Living as a Choturn (6)
The caller ID that appeared on the screen was unfamiliar, but I answered it right away.
I didn’t know if it was a hospital call.
“hello?”
[······.]
“Oh, yes, sir. I’m doing well. Are you also healthy?”
[······.]
“You came in person?”
[······.]
“Okay, I’ll leave right away.”
Ki-Seok Choi visited the cafe on the first floor, waving his gown.
An unexpected guest came to the hospital.
Originally, he had decided to make a separate appointment to see the patient instead of at the hospital. However, due to my busy life as an intern, I was unable to do so.
Choi Ki-seok entered the cafe and bowed his head to the middle-aged man sitting by the window.
“hello.”
“Welcome, Mr. Ki-seok.”
Song Dae-hyun smiled brightly.
Song Dae-hyun is an oriental medicine doctor who saved someone’s life through CPR in the past.
I wanted to express my gratitude, but the timing wasn’t right, so I came to the hospital myself.
In the past, Choi Ki-seok lied and said that he was a thoracic surgeon at Jinseong University.
Pericardiocentesis, a key procedure at the time, was not a difficult procedure for a third-year resident, but it was problematic for Choi Ki-seok now.
Choi Ki-seok later spoke to Song Dae-hyun over the phone and revealed the truth that he was an intern.
Fortunately, Song Dae-hyun was not very offended by his confession.
“Thanks to you, my life was saved. It was an unavoidable situation.”
In addition, he added that from now on, it is important to practice medicine according to qualifications.
“Your face has become grayer while I haven’t seen you.”
“I didn’t get much sleep…”
“Well, intern life must be a bit tiring.”
Song Dae-hyun made a sad expression.
We sat down and had a serious conversation.
“Now. This is a gift.”
During the conversation, Song Dae-hyun handed over a large paper bag that had been placed next to the chair.
Inside was a pack full of black-brown herbal medicine.
“I made it by selecting only medicinal ingredients that are good for rejuvenation. If you take it three times a day for a week, you will see the results right away.”
“What? You gave me everything, including this.”
Choi Ki-seok gave a little lip service and received a paper bag.
Song Dae-hyeon is an oriental medicine doctor with a level 4 herbal medicine enhancement skill.
The effect was unbelievable.
“I’m sorry, but I have to go now.”
“I’m sorry to bother you when you’re busy.”
“That’s up to me. If you have any questions about oriental medicine, call me.”
“yes.”
“Oh, by the way. Before that, take this too.”
Song Dae-hyeon took out something that looked like a ring box from his bag and held it out.
“what is this?”
“You’ll know when you see it. I’m not proposing, so don’t worry.”
Song Dae-hyun joked, and Choi Ki-seok looked down at the ring box for a while before opening the lid.
As soon as I opened the box, the strong scent of herbal medicine hit my nose.
Even people sitting nearby frown at the scent.
“It’s Yeokhwandan. It’s one of the pills that has been passed down in our family for generations.”
“Why would you give me something so precious?”
“Because it’s a lifesaver.”
Song Dae-hyun stood up and patted Choi Ki-seok on the back.
“I did not ask you for this in return. I will return this to you.”
“What kind of sad words are you saying? I refuse to accept rejection.”
“······.”
“Don’t feel burdened by receiving something in return. As someone who has received help, you genuinely want to take care of the person who helped you.”
“All right.”
Ki-Seok Choi closed the ring box and put it in his doctor’s gown.
At that moment, a notification crossed my mind.
Tiring!
[You have acquired a unique item.]
I woke up to an unexpected notification.
After saying goodbye to Song Dae-hyun, I walked inside the hospital and checked the items.
[Yeokhwandan]
– When taken, maximum stamina increases to 12.
– Stamina recovery ability is doubled.
– The effect lasts permanently.
The effect of the item is amazing.
It is no exaggeration to say that this is an item for interns who cannot sleep and are physically tired.
My steps back to the dormitory became lighter, as if I had wings.
But on the way, I found Jeong Seol-hwa walking ahead of me.
“It’s a snowflake.”
Jeong Seol-hwa looked back at Choi Ki-seok’s greeting.
“Oh, Kiseok. Hello.”
“Are you off too?”
“Yeah. Are you off too?”
“Good. Come get some air with me.”
Ki-seok Choi bought two cups of coffee at a cafe and headed to the rooftop of the hospital with Seol-hwa Jeong.
The two drank warm coffee while leaning on the railing.
A warm silence followed.
Here, there were no residents to nag, no nurses to pay attention to, and no patients to complain.
The two experienced peace for the first time in a while.
“How are you doing these days?”
Jeong Seol-hwa was the first to speak.
“I feel like I’m dying from doing so much fondant, but I can get through it. I also got a present today.”
Choi Ki-seok lifted the paper bag in his hand.
“What is it?”
“There’s an oriental medicine doctor who gave me CPR before. He came to the hospital today and gave it to me. Didn’t you get the call?”
“Ah. That was the call. I didn’t answer because it was an unknown number.”
“You two can share.”
Choi Ki-seok chuckled.
Silence returns Jeong Seol-hwa brushed her hair behind her ear and cried out.
“Honestly, I was surprised.”
“what?”
“Honestly, I thought you wouldn’t be able to adapt to intern life. You weren’t very good at PK practice, and the same goes for cadaver practice…”
Jeong Seol-hwa’s words were slurred, but the meaning was clearly understandable.
Clearly, Choi Ki-seok of the past was not a person who could endure internship life.
My medical knowledge was solid, but I was very new to it.
“But when I asked Beomgyun oppa, he said you are doing really well right now. He said that not only the gastrointestinal surgery ward, but also other wards are praising you.”
“Well, I was lucky.”
Choi Ki-seok quietly looked at Jeong Seol-hwa’s profile.
Long hair reflected the moonlight and gave off a bright light. Her hair blew in the wind, revealing her white nape and ears.
Jeong Seol-hwa, who improved her appearance, was even more beautiful than before.
For some reason, I felt like her image was seeping into my heart.
“Why are you staring at me like that?”
“Ah…no, just.”
Choi Ki-seok avoided eye contact and changed the topic.
“By the way, I have something to give you.”
“What are you going to give me?”
Choi Ki-seok took out a ring box from his doctor’s gown and held it out.
I had no intention of eating Yeokhwandan alone. What saved Song Dae-hyun was the collaboration between the two.
“What is this?”
“The Oriental medicine doctor gave me a pill. Let’s share it.”
When Choi Ki-seok opened the ring box, the strong smell of Yeokhwandan enveloped the surroundings.
“Isn’t this what you wrote? I don’t want to eat it.”
Jeong Seol-hwa shook her head.
It was cute to see him whining like a three-year-old.
“You must eat this.”
Choi Ki-seok split the Yeokhwandan in half and placed it in Jeong Seol-hwa’s hands.
Then Jeong Seol-hwa looked down at Yeokhwandan as if looking at a bug.
“Our Seolhwa is kind. Let’s eat the pills and then eat the candy.”
Choi Ki-seok comforted Jeong Seol-hwa with candy he brought from the ward.
Jeong Seol-hwa, who was worried, swallowed the Yeokhwan Dan and frowned arrogantly.
“Aww! Candy!”
Choi Ki-seok handed candy to Jeong Seol-hwa and he himself swallowed a piece of Yeokhwandan.
[You have taken the item.]
[Maximum health increases to 11.]
[Health recovery ability permanently increases 1.5 times faster.]
Perhaps because you ate half, the ability has dropped to half. But I was satisfied with just the current numbers.
“Hey. Still use it!”
Jeong Seol-hwa stamped her feet and Choi Ki-seok watched and laughed.
* * *
Gastrointestinal surgery operating room.
Choi Ki-seok is in surgical scrubs.
As usual, he was responsible for widening the surgical field of view by opening the patient’s abdomen using a retractor.
Even though it was a long surgery, there was no sign of difficulty at all.
There were no cases in which the surgical field of view was narrowed.
He is worthy of being called the ultimate king of assistants.
‘shit.’
Choi Ki-seok bit his lip.
I was doing my best to acquire the Hawk Eye skill again today.
The process of surgery was examined according to Myungwoon Jeong’s method.
My eyeballs felt like they were falling out and my head was pounding, but I held on with my will.
Because there is no gain without pain.
Eventually, the surgery was over.
Choi Ki-seok said hello to the teachers and entered the lounge. As soon as I sat down on the chair, I naturally sighed.
Tomorrow is my last day as a gastrointestinal surgery intern.
However, I have not yet received the hawk eyes I so desperately wanted.
“Mr. Choi!”
The break room door opened and the disinfection nurse peeked out her face.
“Can we move patient B to the intensive care unit?”
“A sensible person. Even if you don’t say anything, you’re acting like a fool.”
The disinfection nurse winked and disappeared.
Afterwards, Choi Ki-seok moved the patient to the SICU (Surgical Intensive Care Unit) and then visited the MICU (Medical Intensive Care Unit).
Choi Mi-soon, sitting in the corner, caught my eye.
Choi Mi-soon closed her eyes and fell into a quiet sleep.
The moment I saw her face, thinner than a tree branch, my heart ached.
Choi Mi-soon was discharged from the hospital after successful surgery for stomach cancer, but was soon hospitalized again due to pneumonia.
‘cheer up.’
Choi Ki-seok went back to the operating room, hoping for Choi Mi-soon’s recovery.
Although he was immediately forced to scrub for a long surgery, Ki-Seok Choi completed his assistance with ease.
“Professor Choi. Aren’t you tired?”
“It’s still worth it.”
“Wow. That’s really amazing. You’ve been on duty twice in a row. And you’ve just completed a seven-hour surgery?”
The disinfection nurse clicked her tongue.
Choi Ki-seok endured a murderous schedule.
So I was worried that I might collapse during the surgery, but that was unfounded.
Also, the assistance was thorough even during long surgeries.
“I think we should call Teacher Choi Alpha Choi now. Now that I see him, he’s a complete robot.”
“Do you know now?”
Choi Ki-seok smiled and adjusted his surgical clothes.
The secret to steel stamina was in the Yeokhwan Dan given by Song Dae-hwan.
After taking Yeokhwandan, my body felt light as if I was flying.
I recently spoke to Jeong Seol-hwa and she said she was seeing the same effect.
Jiyiing.
I was resting on the sofa in the lounge when the call phone rang.
“Stop bothering me.”
Choi Ki-seok glanced at the call phone and pressed the call button.
“hello.”
[teacher. This is the MICU. Please come quickly!]
“Huh? What’s going on?”
Choi Ki-seok answered in a dumbfounded voice.
Nurse Kang Hyo-jeong was famous for being blunt and not expressing any emotions.
This is my first time making a phone call this urgently.
[Come now! Quickly!]
“I’m leaving right now.”
Choi Ki-seok rushed to the intensive care unit, his gown flying.
When we arrived at the intensive care unit, the nurses were gathered at the station and looked scared.
“Mr. Choi, please do something with those people.”
Kang Hyo-jeong pointed to Choi Mi-soon’s seat with her index finger.
Seven men and women surrounded Choi Mi-soon as tightly as a castle wall. The other patients were busy glancing at the group with anxious expressions.
“The Holy Spirit is with you…”
“The evil spirit goes away and the illness gets better…”
The group’s prayers enveloped the intensive care unit like a curse.
