Chapter 5
Outside the galley, the cabin was quiet.
Daeho could feel it.
Everyone wished desperately for Seungmin to survive.
Even strangers who had never met him were silently hoping for his life.
That unified desire—Daeho felt it like electricity running through him.
‘I can feel it. Everyone wants this child to live.’
He had to be resolute.
Only Daeho knew.
Surgery on a plane?
The worst conditions imaginable.
Realistically, only a 10% chance.
No more.
Even Daeho wanted to avoid it.
It was a terrible situation in the worst environment.
Any normal person would want to run away.
At that moment, countless clinical experiences flashed through Daeho’s mind like a panorama.
Caprini…
And other relevant clinical experiences suited to this situation.
Along with memories of surgeries he had performed.
‘Daeho. Don’t run away.’
Splash, splash.
He poured disinfectant into his hands and put on surgical gloves.
The minimum hygiene procedures.
The middle-aged doctor mirrored his actions and quietly asked,
“So… shouldn’t you explain what you’re going to do?”
“This.”
“That… a syringe?”
The doctor’s eyes widened.
At the same moment, Daeho placed the long needle on Seungmin’s chest.
He used a stethoscope to gauge the heart’s position.
‘Here’s the heart, and a few millimeters over there.’
He was locating the pericardium.
Only a few millimeters from the heart.
A distance too small to measure accurately with a stethoscope alone.
Daeho knew how dangerous and difficult this procedure was on a plane.
Moreover, it wasn’t a hospital; minimal medical equipment was available.
In a hospital?
He would have been confident.
But reality was harsh.
Still… he had to do it.
Seungmin’s life rested in his hands.
This life…
‘I have to save it.’
He measured and re-measured the heart and pericardium with the stethoscope.
Then, the needle gradually pierced the skin above the heart.
Slrrrk.
Daeho focused intensely.
‘Just a little… a little more.’
He adjusted slightly, targeting only the pericardium.
Time passed slowly and silently, almost torturously.
“…….”
The middle-aged doctor and attendants held their breath.
Even a single sound now could mean lifelong regret.
They watched silently.
After a while…
Thunk.
The tip of the needle felt a subtle give.
Daeho’s eyes snapped open.
“Here!”
“Did it work? Did it?”
The middle-aged doctor, who had been staring anxiously, asked urgently.
At that moment, clear blood began filling the syringe.
A mix of fluid and blood pressing on the pericardium.
Was it over?
Absolutely not.
Swoosh!
Daeho quickly withdrew the syringe and gestured to the doctor.
“CPR!”
“O-okay! Let’s do it!”
Press, press.
The doctor pressed and performed CPR. Thirty compressions passed quickly.
“Thirty!”
Whoosh!
The doctor raised his hands quickly, shouting.
At the same time, Daeho commanded,
“Stop CPR! Stewardess, electronic blood pressure!”
“Got it. Ah, the pulse dropped sharply… but blood pressure… it’s up! Wow!”
The flight attendant checked the numbers and raised both hands in surprise.
Others held hands, some even tearing up.
But Daeho didn’t share the joy.
No, he couldn’t.
“This was just the first hurdle!”
“Excuse me? First hurdle?”
“The real work starts now. Lidocaine.”
“Again? Here it is!”
The attendant hurriedly handed him the syringe, and Daeho took it immediately.
“Local anesthesia, start!”
Prick, prick.
He administered widespread local anesthesia across the chest.
Then, using the emergency surgery kit efficiently, Daeho worked busily.
‘2 hours 30 minutes until arrival. Must hurry.’
Step, step, step.
He moved without pause, making full use of the surroundings.
“Doctor, please help!”
“Okay, just tell me what you need!”
“Hold this, and stewardesses, don’t look, just reach for the saline!”
“Here, here!”
Swoosh, swipe, thud.
Under Daeho’s leadership, the emergency surgery continued intensely.
No one cared how much time had passed or how long the flight had left.
Until landing, they held only the patient’s life in their hands.
Among them, Daeho’s eyes stood out.
Focused solely on the surgery, almost ferociously.
‘Yamma, you need that candy. Hang on. Survive no matter what!’
He worked relentlessly, almost in a trance.
The plane landed at Incheon Airport.
Wheeooong.
Heading to the gate, Daeho watched Seungmin in the galley.
Blood-soaked towels surrounded him.
The middle-aged doctor and flight attendants sat exhausted.
“Phew…”
Someone exhaled long and deeply.
All eyes turned to Seungmin.
The boy breathed.
Alive.
He had safely passed the crisis and now slept with a calmer face.
For a moment, Daeho, the doctor, and attendants exchanged faint smiles.
“Haha.”
“Hehe.”
Their glances were filled with a silent bond.
They had saved a fragile life together.
Soon, the plane reached the bridge.
Creeeak.
The plane door opened.
Daeho smiled faintly.
‘Returning home wasn’t easy.’
The thought was more than a complaint.
He felt the reality of coming back.
‘I’m back.’
Not speaking to anyone in particular.
Just words he wanted to say proudly at least once.
The plane door fully opened.
The captain’s voice came over the announcement.
Before the announcement ended, a loud voice came from the cabin.
“Transfer? So he survived?”
“Wow! He’s alive!”
“Yay!”
The passengers cheered throughout the cabin.
Daeho heard it as encouragement.
He bowed politely to the middle-aged doctor.
“Finally, I can properly thank you. You’re my senior, right? Truly, thank you for your effort.”
“Hehe… this is when being a doctor is really rewarding.”
Daeho’s attention shifted.
“Stewardesses, you were amazing.”
“Truly grateful that you’re all medical professionals.”
They exchanged heartfelt praise and encouragement.
Then suddenly, the galley curtain drew back, and men in suits appeared aggressively.
“Director!”
“Is our director okay?”
They tried to enter with force.
At that moment, Kim Hyunseok blocked them.
“They’re not after me!”
“Ah… are you okay?”
“What’s going on? Quiet, all of you!”
Kim Hyunseok’s sharp voice rebuked them.
Daeho paused, watching the unusual interaction.
Their presence inside the plane indicated they weren’t ordinary.
‘Who are these people?’
He glanced at Seungmin again.
Park Yuseon appeared next, scolding the men like Kim Hyunseok.
“What are you all doing?”
“Ah… madam.”
“Control yourselves, and focus on moving Seungmin first.”
“Yes, doctor, paramedics!”
One suited man quickly guided the group.
Soon, the airport fire rescue and medical teams arrived.
“Carefully now. Careful!”
“He’s on the stretcher.”
“You can move him now. Let’s go!”
Rumble, rumble.
Seungmin was loaded onto the stretcher quickly.
Daeho realized suddenly.
“I treated him… don’t leave me out!”
It was only natural to stay responsible until the end.
Seungmin was securely placed on the stretcher.
Time to leave.
Kim Hyunseok blocked Daeho gently.
“Doctor, thank you. I will personally thank you later for this kindness.”
“Excuse me, Mr. Seungmin’s father?”
“Now, this is enough. We’ll take care of him.”
Daeho remained silent.
This was exactly what the patient’s guardians wanted.
Seungmin was then carried out on the stretcher.
Rumble, rumble.
An artificial respirator covered his mouth.
Daeho watched steadfastly as he was taken away.
‘Get proper treatment.’
He silently prayed for Seungmin’s safety.
Even if frustrated with the guardians, that couldn’t affect the patient.
Above all, Seungmin’s bright smile was protected.
That alone subdued Daeho’s annoyance.
Then suddenly, Kim Hyunseok leaned close to Seungmin.
He looked at Daeho, surprised.
“Seungmin… he’s… holding candy.”
“Huh?”
“Really sorry, but… could you take a look?”
Kim Hyunseok’s voice was desperate yet restrained.
