Dr. Taesoo Choi

A few days after maintaining a strange relationship with Kim Seok-dong, Chief Park Seong-min entered the SICU.
Chief Park Seong-min, with his mischievous personality, loudly called for Taesoo.
“Choi Taesoo, the intern who got placed in the SICU but never even came to see my face!”
His voice echoed softly throughout the SICU.
“Heh heh.”
“Heh heh.”
The low laughter of fellow interns and nurses could be heard in the background.
Im Taek-jin, the patient Taesoo was talking to, asked first,
“Shouldn’t you go?”
In just a few days, Im Taek-jin had improved enough to speak normally and even swallow rice.
Seeing the smile of Im Taek-jin, Taesoo shrugged his shoulders.
“Wonder what he’s calling me for?”
“You’ll find out when you go.”
“Guess so. I’ll go quickly.”
Taesoo excused himself to Im Taek-jin and quickly headed toward the nurse’s station.
Chief Park Seong-min was standing outside the nurse’s station, hands on his hips, waiting.
As soon as Taesoo approached, Chief Park Seong-min’s scolding began.
“Look at this, it’s been 30 seconds since I called you, and only now do you dare show your face. Such an arrogant intern.”
“Sorry, but more importantly, how have you been?”
“How have I been? Ah, that’s a nice thing to hear. Haven’t heard that in a while. How about you?”
Chief Park Seong-min waved his hand playfully and smiled, then immediately stiffened his expression and continued.
“I’ll give you exactly one minute. Clean up all your things in the SICU and come back here.”
“Excuse me?”
“What, did you interns eat crow meat or something today? Can’t understand anything, can’t hear anything, I’m losing my mind.”
Chief Park Seong-min’s expression twisted further.
But that wasn’t what mattered to Taesoo.
“Chief, I’m sorry, but could you give me just five more minutes?”
“Look at this. This intern is actually interpreting and expanding my words on his own. What is this madness?”
“Please give me time to say goodbye to Im Taek-jin.”
Seeing the serious expression on Taesoo’s face, Chief Park Seong-min flinched slightly.
“A patient? Right, I guess you should say goodbye. I didn’t think about that. Fine, I’ll give you 3 minutes and 20 seconds. Okay?”
“It’s still tight on time…”
“3 seconds gone.”
Chief Park Seong-min glanced at his wristwatch and spoke, and Taesoo rushed off.
“I’m going!”
“3 minutes and 15 seconds left.”
Chief Park Seong-min continued to urge him from behind.
Meanwhile, Taesoo approached Im Taek-jin again.
Unaware of what was happening, Im Taek-jin asked first,
“Why the rush?”
“I think I need to leave the SICU for a bit.”
“Go ahead.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
Taesoo’s face slightly changed to an awkward expression.
Due to his intern schedule, he hadn’t been able to make any promises to meet Im Taek-jin again.
Though they had talked, Im Taek-jin had already figured out Taesoo was an intern.
Im Taek-jin seemed to sense what was going on.
However, Im Taek-jin smiled even more warmly and gently said,
“Be careful and come back.”
“…”
“I still have a long way to go before I can be discharged. It might get boring, but I’ll make sure to do my exercises until you come back.”
Taesoo’s heart sank heavily at those words.
Suddenly, Taesoo gently took Im Taek-jin’s hand and said softly,
“I won’t be able to come every day, but I’ll visit when I can.”
“Make sure to bring some fun stories.”
“Of course. It’s not fun unless I have a lot to talk about.”
Taesoo lightly tapped Im Taek-jin’s hand.
At that moment, Im Taek-jin said softly,
“You’ll treat the other patients the same, right?”
“Pardon?”
“It feels strange, like I’m losing my primary doctor, but strangely, it makes me happy. At least other patients will have a good doctor like you.”
For a moment, Taesoo was speechless.
Im Taek-jin had been the patient who had undergone various tests to help organize his chaotic memories.
Though it had been beneficial for the patient, the fact that he had been experimented on still weighed heavily on Taesoo’s heart.
“I’m not a good person.”
“Of course, you’re a great person.”
“That’s not what I mean…”
“I’m tired. I think I need to sleep now.”
With that, Im Taek-jin closed his eyes.
It was a clear sign of refusal to talk any further.
That was the strongest form of resistance he could express.
Unable to say anything else, Taesoo gently stroked Im Taek-jin’s hand and slowly walked away.
There was nothing else to clean up.
Taesoo immediately approached Chief Park Seong-min.
Even as Taesoo approached, Chief Park Seong-min was still fixated on his wristwatch.
“1 minute 20 seconds left… 19 seconds left.”
“I’m done.”
“Huh?”
Only then did Chief Park Seong-min look up and see Taesoo’s arrival, and a bright smile spread across his face.
“Ah, it’s nice to see an intern who actually follows the Chief’s orders with sincerity. Well, then, our Choi Taesoo… why does your face look like that?”
“It’s nothing.”
Taesoo forced a smile.
But Chief Park Seong-min’s keen eyes couldn’t be fooled. Perhaps because he had gone through similar situations, he quickly guessed what had happened.
Not fond of dark moods, Chief Park Seong-min jokingly asked,
“Did you have a lover in the SICU?”
“I think I did.”
“Did you break up? Did you get dumped?”
“Looks like I got dumped.”
As Taesoo gave a wry smile, Chief Park Seong-min casually shrugged and said,
“When you get dumped, you’ve got to stay busy to forget. Got it?”
“Whatever it is, I’ll take care of it.”
“Right. As an intern, you don’t need to know, don’t want to know, and shouldn’t know. Just do your job. Now, shall we go?”
Chief Park Seong-min led Taesoo out of the SICU.

When he first entered, the unfamiliarity and bleakness had overwhelmed him.
But now, as he was leaving, his steps felt heavy.
Was it because human hearts are fickle?
Or perhaps it was because he still lacked full self-awareness as a doctor?
Taesoo’s mind was filled with thoughts.
But he quickly shook them off.
As he meets more patients and gains various experiences, his heart might grow colder.
The likelihood of that happening was high.
Still, Taesoo decided he wouldn’t forget.
The face of a patient who gradually regained vitality through his care.
The one simple word of thanks he had received.
It was the first time his heart had raced.
He didn’t want to forget it.

Leaving the SICU, Taesoo walked alongside Chief Park Seong-min.
Chief Park Seong-min, just as he had been when Taesoo first met him, had a fun way of speaking.
“So, what should our Choi Taesoo do now?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Just keep doing what you’ve been doing. Patient transfers for all kinds of tests, X-rays, CTs, MRIs, and so on! Got it?”
“Is there anything else?”
When Taesoo casually asked, Chief Park Seong-min’s expression instantly changed.
“Rebellious? Is this rebellion? You’re rebelling against what the Chief says? Where did you learn this kind of disrespect?”
“Sorry.”
“Apology? My ears were already wide open before you even apologized. Just get back to work. And one last thing.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t think I’m going to the emergency stairs with you.”
At those words, Taesoo froze for a moment.
“Ah, well…”
“How did you know? No questions. There are no secrets in a hospital. But I won’t hold it against you because Seok-dong didn’t do anything to help either.”
“Even so, I made a mistake…”
“Admitted it, huh? If you admit it, just make sure it doesn’t happen again. I cut it off at my level, so the professors don’t know anything. Don’t cause the same problem again.”
As Taesoo understood Chief Park Seong-min’s words, his expression brightened.
“You’re truly omnipotent.”
“Finally, you understand. Thanks for noticing. Now, while we’ve been talking, we’ve already entered the sharp maw of the cardiothoracic surgery main building. What are you doing? Not running?”
“Where do we go first?”
“Don’t ask, don’t question, don’t rebel. Just run. Where? Run wherever you want. I’m just going to nag you from the moment I see you until I don’t.”
“Yes, I’m going!”
Taesoo, without asking or questioning, ran ahead.
Pat-pat!
Before he had even run 5 meters, he heard Chief Park Seong-min’s thunderous scolding from behind.
“Is life about moving forward? Turn around and head to the outpatient clinic. Go!”
“Got it!”
“Good enthusiasm! Keep running like that, until your slippers wear out! After practice, if the soles are still intact, I’ll be the one dead.”
“Yes!”
Taesoo answered, then sped up even more.