didn’t you get the money?”

“I didn’t get it.”

“You didn’t get it… What does that mean?”

The driver had a dumbfounded expression.

“I was told that everything was paid four months ago.”

“I thought so too.”

There was a case where a construction company that had subcontracted from a large company did not pay the construction costs of the workers. In the end, all the overdue payments were deposited due to the workers’ collective strike.

But only Mr. Choi, who ran the cafeteria at the construction site, did not receive the money.

He went to the large company alone, but only heard that the money had already been paid to the subcontractor.

“I can’t say it in detail, but I’m not in good shape. I really need the money.”

“Of course you have to get the money. These crazy bastards, there are other things to rip off, but they rip off the cafeteria meal costs?”

“They say they gave it on this side, and they say wait on that side, and it’s already been three months.”

“나락 (Narak) Construction [Hell Construction] had a lot of talk back then because the payment was delayed a year ago.”

“I only heard about that recently.”

“The director is not very good, so I was worried when the workers participated this time. Is there anything I can do to help? Should I post it in the workers’ group chat room?”

“No. It’s okay. Everyone must be having a hard time making a living. It’s okay.”

Mr. Choi refused help even though his own feet were on fire. This is because he knows how much of a blow it is for workers to take a day off in this kind of recession.

“Excuse me… Are you 최선해 (Choi Seon-hae)先生 [Mr. Choi Seon-hae]?”

While the two were continuing their conversation, a young man in a suit approached Mr. Choi.

“Yes, I’m 최선해 (Choi Seon-hae) [Choi Seon-hae].”

“Our director wants to see you about the overdue payment issue. Would you like to come with me?”

“Is that true?”

“Of course.”

“Mr. Choi must be getting the money today. That’s great.”

“Let’s go with me.”

Mr. Choi followed the man with a good feeling at the thought of being able to receive the overdue money.

* * *

“Director. Mr. 최선해 (Choi Seon-hae) [Choi Seon-hae] has arrived.”

Mr. Choi followed the secretary to the inside of the first floor. Construction materials were still scattered everywhere inside the building.

“Oh, Mr. 최선해 (Choi Seon-hae) [Choi Seon-hae], hello. I’m 오벌구 (Oh Beol-gu) [Oh Beol-gu], the director of 나락 (Narak) Construction [Hell Construction].”

“Ah, yes. Hello.”

“I’m really sorry about this. It seems there was some kind of mistake while I was on a business trip overseas.”

오벌구 (Oh Beol-gu) [Oh Beol-gu] apologized to Mr. Choi and explained the situation.

“Without further ado, I will deposit all the overdue payments by tomorrow.”

“Re, really?”

“Of course. So, stop suffering outside and go home.”

“Thank you. Thank you so much.”

Mr. Choi bowed his head and greeted him with the happy news, even though it was money he should have received.

“No. We’re sorry. Write your account number here.”

Mr. Choi received the memo and pen from the director and wrote down his account.

“Here it is.”

“Don’t worry and go home.”

“Yes, thank you. Then.”

* * *

-It’s been resolved. Don’t worry now.

“Oh, look at my mind.”

Mr. Choi, who was sending a message somewhere, looked at the pen in his hand and returned to where the director’s party was.

‘Still, it’s worth the protest I’ve been doing.’

Mr. Choi, limping with one leg and a satisfied expression, stopped walking at the loud voice coming from inside.

“Hey! What happened to that cripple?”

The director, who had been promising in a friendly tone just 5 minutes ago, was saying something completely different to the secretary.

“You said all the money was paid?”

“At that time, the director took the cafeteria payment from the payment because he didn’t have enough money for a new car and entertainment expenses.”

“Ha! Damn it. Why is this happening like this? My father will be inspecting tomorrow…”

“What should we do? Director.”

“What should we do? Where do I have the money right now? I have to keep it a secret from my father.”

“Then what about Mr. 최선해 (Choi Seon-hae) [Choi Seon-hae]?”

“First, call him tomorrow and say it’s been delayed a little…”

“Director, no.”

In the end, Mr. Choi, who was listening from outside, ran to the director, limping.

“You said you would give it to me tomorrow? Director, I really need that money.”

“I never said that. You must have misheard.”

“Di, Director. I’ll die if I don’t have this money. Please…”

“Oh, damn it! Don’t touch me with your dirty hands!”

The director shouted, pushing Mr. Choi’s shoulder hard when he grabbed his suit with his scarred and rough hands.

And at that moment,

“Ugh!”

Mr. Choi, who was short, was pushed by the force and fell onto a pile of materials.

“How much is this suit worth? There’s dust on my expensive clothes. Shit! You…”

The director, who was dusting off the dust on his suit jacket, met Mr. Choi’s eyes,

“… !”

His face turned white in an instant.

“Hey! Secretary Lee, what happened to this person?”

“Mr. 최선해 (Choi Seon-hae) [Choi Seon-hae]? Are you okay?”

Unfortunately, the place where Mr. Choi fell was a pile of materials, and one of the rebar materials penetrated Mr. Choi’s abdomen as it was.

“119!”

“Call 119 here quickly!”