Chapter 50, Chapter 5: I Am a Medical Student (5)

"You've really been making a big impression from the first day."

Nam Chorong, who was walking beside me in the dormitory corridor, said.

Her voice was a mix of half admiration and half bitterness.

Her eyes reflected the same sentiment.

I didn't know why Nam Chorong had said this. In my previous life, Nam Chorong was a friend I never saw after that night.

Perhaps because of this, I wanted to save Nam Chorong and also wanted to know what kind of person she was.

As a human being.

And as a fellow medical student.

In my previous life, I had to helplessly watch countless deaths.

Now, I wanted to repel each and every one of those deaths that had tormented me.

Fortunately, compared to the previous traffic accident, saving Nam Chorong was relatively easier.

"Since you were the top student and also treated the traffic accident patients so impressively, I guess no one in our department doesn't know you now, right?"

"Maybe?"

"You seem like an extraordinary person."

"There's no one in this world who isn't extraordinary."

I declared confidently.

"Huh? What do you mean by that?"

"I think there are just people who stand out more and people who stand out less."

"..."

"So, there are no extraordinary people. Everyone is extraordinary, to begin with."

"I don't really understand what you mean."

Nam Chorong tilted her head, puzzled.

"To be honest, I don't really understand what I'm saying either."

"What, really?"

Nam Chorong laughed at my words, and a smile spread across her face like sunshine after a cloudy day.

Although my condition wasn't fully recovered, and my words were a bit jumbled, it was fortunate that Nam Chorong had regained her spirits.

"Oh, by the way, I know you, but you don't know me, right? My name is Nam Chorong."

"Your name is beautiful."

At my compliment, Nam Chorong twisted her body, not knowing what to do with herself.

"Thank you. And please take care of me from now on. See you at the orientation."

Nam Chorong headed to the girls' dormitory, and I went to the 7th floor where Professor Yang Soon-jae was staying.

Standing in front of the professor's room, I took a deep breath and organized my thoughts.

Whether I would spend my two years in the pre-med program meaningfully or in vain depended on Professor Yang Soon-jae, who was behind this door.

And it also depended on my tongue, which needed to gain his help.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

I knocked on the door with the back of my hand.

"Professor, it's Eum Ma-eum."

* * *

"You came quickly. Sit down there."

Professor Yang gestured to the sofa. I sat down, and Professor Yang took the seat opposite me.

As if preparing for a reconnaissance, Professor Yang scrutinized me from head to toe for a long time.

The gaze of the seasoned veteran who had experienced the early days of thoracic surgery in Korea was different from anyone else's.

His eyes were like an X-ray, piercing through a person's soul.

In my previous life, I had no direct connection with Professor Yang.

I only took one semester of his class in the medical school.

It was only after graduation that I heard through the grapevine that Professor Yang was a respected thoracic surgeon.

"Since you're a new student, you might not know me well. Let me introduce myself briefly. My name is Yang Soon-jae. I was an associate professor of thoracic surgery at Shinwon University Hospital until two years ago, and now I'm a professor here."

"..."

"If things were normal, you would meet me in the medical school, but today, I happened to be the leader."

"It's an honor to meet you."

"Well, it's an honor."

Professor Yang chuckled and continued.

"By the way, you made quite an impression on the first day, didn't you?"

Professor Yang immediately brought up the traffic accident.

He expressed his surprise at my composure and treatment skills, which were far beyond those of other freshmen.

He even praised me, saying it was as if I were a seasoned doctor rather than a medical student.

From my perspective, it was a laughable matter of course.

After all, I was a former thoracic surgeon who had experienced the sweet, bitter, and spicy flavors of life.

"Ma-eum, I'm curious how you were able to perform such treatment. It's completely beyond my understanding. Can you explain it to me?"

I sensed that the inevitable had arrived.

Answering well here would determine whether I could spend my two years in the pre-med program meaningfully.

"Can I be honest with you?"

"Of course. Go ahead."

"I am... a genius."

I looked into Professor Yang's eyes and said boldly.

If my cheat key in childhood was 'I don't know,' my future cheat key would be 'genius.'

The word 'genius' was the most perfect explanation for an abnormal performance by a single person.

Who could dare to argue with me if I said I was a genius?

And what other word could explain my performance during the day besides 'genius'?

"Genius... It's natural that you would be smart if you were the top student. But being smart and knowing treatment methods are different domains."

Professor Yang was still skeptical.

From his perspective, it was a reasonable doubt.

"When the accident happened, you were too calm. Your bandaging and splinting skills were not ordinary."

"..."

"Those aren't things you can learn just by reading a book, right?"

As a seasoned thoracic surgeon, Yang Soon-jae's questions were sharp.

But I was also a thoracic surgeon who had experienced everything.

I had been cunning since I was one year old, always doing whatever it took to get what I wanted.

I quickly found a way out.

"I've wanted to be a doctor since I was young. So, while studying in school, I bought medical textbooks and studied them separately."

"..."

"Regarding the first patient I treated, it was a femoral open fracture. I dressed the fracture site and wrapped the bandage in a circular manner."

"..."

"Then, I applied a splint to the knee to prevent additional damage."

I spoke rapidly.

My weapon, having returned, was not just medical knowledge.

My sharp and precise way of speaking, like a scalpel and suturing, was also my weapon.

"Regarding my treatment methods, I followed what I saw once in a hospital."

"Followed what you saw once?"

Yang Soon-jae's eyes widened.

"Yes, my mother is a nurse. I sometimes visited the ward and emergency room, and I just followed what I saw there."

"..."

"To be honest, it's embarrassing to say, but because I'm a genius, I remember things at a glance."

After my explanation, a heavy silence filled the room.

"Wow... It feels like I'm possessed by a ghost."

Professor Yang's expression showed disbelief.

But he had no choice but to believe me.

After all, the only explanation for my performance came from my mouth.

"I understand that it might be confusing if I were in your position. But this is the truth."

"Well, there's no other way to explain the situation besides saying you're a genius. Still, it's confusing."

Professor Yang nodded, seemingly accepting my explanation to some extent. But I wasn't going to stop there.

My goal was not just to gain recognition from Professor Yang.

I wanted to receive proper guidance from him.

Specifically, I wanted to learn specialized knowledge related to the lung and esophagus in thoracic surgery.

There are two fellowship programs in thoracic surgery.

One is the cardiac part.

The other is the general thoracic part, which includes the lung and esophagus.

In my previous life, I focused on the cardiac part, but in this life, I wanted to conquer the lung and esophagus part as well.

After all, thoracic surgery is struggling with a shortage of personnel.

If I could skillfully perform both cardiac and lung/esophagus surgeries, it would be a great help not only to patients but also to my fellow medical students.

'I can't miss this opportunity.'

My eyes, looking at Professor Yang, began to shine.

Although he had retired, Professor Yang was an expert in the lung and esophagus part.

If I could receive his guidance early, my growth would accelerate as if I had wings.

"Professor, that's why I'm saying this..."

I began cautiously.

"Go on, speak."

"Personally, I want to receive guidance from you on the lung and esophagus part of thoracic surgery. Could you please allow me to do so?"

"Ma-eum, no matter how smart you are, that's too much to ask."

Professor Yang continued in a tone that seemed to be advising me.

He must think I'm overstepping my bounds.

"You need to complete the medical school, internship, and residency before you can learn about lung and esophagus-related diseases in thoracic surgery."

"..."

"In other words, the lung and esophagus part is a fellowship program. You won't be able to learn it for another 11 years."

"..."

"How can a freshman who just entered the pre-med program digest such knowledge?"

Professor Yang gently rejected my proposal.

No matter how good I was, it was beyond my capabilities to learn a fellowship program now.

His words were logically sound, but I was not a person bound by common sense.

I was a former thoracic surgeon who had lived for over 40 years.

"Then, can I take a test from you?"

"A test?"

"I'll solve the problems you give me. If I don't score well enough to satisfy you, I'll give up gracefully."

"Wow... Ma-eum, you have a talent for surprising people."

"I'm sorry for the trouble, but I want to become the best thoracic surgeon in Korea, even if it sounds childish."

"..."

"To do that, I need your help. Please."

I spoke sincerely and bowed respectfully.

A second chance at life, a miracle.

In this life, I didn't want any patient to leave the world in vain, as they did in my previous life.

To achieve this, I needed to become stronger.

More competent.

"..."

"..."

A heavy silence continued for a while.

Professor Yang broke it first.

"I've never met a student as bold as you. Alright, I'll give you a test. It's not impossible."

"Thank you, Professor."

"You don't need to thank me. I'm just giving you an opportunity. However, if your test results are poor, I'll have to pretend this conversation never happened."

"That's enough for me."

After finishing my conversation with Professor Yang, I left the room feeling relieved.

A test?

I would score full marks even if I solved it casually.

I was a former associate professor of thoracic surgery, disguised as a pre-med student.

As I returned to the dormitory, I saw students moving en masse to the underground auditorium.

It seemed the main orientation schedule was about to begin.

I tightened my loose mind and quickened my pace.

The only remaining task was to save Nam Chorong's life.

* * *

"Professor, I heard there was a traffic accident on the way here?"

Pathology professor Choi Moon-hee asked Yang Soon-jae with a worried expression.

Yang Soon-jae and Choi Moon-hee were drinking coffee at a table in front of the cafeteria on the first floor.

"You must have been shocked. I heard two cars slipped on the wet road and collided."

"Well, it all worked out in the end."

"Could you handle it alone? The freshmen probably wouldn't have been much help..."

"There's a student named Eum Ma-eum who entered as the top student. Thanks to him, we managed to save the patients."

Yang Soon-jae sighed in relief, recalling the incident and Eum Ma-eum's assistance.

As Choi Moon-hee had said, it was a critical situation where the freshmen were almost no help, but thanks to Eum Ma-eum, the patients were saved.

If Eum Ma-eum hadn't been there...

Yang Soon-jae didn't even want to imagine such a horrific scenario.

"But what does being the top student have to do with knowing emergency treatment?"

Choi Moon-hee asked the same question Yang Soon-jae had asked Eum Ma-eum.

"He said he studied for the college entrance exam and medical school simultaneously. His mother is a nurse, and he saw doctors treating patients a few times when he visited the hospital..."

"..."

"He said he remembered everything and followed what he saw."

"Really? Professor?"

Choi Moon-hee opened her mouth wide in disbelief.

"Would I lie to you?"

"I know, but it's hard to believe."

"I had the same reaction. But he said he's a genius and did advanced learning, so I had no choice but to believe him..."

"Wow! This year's class has an incredible character."

"Exactly. He'll be a unique figure in our medical school."

Yang Soon-jae took a sip of coffee and fell into thought.

He was already thinking about the test questions he would give Eum Ma-eum soon.

Eum Ma-eum, the bold freshman who called himself a genius.

Eum Ma-eum, the freshman who, despite being in the orientation, dared to aspire to a fellowship program.

I was curious about his limits.

"Professor, the student's name is Eum Ma-eum, right?"

"So?"

"Listening to your story, I really want to meet him."

Choi Moon-hee also began to feel interested in Eum Ma-eum.