Chapter 78, Part 1: Towards the Intern (3)

"Big brother, little brother, are you ready?"

"Yes."

"It's all done."

Our brothers answered our mother's question simultaneously.

It was a rare weekend, and before visiting our grandparents' house, my brother and I were playing games in the living room.

Putting down the controller, I looked at Seong.

The innocent Seong, who dreamed of becoming a Pokémon Master, had long since disappeared.

The Seong sitting next to me had grown tall and had a bigger head, now a second-year middle school student.

Although he still had some baby fat, making him look somewhat cute, I sometimes found his rapid growth a bit strange.

Perhaps this is what they mean by a sense of generational change.

"Seong, let's stop and go out."

"Okay, big brother."

Seong, who would do anything for me, followed me to the front door.

Vroom.

The car, carrying our family of four, smoothly left the parking lot and began to drive down the road.

Dark clouds in the sky were showering white snowflakes.

"It hasn't been snowing for long, it seems."

"Indeed. Judging by the amount, it will pile up quickly."

Father turned on the car's wipers.

'Is this what happiness feels like?'

Riding in the car with my entire family, this time was incredibly precious to me.

During my second year of pre-med and four years of medical school, I was extremely busy.

The classes themselves were packed with no free time.

Adding to that, the fellowship in thoracic surgery and esophageal surgery under Professor Yang Sun-jae made me feel like I was about to die.

I only had some free time from late October last year to early February this year.

To be precise, from when I passed the medical licensing exam and applied for an internship at Shinwon University Hospital.

During those few short months, I tried my best to spend as much time as possible with my family.

To make up for the time I couldn't spend with them during my four years of medical school.

To see my family as much as possible before becoming an intern, a resident, and eventually a thoracic surgeon, when I would see them less often.

This period of respite in my life might be the only one for a while.

"Big brother, turn your head to the side for a moment."

"Why?"

"Just do as I say."

When I did as Seong asked, he started massaging my shoulder.

The little guy, it seems, wanted to give me a massage.

With the strength of a middle schooler, my tense shoulders began to relax.

"Seong, you always take care of me first. What about Mom's shoulders?"

"Mom is sitting in the front passenger seat."

"It's not just today. Do you really like big brother so much? You're like a clingy kid even when you grow up."

"Mom, it's natural to be good to both Dad and big brother."

Seong spoke calmly.

"I remember my kindergarten days most vividly. I remember most clearly when I had a fever and a headache, and big brother gave me medicine in the taxi."

"..."

"When we arrived at the hospital, big brother took care of me with utmost dedication. That's why I'm always grateful to big brother."

I was quite surprised by Seong's confession, something I had never heard before.

I felt a bit proud that I was a part of his most vivid memories.

"Speaking of which, Seong, you've grown so much. It feels like just yesterday you said you wanted to be a Pokémon Master."

"Big brother, can you forget about that?"

"Maybe, depending on what you do."

After receiving the massage, I turned to Seong and started massaging his shoulders.

It's give and take.

Snowflakes, like white gifts from the sky, were falling.

The warm and cozy conversation among family members continued.

I did my best to enjoy this moment.

So that when I become a thoracic surgeon and feel tired and exhausted, I can recall this day for comfort and strength.

After about an hour, we arrived at our grandparents' house.

Seong and I got out of the car first, and Father, who had finished parking, walked over to us.

'Thank goodness. It seems everything is finally over.'

Watching Father's healthy appearance, I sighed in relief.

In my previous life, Father was not alive at this time.

He passed away due to unstable angina while undergoing OPCAB (off-pump coronary artery bypass) surgery when I was a second-year medical student.

But in this life, Father was different.

To be precise, Father's heart was different from my previous life.

He was not plagued by guarantee debts.

As a successful novelist, Father's heart was strong.

According to the annual health check-ups, including ultrasound and ECG, Father's heart was in perfect health.

While the future is uncertain,

if he continues to manage his health well, he should not suffer from heart disease.

"Is there something on Dad's face?"

Was my gaze too obvious?

Father tilted his head and asked.

"It seems like a lot of snow has accumulated on your head. Oh, and I'll drive on the way back."

"It didn't seem like that. Big brother's eyes had a nostalgic and affectionate look."

Father, a novelist, observed and interpreted things sharply.

It felt as if he knew about my regression, though that was impossible.

"I was just thinking about how hard you must be working on your new novel."

"Even if I work hard, it's only for you. Let's go in."

Father, who seemed to be comforting me, and Mother and Seong, we all went to visit our grandparents.

* * *

During lunch at the kitchen table with our grandparents, laughter never ceased.

There was not a trace of unhappiness, sadness, or anxiety.

It was as if a scene from a fairy tale that ends with "and they all lived happily ever after" was unfolding in reality.

Mother and Father were recognized in their respective fields, and Seong was growing steadily.

I had obtained my medical license and was preparing for the internship exam.

Grandfather was overseeing the EMR (Electronic Medical Record), PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System), and OCS (Order Communication System) of Shinwon University, maintaining a partnership with the university.

With everyone gathered being happy, it was a situation where happiness overflowed.

"Time really flies. It's hard to believe that the little boy who used to be in kindergarten is now starting his internship."

"I also feel that time has passed quickly. It seems like just yesterday when Grandfather was smoking and coughing."

"Look at this little guy?"

Grandfather chuckled at my joke.

"Ever since I heard your words, my life has blossomed."

"..."

"Since I quit smoking, my health has improved, and my business has flourished."

"What have I done? It's all thanks to Grandfather's abilities."

"True, but the judgment of this old man, who listened carefully to the words of a kindergarten child, wasn't bad, was it?"

"Of course not."

I smiled and answered.

Suddenly, I recalled the days from when I was one year old until kindergarten, when I cleverly manipulated people's psychology to get what I wanted.

I never thought this day of reminiscing would come so soon.

But the me from my childhood and the me now are distinctly different people.

Just as my previous life and this life are different.

While I used my innocence as a weapon in my childhood, as an adult, I use my genius.

I moved forward by pushing obstacles away, not by going around them.

In terms of satisfaction, the present is much better.

After finishing lunch, we stayed at our grandparents' house for about two more hours.

When we returned home, I, as promised, took the wheel.

I had obtained my driver's license in my first year of pre-med and had driven in my previous life, so there was no problem.

"Can we take a picture at the park over there?"

Seong's sudden suggestion spread through the car like ripples in a lake.

"Take a picture at the park out of the blue?"

"Yes, big brother will be busy at the hospital from now on. Let's take a family photo before that."

"Seong, it's thoughtful of you to think that far ahead."

"Mom is in favor!"

With the family's agreement, I parked the car at the Han River Park parking lot.

The Han River spread out behind us.

With the white snowflakes falling from the sky as the background, we took a natural, unposed family photo.

Looking at the photo taken by a passerby, I felt a lump in my chest.

The overwhelming happiness I had not experienced in my previous life.

I wondered if it wasn't that I saved my family, but that my family saved me.

Because of my family, I could muster more strength and move forward.

The cold wind outside was chilly, but with a warm heart, I returned to the parking lot with my family.

It was four days before the Shinwon University internship exam.

* * *

"Big brother, don't be nervous. Just do what you usually do."

"Don't worry. It's like eating cold porridge."

"Even cold porridge can sometimes cause indigestion."

After receiving Mother's worried and considerate words, I put on a suit and left the house.

I had recently completed the practical interview, and today was the final interview for the Shinwon University Hospital internship.

I wasn't particularly worried about the interview.

The acceptance rate was relatively high, about 3 to 1, and I was a graduate of the hospital's alma mater. My medical school grades and medical licensing exam scores were top-notch.

I wasn't short of words to use during the interview either.

Failing the interview would be a miracle.

'Might there be a slight risk?'

I frowned, recalling a potential issue.

I knew from my previous life that a patient would be admitted around the start of the interview.

The patient was a man in his mid-60s and the father of one of the professors conducting the interview today.

- The professor's father was admitted to the emergency room, and it was a shock. I thought my heart would stop. Fortunately, he collapsed near the hospital; otherwise, it would have been a disaster.

In my previous life, when I started my internship, I was first assigned to the emergency department.

I heard a story from a senior there.

The professor's father was admitted to the emergency room on the day of my interview.

Unfortunately, I don't remember the exact reason.

The professor's father survived with emergency treatment but was hospitalized for almost a month due to complications.

'That phone call was that phone call.'

I recalled the memory of the emergency medicine professor receiving a call and rushing out of the interview room.

Combining my memory with the senior's story, the conclusion was as follows:

The father of the interviewer, who is conducting my interview today, will collapse near the hospital.

He will be admitted to the emergency room, survive, but suffer significant complications.

The timing of the collapse is likely to coincide with my interview.

The cause is unknown.

According to this, there is a possibility that I might miss the interview entirely while trying to save the interviewer's father.

To save the interviewer's father and complete the interview, I would need quick reflexes.

However, I quickly shook off the worry and concern.

I had regressed to overcome crises and build my skills.

I am confident I can handle both.

The interview was scheduled to start at 2 PM, but I left home at 11 AM and headed to a different destination.

There was someone I needed to see before the interview.