Chapter 177
Episode 177 Gambling (End)
‘Possession Release.’
Shoooof—
“Ugh….”
The strength drained from my legs. It felt as if gravity had suddenly doubled.
“Phew….”
Leaning against the wall, I let out a long sigh. Cold sweat poured down like crazy.
‘I survived.’
The patient survived, and I survived too. Now, there's only one thing left to do.
RUN.
Before the aftermath hits, that is.
Click.
The moment I pressed the button of the operating room's automatic door, it slid open, revealing the familiar scenery of the Emergency Room hallway. Dragging my feet like a zombie, I walked toward the ER station.
“Hey! Han!”
Park Se-young, who was standing at the station, spotted me and shouted.
“Ah, yes, Professor….”
I raised my hand and waved weakly. I didn't even have the strength to speak. Only a single countdown was ticking away inside my head—the horrible muscle pain that usually struck within five minutes.
“Are… Are you really okay?”
Park Se-young rushed over, grabbed my shoulders, and scanned me up and down.
“Did you really assist inside? For the Director's surgery? And you didn't get kicked out?”
“Ah, yes. Well… pretty much….”
“What do you mean 'pretty much'! The anesthesia professor said he thought you went crazy!”
“That gentleman tends to overreact a bit….”
With blurry eyes, I looked past Park Se-young. In the distance, behind the curtain of the ER treatment area, a familiar face peeked out. It was Baek Eunseo.
“Uh?”
I rubbed my eyes. Why is she in the ER? Wasn't today her day off?
“Professor. Why is Eunseo here….”
“Ah.”
Park Se-young rolled his eyes.
“If you go into the operating room, who else is going to fill in here? Do you expect me to see all the patients by myself? You're the one who started this whole mess.”
“Then the 1st-year residents, Taehyun or Seo-a, could have…”
Ah. The moment the words left my mouth, I realized my mistake.
“See? If you were in my shoes, would you call them?”
Park Se-young crossed his arms.
Honestly, I wouldn't call them either.
“That's why I called Eunseo. She's the quickest with her hands and understands things the fastest. It's a shame since it's her off-day, but what choice did I have?”
“Ah… I understand.”
Because of me, Baek Eunseo's day off went down the drain. I'm sorry, Eunseo. I'll buy you something delicious later. But right now, I feel like I'm going to die.
“Professor.”
“What.”
“Can I… rest for a bit?”
“Huh?”
Park Se-young questioned. Instead of answering, I walked straight toward the most secluded seat in the Emergency Room.
“Hey! Hey! Where are you going!”
“I am exhausted.”
This was a high-level skill you could only use because the opponent was Park Se-young: throwing a tantrum.
I threw my body onto the bed. Splayed out, I raised a thumb toward Park Se-young.
“….”
Park Se-young stared down at me with a look of utter disbelief. A resident lying flat on an ER bed during a shift? Normally, a back-smash would have flown right at me, but I guess I looked like an absolute wreck right now.
“Your face looks… really not good. No jokes, are you really going to lie down? Here? For real?”
“Professor.”
With my eyes closed, I offered a final deal. This was a negotiation for my survival.
“If you let it slide today… I'll pull a 24-hour shift next time.”
“…!”
Instantly, Park Se-young's eyes flashed.
“A 24-hour shift?”
“Yes. No complaints. Full shift.”
“But you're already scheduled for a 24-hour shift this Saturday anyway—”
“I'll do one more day.”
“Deal.”
It didn't even take 0.1 seconds for Park Se-young to answer. He immediately turned around and gestured to Baek Eunseo.
“Eunseo, draw the curtain for him. Dr. Han has fainted. Hang an IV fluid for him too.”
“Yes, sir!”
Chrarrck—
And then.
‘Ah…!’
Hell arrived. Curse this damn muscle pain.
“Ngh….”
I buried my face into the pillow.
‘Ah, shit… they could have reduced the penalty a bit….’
The service was way too stingy. My consciousness gradually faded away.
“Ugh….”
Forcibly forcing my heavy eyelids open, I realized the horrible pain had subsided quite a bit. Instinctively, I fumbled around the nightstand next to the bed to find my phone.
Tap.
The screen lit up, and the numbers came into view. I blinked.
‘17:22….’
I blankly calculated the time. Since the day shift ends at 19:00… I still have about an hour and 40 minutes left. It's a relief I woke up during shift hours.
“Up we go….”
Groaning, I stretched. With a popping sound, my stiff bones felt like they were clicking back into place. Steadying my trembling legs, I pulled the curtain aside.
Chrarrck.
“Woke up?”
Sitting at the station and organizing charts, Park Se-young looked at me and smiled. For some reason, that smile looked unusually bright.
“Sleep well?”
Why is he smiling like that? Did I drool while sleeping?
“Hyunjae.”
“Yes, Professor.”
“You see.”
Park Se-young pointed toward the Emergency Medical Center entrance.
“The Medical Director was looking for you just now. He must be waiting outside the ER. Go out quickly.”
“Me?”
The Director? In person? Without going through the secretary's office?
“Yeah. Go quickly. He's waiting.”
“But my day shift hours aren't over yet….”
“It's fine, just go. Don't waste time here. He must have something to tell you.”
Park Se-young waved his hand, shooing me away. Feeling dazed, I adjusted my gown and took a step forward.
“Ah… Ah, yes. I'll be back.”
“Be careful! Keep your eyes on what's in front and what's next to you!”
‘What is he talking about…?’
Front and next to me? What does that mean? I can understand keeping an eye on what's in front, but why the side? Is he telling me not to trip in the hallway?
Tilting my head in confusion, I walked toward the automatic door.
Ziiing—
The Emergency Medical Center's internal automatic door opened, leading to the hallway connected to the hospital lobby. As soon as I stepped out, my eyes naturally gravitated toward the large bulletin board attached to the right wall.
Right in the center hung a fresh sheet of paper that looked like the ink hadn't even dried yet, standing out conspicuously.
[Notice of Personnel Appointment]
‘The title itself looks intense.’
Name: Park Kwang-seok
Affiliation: Cheongjin University Geoje Hospital Emergency Medical Center / Cheongjin University College of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine
Rank: Associate Professor
Position: Chief of Geoje Hospital Emergency Medical Center
And beneath it, the final blow written in bold red text.
[Details of Appointment]
Dismissed from the position of Chief of the Emergency Medical Center.
Suspended from the faculty position at Cheongjin University.
Ordered to stand by pending referral to the Disciplinary Committee.
“…Uh?”
A dumbfounded sound leaked out of my mouth.
‘Dismissed from his position and suspended from his faculty post?’
The grounds written underneath were even more brutal.
A. Private School Act, Article 58-2 (Suspension from Position)
B. Emergency Medical Service Act, Article 12 (Prohibition of Obstruction of Emergency Medical Care)
C. Cheongjin University Faculty Personnel Regulations, Article 32 (Duty of Good Faith)
D. Cheongjin University Faculty Personnel Regulations, Article 33 (Duty to Maintain Dignity)
E. Cheongjin University Hospital Medical Affairs Regulations, Article 20 (Prohibition of Abuse of Command and Supervision)
‘They even pinned him with the obstruction of emergency medical care.’
The act of blocking the medical team who were entering to operate on an emergency patient. They interpreted that as medical obstruction and used it as a basis. I wasn't sure if it would hold up in a court of law, though.
At the very bottom, the official seal was stamped:
Lee Jae-yoon, President of Cheongjin University Medical Center / Vice President of Medical Affairs, Cheongjin University (Seal)
“….”
I brushed my hair back. This happened this afternoon. Just a few hours ago. In that short amount of time, they finished the legal review and had the HR team write this up?
‘It got resolved this quickly?’
Just then, catching a shadow reflected on the glass of the bulletin board, I turned around in surprise.
“Ah, startled me!….”
…
“…No, it's nothing. Hello, Director.”
“Are you awake?”
“I just woke up.”
“How is your body?”
“Refreshing. I'm completely fine.”
That was a lie. My entire body still ached.
“Follow me. For a moment.”
“Yes… Yes? Yes!”
Without any explanation, Lee Jae-yoon started walking. Not knowing what was going on, I followed behind the Director. He headed straight for the elevator.
Ding—
The doors opened, and we boarded the elevator.
‘Is this a second interview? Just like when we were at the main hospital? Drinking tea and talking about life again?’
This is driving me crazy. I can't even guess what the situation is. Is he trying to praise me, or is he going to scold me for overstepping my boundaries? Or is he trying to keep my mouth shut about that personnel notice?
However, the button Lee Jae-yoon's finger pressed wasn't the top floor where the Director's office or administrative departments were located.
[5F]
‘5th floor? That's the ICU and the wards… Ah?’
A thought flashed through my mind. On the 5th floor, there were the Medical ICU and the Surgical ICU.
Ding—
The moment the doors opened, Lee Jae-yoon walked without hesitation toward the intercom of the ICU located at the end of the hallway.
“Ah, right. Dr. Han?”
Lee Jae-yoon paused right before pressing the intercom and turned back to look at me.
“Yes, Director!”
“Your employee ID card, please.”
“Ah. Ah, yes!”
As an outsider(?), the Director hadn't brought his ID card, making it difficult to enter. I hastily held the ID card hanging around my neck against the card reader.
Beep.
The door is opening—
Thud.
Thud.
We put on sterile gowns over our clothes and walked inside. The resident on duty sitting at the station leaped up upon seeing us.
“Uh? Director?”
Lee Jae-yoon raised his hand to stop the resident who was hurriedly trying to run out. It was a sign to be quiet. Then, leading me along, he took me to a bed inside.
The curtain was pulled halfway across the bed. The patient was lying on top of it.
[32M / Han Seung-ho] [Attending: Hong Seon-ho / Department: Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery]
It was the patient whose body my hands and the Director's hands had touched this afternoon.
“Vitals are stable too.”
Lee Jae-yoon spoke while looking at the monitor.
“The chest tube drainage has also decreased to below 100cc per hour, and the color has cleared up. Urine output is also coming out well at over 50cc per hour. It seems there are no kidney issues. The creatinine level is also normal.”
‘To care this much when he's neither the ICU attending nor is the patient admitted under his name?’
He must have been checking continuously since the surgery ended.
“Other than Cefa, no separate vasopressors have been administered, and the blood test results keep coming back good.”
“Is that so, Director?”
“Go closer.”
“Yes?”
I asked back reflexively.
“M-me?”
Why me?
“I told you to go closer.”
Lee Jae-yoon gestured with his chin. I cautiously approached the side of the bed. The patient's eyes were closed.
‘Is he sleeping because the anesthesia hasn't worn off completely?’
As I stepped up and grabbed the side rail, the patient's eyelids trembled very faintly. Then, with great effort, he opened his eyes. His pupils wandered through the void before stopping at my face. Though he couldn't speak because of the oxygen mask, it seemed his consciousness had returned.
“Uh… Patient. Can you hear me? Can you see me? If you can see me, blink twice.”
I asked with a trembling voice.
Blink.
And once more.
Blink.
No brain damage.
“Haa….”
Without realizing it, a deep breath burst out of me. We saved him.
‘We really saved him.’
The heart that was dying while pouring out blood was beating again. When I turned my head, Lee Jae-yoon, who was standing behind me, was wearing a pleased smile around his eyes.
“Director, why did you bring me here….”
“He just regained consciousness a moment ago. He's still a bit drowsy, but there are no neurological sequelae.”
“I see….”
“Here, take this.”
Lee Jae-yoon pulled a cell phone out of his pocket and lightly tossed it to me.
“The guardian's number is dialed there.”
“The guardian's number?”
“Tell them that he regained consciousness. The guardian lives in Seoul, so they said they would only arrive by tonight.”
“Ah….”
Lee Jae-yoon was yielding the privilege of delivering the most joyful news—the ultimate honor.
“Ah. Yes! Understood!”
With trembling hands, I pressed the call button.
Ringgggg—
Before the signal could even ring properly, the call connected.
Click.
[Hello?!]
“Yes. This is Geoje Cheongjin University Hospital.”
[The surgery! What about Seung-ho's surgery? How did it go?]
The guardian's voice cracked. I looked into the patient's eyes. Looking back at me, the patient faintly blinked.
“He just regained consciousness in the ICU.”
[What?]
“For now, the bleeding has stopped, and there is no brain damage. In the patient's case, the most concerning complication was acute renal failure, but there's none of that either. As for infection, antibiotics are being administered preventively for now.”
[Ah, thank you… Thank you, Doctor….]
Sobs burst out from the other end of the phone.
“Please travel safely on your way down.”
I hung up and set the phone down. Smoothing down my clothes again, I turned my head. Director Lee Jae-yoon stood with his arms crossed, staring intently at me.
“Dr. Han. Are you crying right now by any chance?”
“Yes? Director? No, I'm not crying! Why would I….”
I hurriedly wiped the corners of my eyes. It was damp. Damn it.
“Some dust must have gotten into my eyes. The air in the ICU is a bit murky.”
Lee Jae-yoon let out a smirk and tapped my shoulder.
“Right. There's a lot of dust. My eyes are stinging a bit too.”