Chapter 45
The pain from the strong grip felt like his bones were about to crush.
‘Ugh.’
He had to swallow the pain internally.
But Daehon didn’t show it on the outside at all. Instead, he calmed the situation with a gentle smile.
“Y-You’ve passed the stage where you need to worry.”
“Haah… Haah… Thank you. Thank you so much, huff!”
Whoosh!
Kim Kyungsoo’s mother burst into tears and hugged Daehon tightly.
For a moment, Daehon felt choked.
‘Gulp!’
Even so, he didn’t show it outwardly.
No, he couldn’t.
This was the moment she confirmed her long-worried child was safe.
Her sudden action was so natural, maybe even expected.
But Daehon’s smile didn’t last long.
He started to feel increasingly suffocated.
“Ugh… uh… cough!”
His breath came out harshly, causing a commotion around them.
“M-Mom, the doctor… breathe, breathe!”
“Ma’am, the doctor is collapsing instead of your son.”
At that, Kim Kyungsoo’s mother quickly released Daehon’s neck.
“Oh dear… I’m so sorry. I apologize.”
“It’s okay.”
Daehon rubbed his throat and forced a smile.
A short while later, Kim Kyungsoo’s older brother, Kim Sooyoung, signed the surgery consent form.
Scratch.
“Is it done now?”
“Yes. As I just explained…”
“So you just need to stitch up the liver rupture?”
Daehon nodded when Kim Sooyoung asked first.
“Yes. It’s not a very big surgery, so there’s no need to worry too much.”
“That’s all thanks to the ER doctors preventing blood from filling the lungs, right?”
“That’s correct. We all did our best.”
When Daehon answered, Kim Sooyoung’s eyes welled up.
“Thank you. How can I ever repay this kindness?”
“It’s not over yet. You need to stay strong for now.”
“But you said it’s not a dangerous surgery.”
“The patient is fighting with all his strength. You need to support him until that fight is over.”
Daehon spoke with remarkable clarity.
Even while delivering heavy news, the atmosphere wasn’t gloomy.
Perhaps because of that, the resolve shown by the family wasn’t weighed down either.
“Yes. My mother and I will cheer for him all night.”
“It will definitely reach Kim Kyungsoo.”
“Thank you for saying that. Hoo.”
Kim Sooyoung exhaled strongly as if steadying himself.
Meanwhile, Daehon called the nurse’s station.
“Yes, Dr. Richard?”
“The consent form has been signed.”
“Oh, GS is coming down now!”
“Perfect timing. Tell them to bring him up immediately.”
Daehon lowered his phone and looked at Kim Sooyoung.
Hearing him, Kim Sooyoung quickly headed to his mother.
“Mom, Kyungsoo is going into surgery. Let’s go.”
“Yes, yes, let’s go. Oh dear.”
“Here, Mom. I’ll support you. Careful, careful.”
Thud-thud.
Kim Sooyoung helped his unsteady mother toward the ER.
Daehon watched calmly, his eyes soft.
‘Looks good.’
When you’re in pain, family is truly the best.
Unconsciously, a smile appeared on Daehon’s face.
Daehon returned to the nurse’s station, holding a clipboard.
“Here’s the consent form.”
“Thank you for your effort.”
Nurse Na Seonju quickly took it and sat at the computer.
Meanwhile, Daehon glanced around the ER.
After the recent commotion, the atmosphere had quieted somewhat.
“Even moments like this are necessary.”
He murmured to himself briefly.
But the calm was broken instantly.
Grung.
The ER door swung open, and Yu Gwanggu rushed in, shouting.
“What happened with the emergency patient? The patient!”
Daehon stared at him quietly.
“Why is he like that?”
“Huff! Huff! Richard, the emergency patient came in. Why is it so quiet?”
“Hmm.”
Daehon’s calm gaze made Yu Gwanggu pause.
“What… what!”
“This isn’t bad, actually.”
“What are you saying? Speak clearly! More importantly, what happened to the emergency patient!”
Yu Gwanggu panted heavily, pressing again and again.
Daehon honestly looked at Yu Gwanggu.
Up until now, Yu Gwanggu had been ambition-driven and self-interested.
But now, running out of the house like this, his eyes were full of worry.
He clearly cared about the emergency patient’s safety.
Still, he’s a doctor, after all.
Daehon guessed Yu Gwanggu’s true concern and smiled faintly.
‘Interesting personality.’
Meanwhile, Park Jinkyu stood next to Yu Gwanggu.
He pulled out a tablet and quickly explained while checking the EMR.
“…So I just sent him up to the OR.”
“Due to multiple rib fractures causing hemothorax and a liver rupture, check the CT.”
“It’s not there.”
Park Jinkyu answered immediately.
Yu Gwanggu’s eyes, which had been calming, shook violently.
“What is he saying? Why isn’t there a CT!”
“There’s no PACS. We treated him in E zone and transferred him immediately.”
“Then… no X-ray, CT, MRI, nothing?”
Yu Gwanggu’s voice trembled as he pressed.
