Chapter 35, Part 2: Symbolic World (5)

After leaving the movie theater, we found a nearby hamburger franchise.

While hamburgers will become a common food in the distant future, in this era, they were quite a decent dining option.

“Hey, you snorer. You make people curious and then just shut up? You should tell me why I need to go to the hospital.”

In response to the troublemaker's nagging, I calmly replied.

“You snore too loudly. You should go to the ENT department of a large hospital.”

“Huh? You want me to go to the ENT department because of snoring? And to a big hospital? Man, you were making it sound like something serious, but you’re just messing with me.”

“I’m just joking because you snore so loudly.”

“Well, it is pretty bad. I even felt embarrassed myself.”

Although the troublemaker protested, Kim Jisun and Kim Yo-han quickly came to my aid.

Outnumbered 3 to 1, the troublemaker sheepishly drank his cola.

However, my suggestion to go to the ENT department of a large hospital was 100% serious.

Snoring is one of the important symptoms of a disease, and it should never be taken lightly if it's severe.

This is because snoring can help roughly determine the severity of sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea.

As the name suggests, it's a condition where the airway narrows during sleep, preventing the patient from breathing properly.

Since the 21st century, when interest in health has skyrocketed, sleep apnea has become widely known, but in this era, most people don't even know what it is.

“Don’t you feel tired even after sleeping? You feel like you’ve had a good sleep, but your body feels heavy.”

“Are you a fortune-teller? How did you know that?”

“The snoring was too loud. And people with small faces and a receding chin, like you, often have narrow airways, making it hard to breathe while sleeping.”

“Indeed, my man, you’re smart.”

“Believe it, I’m a prepared doctor.”

Kim Jisun and Kim Yo-han added their comments proudly in response to my words.

I continued, undeterred.

I advised him not to take snoring too lightly and to get an accurate diagnosis at the hospital.

Sleep apnea not only lowers the quality of life but can also cause heart-related diseases such as arrhythmia and hypertension.

While there are diseases that can instantly devastate a person, there are also those that slowly erode health.

Sleep apnea falls into the latter category.

“Well, if the future doctor says so, I guess I have to go. I understand. I’ll find time this week to go.”

“Right. I’m saying this for your own good.”

After finishing lunch, we moved to Yoido Park.

We went for a walk, rode bicycles, and bought snacks.

These were ordinary activities, but I felt they were special.

In my past life and even after regressing, my life was always about running toward the future, not stopping to enjoy the present.

‘Maybe I should enjoy the present more now.’

I smiled to myself with this thought.

This period is likely the last of what people often call the good times.

After entering medical school, going through internships, residencies, and completing a fellowship...

My daily life will soon start and end at the hospital.

Things like cherry blossom viewing or a 2-night, 3-day trip will be out of the question.

“Lee Min, are you really going to become a thoracic surgeon again?

Do you really want to go back to a life where you see patients in critical condition all day and are on emergency standby 24/7?

I understand your desire to become a doctor, but why not at least change your major? You should live like a human being now.”

Another part of me tempted me.

Since I suffered in my past life, why not choose an easier path this time?

It was a sweet and hard-to-resist temptation, but I firmly rejected it.

Whenever I close my eyes, I am haunted by the patients I lost, the colleagues I couldn't save, and the harsh and unjust medical environment.

To live in the present, I must correct the mistakes of the past, and to move forward, I must be faithful to the present.

No matter what, I had to choose thoracic surgery again.

* * *

“Today was really fun, right?”

“Yeah, I haven’t had such a carefree and enjoyable time in a while.”

I stretched and said.

Being a middle-aged thoracic surgeon doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy time with teenagers.

During the movie and our casual chat, I was able to temporarily forget about the headaches.

It felt like my energy was recharged.

“People need to get some fresh air now and then. The idea of a change of pace isn’t just a saying. Especially for someone like you, Min.”

“Maybe you’re right.”

“It’s not just maybe; it’s how it should be.”

“What? You have a teacher even outside of school?”

“Hey, are you jealous?”

I walked through the neighborhood, bantering with Kim Jisun.

Even though the sun had set, the heat didn’t dissipate easily. The air was sticky, and the wind was warm.

Still, I preferred summer to winter.

In winter, the cold narrows blood vessels, leading to a higher number of elderly patients in the emergency room.

My attitude toward the seasons was quintessentially that of a thoracic surgeon.

“Min, were you a Buddhist?”

Kim Jisun’s gaze lingered on my wrist, where he finally noticed the prayer beads I had received from Guak Do-an.

“No. A friend gave them to me as a gift.”

“Was it a girlfriend?”

“Where would I find a girlfriend in an all-boys school? Cut it out, Kim Jisun.”

Kim Jisun scratched his cheek, embarrassed by my comment.

He always turned into a different person when the topic of girls came up, just like in the past.

“Anyway, we don’t have much time left to have fun together. In two months, it’s the college entrance exam, and you’re going to medical school. I hear you’ll be studying all day once you get there.”

“True, it will be harder to meet like this. But I can still make time.”

Having already been a thoracic surgery professor, I didn’t need to throw myself into medical school studies.

However, I planned to start new studies during this period.

Studies to lay the foundation for becoming an excellent thoracic surgeon.

“That’s good. I hope we can meet at least once a month, no matter how busy we get.”

“What’s this? Is Mrs. Kim satisfied with that?”

I tilted my head, surprised by Kim Jisun’s suggestion.

We had been meeting and communicating frequently for a long time.

“I don’t want to force you to meet just because of my feelings. I understand that much.”

“...”

“Besides, you’re not ordinary. You’ll probably be even busier in college.”

Kim Jisun bowed his head, seemingly regretful of the distance that would soon grow between us.

His pitiful expression stabbed my heart.

“Thank you for understanding.”

“You don’t have to. I was prepared for this day, watching you grow.”

“...”

“When you feel too overwhelmed, lean on me. I’m confident I can support you.”

“...”

“Ah, I talked too much today. I’ll go now. See you tomorrow.”

I watched Kim Jisun walk away, waving his hand.

His thoughtful concern for me warmed my heart.

In this life, I had someone to lean on besides my family.

My path from the age of one had not been wrong.

With a warm feeling, I returned home.

“I’m back.”

“Did you have fun?”

“You’re a bit later than usual today.”

“Bro, you’re here?”

As I took off my shoes at the entrance, my loving parents and younger brother welcomed me.

Since I had already finished dinner, I didn’t need to eat separately.

Instead, I ate the fruit my mother had cut while watching TV.

I told my parents about the fun I had with my friends while watching TV.

“Love, do you like your brother so much? You’re already attached to him?”

“Yeah, I like my brother.”

In response to my father’s question, Love, who was sitting between my legs and leaning against my body, answered enthusiastically.

“I like you too, Love.”

“Hehe, really?”

Looking down at Love, who was looking up at me, I felt a happy sense of unease.

I hoped Love would grow up healthy, without getting sick or hurt.

Beep.

Beep.

At that moment, my phone, which I had left on the side, vibrated like an uninvited guest.

The number was Guak Do-an’s.

Thinking the inevitable had finally come, I went to my room and answered the call.

I was very curious about the progress of the case involving the unjust death of Guak Do-an’s grandmother.

“Hey, Do-an. How did it go?”

-You ask about that right away as soon as we connect? Lee Min, you’re too harsh.

“Sorry, I was just too curious.”

-What do you think happened?

“Your voice sounds bright, so I guess things went well?”

-Bingo! The professor who operated on my grandmother is on the verge of getting fired.

Guak Do-an began to share the latest developments with an excited voice.

A few days ago, his father had reviewed his grandmother’s medical chart and found that it had been tampered with.

Fortunately, Professor Myeongtae and his team had acted according to my plan.

I felt both gratitude and satisfaction toward the man who had dug his own grave.

Violation of the duty to diagnose and explain.

With the addition of tampering with the medical chart, even a slippery character like Professor Myeongtae couldn’t escape the law.

Thus, the unjust death of Guak Do-an’s grandmother would be revealed as the truth.

In the distant future, the patients who would die at the hands of Professor Myeongtae.

And the students who would be mistreated by him would be spared from disaster.

It was truly a fortunate turn of events.

-My father said that the idea to use the tampered chart against them was yours. You’re crazy. How did you think of that?

“I know a very remarkable person in this field. I got help from them.”

I couldn’t help but laugh as I spoke.

This plan had originated from my mind, but in a way, it wasn’t entirely my own.

My nemesis, Kang Tae-sub, who had plunged me into the depths of despair.

Paradoxically, I had channeled Kang Tae-sub to devise this plan.

Kang Tae-sub had an uncanny ability to read people’s dark psychology.

And he was a master at using that psychology to bring people to their lowest point.

I imagined how Kang Tae-sub would have acted in this situation.

And thus, the plan to诱导篡改病历的诞生了。

这难道就是所谓的化险为夷吗？

我确信，今后我还会继续以康泰燮的身份与医疗界的积弊斗争。

锋利的武器在战争中是可怕的杀人工具，

但在手术室里，它会成为拯救生命的手术刀。

最终，我将收回前世欠康泰燮的所有债。

-无论如何，我爸爸让我向你表示感谢。他说不久后要一起吃个饭。周末有时间吗？

“即使没时间也得腾出来。”

-好的。非常感谢，那明天学校见。

挂断电话后，我带着释然的心情扑倒在床上。

在高考前需要解决的课题现在只剩下最后一个了。