It was when Hwang Ji-man, having finished his day’s work, was heading toward the director’s office.
“Dr. Hwang!”
Nurse Lee greeted him in the hallway.
“We’ve had five more guardians of patients today who specifically asked to be seen by you, Dr. Hwang Ji-man.”
“Ah, really?”
Flustered, Hwang Ji-man looked at the schedule. It truly was packed. Until just two weeks ago, complaints about Hwang Ji-man had kept coming in, but lately, the number of patients requesting him by name had been growing.
“You’re really exploding in popularity these days. Especially the guardians of pediatric patients with atopy or allergies—they only look for you, Doctor.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. They say word of mouth among the mothers is incredible. They say Dr. Hwang Ji-man really does everything for the children.”
Nurse Lee said with a smile.
Hwang Ji-man nodded and quickened his steps.
Standing before the director’s office, Hwang Ji-man knocked on the door.
“Director, I’m coming in.”
When Hwang Ji-man entered, Taeho smiled with satisfaction.
“How was your day?”
“It was busy. But, um… of course, it was a good kind of busy.”
“How are the patients responding?”
“They all seem satisfied. But still, um, sometimes I stammer…”
Taeho shook his head.
“Have confidence. Dr. Hwang Ji-man, you’re doing well right now.”
“It’s all thanks to you, Director.”
“No.”
“All I did was bring out what you already had. A sincere concern for patients, a meticulous attitude in examinations—those aren’t things that can be taught.”
“But…”
“And your stammering is no longer a weakness. Patients are taking it as your carefulness, as an expression of sincerity.”
Hwang Ji-man raised his head and looked at Taeho.
“Really?”
“Really. I heard from Department Head Kim Mi-hyeon yesterday that Pediatrics had the highest satisfaction rating in the entire hospital this week.”
“Wow…”
Hwang Ji-man’s eyes widened.
His expression said he could hardly believe it.
He knew that the medical staff in surgery, internal medicine, family medicine, emergency medicine, and neurology were all tremendously skilled…
Do I dare have the right to deserve that?
Hwang Ji-man cautiously spoke.
“Director…”
“Yes, go ahead.”
“I… I never thought I could change like this.”
Taeho leaned back in his chair and smiled.
“You haven’t changed. The person you always were has simply come to the surface.”
“But before, patients didn’t, um… like me that much.”
“That was because you were intimidated back then. Now you’ve gained confidence.”
Hwang Ji-man fell into thought for a moment.
“To be honest, lately, I’ve been enjoying seeing patients.”
“That’s it. That’s exactly it. The difference patients feel between a doctor who enjoys dealing with them and a doctor who is intimidated is enormous.”
“Yes… I think I understand a little now.”
Hwang Ji-man nodded as he spoke.
“But how did you know, Director? That I could change.”
“When I watched you practice, your medical knowledge and clinical skills were already more than enough. What you needed was only confidence and a way to communicate with patients.”
“Thank you, Director.”
Hwang Ji-man’s voice grew choked.
“Don’t mention it. Just keep doing what you’re doing.”
Taeho stood as he spoke.
“Ah, and one more thing.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t worry about the stammering anymore. The patients are feeling your sincerity.”
Hwang Ji-man’s hunched shoulders straightened.
Putting on his outerwear, Taeho said,
“Then shall we go have some chicken and beer to celebrate?”
“Yes! That sounds great! Hehehe.”
Hwang Ji-man’s face brightened.
***
Faisal’s cell phone vibrated yet again. It was already the twelfth time since morning. His expression was growing darker and darker.
“Your Highness, there has been another call from Abu Dhabi.”
His aide spoke cautiously.
Faisal answered the phone.
The conversation was brief, but the tension was unmistakable.
“Yes, Father. Understood. I will depart at once.”
After hanging up, Faisal’s face had hardened.
“Your Highness, what has happened?”
“An emergency session has been called by the Federal National Council. It seems the border dispute with Oman has become more serious than expected.”
Faisal let out a sigh.
“Father has personally ordered Amira and me to return home immediately. We must leave on tonight’s flight.”
His close aides exchanged glances.
It was a sudden development none of them had anticipated.
“We will need to inform Princess Amira as well.”
“That is the problem. Amira is still under observation after treatment, and more than anything, she will find it difficult to easily sever her connection with Dr. Kang.”
Faisal sighed.
He only hoped his precious younger sister would not be too heartbroken by this.
***
Faisal carefully opened the door to Amira’s hospital room and entered. Amira was standing by the window, looking down at the beach.
“Amira.”
“Ya akhi.”
Seeing Amira, who had become even more beautiful lately, made Faisal’s heart ache all the more.
“Let’s sit.”
Faisal gestured toward the sofa in the hospital room.
The two siblings sat facing each other.
“Father contacted me.”
At Faisal’s first words, Amira’s expression hardened.
“The border dispute with Oman has become more serious than expected. An emergency session of the Federal National Council has been called, and…”
Amira knew what Faisal was about to say.
“We must all return home immediately. The private jet will be prepared soon.”
“But my treatment isn’t finished yet. Dr. Kang said I needed to be observed for at least another week.”
“Amira…”
“…”
Faisal let out a deep sigh.
“You know it too, don’t you?”
“…”
“The royal medical team will accompany us. And the facilities at Abu Dhabi Royal Hospital are better than here.”
Tears welled in Amira’s eyes.
Faisal’s heart ached so much he could not bear to look at her. Instead, he became even more solemn as he placed a hand on Amira’s shoulder and spoke.
“We live lives that have been chosen. That choice comes with privileges, but it also comes with duties. It is no coincidence that we are royalty. It is a mission God has given us—to serve the people, to serve the nation.”
Amira lowered her head.
For a moment, she closed her eyes, then opened them.
“Could you, perhaps… could you give me just one hour?”
“For what?”
“I want to say goodbye to Dr. Kang.”
Faisal looked conflicted.
“One hour. That is all.”
“Thank you.”
Amira said in a small voice.
Faisal headed for the door, then turned back.
“I want you to be happy too. But do not forget that our happiness must be built upon the safety of our people and the peace of our nation.”
Amira nodded.
“I understand, ya akhi.”
Once the door closed, only then did a tear drop from Amira’s eyes.
***
Taeho hurried toward the rooftop garden. Amira had asked him to meet her in the rooftop garden as quickly as possible, so he had run all the way there.
When he opened the door and stepped inside, Amira was sitting on a bench.
She was like a painting. Her long hair wrapped softly around her shoulders like silk, and her ivory dress accentuated her slender waist. In her eyes as she gazed up at the sky, there was a wistfulness and, at the same time, a dignified elegance.
She was beautiful enough to make any man’s heart race.
“Amira.”
At Taeho’s voice, Amira slowly turned her head. The rims of her eyes were red.
“Thank you for coming.”
Amira tried to smile, but that smile soon wavered.
“What’s going on? So suddenly…”
Taeho sat beside her and smiled. But seeing Amira’s expression, he felt an ominous premonition.
“I’m leaving soon.”
Taeho felt as if his heart had dropped with a thud.
“Where to?”
“Abu Dhabi.”
“So suddenly? We still need to monitor your recovery…”
“It’s my family’s rule.”
Amira cut off Taeho’s words.
“In times of national crisis, all members of the royal family must be in the homeland. It’s a rule every Nahyan royal must follow.”
“Amira.”
Taeho carefully called her name. The moment that name left his lips, a corner of his chest ached.
Amira said,
“My brother gave me only one hour. Once that time passes… I have to go to the airport.”
Taeho did not know what to say. The two of them were not yet in a relationship where they could promise each other a future, and even if they were, he could not be certain whether holding Amira back would be the right thing to do.
Amira opened her mouth.
“The reason I asked to see you separately, Dr. Kang… was because I wanted to be sure to tell you thank you. I was so happy during this time.”
Her voice began to tremble.
Amira looked at him. There was yearning in her eyes.
“I enjoyed the time I spent with you as well.”
Sincerity filled Taeho’s voice.
Amira smiled faintly and asked,
“If… if I had been an ordinary person, if I had simply been Amira, what would it have been like?”
Taeho could not answer. Even if he knew the answer to that question, he wondered what it would change.
Amira, waiting for his answer, slowly nodded. Her reddened eyes and trembling lips, as if she were forcing herself to hold back, made Taeho’s heart ache.
“Thank you for everything.”
Amira tried hard to smile, but that smile was fragile enough to shatter. It was precarious, like a flower petal trembling in the wind.
***
The next morning, Taeho prepared to go to the hospital as usual.
But something was different.
It felt as if the heart that had been swollen like a balloon had shriveled endlessly.
“Director. Are you all right?”
Gihwan, who had been preparing breakfast, studied Taeho’s expression.
Taeho gave a bitter smile.
“It’s just that a patient left suddenly, so I’m worried about continuity of treatment.”
Gihwan looked at Taeho for a moment, then spoke with an apologetic expression.
“I have to go to the airport later.”
“Ah, Ms. Sophie is arriving today, right?”
“Yes. Her flight lands at 4:20.”
Taeho smiled and nodded.
“Be careful on your way. Considering traffic, I think it would be best to leave early.”
“I was planning to leave with some time to spare anyway.”
Gihwan smiled awkwardly.
Taeho felt as if his body had become as heavy as waterlogged cotton. But even today, at the hospital, there were many things waiting for Taeho’s judgment and his hands.
If I keep busy, it will dull with time.
Today, Taeho intended to handle as much of the work he had been putting off as possible.
But each time he passed the special room where Amira had stayed, his steps grew heavy. The room was empty now. The neatly cleaned hospital room made the time until yesterday feel like a dream.
Just as he was about to focus on work again, a message arrived on his phone.
Dr. Kang. I have arrived safely. Thank you so much for everything. Please stay healthy. - Amira
Taeho read the message over and over again.
Then he tried to write a reply, but erased it. He tried writing again, then erased it again.
In the end, he did not send any reply.
In the afternoon, a message came from Gihwan.
-Ms. Sophie has arrived safely. I’ll see you at the hospital tomorrow.
It was a short message, but somehow, Taeho could feel the excitement in it.
At least one person must be having a happy day.
Taeho gave a bitter smile.