"Patient Four's blood pressure has stabilized."
Kim Dohyeon reported.
"Patient Two is on his way to the operating room."
Lee Chaerin also finished her report.
The two looked at each other simultaneously. The tension that had been taut until just moments ago had visibly softened.
All four patients had been stabilized with no danger to their lives. Patient Three was also confirmed to have only a minor cerebral hemorrhage, making conservative treatment possible.
At 5:15 p.m., the last patient was transferred to a ward.
As the emergency room regained its calm, Taeho said, "Good work, everyone. Let's take a short break and talk."
Kim Dohyeon and Lee Chaerin sat down in chairs, still looking tense. The nurses also took their seats.
Taeho smiled as he looked at Jo Hyeongjun. "I wasn't able to introduce you properly earlier. Dr. Jo Hyeongjun is a new addition to our emergency medicine department."
"I didn't get to greet you properly earlier with all the commotion. I'm Jo Hyeongjun."
"Hello, Doctor."
Nurse Go Hayeong quickly brought coffee to hand out.
Taeho said, "Actually, we finalized the contract with Dr. Jo Hyeongjun three months ago."
Kim Dohyeon asked with a curious expression. "Then why are you only joining us now?"
"While waiting for the Geumsan Samcheok Hospital to be completed, I went to volunteer in a conflict zone in Africa."
Lee Chaerin's eyes widened.
"Africa?"
"Yes, through a Doctors Without Borders program in southern Sudan. It was originally scheduled for two months, but the situation on the ground grew urgent, so I stayed a little longer."
Jo Hyeongjun nodded modestly.
Nurse Go Hayeong asked, "Dr. Jo, what was the local situation like?"
"There was hardly any proper medical equipment. No CT or MRI machines, and even basic X-ray equipment broke down frequently."
Kim Dohyeon asked with a surprised expression. "Then how did you make diagnoses?"
"Only my hands, my eyes, and a stethoscope. I had to judge everything based solely on patient history and physical exams."
Lee Chaerin said in admiration. "It's amazing that you treated patients in such conditions."
"You can do more than you'd think, if you know how to properly read the signals the human body sends. However, because it was a conflict zone, there were frequent mass casualties from bombardments or gunfire. Sometimes ten or twenty patients would come in at once."
Kim Dohyeon shook his head.
"Ugh, it sounds horrible just hearing about it. Twenty at once..."
"Triage was the most important thing. You have to judge in an instant who to save first, who to invest time in. Sometimes you also have to make the decision to give up on a patient who can't be saved. Because only then can you save more lives."
Lee Chaerin nodded as if she finally understood.
"Ah, so that's why you were able to make such quick judgments today."
Kim Dohyeon also nodded in agreement.
Taeho said with a satisfied expression. "Dr. Jo isn't new to conflict zones—this wasn't his first time. He has the experience and know-how our ER truly needs."
"You're too kind. Honestly, you saw through the patient's condition even faster than I did, Director. You wouldn't know how much I thought about you while I was in Africa."
"Thought about me?"
"Yes. I kept thinking how wonderful it would have been if Director Gang Taeho had been there, and how you would have judged this patient or that."
"Hahaha. I'm no god or anything..."
"To me, you are a divine physician (神醫). When you saved those children from the water at Geumsancheon, I saw with my own eyes how quickly you assessed and treated them. The shock of that sight stayed with me the entire time I was in Africa."
"Oh, you're too kind. Dr. Jo is excellent as he is. And our Dr. Lee Chaerin and Dr. Kim Dohyeon will soon be the same. These two still lack field experience, but their potential is tremendous."
"Then I look forward to working with you. Dr. Lee Chaerin, Dr. Kim Dohyeon."
When Jo Hyeongjun bowed at the waist, Lee Chaerin and Kim Dohyeon started and bowed together.
"I am the one who looks forward to working with you."
"I will learn diligently from now on."
Kim Dohyeon grew pensive.
This was not the world he had known confined within a university hospital. The world was vast, and there were many capable people who could astonish him.
If Director Gang Taeho's abilities had surprised him, watching Jo Hyeongjun inspired ambition. If he worked hard, he felt he could reach Jo's level, if not the Director's.
Today, Kim Dohyeon had found a new goal.
***
Faisal had risen from his bed and was looking out the window. Color had returned to his face after several days of treatment, and he watched Amira preparing to nurse him again with a worried gaze.
"Amira."
"Yes, Aki?"
"When was the last time you went outside?"
Amira stopped her hands and thought.
"I don't know. What does it matter? What's important is that you are getting better, Aki."
Faisal sighed and spoke.
Amira was only twenty-six. An age where she should have had many things she wanted to do and enjoy. Yet she followed him around, spending her days only in this gloomy hospital room. He was grateful but displeased.
Others may fear her, calling her a lioness or a flame, but that was only because they didn't truly know her. The times Amira vented her anger on subordinates were almost always because of him, her older brother. If he suffered in pain through the night, she would hold the medical staff who had prescribed his treatment that day, or the attendants who had served him, responsible.
A child who sacrificed endlessly for those she loved.
Why couldn't this child be a little more selfish?
"That won't do. You're still young. How can you stay trapped in a hospital room?"
"I'm fine. Once you are fully recovered, Aki, we will go out together. Just seeing you get better is enough for me."
"No. That won't do! Amira!"
When Faisal shouted abruptly, Amira flinched in surprise. He had scolded her without thinking, but his voice was thick with worry as her older brother.
Just then, a knock sounded at the hospital room door.
"May I come in?"
It was Taeho's voice.
Amira quickly composed her expression and headed toward the door.
"Dr. Kang, how is it that you're here today when it's your day off?"
"I stopped by because I was curious about Rashid's condition. We started a new medication yesterday."
When Taeho entered the room, Faisal's expression brightened noticeably. Over the past few weeks, his trust in Taeho had grown firm. There was something that transcended a simple doctor-patient relationship.
"Dr. Kang, thank you so much. To think you care like this even on your day off."
As Faisal tried to raise his body from the bed, Taeho waved his hand.
"Please stay comfortable. I'll just do a quick check."
While Taeho took Faisal's pulse and conducted a brief examination, Amira watched quietly from the side. Taeho couldn't miss the lingering redness around her eyes, but finding it awkward to acknowledge, he remained silent.
Amira asked cautiously, "How is his condition?"
"He has improved greatly. The new treatment is proving effective."
At Taeho's answer, Amira's shoulders dropped visibly.
How tense she must have been all this time...
Faisal looked back and forth between Taeho and Amira for a moment, then made an expression as if he had resolved something.
"Dr. Kang, I have a favor to ask."
"Please, go ahead."
"Amira has been staying in this hospital room for days. No matter what I say, she won't listen."
Faisal's gaze turned to Amira, his eyes holding the deep affection of an older brother.
"I'm fine, Aki. I like being here."
Amira spoke quickly, but Faisal shook his head.
"No. This is not fine."
Faisal continued, looking at Taeho.
"Dr. Kang, it may be burdensome for you since I am royalty, but this is a personal request."
Taeho read the complex expression on Faisal's face.
"Could you take Amira for a walk, even for a short while? Outside the hospital."
Amira looked at Faisal in surprise.
"Aki, how could you ask such a thing..."
"Ya ukhti (my sister)! You must not stop your life just because I am ill. Even now, you have done far more for me than a sister's duty requires."
Amira's eyes grew moist.
Taeho felt the flow of emotion between the two siblings.
Taeho answered naturally, "Of course. The weather is nice, and I think it would be good to walk along the beach near the hospital for a while."
A smile of relief crossed Faisal's face.
"Thank you so much, Dr. Kang. If it is you, I can entrust my sister with more peace of mind than to any other man."
"Aki!"
Amira lowered her head shyly. Her cheeks flushed slightly.
"Then Amira, how about this afternoon? I can finish everything I need to do today, and the weather should be even better by then."
Faisal nodded in satisfaction at Taeho's suggestion.
"Perfect. Amira, go get some fresh air for the first time in a while. Dr. Kang, it's your day off too, so don't work too much. You need to feel the fresh, fragrant breeze."
Taeho and Amira looked at Faisal simultaneously.
The intention behind Faisal's expression.
"Aki!"
Amira called out as if in warning, but Faisal only smiled.
***
Taeho and Amira arrived at Samcheok Beach.
Amira was dressed comfortably for the first time in a while. In a white one-piece dress and sandals, with her long hair tied up so it wouldn't blow in the wind, she looked like a pure college student rather than a princess.
"It's truly beautiful."
Amira exclaimed as she gazed at the endless East Sea.
"Samcheok Beach is especially clean. The water is clear, too."
Taeho guided Amira along the beach path where pine trees grew elegantly. Behind them, two bodyguards in black suits followed at a set distance. Their appearance was so at odds with the beach atmosphere that they drew the gazes of passersby.
"Wow!"
Each time the waves surged onto the wet sand, Amira let out exclamations and burst into laughter.
She even looked innocent.
Taeho asked with a smile, "You must love the sea."
"Yes. It reminds me of the sea in Abu Dhabi."
Longing seeped into Amira's voice.
"The sea in Abu Dhabi must be different from here?"
"The sea in Abu Dhabi is like an emerald. Truly. When the sunlight shines down, it sparkles like jewels. The water is warm and so transparent you can see the bottom."
"It sounds like paradise."
"Yes. It's peaceful. But here... this sea feels alive."
"Alive?"
Amira's gaze turned toward the distant sea.
"It feels as though the sea is saying something. It's so vibrant, as if it is living and breathing."
Taeho unknowingly held his breath.
The shape of her lips as she spoke, the flash of white teeth when she occasionally smiled, and above all, the exotic mystery contained in her gaze captivated him.
Amira continued to look at the sea, speaking as if to herself.
"Hmm... It has power. Looking at this sea gives me courage. If the Abu Dhabi sea offers comfort, this sea seems to give strength."
Taeho's heart grew warm. He was grateful that she felt that way about his hometown, about this sea he loved.
"I'm sure your brother Faisal feels the same way. He has changed a lot since coming here. Before, he was always tired and listless, but since arriving, he seems to have found a will to fight. Of course, Dr. Kang's treatment is the biggest reason."
The wind blew her black hair, scattering it across her face.
Taeho unconsciously reached out to brush her hair behind her ear, then stopped his hand.
Amira turned her head and saw that. Their gazes met for a moment, and then Amira was the first to look away.
Her cheeks flushed red.