NOVEL NEXT Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Intern Shin Seonhan (7)
A few days later.
My life as an intern has changed, ever so slightly.
After the CPR incident, the ward nurses and the attending physician treat me a bit better.
Should I say I’ve finally been promoted from a worker bee to a proper doctor?
Of course, that doesn’t mean the work itself has changed.
“Shin Seonhan!”
“Yes!”
“Dr. Seonhan!”
“Coming!”
The third week of March.
Today, I’m having another busy day, being called here and there.
I didn’t even have time to eat lunch because of two urgent bone marrow biopsies that came up in the morning from the neighboring ward.
Bone marrow biopsies, which must be performed in pairs, take up the entire morning and are a major task.
Around 2:00 PM, Kim Snake says,
“Go take a break.”
“Is it alright?”
“You need to eat to work. Don’t forget, there’s an enema in an hour. You’re dead if you’re late.”
“Yes.”
I grin.
Kim Snake’s tone has softened a bit.
If his previous tone was as spicy as nuclear fire noodles, these days it’s more like regular spicy ramen.
Both are spicy, but at least it’s edible now.
“What are you looking at?”
“Nothing. I’ll be back!”
Freed from work for a while, I recite with a solemn expression worthy of Hamlet,
“To eat, or to sleep…”
Lost in contemplation, I remember the enema scheduled for an hour later.
“Ugh.”
I feel dizzy already.
Even though it’s part of patient care, enemas are a tough job.
Especially finger enemas, where you have to insert your finger into the rectum to remove hardened stool…
Even with five layers of medical gloves, the smell lingers on my hands for a while.
“I don’t want to feel nauseous while doing an enema after eating.”
After much deliberation, I make up my mind.
I choose sleep.
It seems like what I need most right now is sleep.
‘Just half a day to go until my day off!’
That thought gives me a boost of energy.
I’ll go out with my colleagues today, to clear my head.
I Can See the Future (1)
“Ah, this feels amazing.”
“The fresh air is so nice!”
That evening, Geun-uk and I step out of the hospital.
A day off is a time of brief liberation for interns.
Of course, we often just collapse in the dormitory, but today, we’re determined to go out no matter what.
“I’m glad we came out.”
“Me too.”
We stretch our arms wide in front of the main gate.
Is rest this sweet?
Just breathing feels good.
It’s only been three weeks since I started my internship, but it feels like half a year has passed.
Thanks to the lingering cold snap, there’s not much fine dust in the air today. I feel much more refreshed than when I was cooped up inside the hospital.
“Seonhan oppa!”
Slap!
Yeonseo, dressed in casual clothes, appears and slaps me on the back.
Wow…
I can’t help but admire her.
She has a completely different aura compared to when she’s in her doctor’s coat.
Just wearing a knit sweater and jeans, she looks like she stepped out of a magazine.
It’s obvious from the way passersby are glancing at her.
“Do you have a grudge against Seonhan’s back?”
“His back is wide, so it feels good to hit.”
“Mine is wider. Hit me too.”
“Ew, gross. Go away.”
Geun-uk playfully pushes himself towards Yeonseo, and she responds with a burst of laughter.
They’re both full of energy, like puppies on a long-awaited walk.
I chuckle and then ask, remembering something,
“Oh, Yeonseo.”
“Yes?”
“What happened to that patient?”
“Who… Ah, patient Kim Jeongsu?”
Yeonseo replies with a smile.
“You were worried about him, weren’t you? The surgery went well in thoracic surgery, and he’ll be discharged soon.”
“CABG surgery[mfn]a major surgical procedure that improves blood flow to the heart by bypassing blocked or narrowed coronary arteries.[/mfn] (Coronary Artery Bypass Graft)?”
“Yes. It seems like it went well without any issues. I think he’ll be able to go home soon. You don’t have to worry anymore.”
“That’s good to hear.”
I breathe a sigh of relief.
I’ve been feeling uneasy about that incident ever since it happened.
Honestly, I still don’t know what happened to me that day.
Anyway, I haven’t had any dreams that could be called “precognitive” since then.
‘…Well, at least the patient is safe.’
As I’m thinking this, I glance at Geun-uk and see him pouting.
“Hey, are you two going to talk about work even when we’re outside? Let’s talk about something else!”
I change the subject.
“Alright. Where do you want to go?”
“What should we eat? I want to eat something really delicious on our day off.”
“Should we go somewhere expensive?”
“Expensive sounds good. We’re working adults now.”
“That’s right! What’s the point of earning money if we don’t spend it? Let’s splurge a little since we’re adults!”
Hearing those words makes my heart flutter.
Don’t all young professionals feel the same way?
Even though it’s still a few days until payday, I already feel excited, like I’m walking on clouds.
“Want to go to a pub? There’s a famous one nearby.”
“Let’s go! Should we call the other interns too?”
“Good idea! We’ll take a taxi and go ahead.”
“Not taking the bus?”
“Hey, we’re adults now! Let’s splurge a little!”
Geun-uk’s playful words make me laugh.
As we chat and laugh with our colleagues, my complicated worries slowly fade away.
***
We arrive at a trendy fusion pub.
It’s a place we wouldn’t have dared to enter during our student days, but it’s perfect for us now.
The delicious food and drinks, along with the cheerful atmosphere, make me feel a little tipsy.
Meanwhile, more people gradually join us.
“Hey, Yeonseo, long time no see!”
“Welcome, everyone!”
After Yeonseo sends out a message, more than ten fellow interns gather in no time.
If someone else had called them, they probably wouldn’t have gathered like this.
As expected of Yeonguk University’s social butterfly, Lee Yeonseo.
Among them, a skinny guy with a receding hairline, Joongwon, starts to lead the conversation.
He’s a graduate of the medical school who completed his military service and even took a year off, so he’s one of the oldest among us.
“Guys, please pity me. This is the first time I’ve been outside since starting my internship.”
“Wow, you can’t even go out on your days off in NS (neurosurgery)?”
“By the time I finish preparing for pre-op and doing patient dressings on my days off, it’s always past 10:00 PM. So I just collapse in the dormitory.”
“Haha, it must be tough being an intern in your thirties.”
“But! I was determined to go out today, no matter what. Especially since Yeonseo called!”
He exclaims with exaggerated gestures, and boos erupt from those around him.
“Trying to score points, huh?”
“Hey, how can you call it trying to score points? It’s an expression of affection from a senior towards a junior!”
“Hey, I just noticed this guy didn’t even wash his hair. Did you just come straight out with your surgical cap on?”
“Hey, man, who has time to wash their hair? We need to enjoy our day off!”
Everyone is boisterous and cheerful.
It seems like the Yeonguk University graduates are all close to each other.
Well, they must have known each other for years in that small university… I feel a little envious at times like these.
It makes me realize that I’m an outsider.
“Come to think of it, what was your name again? Shin Seonhan?”
“Yes. Please speak comfortably.”
“Alright, alright. I finally get to drink with the most handsome guy among our interns. Nice to meet you!”
I smile and accept Joongwon’s drink.
Anyway, these are people I’ll keep seeing for the next year, so it’s good to get to know their faces.
If I don’t make friends early on, I could end up being left out.
“By the way, it can be tough adjusting as a graduate from another university. How’s it going?”
Joongwon asks.
Just as I’m about to answer, Yeonseo quickly cuts in.
“Oh, don’t even get me started. He’s a total ace!”
“Really?”
“Of course. Didn’t you hear about how he put Kim Beomsu in his place last week?”
“What? Kim Snake?”
“Well, this oppa…”
Yeonseo’s storytelling begins.
She recounts the story of how I defied Kim Snake and saved patient Kim Jeongsu, adding a few spoonfuls of exaggeration for good measure.
Through Yeonseo’s words, my actions sound like heroic deeds.
“Wow, that really happened?”
“Wow, that’s amazing.”
“This guy is incredible! Let’s have a drink!”
Soon, my glass is filled to the brim.
Thanks to this, I don’t think I’ll be left out among the Yeonguk University interns today.
***
The drinking party is in full swing.
“By the way, what specialties are you guys thinking about?”
This is a topic that always comes up when interns gather.
Choosing a specialty is a crucial decision, so we exchange information when we’re together.
Joongwon, who has had quite a bit to drink, starts the conversation.
“Yeonseo, are you still thinking about pediatrics?”
“I’m not sure.”
Yeonseo says with a sigh.
“I loved seeing kids when I was a student… But I heard from a friend who’s rotating in pediatrics that it’s tough.”
“Well, I hear parents of pediatric patients are the scariest in the world.”
“So I think I need to try it out before deciding. I’ve already secured a pediatrics rotation!”
As soon as Yeonseo finishes speaking, everyone starts giving their unsolicited opinions.
“Oh, it’s a waste of your grades to go into pediatrics, Yeonseo.”
“Have you thought about dermatology? All the pretty and smart female seniors went into dermatology.”
“Heehee, I’m considering various options.”
Yeonseo smiles and raises her glass.
It goes without saying that the popular specialties are somewhat predetermined.
PAD (Pediatrics, Anesthesiology, Dermatology).
PRR (Psychiatry, Rehabilitation Medicine, Radiology).
And so on…
Specialties with the potential for a successful private practice or those that are relatively less physically demanding are popular.
Of course, preferences vary widely depending on individual personalities.
“I may be big, but I’m actually a scholar. Rehabilitation medicine or radiology?”
“Radiology… Do you really want to spend your whole life looking at CT scans in a dark room? I’m going for anesthesiology.”
“Anesthesiology is the trend these days. You know how many pain clinics are popping up in the city?”
As everyone is chatting, Yeonseo asks,
“Seonhan oppa, what specialty are you thinking about?”
“Huh? Me?”
“I bet you could go into any specialty you want if you were at your alma mater.”
“My alma mater no longer exists.”
“Oh, right.”
Everyone bursts into laughter at my reply.
It seems they found my self-deprecating joke funny. Geun-uk is even snorting with laughter, tears welling up in his eyes.
I have to admit, it’s pretty funny even to me.
Damn it.
“Yeah, I’m most curious about Seonhan. I wonder what specialty people from other universities have in mind when they come here…”
At Joongwon’s words, all eyes turn to me.
I refill my glass and say,
“I’m thinking about surgery for now.”
“Ooh.”
“I applied to Yeonguk University Hospital with GS (general surgery) or NS (neurosurgery) in mind. I saw the TS (thoracic surgery) team the other day, and they seemed cool too.”
“Oooooh!”
Everyone gets excited.
There’s a reason for their reaction.
The specialties I listed are all unpopular.
Because they’re tough!
They’re notoriously demanding.
But I’ve been thinking about surgery from the start.
Surgeon Shin Seonhan.
Doesn’t that sound cool?
You know, like in those scenes where the surgeon enters the operating room, faces the patient, and shouts, “Scalpel!”
I’ve wanted to be that kind of cool doctor since I was a kid.
“Yeah, yeah. Forget about those fancy specialties. These days, everyone does what they want!”
“That’s right.”
“So cool!”
Everyone raises their glasses, echoing the sentiment.
Just then, someone completely ruins the mood.
“Cool, my foot. He probably has no other choice.”
The atmosphere suddenly turns icy.
I look at the guy sitting at the end of the table.
Jo Jinki.
The guy who’s been a constant nuisance.
He’s been sitting at the end of the table, getting drunk by himself, his face flushed red.
He slowly opens his mouth.
“He probably thinks surgery is his only shot… After all, as a local university graduate, he can’t even dream of getting into other specialties.”
“Hey, why are you talking to Seonhan like that?”
“Why, am I wrong? Honestly, that’s what everyone’s thinking, right? Isn’t it?”
“Haha, this guy’s drunk.”
“Ace, my ass… What’s so great about graduating from that crappy university, for fuck’s sake.”
“Hey, hey! Someone shut him up!”
Joongwon hurriedly tries to control the situation.
I raise my glass to hide my stiffened expression.
And then, I say casually,
“Why are you so angry?”
“What?”
“All I said was that I’m applying for surgery. Do you have some kind of grudge against me?”
“…”
Jo Jinki, speechless, can’t even meet my eyes due to his drunken state, and continues to mumble incoherently with slurred speech.
This is ridiculous.
I don’t even feel the need to respond and just watch him quietly.
I wonder why he’s directing so much hostility towards me.
“Hey, take Jo Jinki to the bathroom and sober him up!”
Seeing the atmosphere turn sour, Joongwon says urgently.
Soon, the people around us drag the drunken Jo Jinki out.
“Seonhan, don’t mind him too much. He’s just drunk, okay?”
“I don’t mind.”
I reply with a smile.
There’s no guarantee that I’ll only meet good people during my time at the hospital.
Naturally, there will be plenty of strange ones.
But I didn’t expect him to say such things to my face.
He may be drunk, but a person’s true nature comes out at times like these.
‘Jo Jinki?’
I smile and refill my glass.
Whatever else happens, I’ll make sure to remember that bastard’s name.
As I’m about to drink, thinking this…
“…!”
Suddenly, my vision goes dark.
And the second future unfolds before my eyes.
—————–
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