Dr. Taesoo Choi

After seeing the patient’s reaction, Professor Lee Choo-myung asked again,
“How are you feeling? Has the pain gotten any better?”
The patient blinked once.
This was taken as a positive response, and Professor Lee’s expression brightened.
“Given this level of response, it might be worth trying. Should I remove the respirator?”
“If you do it, it would be an honor,” the patient replied.
“Then let’s proceed.”
As Professor Lee moved, the attending physician, Kang Hyun-pil, and the care manager, Kim Seok-dong, followed his lead.
Honestly, this was a task that could be delegated, but the reason for doing it himself was to leave a positive impression on the patient.
Taesoo knew the intention, but he remained focused on the patient’s condition.
It was an unexpected moment—the respirator was removed, and the patient switched to spontaneous breathing.
A slight tension filled Taesoo’s face.
Although he had been monitoring the patient and knew that no major problems had occurred, the extended period of care made him a bit worried.
Soon, the respirator was detached from Im Taek-jin’s mouth.
“Phew…”
A relieved sigh escaped the patient.
At that moment, Professor Lee asked,
“Im Taek-jin, can you answer me?”
“Ugh… yes…”
The patient’s voice was hoarse and strained.
To prevent any embarrassment, Professor Lee quickly reassured him,
“Yes, it’s fine. But since you haven’t spoken for a while, it may feel a bit uncomfortable. Don’t worry, it will settle soon.”
“Th… Thank you…”
“You should thank the two doctors next to me—Professor Kang Hyun-pil, who performed the surgery, and Kim Seok-dong, who has been taking care of you until now. Haha.”
Seeing the patient’s condition improving faster than expected, a smile spread across Professor Lee’s face.
But then, the patient’s gaze shifted in the opposite direction.
It was directed at Taesoo.
“Choi Taesoo… doctor…”
“Oh, you mean Choi? Why are you calling him?”
Professor Lee looked at Taesoo with a disapproving glance.
He seemed concerned that Taesoo might have done something inappropriate.
At that moment, Im Taek-jin’s voice grew faint,
“Whew… thank you, doctor… really, thank you…”
His last words were spoken despite his labored breathing, trying to express his gratitude as gently as he could.
No doctor could fail to understand how difficult it was for a patient like Im Taek-jin, whose breathing and voice were still not fully recovered.
Im Taek-jin’s eyes reddened slightly, and a soft smile spread across his face.
Meanwhile, the expressions of the professors, including Professor Lee, hardened immediately.
The problem wasn’t the patient’s gratitude, but the fact that it wasn’t directed to the attending physician or the residents, but rather to an intern.
While the patient might not know this, all the doctors present were aware of it.
Naturally, the doctors, including Professor Lee, turned their gaze to Kim Seok-dong.
A sharp, almost menacing glare caused Kim Seok-dong to shrink.
There were thousands of excuses he could offer, but they would be meaningless.
Kim Seok-dong’s gaze shifted toward Taesoo.
It was as if he was glaring at him like a predator ready to pounce.
Professor Lee tried to set aside his discomfort and exchanged a few more words with the patient before moving on to the next.
With the guidance of Kim Seok-dong, the doctors gradually filed out of the room.
Since Taesoo was an intern, he didn’t join them.
Instead, he sat close to Im Taek-jin’s bed and gently held his hand.
“How does it feel to breathe on your own after such a long time?”
“The… the hospital air is suffocating.”
“Then get better soon and go outside.”
“Right… I’ll work hard at stretching too.”
Taesoo was surprised.

It was something he had said to the patient earlier, before he had fallen asleep during rounds.
“Didn’t you sleep?”
“I wasn’t… sleeping.”
“You must have been really uncomfortable.”
Im Taek-jin managed to force a small smile.
“Yeah, the days felt long… When I get out, I’ll live more fully.”
“Just don’t overdo it. You don’t want to strain your heart.”
“You said the more you push it, the better it works.”
“Everything has to be in moderation, don’t you think?”
Taesoo smiled warmly, and soon, a similar smile appeared on Im Taek-jin’s face as well.

Taesoo continued the conversation at a pace that wouldn’t exhaust the patient.
For someone who had been in such discomfort, this was the only thing he could do at the moment to ease his suffering.
Though it was harder for Im Taek-jin to speak, he was content with just listening.
“Choi Taesoo, doctor.”
Taesoo tensed slightly as he heard Kim Seok-dong’s voice from behind.
“Yes, doctor.”
“Could you come with me for a moment?”
Kim Seok-dong gestured with a fake smile.
It was forced, a facade he put on because of the conscious effort not to be harsh in front of a conscious patient.
Taesoo felt a moment of tension.
Im Taek-jin, sensing his discomfort, hesitantly asked,
“What’s going on?”
“I made another mistake.”
“Oh no.”
“I’ll go get scolded now.”
Taesoo stood up with a cheerful response but froze the moment he turned away.
‘This is exhausting.’
It was bitter to think that the patient’s gratitude now seemed to be the reason for a reprimand.

Taesoo followed Kim Seok-dong out of the SICU.
He hadn’t realized how long it had been since he last left the building during the day, other than when he was exhausted.
Before he could even enjoy the moment, Kim Seok-dong headed straight for the emergency stairs.
A heavy silence hung between the two, only thick tension filling the air.
Thud.
The moment the emergency stairwell door closed, Kim Seok-dong lunged and grabbed Taesoo by the collar.
“Ugh!”
Taesoo let out a small groan from the sudden move, but Kim Seok-dong didn’t care and growled,
“Who do you think you are, an intern, to screw with me?”
“That never happened…”
Taesoo barely managed to respond, but Kim Seok-dong’s voice grew sharper, as though ready to devour him.
“You little bastard, what did you say to the patient to get that kind of reaction?”
“….”
“Eh? The patient gives me praise, and now I’m not even worth your attention?”
“What should I answer…?”
Taesoo’s voice dropped, and Kim Seok-dong’s face showed confusion.
“What? What did you say?”
“Please let go of me.”
With a sharp motion, Taesoo roughly shrugged off Kim Seok-dong’s hand.
There was a reason for Taesoo’s response.
Since he was from another university, it would be difficult for him to continue his career here as a specialist anyway.
But after enduring such humiliation, his anger, which he hadn’t realized he was holding back, came pouring out. Of course, he knew the consequences wouldn’t be good.
Still, he couldn’t hold it in any longer.
‘I don’t care.’
Taesoo thought to himself.
Kim Seok-dong, who was clearly not used to being treated this way by an intern, stood there stunned, unable to react.

At that moment, Taesoo spoke quietly,
“Tone it down.”
“You little shit.”
“Stop calling me that. Do you know how long someone else stayed cooped up in the SICU for 20 hours?”
Taesoo’s voice remained steady.
But the low, heavy tone seemed to strike Kim Seok-dong even more unpleasantly.
“Look at this.”
“I know being a resident is incredibly tough. But if you had any conscience, you wouldn’t act this way.”
“You bastard.”
Finally, Kim Seok-dong’s frustration boiled over, and he lashed out, aiming a kick at Taesoo’s shin.
Taesoo didn’t dodge.
Thud!
“Ugh…”
Though Taesoo was struck squarely on the shin, he only let out a slight grunt without even flinching.
Instead, a dangerous gleam appeared in his eyes, and Kim Seok-dong hesitated.
“Look at those eyes. You think you’re going to get a good evaluation acting like this?”
“Who do you think you are?”
“What?”
Kim Seok-dong was taken aback as Taesoo pressed on.
“Do you think you’re in any position to even enter the interview room?”
“Y-you little shit.”
“I’m not your kid, so stop it. If you keep pushing, I’ll smash your head into this glass.”
Taesoo lightly tapped the glass behind him as a warning.
The threat was clear and serious.
Kim Seok-dong involuntarily took a step back.
For a brief moment, he imagined his face splattered with blood, the glass shattering, and fear crept across his expression.
At the same time, Taesoo’s gaze shifted slightly.
Taesoo spoke softly to Kim Seok-dong,
“If I get accepted into thoracic surgery, we’ll have to work together for the next few years. So I’ve been trying to keep my temper. But is this how you want to act?”
“W-well…”
“Being threatened by an intern like this must really piss you off, huh?”
“….”
When Kim Seok-dong fell silent, Taesoo continued in a low voice,
“Then let’s talk things over nicely. If I become a resident here, I can make your life hell for the next four years.”
“Hmm hmm!”
“Otherwise, let’s just finish this. My temper’s pretty bad, and if I snap, you won’t know what I’ll do.”
The last words came with a look in Taesoo’s eyes that was almost animalistic.
Kim Seok-dong couldn’t bear to meet his gaze.
Taesoo lightly brushed off Kim Seok-dong’s white coat, then spoke again,
“Please take care of the rest of the time here. I need to change the position of the patient Im Taek-jin, so I’ll excuse myself.”
Taesoo spoke softly, maintaining a low tone, then left the emergency stairwell.
Thud.
As the door to the emergency stairwell slammed shut, Taesoo rubbed his face.
“Damn it, I thought I had calmed down.”
It seemed like it was still far from over.

After that moment, Kim Seok-dong didn’t approach Taesoo again. On the other hand, Taesoo became even more friendly towards Kim Seok-dong.
“Doctor.”
“Uh? Uh. What, what is it?”
Kim Seok-dong flinched and responded, and Taesoo asked with a smile,
“I think it’s time to dress the patient Im Taek-jin. Is that okay?”
“Oh, has it been that time? Yeah, let’s do it. Hurry up.”
“It seems like we should wash the body while dressing the wound, don’t you think?”
“There’s that no-water shower thing over there. Use that for him.”
Kim Seok-dong said with a half-turned gaze, giving a reluctant go-ahead. Taesoo bowed his head and thanked him.
“Thank you. Then, I’ll go.”
While Taesoo turned around with a bright face, Kim Seok-dong shuddered.
Everyone in the SICU immediately noticed the strange change in the atmosphere between the two.
“What’s going on with them?”
Everyone just tilted their heads in confusion.