On the other hand, the two of them had been enjoying every single day lately.
“The cases we’ve organized would fill almost an entire paper box.”
“There are still tons of cases we haven’t even gotten into our heads yet.”
“And we’re putting what we’ve learned to use one by one.”
“That thrill when I hear a patient’s symptoms and nail the diagnosis in one go… Ahh.”
Jeong Minsu even shuddered from the rush of delight that swept over him.
By now, it was to the point where symptoms and diseases were stored in his head, ready to be pulled out.
He had never performed those surgeries himself, nor did he have the leisure to study them in depth.
But that was a problem time would solve.
He had not the slightest intention of simply letting that time pass him by.
Whenever the chance came, he would keep learning, mastering, and making it his own.
They were finishing their preparations for consultations while exchanging such light conversation.
Buuung.
In the distance, an NGO transport vehicle came into view.
It was likely a vehicle bringing patients from another city.
Taesu, who spotted it first, spoke to everyone.
“They’re arriving right on time. Let’s start strong today too.”
“Good. Let’s do this.”
Whoosh. Whoosh.
Jeong Minsu rolled his shoulders vigorously, burning with enthusiasm.
Taesu smiled faintly as he watched him.
Now, it was hard to find the word timid in Jeong Minsu anymore.
That was the biggest change over the past week.
As it turned out, he was the type who did even better when praised and encouraged for doing well.
Now that he had gained so much confidence, he had become so proactive that Taesu sometimes had to hold him back.
While he was thinking, the NGO transport vehicle arrived.
But the people getting down from the cargo bed were not patients. They were young Asians, each carrying a large bag over one shoulder.
Asians?
Taesu’s eyes narrowed at once.
Jeong Minsu, who had somehow come up beside him, was the same.
“They’re the additional medical staff they said were coming today, right?”
“Probably.”
“We’re almost done here. What additional staff?”
“They said they’d be with us until the next dispatch site. But…”
Before Taesu could speak, Jeong Minsu said what he was thinking first.
“They’re not Japanese again, are they?”
“I don’t dislike someone just because they’re Japanese.”
“Me neither, but maybe because we went through that once, I feel resistant first.”
“I can’t say I don’t either.”
Taesu was somewhat in agreement.
But it seemed the two of them were not the only ones thinking that.
At the other medical tents as well, people had paused their work and were watching the newcomers.
Since no one knew exactly who they were, the guarded looks in their eyes were even stronger.
Just then, the voices of the newly arrived medical staff could be heard as they looked around.
“So this is the city called Padum.”
“Buildings in the Middle East all seem to look pretty similar.”
“This place seems a bit more underdeveloped than Oman too.”
They were small impressions and evaluations.
But as Taesu and Jeong Minsu heard them, their eyes went wide.
“That was Korean, right?”
“Yeah. It was.”
“They’re really Korean?”
There was no room for doubt.
No matter how many times they listened, it was clearly Korean.
Just then, Brad Kim came out of the hospital building and headed toward them.
“Oh, Doctor Yun.”
“Doctor Kim. It’s been a long time.”
Perhaps they were acquainted, because Brad Kim and the senior doctor greeted each other warmly.
Then, after exchanging greetings with the others, he guided them toward the medical tents.
Since the most senior specialists had gathered in Medical Tent 1, the greetings began there in order.
In that way, Brad Kim brought the new medical staff to Tent 3.
“Doctor Choi, Doctor Jeong.”
As he approached while calling the two of them, the new medical staff also looked surprised.
“Choi and Jeong are Korean surnames, aren’t they?”
“Are they Korean-Americans?”
“But they look a little young.”
They also seemed amazed to meet Koreans.
Soon, the people curious about one another stood face to face.
Brad Kim, standing between them, calmly introduced both sides.
“I should introduce this side first. This is Teacher Choi Taesu from Korea, and Teacher Jeong Minsu.”
“I’m Choi Taesu.”
“I’m Jeong Minsu.”
Introducing themselves in Korean for the first time in a long while, each of them seemed a bit awkward.
Then Brad Kim introduced the newly arrived medical staff.
“These people volunteered in Oman for a year, and now they’ve come to Kashmir.”
At those words, a doctor with a generous-looking impression spoke without hesitation.
“First of all, I’m truly glad to meet fellow Koreans here. I’m Yun Juseong.”
“I’m Chu Gangik. I’m a pitiful man who suffers a lot because I’m a nurse built like a mountain.”
“I’m Hwang Jisu.”
“I’m Lee Chorong.”
As they said their names, they lightly shook hands as well.
Several other doctors and nurses also introduced themselves.
After that, naturally, they introduced themselves to Nurse Ellen and Nurse Casey in English.
When all the greetings were over, Brad Kim spoke to Taesu.
“Doctor Choi. I’m sure you all have a lot to say to one another, but let’s finish the greetings first and find another chance later.”
“We should.”
“Now then, let’s go greet the others.”
Brad Kim moved first toward the next tent.
Before following him, Yun Juseong spoke first to Taesu and Jeong Minsu.
“It’s truly nice to meet you, and there’s a lot I’m curious about. I hope we get a chance to talk soon.”
“Yes. Us too. And… welcome.”
“Thank you.”
Yun Juseong gave a slight bow and moved to another tent. The other medical staff also met their gazes warmly and moved along.
Taesu and Jeong Minsu watched them a little longer.
How should he put it?
“Should I say, as expected of Koreans?”
“They feel good.”
“But will their medical skills be the same?”
“Don’t they seem like really good people? They don’t seem fake either.”
Taesu honestly agreed with Jeong Minsu’s assessment.
But perhaps because they had first seen people who were different on the outside and inside?
It felt a little hasty to judge everything by first impressions alone, so he remained cautious.
And one hour later.
Some of the new medical staff came to Medical Tent 3.
They were Yun Juseong, Nurse Chu Gangik, Nurse Hwang Jisu, and Nurse Lee Chorong.
Yun Juseong approached Taesu and asked with a gentle expression.
“Teacher Choi, would it be all right if we also see patients here with you?”
“Right away? Aren’t you tired?”
“We slept while traveling, so I don’t feel tired.”
When Yun Juseong finished speaking, Nurse Chu Gangik added,
“If I’m already worn out at this age, I might as well go die.”
“Isn’t the human body something that gets better the more it moves?”
“The basics here seem to be very well set up.”
Nurse Hwang Jisu, who joined the conversation with a remark, was looking around here and there.
Meanwhile, Nurse Lee Chorong had already begun speaking in English with Nurse Ellen and Nurse Casey, building a friendly rapport.
Her manner showed the seasoned experience of someone who had spent a long time moving around overseas.
As Taesu watched with a slightly dazed gaze, Yun Juseong subtly asked for an answer.
“Well, you’ll need to answer us before we can set up here.”
“It’s not something I can decide on my own.”
“We’ve already spoken with Dr. Schmidt.”
“Then it’s decided.”
At Taesu’s concise answer, Yun Juseong lightly shook his head.
“No, that still wouldn’t be right. Strictly speaking, Teacher Choi and Teacher Jeong are the ones in charge here.”
“How could there be owners of a medical tent? And actually, we’re…”
Taesu felt awkward being spoken to so politely and wanted to clarify their relationship first.
But Yun Juseong naturally said what Taesu had been about to say.
“You’re residents, I heard.”
“You know.”
“I heard from Dr. Schmidt. But is that something that would be a problem?”
“Are you perhaps a specialist?”
At Taesu’s question, Yun Juseong nodded.
“That’s right. If I were to put it in Korean terms, I’m now in my second year as a specialist.”
“Then you’re far more senior than us.”
As Taesu tried to lower himself, Yun Juseong shook his head.
“That’s only in Korea. Actually, I’m a bit similar to you, Teacher Choi.”
“Similar how?”
“When I was a first-year resident, I quit my Korean hospital and came abroad. I hated the stiff atmosphere, full of empty pretension.”
At Yun Juseong’s frank answer, Taesu was momentarily flustered.
“Ah.”
“We can talk about what happened after that slowly. In any case, Teacher Choi and Teacher Jeong are the seniors here, so I’ll be in your care.”
Yun Juseong showed a good-natured smile.
Strangely enough, that smile felt truly plain and sincere.
Was it because he was Korean that Taesu saw him in a favorable light?
Perhaps.
But at the very least, he had approached them first, and even though they were younger than he was, he respected them. That was not unpleasant.
Most of all, perhaps because he disliked Korea’s rigid medical system, his own attitude of trying not to imitate it looked good.
Taesu, who sympathized with that feeling, also bowed politely in response.
“There are still so many things we don’t know. We’ll be in your care.”
“I’m also in emergency medicine, so I don’t know things in great depth either. Anyway, we can greet each other properly when we have time. Shouldn’t we keep seeing patients first?”
“You’re right.”
Taesu was extremely satisfied inwardly by the sight of Yun Juseong caring about the patients.
There were good points to their joining, but there were also parts he regretted.
That was parting with Nurse Ellen and Nurse Casey.
Nurse Casey approached Taesu and said,
“I told Nurse Chu everything.”
“Then you’ll be going back to Doctor Oliver now.”
“I’m happy, but also a little sad. Though I’m sure you’re happy, Doctor Choi.”
Nurse Casey made a slightly pouty expression.
They had been together every day all this time.
They had met many patients, and many things had happened.
It had been hardship at the time, but now that it had turned into memories, it seemed to leave behind a deep sense of regret.
Taesu felt the same way.
But he did not bother forcing himself to express it.
“Happy? Not at all. And you’re going back into the hospital, not going somewhere else.”
“So you’re saying it doesn’t matter.”
“Doctor Oliver would hate it if he saw something like this.”
At Taesu’s words, Nurse Casey smiled softly and agreed.
“Hoho. When Oliver gets jealous, it does last for quite a while. Anyway, I’ll see you when there are surgical consultations.”
“Yes. Thank you for taking care of someone as lacking as me.”
“Don’t say strange things. Then I’ll see you later.”
Nurse Casey gave a light farewell and turned away.
Though she had said that, the way she glanced back suggested she was considerably disappointed.
Nurse Ellen was the same.
When Taesu’s eyes met hers, he lightly bowed his head to express his gratitude.
Soon, Nurse Chu Gangik came to stand beside Taesu.
Even with his hair tied back, it was long enough to reach his shoulders. With a slightly angular face and a large build, he gave off quite a heavy impression.
And yet, when he smiled, he looked strongly simple and honest.
On top of that, he was sociable.
He deliberately wrapped up his impression of the parting he had just witnessed in humor.
“Wow, this makes it feel like we went and made a separated family for no reason.”
“There’s no such thing. We’re all in the same place.”
“Since you say that, I’m starting to feel just a little more at ease.”
“You should feel at ease.”
Taesu answered gently.
At that moment, Nurse Chu Gangik glanced around and asked indirectly.
“By the way, I heard the two of you are treated like specialists here. Is that right?”
“…”
His question was slightly provocative.
Of course, there was no malice in it.
Unable to read the other man’s intention, Taesu merely looked at him with an indifferent gaze.
Perhaps realizing his mistake under that gaze, Nurse Chu Gangik quickly added an explanation.
“I’m not trying to draw a line or anything. I’ve met many doctors too, but this is my first time in a situation like this, so I don’t really have a feel for how I should assist you.”
“I think it’s hard for me to say clearly what level we’re at either.”
“Then there’s only one way. Patients… right?”
Wink.