The goodwill Taesu had shown was, in truth, extraordinary.
He had known that when he made the offer to Raku.
He did feel he was repaying a debt, but there was one more reason.
For some reason, it felt too good to call it a mere passing acquaintance.
“If it feels good, then it’s good.”
Taesu trusted that vague instinct.
The next day.
Raku did a brief burst of business in the morning, then left in the afternoon.
He truly was a man like the wind.
There was only a short time to say goodbye.
That was because the medical team had to start moving busily from the morning.
Thump, thump.
They began by sorting the medical supplies by type and loading them again.
Taesu and Jeong Minsu took charge of that.
“This goes over here……”
“How many are there? We’ll be in trouble if we miss any.”
In the process, they checked the exact quantities and wrote them down.
At the same time.
Bread Kim and Kim Hyeokgwon had called over a few villagers and were teaching them basic first aid.
“If there’s a wound, first……”
“%.#$%^.”
Kim Hyeokgwon stood right beside him and interpreted.
But calling it education almost felt like an exaggeration; what they were teaching was that basic.
That was from the perspective of the one teaching.
For those learning, their eyes were blazing.
“I didn’t listen properly last time.”
“If the children get hurt, I should be the one to help them.”
“And again…… no, still, you never know what might happen.”
Each of them carried a reason in their hearts for why they had to learn.
That earnestness expressed itself through participation in the training.
Kim Hyeokgwon waved a handkerchief and asked,
“Who wants to practice splinting?”
The moment he finished speaking.
Snap, snap snap.
On top of that, voices rang out.
“Me. Me.”
“I’ll learn.”
“I have to learn it.”
And if appealing didn’t work?
“Why don’t you give way?”
“You give way.”
“Put your hand down.”
They would even glare sharply at one another.
Fortunately, since they were people from the same village, it did not turn into a serious argument.
That was how much they wanted to learn first aid in greater detail.
Their passion became the reason Taesu and Jeong Minsu were pulled in as well.
“Wow. If you’re going to learn like this, I’ll teach you all night.”
“We might really end up staying up all night.”
“I’ll be quiet.”
Taesu tossed out one unnecessary comment and quickly shut his mouth.
Their enthusiasm was so great that even Taesu had to back down like that.
Fortunately, it was not everyone’s first time.
Many of them recalled how many times the NGO had visited.
The training was not solemn the whole time just because it was training.
They practiced on one another and even joked around lightly.
“Haha.”
Laughter burst out from time to time, and the lesson continued in a relaxed atmosphere.
In that way, the medical team prepared for the day they would leave.
They erased pain and built memories with the villagers, who now showed them smiles.
Memories that would remain in one another’s hearts for a long time.
Time flowed on without a destination.
And then.
At last, the day of departure dawned.
From morning, the medical team picked up brooms and rags.
It was to clean the temporary hospital building they had used until now.
Swish, swish.
There were no complaints.
Putting the place they had stayed in order was only natural.
They spent the morning like that.
Vroooom.
The sound of truck engines came from outside.
It was not the sound of the old clunker engines they sometimes heard in the village.
Taesu, who had been looking around the now-clean second-floor ward, perked up his ears.
“Have they arrived?”
The murmur had barely left his mouth.
“They’re here, they’re here.”
“Wow. I’m going down.”
Thud-thud-thud.
Jeong Minsu followed right behind.
Taesu was about to move with them when he suddenly stopped.
“……”
He stood still for a moment.
Then Taesu slowly turned back.
Sssrk.
The ward he had just cleaned filled his eyes.
It was neatly arranged.
But what Taesu saw was a little different.
The images of the patients who had stayed in this ward began to rise faintly before him.
Their suffering.
Their joy.
And the sight of them leaving the hospital in good health.
Every moment was vividly etched in his mind.
Each was a precious memory he could not throw away. As Taesu recalled them once more, a soft smile appeared on his face.
“The hospital…… is closing.”
Murmuring those symbolic words, he quietly closed the ward door.
And he wished that this door would never have to open again.
A little later.
The four of them stood side by side in front of the hospital building.
And they watched the military trucks approaching from afar.
Kim Hyeokgwon was the first to voice his feelings.
“Wow, now it really feels like we’re leaving.”
“It’s already come to this. Time really flew by.”
Bread Kim’s gaze deepened.
For him especially, since it was his first time, a lingering aftertaste settled heavily.
As they spoke, the military trucks arrived.
Squad Leader Sam was sitting in the passenger seat of the first truck again this time.
Taesu waved his hand in delight, then froze.
It was because he saw a military jeep coming in some distance behind the trucks.
“Sam…… hm?”
“That’s a jeep, right?”
Jeong Minsu asked softly.
At that moment, Kim Hyeokgwon rubbed his nose and brightened.
“They’re sending a jeep for the way back after all. A jeep rides better than a truck.”
“Mr. Kim, wait a moment. It looks like someone in a gown is getting out.”
“A gown? Doctor Choi, was a follow-up medical team supposed to come here?”
Kim Hyeokgwon, who had been talking with Bread Kim, quickly asked Taesu.
Taesu, apparently just as clueless, immediately shook his head.
“No. I didn’t hear anything about that.”
“Then who is that? Looks like he’s got some age on him.”
Kim Hyeokgwon said with a calm face.
But the moment Taesu saw the elderly doctor, he froze.
“……”
“……”
Bread Kim was the same.
He was so shocked that his mouth hung open.
On the other hand, Jeong Minsu and Kim Hyeokgwon were evaluating the elderly doctor.
“His presence is insane. Even from here, he feels overwhelming.”
“Just from his eyes, he looks like he’s got quite the personality.”
“I know. But who is he really? Taesu, what’s wrong with him? And Bread, why are you acting like that too?”
Jeong Minsu looked puzzled at the two men’s reactions.
It was then.
Step, step.
The elderly doctor slowly began walking toward them.
The blurred features of the old doctor soon came close enough to be seen clearly.
It was none other than James.
One of the greatest surgeons alive.
The spiritual pillar of the NGO.
That very man was walking toward them.
The closer the distance became, the clearer James’s figure appeared.
His presence alone drew the eye, and his calm, steady gaze seemed capable of seeing through every illness.
His expression was indifferent, yet he radiated a force that made it impossible for just anyone to approach him casually.
But on that indifferent face, a smile slowly began to bloom.
“……”
It was a thin, serene smile.
The moment that smile touched his lips, the atmosphere changed completely.
It overflowed with softness and benevolence.
It was only a small change in expression.
And yet the air around him was changing with startling clarity.
Taesu and Bread Kim could not say a word and only blinked.
James slowly approached the two of them.
It was then.
Step, step.
Before anyone realized it, the PKO soldiers had formed a perimeter around James and begun keeping watch in all directions.
There was a grim intensity about them, as if they would not allow even an ant to pass.
That was how the PKO treated James.
It was then.
Taesu suddenly came to his senses and hurriedly looked for Bread Kim.
“Bread.”
“Y-yeah. Let’s go.”
Tap-tap-tap.
The two quickly ran toward James.
There was no way the PKO soldiers would stop them.
Taesu and Bread Kim exchanged nods with them as they passed and arrived in front of James at the same time.
Then they quickly bowed their heads in greeting.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning.”
Even their voices were vigorous.
When they lifted their heads, only then did James extend his hand toward Taesu and offer a handshake.
“Doctor Choi, it’s been a while.”
“Yes. Professor.”
Sssrk.
Taesu reached out to take his hand.
But then.
Whoosh.
James lifted his hand.
The moment the target disappeared, Taesu’s expression turned bewildered.
“Why?”
“Is that a habit of speech, or do you wish to keep your distance from me?”
It was a cryptic thing to say.
But Taesu seemed to realize something and, with a startled face, corrected the title.
“Ah, ah. Doctor James.”
“That’s already the second time. If you make me say the same thing one more time, I may want to keep my distance as well.”
“No. I won’t, I won’t ever call you that again.”
Taesu repeated it as if making a vow.
The sight of him was almost unfamiliar.
That did not mean Taesu was shrinking back because of James’s lofty status.
The real reason was something else.
He was Caprene’s old friend.
Taesu owed Caprene an unpayable debt, and because of that, he could not treat James too casually.
But perhaps that was only Taesu’s thinking, because James pointed it out with a displeased face.
“You seem quite different from how you were in Nepal, don’t you think?”
“Ahem.”
“Yes. Straighten your shoulders like that. And if I recall, your tone was somewhat arrogant as well.”
The moment James spoke subtly, Taesu opened his eyes wide and waved his hands.
“That’s not true.”
“Then you can make it true from now on.”
“Yes. Then from now on…… pardon?”
Taesu, who had answered reflexively, flinched.
As if amused by Taesu’s reaction, James showed a bright smile.
“If you have the nerve to use my surgery tent as you please, I think that should be more than enough.”
“Ah, that matter…… you knew about it?”
“How could I not? Doctor Isakson seemed quite concerned about the details of the surgery.”
As James spoke, the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
That smile was meaningful.
It meant he had already heard the entire story from Doctor Isakson.
But Taesu did not know that.
With his gaze half-lowered, Taesu answered awkwardly.
“My first CABG…… no. Saying that would just be an excuse. I was lacking.”
“No one is good from the start. The second time will be better.”
“Thank you. Ahem. Hm.”
Taesu tried to hide his embarrassment with a cough.
As James watched him, his smile gradually deepened, and he said,
“Do you know? The expression on your face right now is quite adorable, Doctor Choi.”
“I…… don’t really know.”
“Then know it from now on. Haha.”
James even laughed out loud with a bright face.
His face was filled with mischief.
He truly seemed happy to see Taesu again after so long.
A corner of Taesu’s heart tingled.
“What am I, really?”
He was simply grateful that James had personally come all this way to look after him.
At that moment, James briefly informed him of the angina patient’s current condition.
“Patient Ohamed is currently nursing his wife.”
“Has he recovered well?”
“Yes. His progress is good, so if he pays a little attention to managing his health, I believe the risk of recurrence will be low.”
Hearing the words that flowed one after another, Taesu opened his eyes wide.