Taesu heard the sound only with his ears.
His gaze was once again fixed on Selena, lying in a bed far off in the distance.
She was staring intently at an English textbook.
She was clearly pronouncing the alphabet, one letter at a time.
And.
In her other hand, she was clutching Jantra’s notebook tightly.
He could feel Selena’s yearning to know what Jantra had written.
Despair had long since been pushed away.
Only hope, looking forward to tomorrow, filled her.
‘Good. Then that’s enough.’
A gentle smile formed on Taesu’s face.
The short lunch break ended, and the afternoon clinic hours began.
Taesu had returned to Medical Tent 3.
Jeong Minsu’s smile as he looked at Taesu was meaningful.
“Heh heh, I hear you spent the whole morning playing around?”
“Who was playing?”
“I’ve already learned this many new cases this morning.”
Snap.
Jeong Minsu confidently held up a bundle of papers.
Compared to the cases he had encountered for the first time yesterday, it was quite thin. That meant there must have been many overlapping symptoms.
Taking that into account, it was not a small amount.
But Taesu had not been playing around either, so he showed his notebook.
“Here.”
“Hmph, how much could there be…? What’s this? It’s all neurosurgical symptoms. Are you just picking one target to beat up?”
“Either way, if we put both sides together, I don’t think we’ll be sleeping early tonight either.”
“I told you I was prepared. The joy of learning even one more thing, the happiness of being able to help patients, and the satisfaction of watching myself grow by leaps and bounds. There’s nothing to throw away.”
“I agree. In that sense…”
Just as Taesu was about to say, Let’s do our best.
Rumble.
A large number of medical staff poured into Medical Tent 3.
And soon, Nurse Casey and Nurse Ellen came looking for Taesu and Jeong Minsu.
“Dr. Choi, you’re assigned to dentistry this afternoon. These people will take charge of the tent.”
“Dr. Jeong. Orthopedics is calling for you.”
At those words, the two men’s faces turned bewildered.
“Can we really just be moved around like this?”
“They probably wouldn’t call us around as they pleased. Honestly, since we’re not specialists, we may be more flexible.”
“Are we supposed to be happy that we’re residents?”
“It’s not like there’s any reason to cry.”
“Anyway, see you later.”
As soon as their pointless exchange ended, Taesu and Jeong Minsu each moved.
Taesu headed to the dentistry tent with Nurse Casey, where he had been called.
The doctor who had called him was none other than Dr. Johnson.
“Oh, Dr. Johnson.”
“Haha. Dr. Choi. Were you surprised I called you?”
“A little. But…”
“In general medical volunteer work, dentistry tends to take up the largest portion. So…”
Without preamble, Dr. Johnson began explaining the basic significance of dentistry.
Taesu was bewildered only for a moment, then immediately began listening closely.
Dr. Johnson guided Taesu with a gentleness different from Dr. Quentin’s.
Since he was close to Brad Kim, it was clear that he was paying even more attention to Taesu.
Taesu found it a little strange to be called around by different departments like this.
Was it Dr. Schmidt’s influence?
Or had the doctors, tired of all his questions, decided to give their ears a rest?
Whatever the reason, it did not matter.
Unlike yesterday, he was grateful to be able to focus on a single department.
Time passed, and evening arrived.
After dinner, Taesu sat head-to-head with Jeong Minsu at a table in the yard.
Scratch, scratch.
“……”
“……”
They were so absorbed in reviewing that even their breathing could not be heard.
The material was about the neurosurgery, dentistry, and orthopedics they had studied intensively that day.
In keeping with their promise to grow together, they hid nothing and laid everything out, passing their notes back and forth as they devoted themselves to review.
Then they felt someone sit down in an empty seat.
The two of them flinched and looked over at the same time, then brightened slightly.
“Brad.”
“How hard are you studying that you don’t even notice someone coming?”
“We have to make sure it’s firmly in our heads before we forget.”
Taesu answered calmly.
As if he had been waiting for that moment, Brad Kim quietly reached out toward a notebook that was sitting idle.
“Let’s see. This one’s neurosurgery.”
“Are you going to look at it too, Brad?”
“Were you planning to leave me out?”
When Brad Kim looked at them with a hurt expression, Jeong Minsu asked with a puzzled face.
“You’re a specialist, aren’t you?”
“That’s why it’s even more of a problem. If I say I want to learn about other departments, everyone looks at me strangely.”
“Is that so?”
“I’m the least skilled one here, but that damned title of specialist gets in the way.”
“Come on, that’s not true.”
Jeong Minsu strongly denied it, but Brad Kim spoke seriously, as though he was not saying it for nothing.
“Only people who don’t know would say I’m good.”
“……”
“Anyway, I can’t stand watching only you two get ahead, so let me join in too. Now, let’s see…”
Thunk.
Brad Kim firmly claimed his seat and began looking through the notes in earnest.
He surely was not doing this for no reason.
It was clearly his way of taking responsibility for saying he wanted to keep working together with them.
As for Taesu and Jeong Minsu?
Shrug.
They raised their shoulders.
There was absolutely no reason to refuse when Brad Kim said he wanted to study with them.
And so, the number of people studying increased to three.
It was not merely a matter of lowering their heads and memorizing things by rote.
After committing something to memory once, they constantly asked one another questions.
“What is carpal tunnel release?”
“A procedure that cuts the transverse carpal ligament to widen the carpal tunnel.”
“Well, I suppose that’s basic.”
“Of course. Then it’s my turn. What are the representative symptoms of failed back surgery syndrome?”
“First, pain caused by decreased muscle mass, paralysis of the limbs…”
Murmur, murmur.
Taesu, Jeong Minsu, and Brad Kim continued asking and answering questions.
If someone failed to answer, the penalty was to go make coffee.
It was a very small penalty, but since all of them were full of competitive spirit, there was no giving way even in that.
To others, it might have looked like an immature game.
However, with expressions more serious than anything in the world and tense eyes, they kept looking for gaps in one another’s knowledge.
And so Padum’s second night deepened as well.
Meanwhile.
Many of the medical staff were watching Taesu, Jeong Minsu, and Brad Kim, who had fallen into a world of their own.
Now, wary gazes could no longer be found anywhere.
The looks directed at them were exceedingly gentle and filled with curiosity.
“That method is refreshing.”
“It’s much better than memorizing by rote.”
“It’s fun to watch them change every day.”
“It even felt a little empty today when they didn’t come find us.”
There was a blunt warmth in the conversations that passed back and forth.
They could not help but acknowledge them.
Several days passed quickly.
Taesu and Jeong Minsu were seeing patients in Medical Tent 3.
The two men’s complexions were terrible.
Yet strangely, those dark, haggard faces changed completely when they faced patients.
There was no sign of urgency or tension.
Their faces were full of smiles, and somehow, they seemed at ease.
“As far as I know, that disease…”
“Today’s dressing is done, and if you feel any itching…”
The range of illnesses they could infer from symptoms had broadened, and even when dressing wounds, they added supplementary explanations.
An hour later.
After seeing patients one after another, Taesu absentmindedly wiped his forehead with his sleeve.
It came away damp with sweat.
Seeing that he was sweating even in the chilly morning, he must have been moving around quite a lot.
Just then, a cup of water appeared in front of Taesu.
“Take a breather before you continue.”
“Casey, thank you. I was just debating whether I should.”
“You’ll burn out if you only keep running.”
Nurse Casey’s tone was stiff, but her heart was not hard.
That feeling was fully contained in the single cup of water she had brought him.
Looking at the medical cart that was always neat and abundantly stocked, it was easy to tell what kind of personality Nurse Casey had.
Taesu accepted the cup and expressed his gratitude once more.
“I’ll drink it well.”
“It’s nothing. By the way, compared to before, it’s definitely gotten quieter.”
“Instead, the proportion of surgeries has gone up. I heard the waiting list for people who need surgery is no joke.”
“Yes. And the people who need continuous treatment have mostly agreed to come in the afternoon.”
“Then I think we can afford to have a little more breathing room.”
Taesu’s gaze naturally turned toward the waiting area.
The number of patients, who had once stood in lines that seemed to have no end, was now limited to the waiting area alone.
It meant that most of the first round of examinations for Padum City’s patients had been completed over the past few days.
It was enough to show how diligently the medical staff had moved.
There was also word that starting tomorrow, vehicles would be sent to nearby cities and villages to bring people here.
Now that such news was being heard, they had finally found enough room to breathe.
At that moment, Nurse Casey’s voice rang in Taesu’s ears.
“Yesterday at the lodging, nurses from the other tents were saying that the patients were asking where Dr. Choi and Dr. Jeong had gone.”
“Pardon?”
Taesu flinched and turned his head, then was startled.
It was because a soft smile hung on Nurse Casey’s usually blunt face.
It was the first time he had seen such a gentle smile from her.
At the sight of Taesu’s eyes widening, Nurse Casey instantly turned strict again.
“What is it? Have you never seen a person smile before?”
“No. It’s just… I was wondering if I’m not going to another department today.”
Taesu deliberately changed the subject and avoided her chilly gaze.
Just as an awkward atmosphere was about to settle over them.
“Dr. Choi, do you have break times too?”
From the neighboring tent came Dr. Talon’s teasing voice. No sooner had his question ended than another doctor joined in.
“Dr. Choi, you’re not sick, are you?”
“If he’s been studying that late every night, it wouldn’t be strange if he were.”
“Don’t say unnecessary things. Dr. Choi, how about a cup of coffee?”
“That’s right. Let’s take just five minutes and then get back to work. It’s not ideal to drink here, so let’s gather behind the tents. Dr. Jeong can switch with Dr. Choi later.”
Rumble.
From each tent, one doctor rose and headed toward the area behind the tents where the medical supply boxes were stacked.
In the meantime, Taesu and Jeong Minsu’s eyes met.
‘What’s going on all of a sudden?’
‘How should I know?’
They were full of nothing but confusion.
Just then, Dr. Talon passed by and called out to Taesu once more.
“Dr. Choi, what are you doing?”
“I’m getting up. No, wait, I should prepare.”
“What preparation? Everything’s there if you go. Come on, let’s go.”
Dr. Talon leisurely walked ahead.
In contrast, Taesu exchanged bewildered looks with Jeong Minsu and followed after him.
Behind the tents.
There was a small space behind the high stacks of medical supply boxes.
Taesu knew well that it was a place set up so anyone could rest for a moment.
On a simple table were a burner and other things for brewing tea, and on the ground sat a large icebox.
The doctors were each holding tea or a drink suited to their tastes.
Abruptly.
Dr. Talon held out a warm cup of tea and asked.
“Dr. Choi, it’s hectic, isn’t it?”
“I think I’m starting to get used to it now.”
“Don’t overdo it too much. You make it look like we’re playing around.”
“Hahaha!”
Everyone laughed aloud.
After that burst of laughter passed.
Dr. Talon spoke with an expression that seemed somehow refreshed.
“Dr. Choi, we are lacking as well. There are many things we don’t know either.”
“……”
“But let’s share what we know and fill in what we lack. Together, with one another.”
“Thank you very much for saying that. But we’re still residents…”
Just before Taesu could continue, Dr. Hassan stopped him.
“Dr. Choi.”
“Yes.”
“Dr. Choi.”
“……”
He repeated the same title.
Guessing that there was meaning in that call, Taesu fell silent for a moment. Then Dr. Hassan smiled gently and continued.
“You are not Resident Choi. You are Dr. Choi.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m saying we won’t treat you like a resident, but you seem to be hearing it only in a good way.”
Dr. Hassan gave him a mischievous sidelong glance.