Chapter 37, Chapter 3: Fracture (2)

"......"

"......"

A tense and sharp psychological battle took place between Sim Byung-soo and me.

We glared at each other as if trying to devour the other, and neither of us was willing to back down easily.

"Lee Min-jin, stop pretending to be a righteous messenger and just shut up, okay?"

"Trash, you should stop acting like a third-rate thug."

I growled at Sim Byung-soo, who still showed no remorse for his sins.

By burning a classmate's wrist with a cigarette, Sim Byung-soo had proven that he was not human.

Sim Byung-soo was a beast, no, worse than a beast.

"Both... both of you, stop it..."

Park Jung-hoon interjected in a voice as weak as a mosquito's, but his influence was minimal.

Since dealing with Sim Byung-soo any further would be a waste of time, I took Park Jung-hoon's hand and headed straight for the faculty office.

The first priority was to make the homeroom teacher aware of Sim Byung-soo's despicable bullying.

I thought to myself.

Was it right for me to go this far?

I had a moment of doubt, but I decided to put those worries aside.

If I left Park Jung-hoon alone, his body and mind would undoubtedly be devastated.

Meanwhile, Sim Byung-soo would sleep soundly with his legs stretched out, feeling no guilt.

So, it was right to help Park Jung-hoon within the limits of what I could do.

And the first step was to inform the homeroom teacher of the terrifying fact I had discovered today.

"Teacher, do you have a moment?"

"Oh, is that you, Min-jin? What's the matter, Jung-hoon?"

The homeroom teacher, who was handling paperwork, looked us over from head to toe.

"I have something important to tell you."

"What is it? Go ahead."

"Sim Byung-soo is bullying Jung-hoon."

"Sim Byung-soo?"

The homeroom teacher's eyes widened in surprise, but that reaction was natural from his perspective.

At least among the teachers, Sim Byung-soo was known as a diligent and studious student.

He was a wolf in sheep's clothing, to put it most accurately.

"Hmm... bullying..."

From the homeroom teacher's lukewarm monologue, I felt a twinge of unease.

If a student was bullying another, the teacher should have jumped up in anger, but the indifferent atmosphere from the homeroom teacher was ominous.

"At your age, it's not uncommon for friends to roughhouse a bit..."

"Teacher, it's not just roughhousing."

I tried my best to maintain a polite attitude despite my boiling anger.

I didn't come to the faculty office to argue with the homeroom teacher.

"Park Jung-hoon, did Sim Byung-soo really bully you? Why is Min-jin the one speaking up when you, the one who was bullied, are silent?"

"Well, it's just that..."

"Jung-hoon, tell the teacher the truth. Show him the burn on your arm."

At my urging, Park Jung-hoon bowed his head deeply.

He repeatedly moved his lips as if trying to say something.

This was the moment when Park Jung-hoon's courage was needed.

"I'm sorry, Min-jin. I'm sorry, teacher. Let's pretend this never happened."

I could only watch helplessly as Park Jung-hoon ran out of the faculty office.

But I didn't blame or think of him as foolish.

How much must he have suffered at the hands of Sim Byung-soo to act like this?

Even if the facts were revealed, if only a light punishment was given, the bullying against Park Jung-hoon would only worsen.

Park Jung-hoon must have considered this and decided to avoid the situation.

There was not a speck of fault or sin in Park Jung-hoon.

'What a despicable guy.'

I felt nothing but intense anger towards Sim Byung-soo, who had created this terrible situation.

"Jung-hoon just left. What happened, Min-jin?"

The homeroom teacher looked at me, expecting an explanation.

"Recently, Sim Byung-soo has been bullying Jung-hoon a lot. He burned his arm with a cigarette, which is why Jung-hoon was wearing a long-sleeved shirt."

"Ha... I can't believe Sim Byung-soo would do something like that... I find it hard to believe."

Watching the homeroom teacher continue to defend Sim Byung-soo made me feel like my chest would burst with frustration.

Admitting that the times were to blame might be an excuse, but at this period, students who did well in studies were often seen as good students.

"Was it not Sim Byung-soo but other students who bullied Jung-hoon?"

"On the contrary, Sim Byung-soo is the one leading the delinquent students."

"Let me call Sim Byung-soo and talk to him separately. I know you wouldn't lie, Min-jin."

"Yes, teacher."

I sighed as I left the faculty office, disappointed by the homeroom teacher's lukewarm response.

In my past life, Sim Byung-soo was a model student, but now he had fallen.

In my past life, the class atmosphere was harmonious, but now it was a mess.

Perhaps these were the karmic consequences and butterfly effects I should have expected after obtaining the treasure of regression.

'But I have to overcome this...'

I steadied my wavering heart.

If I could only clean up the incidents that happened in the past, my regression would be incomplete.

To truly complete my regression, I needed to handle new incidents that did not occur in the past.

In that sense, the problem between Sim Byung-soo and Park Jung-hoon could be seen as a test of my abilities after regressing.

Moreover, the complex incidents that occur in the classroom also happen in hospitals.

Promotion issues.

Physical abuse between resident doctors.

Bullying by professors, and so on.

In that sense, this incident also served as a kind of vaccine for the problems I would face in the future at the hospital.

Therefore, it was impossible for me to ignore this incident.

On my way back to the classroom, I repeatedly pondered how to resolve this incident.

What is the right path?

What is the true happy ending?

Time will tell.

* * *

I was deep in thought throughout the class.

This incident with Sim Byung-soo would be a crucial event in determining how I would act when faced with numerous injustices in the future at the hospital.

What would I do if I encountered someone as despicable as Sim Byung-soo?

How would I handle someone suffering in an unreasonable situation like Park Jung-hoon?

I needed to provide a clear answer to these questions.

Sim Byung-soo?

Honestly, it didn't matter to me whether that trash fell or not.

Park Jung-hoon being bullied was also, to be frank, not my concern.

All I needed to do was quietly attend school, do well on the college entrance exam, and enter medical school as the top student.

With the knowledge from my regression, I could excel and line up behind the successful professors, ensuring a smooth future.

But what would be the point of that?

I didn't choose to become a doctor to become a materialist.

I wanted to reduce the number of patients who, like my father in my past life, left the world in vain.

I desperately wanted to bring down the likes of Kang Tae-sub, who preyed on the weak.

If that was the case, the path I should take was already set.

Punish the evil with power and protect the weak without power.

Therefore, I would make Sim Byung-soo pay for his crimes and alleviate Park Jung-hoon's suffering.

As a thoracic surgeon, I vowed to never lose this resolve and to never forget it until the day I closed my eyes.

"Min-jin, why do you look so serious?"

Was my burning determination too intense?

The math teacher, who was in the middle of a lesson, looked at me and tilted his head.

"It's nothing, teacher. I was just concentrating on the lesson..."

"You, you're too serious. Let's continue the lesson."

As the teacher turned back to write formulas on the board, I alternated my gaze between Sim Byung-soo and Park Jung-hoon.

The story of the three of us would soon come to a conclusion.

* * *

After the fifth class ended.

I moved to a secluded area near the back gate.

I dialed the phone number on the business card I took out of my wallet.

I called Guak Jun-ho, the father of Guak Do-an and a lawyer.

Why?

To seek legal advice on whether Sim Byung-soo's school bullying could be legally punished.

If this bullying was resolved internally by the school's self-governing body?

There was a high chance it would result in a half-hearted punishment.

Schools and hospitals tend to cover up internal issues and sweep them under the rug.

I didn't want Sim Byung-soo to receive a light punishment.

Sim Byung-soo had to pay for his crimes.

'Having a reliable lawyer is a huge relief.'

I smiled contentedly as I listened to the dial tone.

- Oh, Min-jin. It's been a while.

"Hello. Is it a good time to talk? I hope I'm not disturbing you."

- Not at all. I'd get out of bed to answer your call.

Guak Jun-ho answered with a playful tone.

- But you're in school, right? Is it okay to talk?

"It's during break. I'm really sorry, but I have a question..."

I briefly explained the bullying between Sim Byung-soo and Park Jung-hoon.

As soon as I finished, Guak Jun-ho let out a stream of curses.

- Huh, what a damn kid. Where does he learn such bad things? Those brats should get a good beating on a rainy day.

"..."

- Ahem, Min-jin, you understand. I tend to have a rough mouth.

"No, it actually makes me feel better to hear you say that."

- Anyway, if we gather evidence, it can be pursued as a criminal case.

"Is it possible to get a prison sentence?"

I openly showed my anger towards Sim Byung-soo.

- A prison sentence... If there's no settlement, we can increase the sentence, but with the Juvenile Law and being a first-time offender, it's highly unlikely. It would probably end with a suspended sentence and community service.

I was slightly disappointed by Guak Jun-ho's response.

Sim Byung-soo needed to spend some time in prison to vent this anger.

What is this Juvenile Law anyway?

Some people can commit crimes and still live well, while others have to carry the mental scars of being victims for the rest of their lives.

Is the bright future of the perpetrator important, but not the bright future of the victim?

I suddenly hated the Juvenile Law as much as I hated Sim Byung-soo.

- From the way you're talking about a prison sentence, it seems Sim Byung-soo really got under your skin.

"It's beyond words."

- Even if it's not a prison sentence, the defendant will suffer during the lawsuit and trial. I'll make it as painful as possible.

"..."

- And since you asked, I'll do my best to get a prison sentence.

"Thank you, just hearing that is a relief."

I talked with Guak Jun-ho for about five more minutes.

I asked specific questions about what was needed for the lawsuit and memorized the answers.

- Come to my office once you've talked to your friend and organized the materials. I'll buy you some good food.

"..."

- By the way, this time, the legal fee is on me. Thanks to you, I was able to console the spirit of my mother, who passed away in vain because of the mackerel.

Guak Jun-ho ended the call, saying he had a client to meet.

To consult on my case so kindly and even waive the legal fee...

I was deeply grateful for Guak Jun-ho's warm heart.

I decided that when I became a competent doctor, I would repay this favor by becoming his primary physician and taking responsibility for his health.

Returning to the classroom, I organized the conversation in my mind.

But the atmosphere in the classroom was unusual.

The students were forming a circle around the back of the classroom.

"How do we handle this? Someone call 119."

"Shouldn't we take him to the nurse's office first?"

"Isn't it better to call the teacher?"

Voices filled with anxiety and worry were heard everywhere.

Pushing through the anxious and worried classmates, I entered the scene.

There was Park Jung-hoon.

Park Jung-hoon was kneeling on the floor, his face as white as wax, and gasping for breath.

It was clear that the situation was serious.

I was the only one who could resolve this situation.