episode_0032

Anyone who heard Teacher Baek Ah-rin’s voice on the other end of the phone could clearly see her confusion.

But I’m really embarrassed.

It’s what you wanted.

Why are you so embarrassed when you say you will do what you want?

“What is it? Why are you so embarrassed?”

“No…that’s senior…going on a trip with me…haha……”

“You asked me to go with you like that?”

“Yes? Do you mean me? When is it?”

“You asked me for a one-shot bottle of soju. Very loudly.”

“Yes?!!!”

Yes.

Arin has no memory at all now.

It felt like he was drunk and what was on his mind just came out.

“Ah…!! Stir…!! Hmm…!! That’s…ah…no!!”

“What’s wrong?”

“Is the closure a joke? How much would the patients suffer if the hospital was suddenly closed like that?”

Mr. Baek suddenly had a strong sense of professionalism.

“It’s not a big problem even if our hospital is closed. There’s another surgery right on the block next door.”

“No…like that…”

“I don’t know if our hospital is a general hospital, but this is clearly a hospital opened by an individual. And we haven’t had a single break since we opened.”

“Ma…that’s right.”

“And it’s not just us who do the work. There are also nurses.”

“Yes.”

“Then should we give a vacation to the hospital staff who have worked hard for 11 years? Should I not give it to you?”

“I have to give it to you.”

“Okay. Then the decision is made. We are closed next Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday!”

“……”

Teacher Baek A-rin was silent for a moment.

“Sorry… Senior.”

What she said after a while was an apology.

“No. Rather, I feel sorry.”

“Yes…? Why did you tell me…”

“…There is such a thing.”

okay.

This isn’t something you talk about over the phone.

It’s about meeting in person and talking.

“Anyway, it’s already been posted on the hospital’s website. We will announce it during the meeting tomorrow.”

“Well…but, senior…won’t the regulars hate it if you take a break for that long…”

“Where are the regulars at the surgery? Since the weather is warmer, there will be fewer people tripping… and since it’s before school starts, there won’t be many kids getting hurt. Statistically speaking, this is the time when there are the least customers.”

“…Ah…..”

“Don’t you know that, too?”

“That’s right. Now that I think about it…I think so.”

“Okay. This is the best time to go on vacation. Right?”

“…Yes.”

“So, Mr. Baek, do you have anything else to say?”

“No…”

“Okay. So, are you going to Jeju together?”

“No…that’s…”

“That’s what Teacher Baek wanted.”

“…Well…I remember it well…I guess I’m a weak drinker.”

“Lie. Did you just say that because you were drunk?”

“……”

“You helped me a lot. So, thanks to you, I was able to raise my daughter well. This is all thanks to Teacher Baek.”

“…Yes……”

“So, I want to do what Teacher Baek wants.”

“…….”

“It’s my sincerity. You are not ignoring my sincerity, are you?”

“Ah…no!! How can I ignore your sincerity!! How dare you…!!”

She makes a fuss.

Teacher Baek was always like that.

He humbled himself and exalted me.

There is no need for me to be elevated like that simply because I am a senior.

That’s because of Teacher Baek’s personality.

It may seem like you are hiding yourself and being considerate of others, but your ego inside will be collapsing.

During this trip, I want to help Mr. Baek…Arin live her life a little better.

I plan to have a lot of conversations.

People who hold themselves captive are usually people who lack communication about themselves.

I want to use this opportunity to make Arin more comfortable.

That’s it.

“Anyway, is there a place you want to go on Jeju Island?”

“I…I want to go to Seogwipo. My friend went there…I heard the sea view was really nice.”

“Okay. Then let’s go to Seogwipo.”

“…Yes, senior.”

“Have you given up now?”

“Yes, which one do you mean?”

“You made a fuss about not wanting to go on a trip with me.”

“…J…When did I say that! I want to go! It was my dream to go on a trip with that senior!!”

“…Now you’re saying what you wanted.”

“Ha…hehe!!”

The sound of Arin covering her mouth could be heard through the receiver.

“Haha…Hahaha!!”

“No…don’t make fun of me, senior!”

“I wasn’t teasing you.”

“…No! You were just teasing me!”

“It’s because I like seeing Teacher Baek’s honesty like that.”

“…!”

“Ah…I…!! How should I talk about this……”

“Anyway, it’s late. Sleep well and see you tomorrow.”

-Ah…no…ehhh!!!-

At that moment, a young woman’s screams could be vaguely heard.

what?

I took my ear off the phone and looked somewhere else for a moment.

……

“Did I hear something wrong?”

I put my ear to the phone again.

“Senior? Senior, what’s going on?”

“No…no, I heard something that sounded like a scream, but I think I heard it wrong.”

“Ah…yes, I’m glad.”

“Then, I will make the travel plan, so Mr. Baek, just take the time and prepare extra clothes to wear on the trip. Oh! know? Prepare a swimsuit too.”

“Yes yes? So…you mean swimsuit?? It’s…winter…winter right now?”

“You’ve never been to Jeju Island, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Seogwipo has good resorts. The swimming pool there is open all year round. You can swim in warm water like a hot spring.”

“Ah……”

“If you don’t swim there, you will have to lose more than half of the resort price. know? Don’t you know how amazing it is to swim while looking at the sea?”

“…Ah……”

“This person can’t do it. So you asked me to go to Jeju Island without even knowing that?”

“…Well…that was something I unconsciously did when I was drunk…!”

“Your inner self is also you.”

“Ugh…Ugh……”

“Anyway, I’ll make a reservation, so get ready. I also bought a small suitcase to use as a carry-on. If you leave your luggage, you have less time to play.”

“Yes…I understand, senior.”

“Okay. See you tomorrow.”

“Senior Cha Eunhyuk!”

At that moment, it was Teacher Baek who called out to me in a loud voice.

“Why are you calling my name to three letters?”

“Thank you!!”

chuck.

I know it even without seeing it.

This guy must have greeted the phone at a 90 degree angle.

“I’m not trying to hear you say thank you, so don’t do that.”

“Thank you anyway!!”

“Thank you so much?”

“That’s right. Thank you so much.”

“Then let’s promise one thing.”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

“Let’s go and have a lot of fun.”

“…Oh?”

“Let’s not think about seniors or juniors and just have fun. Let’s leave all our worries behind.”

“…Senior……”

I couldn’t hear anything over the phone anymore.

“Hang up. See you tomorrow.”

“…Yes.”

Tiring.

The call has ended.

Phew.

What is this that makes me so nervous?

I felt like I was secretly doing something I shouldn’t have been doing.

That’s definitely not the case.

Why is this happening?

Anyway, Arin’s rejection response has been reduced a lot, so all that’s left is healing.

I hope Arin will unburden her heart a little more when she returns from her trip.

Still, I felt good that learning a little from my senior majoring in psychology was helpful.

By the way, what was that scream earlier?

It’s quiet now, so I don’t think there’s a big problem…

okay.

Let’s not worry too much about other people’s business.

If you can’t solve your own problems, don’t bother yourself with other people’s problems.

I turned off the light and lay down.

Now I’m finally getting tired.

I think I’ll sleep well.

****

next day.

I gathered the hospital staff together and announced that we would be closed next week.

Employees who had been with the company for more than five years were given a daily salary and a lump sum of 2 million won in vacation pay.

Everyone was bewildered but happy about the unexpected vacation and vacation expenses.

The only people left in this hospital so far are responsible people.

I was grateful that they followed along even though it must have been a burden to work every day without a break.

I wanted to take this opportunity to repay that gratitude.

I would like to once again express my gratitude to the staff members, including Teacher Baek A-rin, who silently followed us and even allowed the director to take a break from metallurgy in order to raise his daughter.

“Ah…senior!”

“Ah, Mr. Baek.”

“Wait a minute…come here…”

She motioned for others to come into her room without knowing.

“What’s wrong?”

“Um…I…I was wondering if there was anything I could help you with…about going on a trip to…Jeju Island…like…costs…or…accommodation reservations…etc…”

okay.

I thought Arin would have asked enough questions.

“I told you. I will grant Mr. Baek’s wish.”

“Well…but that was just asking them to go on a trip together, they didn’t even ask for the cost!”

“Teacher Baek.”

“Yes…”

“Don’t make me feel sorry anymore.”

“Ah…I’m not like that…”

“Because Dr. Baek took care of the hospital, I was able to travel to Jeju Island with my daughter.”

“…That…was something I had to do as a matter of course since my senior…is the director.”

“Nonsense. Usually other people say no.”

“……”

“This hospital was able to build its reputation like that. Because of Mr. Baek’s efforts.”

“That’s because you were a specialist at Korea University…”

“Do you think hospitals that are closed frequently will do well?”

“That’s not…”

“That’s how Dr. Baek helped our hospital become stronger.”

……

Teacher Baek A-rin said nothing.

“Really…I can’t win against you.”

laugh.

It wasn’t an unpleasant laugh that came from losing an argument.

It’s a laugh that’s disappointing but doesn’t make you feel bad even if you lose.

“Okay. If you knew, would you stop thinking about fighting with me and just do as I tell you?”

“Okay. Senior.”

“Then it’s okay to go out, right? If a man and a woman stay together in a room like this for a long time, do strange rumors start?”

“Uh…huh?!”

At that moment, Teacher Baek A-rin’s face turned red.

what?

I was saying this as a joke…?

“Well…I’m sorry, senior!!”

It was Teacher Baek who immediately left his seat.

Did I… say something wrong?

I don’t know.

Let’s go first and make accommodation and flight reservations.

Right next week.

It is the off-season for travel, but if you make a reservation close to the end of the travel period, you may not be able to go to the place you want.

“I need to make a reservation quickly.”

I went straight into my treatment room.

Fortunately, there were few people at the clinic this morning, so you will be able to make an appointment if you make time.