Chapter 45, Chapter 4: The Knot (5)

"Really, what is a student doing here? I heard that the patient who just collapsed is having a severe seizure."

The 119 emergency responder spoke with fiery anger.

"If we don't take him to the hospital immediately, it could become even more dangerous. Don't be stubborn and get out of the way right now!"

The 119 responder approached me as if issuing an ultimatum.

He tried to push me away with force, but I wasn't someone who would yield to strength.

Instead, I used my strength to block the 119 responder's approach.

The people around me looked at me with disdain, as if I were hindering the treatment.

No matter what, in this situation, I seemed to be the villain.

However, there was a reason why I was desperately trying to prevent the collapsed student from being taken to the hospital by 119.

For a person with epilepsy, seizures are like a part of their body.

They can't be easily removed or separated.

The important thing is that if a patient can get through the seizure phase, they can lead a normal life afterward.

Moreover, since I had caught the student when he fell, there was no risk of head trauma.

If the large student were to be taken to the hospital by 119, he would completely ruin his college entrance exam, which is like a year's worth of hard work.

Even though he could have taken the exam after resting appropriately at school and regaining consciousness.

I wanted the collapsed student to take the exam safely.

I was also confident that, even though he was unconscious, he shared the same thoughts as me.

"I couldn't explain the situation earlier, but I'm this friend's friend."

I fabricated a white lie on the spot.

I began to use the eloquence and logic I had honed from childhood.

My tongue was as sharp and smooth as a scalpel.

- In the operating room, a surgeon's weapon is the scalpel, and outside the operating room, a surgeon's weapon is the tongue.

Surprisingly, it was my arch-nemesis, Kang Tae-sub, who gave me this advice.

Through the regression, I obtained the powerful weapon that I thought I would never have, which Kang Tae-sub used.

"Friend?"

"Yes, a high school friend. This friend has epilepsy and often collapses at school."

When I explained my relationship with the collapsed student and the reason for his collapse, the faces of the emergency responders and the supervisor relaxed.

Having taken control of the conversation, I didn't let up.

"Even if he has a seizure, he gets better quickly after resting for a while. It's not an emergency that requires hospitalization, so there's no need to worry."

"..."

"By the way, I caught him just before he fell. He didn't hit his head on anything. There's no need to worry about trauma."

After explaining the situation, I deliberately kept a distance from the collapsed student.

I was signaling that it was okay for the 119 responders to examine him.

One of the 119 responders approached the collapsed student, checked his vital signs, and gently shook him to try to wake him up.

After the examination, the 119 responders sighed in relief.

They seemed to have realized that the student was unharmed, though unconscious.

"What should we do with this student?"

"Let's have him rest in the infirmary for a while. We'll confirm that he regains consciousness and then leave."

"That's good, but... if this student has another seizure during the exam, won't it be dangerous?"

The supervisor, biting his nails, expressed his concern.

"Is there an empty classroom? If we can provide him with a separate space to take the exam, it would be better. That way, he won't affect other students."

"Hmm... I see. I'll check."

A moment later, the 119 responders carried the collapsed student on a stretcher out of the classroom.

The supervisor hurriedly followed them.

Only then did the frozen atmosphere in the classroom begin to thaw.

The students started to look at their materials again.

I, who had orchestrated everything according to plan, also sighed in relief.

How aggrieved and wronged must that student have been in my previous life?

It was heartbreaking enough to collapse from a seizure.

But to regain consciousness and find out that he had been taken to the hospital and couldn't take the exam...

In a broader sense, being a doctor isn't something extraordinary.

If someone can save people from the depths of despair, they are no different from a doctor.

Vroom.

Standing by the window, I watched the ambulance leave the school.

The ambulance was leaving alone, without the collapsed student.

It seemed that the student would be able to take the exam normally.

* * *

Having prevented the tragic event that occurred in my previous life, I took the college entrance exam smoothly.

Since I had a consistent study routine in both my previous and current lives, the exam wasn't particularly difficult.

However, since I was retaking the exam, I resolved to score full marks in all subjects.

If I had the chance to regress, I should at least achieve that.

After successfully completing the first and second periods, it was lunchtime.

While eating the packed lunch I brought with Guo Dao'an and Park Jeong-hoon outside, a familiar face approached.

It was the large student who had collapsed due to a seizure 40 minutes before the exam.

"Excuse me, didn't you help me earlier?"

The student, surprisingly shy for his size, spoke to me.

"Oh, yes. Are you feeling better?"

"I was a bit dazed at the beginning of the first period, but I was fine after that. Thanks to you."

I felt relieved knowing that the student had recovered and could take the exam safely.

My efforts to protect him were not in vain.

The help I gave him could be passed on to others someday.

If such acts of kindness spread widely, the world might become a little more livable and beautiful.

I had a brief, romantic thought.

We exchanged names and continued the conversation.

"By the way, I heard from the supervisor that the situation was complicated. You said you were my friend and that you provided first aid..."

Kang Choa-won tilted his head in confusion.

From Kang Choa-won's perspective, it was a reasonable question.

"I was worried that the 119 responders might take you to the hospital. Then you wouldn't be able to take the exam."

"Wow, I didn't think you'd consider that... That's impressive."

"..."

"Also, how did you know I have epilepsy?"

"I have a relative with epilepsy."

"Anyway, thank you so much. Can you give me your phone number? I want to contact you later and do something for you."

Due to Kang Choa-won's insistence, I had no choice but to give him my phone number.

I didn't help him for any reward.

Just seeing a sick person recover was a sufficient reward for me.

I didn't become a doctor to gain fame, money, or power.

If that were the case, I wouldn't have chosen the challenging field of thoracic surgery.

That doesn't mean I look down on doctors who pursue money and fame.

Doctors are a profession, and it's natural to consider income and social status.

However, I hope that doctors don't forget one thing:

They deal with people, not objects.

People who are precious and irreplaceable, past, present, and future.

"What's going on?"

"You saved that person?"

Guo Dao'an and Park Jeong-hoon, who had been silent, started to fuss, and I explained the situation briefly.

Even though I had regressed, I wasn't good at telling heroic stories.

After lunch, the second part of the exam began.

Knowing that Kang Choa-won was fine, my hands and mind worked even more smoothly as I solved the problems.

I raced toward a perfect score like a racehorse.

Nothing could stop me now.

Ding dong dong dong~.

Finally, the alarm signaling the end of the exam sounded from the speakers.

I submitted my answer sheet with a sense of relief and left the classroom.

I discussed the difficulty of the exam with Guo Dao-an and Park Jeong-hoon, and talked with my parents when I got home.

After dinner, I had the long-awaited self-grading session.

I didn't feel nervous during the exam, but I was a bit anxious when it came to grading.

I wondered if I had accidentally smudged any answers.

"Phew, let's go!"

I took a deep breath and held a red pen.

I printed out the publicly released exam questions and answers and compared them carefully with my self-grading answer sheet.

However, the red pen in my hand turned out to be useless.

When grading the language section.

When grading the math section.

When grading the foreign language section.

When grading the social studies section.

Why?

Because I didn't get a single question wrong in any subject.

With the magical opportunity of regression, I achieved the miraculous feat of a perfect score in all subjects.

After grading, I felt a pleasant sensation deep in my gut.

Seowon University, the best university in the country.

And I was at the top of the medical school, the best department.

The college entrance exam was just the first hurdle on the way to my goal.

But having started well, I felt confident that I could handle the remaining hurdles.

I wanted to tell my parents right away, but I held back.

The self-grading results were not as definitive as the official exam scores.

"Now, let's go. On an adventure to fulfill your dreams~."

My sister, Sarang, entered my room singing the Pokémon theme song.

"Brother, what are you doing?"

"Nothing. Do you want to play?"

"Yes. Dad is in his room, and Mom is watching TV."

"Sure, I'll play with you. A hundred times if you want."

Feeling good, I picked up Sarang and spun her around.

"Yaaaah!"

Sarang's laughter made me happy too.

After putting Sarang down, I talked with her about Pokémon.

To be precise, I listened to her talk about Pokémon.

Sarang, who had pestered her mother to buy her a Pokémon encyclopedia a few days ago, was teaching me about Pokémon.

Sarang's eyes were serious, and her voice was filled with passion.

Looking at the adorable Sarang, I wondered:

What will Sarang grow up to be?

What career will she aspire to?

In my previous life, I never met Sarang, so I didn't know her future.

"Sarang."

"Yes, brother."

"What do you want to be when you grow up?"

"Me? Hmm..."

After thinking for a moment, Sarang scanned the room and spoke cautiously.

Did something come to mind?

"Should I only tell you and not Mom and Dad?"

"Of course."

"I want to be... the coolest Pokémon Master in the world."

I couldn't help but laugh at Sarang's ambitious goal.

Not a scientist.

Not a doctor.

Not a teacher, but a Pokémon Master!

It felt like a playful punch to the back of the head.

Well, Sarang was too young to seriously consider a career.

I had set my expectations too high for her.

"What? Brother, why are you laughing? I'm serious."

Sarang, who was quick to notice, seemed to have caught on to the meaning of my laughter, so I wiped the smile off my face.

"No, it just suits you so well."

"Right? I think I'll be a good Pokémon Master."

"Of course you will."

As I stroked Sarang's head, I tilted my head and looked at my phone on the bed.

Who would be contacting me at this hour...