Chapter 27

Episode 27 TIME IS BRAIN (3)

The Moment the back door of the Ambulance Opened, the Familiar Air welcomed me. A Scent Mixed with the Smell of Disinfectant, Blood, and All sorts of Human Pain. Pulling the Stretcher in my Hoodie and Tracksuit pants Outfit, I arrived at the Emergency Room again. Anyone looking at my wretched appearance would see a civilian who had just Finished their Commute Home—No, a jobless neighborhood bum out for a stroll. However, the Stretcher cart being Led by my Hand, and the sight of the grandmother fighting for her life on top of it, Just for proved the fact that this place was no joke.

“Teacher Han Hyeonjae?”

“No, didn't he clock out?”

“Why the Tracksuit pants…?”

My juniors and Nurses at the Station murmured as they Saw me. I tried my best to ignore their gazes and passed the Patient over to Choi Sumin (Female), a 3rd Year who had Already run out after receiving the call. It had been about 30 minutes since I Finished my Commute Home.

Fuck.

“A female Patient in her 70s, found on a bus. Onset was 40 minutes ago. Clear left-sided hemiparesis and dysarthria, and Vitals are currently stable…”

I conveyed the Situation as quickly and concisely as possible. Only after handing over to Choi Sumin (Female), the Emergency Room On-duty doctor, Can I Finally breathe a Sigh of relief. Choi Sumin (Female) stared at me with a look of absurdity, but immediately turned her attention back to the Patient.

“Understood. Good job, Hyunjae. You really went through a lot, so you should go home now.”

“Yes.”

I gave a short answer and stepped Back. Trailing All sorts of Monitors and IV fluid Lines in an Instant, the Patient headed straight to the CT room to Check the condition of her brain. Watching that Scenery from afar, I Quietly moved my steps toward the Entrance of the Emergency Room. Now, my role was truly Finished. I Just for needed to pull my hoodie cap deep down, erase my presence as much as possible, and pass through that Automatic Door. Freedom, my Bed, and my fucking Break Were right beyond that door.

Just as I was about to leave, that door slid open. And I came Face-to-face with the person standing there.

Section Chief Park Woong. The head of Emergency Medicine and a living disaster. Why is he here now?

“Oh! Ye, Yes, is that Teacher Han?”

The Section Chief failed to recognize me in my casual Clothes at first, but soon his Eyes went wide. I was doomed. I was perfectly caught.

“Hello, Section Chief.”

“Wait, didn't you go home? What brings you here in such comfortable attire?”

The Section Chief looked puzzled by my appearance, but then, as if remembering something, he slapped my Shoulder thumping hard with a very cheerful and loud Voice.

“I was looking into things a moment ago, and it turns out our Teacher Han did something quite amazing! You caught an MI with a Sore Throat?”

A Myocardial Infarction patient who presented with a Sore Throat. It seemed the rumor had Already reached the Section Chief's ears.

“Haha! That's beyond atypical; it's practically a mutant-level case of cases! Wow, for a 1st year to catch this! You really are an amazing fellow!”

Mutant is going a bit too far, Section Chief… It’s actually not that incredibly rare of a case.

The Section Chief's Compliment poured down like a waterfall. However, none of the words entered my ears. I Just for stared at the Floor with Empty Eyes, keeping my Head bowed.

… My Head was full of Only one thought.

Ah, fuck. My Commute Home.

The Section Chief's delightful solo recital Continued for another 5 minutes. After finding out the fact that I had brought in a Stroke patient from a bus today, the Section Chief started praising me as if I Were the second coming of Jesus for the Department of Emergency Medicine. No, shouldn't a 1st year be more than capable of doing this much? I accepted All those compliments with a soul-less “Thank you” and mechanical 90-degree bows. Finally, another Professor called the Section Chief, and I was able to be released from Hell.

“Then, I will be leaving.”

I Exited the Emergency Room as if escaping.

Finally. It was Finally Finished. Finally… a real Commute Home…

I trudged out toward the main road. The bus stop was visible in the distance, but I couldn't bring myself to walk over there. Goosebumps rose when I recalled what I had Experienced inside that square tin can today. This time, instead of a bus, I should just catch a Taxi… To experience that crazy shit and ride a bus again would mean I'm not a Human, but just an amoeba with no capacity for learning. I decided to indulge in a luxury on my Commute Home for the first time in my life. I was More than entitled to it today.

I got into a Taxi. The Taxi driver Mr. caught a glimpse of my haggard Face through the rearview mirror and started the car without saying a word. As I buried my body into the plush leather seat, the tension Finally melted away, and my entire body grew heavy. Staring into the Void, I opened the blue Window in my mind. It was Time to give a final report to the Ghosts—my only channel of communication, with whom I now even felt a strange sense of camaraderie.

Title: Review of the bus Stroke patient.

Author: Korean Slave 1 (Male)

I'll state the conclusion First. Called 119 and sent them to our Hospital ER. By now, they'll figure it out themselves, whether taking a CT, dissolving the clot, or draining the Blood. My role ends here. I'm fucking tired. What a fucking waste of Taxi fare.

Hematoma is Hell: Good job, yy. That's a 100-point response for the outside world. If you weren't there, that grandmother would've Only been discovered once the bus reached the final terminal.

Neurology Wraith: If you had hesitated for even 10 minutes, that Patient would've been bedridden for the rest of their life. You did a very important thing. It'll be a Moment remembered for the rest of your life.

Looking at those Comments, a faint smile appeared on my Face without me realizing it. Yes, maybe I did alright today. Filled with satisfaction, I closed the Gallery window and tried to get some sleep. The gentle swaying of the Taxi felt like a lullaby. I'm tired. I really want to forget Everything and just fall asleep.

It was at that exact Moment, just as my Eyelids became heavy as lead and my Consciousness was slowly drifting away.

Ping—

Regardless of my will, a new Gallery notification popped up Before my eyes.

Latte is Mine: Hey!

Fuck, what a jump scare.

Latte is Mine: Today's practical experience was excellent! To perfectly handle emergency situations outside the Hospital in the future, what do you need to do?! Study! From now on, we start the 'Street Emergency Medicine Survival' study! The first topic is securing the Airway!

My Eyes snapped open. What? A study? Now? Here?

Hippocrates' Descendant: Oh, that is a grand idea! O living one! If a Patient suddenly stops breathing Before your eyes, what Can you do!

Mes of the God (Male): Start by explaining the difference between a Head-tilt/Chin-lift and a Jaw-thrust. If you perform a Chin-lift on a trauma patient, you might cause a cervical spine injury and make them a quadriplegic!

All sorts of Ghosts Started chattering excitedly. The gentle demeanor that had been praising me a moment ago had Disappeared without a trace, and they had returned as Crazy instructors dying to consume me again. I stared at the ceiling of the Taxi with Empty Eyes.

… Ah. Save me, please.

Latte is Mine: What if you suddenly find a patient having a seizure on the street? You wouldn't do something Crazy like putting something in their Mouth, right? Securing the Airway and clearing dangerous objects Around them comes First!

I didn't even have the strength to answer.

“We have arrived.”

Before I knew it, the Taxi stopped in front of a Familiar Officetel Building. I stumbled out of the Taxi, completely battered.

“Drive safely, Mr. Driver.”

The Taxi Disappeared into the Night without regret. I stood alone on the Empty road. Whew. It was Finally Finished. Really. Now, if I just open that door and go inside, my own space and my own Bed are waiting for me. Squeezing out my last remaining strength, I walked toward the Officetel Entrance. Riding the Elevator, I Pressed the button for my familiar Floor.

With a ding Sound, the doors Opened, and I stood in front of my front door. Before entering the password, I put my hand into my pocket out of habit. A small companion that would Block All the Noise of the world and grant me complete time for myself.

… Oh, wait a minute. Fuck.

The sensation of the hard, smooth plastic case that should be felt at my Fingertips Was not there. I searched the opposite pocket. Was not there. Not in my hoodie pockets, nor in my back pockets. In an Instant, the Scenery from the back seat of the Taxi a moment ago flashed through my Head.

Wireless earphones. I left them behind.

I didn't even feel like calling or chasing after it. Nothing goes right, fuck. What's the point of saving a Stroke patient? In reality, I'm just an idiot who can't even properly keep track of his own earphones on the Commute Home.

I gave up on Everything. And ignoring the Ghosts who continued to chatter noisily, I opened the front door lock.

Mes of the God (Male): So, when bleeding is severe, does Pressure on the hemostatic point come First, or does wrapping a tourniquet come First!

ㄴ yy (39.7): It depends on the Situation, you idiot. If it's arterial bleeding, it's obviously a tourniquet.

Shut up. Please, just shut up.

I slipped off my shoes and stepped into the dark house. I didn't feel like turning on the lights or changing my Clothes. My goal was Only one.

Bed.

I headed toward the bedroom with stumbling steps. The Ghosts Were now starting a discussion about emergency treatment for burn patients.

yy (118.235): Cooling it under running cold water for More than 10 minutes is the way!

Latte is Mine: Ice water is a no-no! It actually worsens tissue damage!

Letting All that nonsense drift past like background Noise, I threw my body toward my only sanctuary.