Chapter 137
Suji's mother grabbed Suhyuk's hands firmly without realising it.
"The surgery went well, Suji's mom. Her daddy saved her life."
As soon as he said that, she squatted on the floor and sobbed.
"Boohoo… boohoo..."
Wrapping her face with her hands, she broke down into tears, and despite her exhaustive crying, her tears kept coming out.
Suhyuk bent his knees and held her shoulder cautiously, saying,
"Her surgery was done well. You made it, too."
What about her feelings, now that her husband is gone?
"Your daughter is in the recovery room now. After several checks, she will be moved to the intensive care unit."
She dragged herself up to her feet.
"Is my daughter okay now?"
Suhyuk nodded his head.
Then the door of the operating room opened, with Suji coming out, carried on the stretcher.
"Suji!"
She rushed to her daughter.
She wanted to touch her pale face, but did not. She felt something bad would happen if she touched it, and instead wiped off her tears quietly for fear her sobbing might wake her up.
Once Suji was moved to the intensive care unit, the medical staff moved briskly.
Checking her vital signs, they injected a suitable amount of IV fluid and checked her condition again carefully.
Holding her daughter's hands gently, she asked Suhyuk,
"Can I see my husband now?"
When he nodded, she stroked Suji's hair cautiously and said,
"Suji… I'll be back in a minute."
She followed Suhyuk to the basement of the hospital where his body was laid to rest.
There she saw his pale face, with the respirator seen no more on his mouth.
Momentarily she staggered, and Suhyuk quickly supported her.
"Are you okay?"
She gave strength to her feet, and looked at her husband again.
"Suji's daddy, Kim Gangu! Boohoo…"
Her sobbing did not stop for a while
***
Almost five hours passed since Suji was moved to the intensive care unit after the surgery.
When she opened her eyes for the first time, she saw her mother.
Her mother's eyelids were swollen, and her lips had blisters.
"Mom… I'm okay now. So, don't cry…"
"Sure, I won't cry anymore seeing as you are okay now after the surgery."
She kept stroking her hair while talking to her.
Three days passed after that.
No complications were detected in the patient, which was something beyond a miracle in the eyes of the medical staff.
Especially since she received someone else's heart for the transplant. Even though the heart was donated by a family member, some sort of complication would usually appear, because it was not their own heart to begin with.
Nonetheless, she did not show any complications, showing an incredible recovery progress.
Looking at the medical staff's surprise, Suji's mother said, stroking her sleeping daughter's hair,
"Suji's father is not the type of person that gives his daughter pain…"
And she asked the medical staff to hide the fact that his heart was transplanted to her.
She was going to tell her eventually, but not now.
It was urgent that her daughter first gets well again.
Coming out of her room, Suhyuk let out a short breath, sweeping up his hair.
Her post-surgery condition was very good.
Suhyuk looked at his hands while walking through the hallway.
He saved a patient's life with his hands, and at the same time ended another's.
"..."
Suddenly he thought of Dongsu.
It was currently 9pm. What was he now doing?
Suhyuk called him.
"Hey, who is this?"
Suhyuk informed him of his return from the United States.
Though Dongsu asked to meet him, he found it difficult to adjust his schedule.
"What are you up to now?"
"Well, I'm working hard for this country night and day."
"I wanted to treat you to soju…"
Then an urgent sounding voice of Dongsu's came from the phone,
"Let's drink some now."
"You just said that you're working hard?"
"Don't you know you need to fill the gas to drive a car? I need soju now."
Suhyuk said with a smile, "Let me come to your place then."
Taking the metro, Suhyuk came out of the exit Dongsu told him about.
Even though it was past 10pm, there were many citizens on the street.
At this hour some were crying and others laughing.
"Hey!"
Suhyuk turned his back at the familiar voice that came from behind.
"Hey, long time no see! Looks like I've not seen you for one and a half years."
Though they had not seen each other for such a long time, they felt easily comfortable around each other as if they had just met yesterday. And this is what they call friendship.
"Let's go. I know a terrific makkoli (brewed rice wine) bar."
With his hand on Suhyuk's shoulder, Dongsu guided him.
When they entered the bar, there were lots of college students mingling there over drinks.
"What do you want to drink?"
"Something cold."
Dongsu opened the menu.
Side dishes were mainly pancakes such as vegetable pancake.
"How about sausage pancakes and mung bean pancakes?"
Dongsu ordered without asking for his consent.
"So, did you make a lot of money in the United States?"
Suhyuk smiled at his asking. Yes, he did. More than enough to buy a house.
"Then, the bill here is on you!"
"Sure, help yourself to a lot, man."
Makkoli and side dishes were placed on the table in no time.
"Let me offer this glass first."
They clinked glasses together.
Wiping some residue drops of makkoli from his cheek, Dongsu opened his mouth,
"Anything wrong? Your face doesn't look good."
As he said, Suhyuk's face was rather gloomy.
Though he was smiling, he did not look genuine, which only Dongsu could sense.
"Tell me, man. What is it?"
When pressed by Dongsu repeatedly, Suhyuk told him about the situation about patient Kim Suji and her father.
After drinking one glass of makkoli in one gulp, Dongsu said,
"Don't you think it's only fair?"
When Suhyuk took a glass of makkoli to his lips, Dongsu spoke again,
"Stop anyone on the street and ask. And assume their a father with a daughter. What are they going to do?"
Suhyuk slowly nodded his head.
"Get out of your miscellaneous thoughts, and drink! And the bill is on you, man!"
Suhyuk giggled at his remarks.
Their get-together over drinks lasted very long into the night.
***
One week passed quickly.
In the meantime Suji was recovering quickly enough to start walking again.
"Thank you, doctor."
Suji's mother expressed thanks to Suhyuk and the medical staff.
She was also recovering from her devastated state of mind gradually.
Checking her condition, Suhyuk now could go ahead with his plan of surgery on Hana's father.
Suhyuk, who happened to be at the Sky Park, made a call to him.
"This is Suhyuk, sir."
"Oh, it's you. Have you eaten?"
"Yes, I just ate. Now it's time for your surgery."
Nothing came out of his cell phone, but a moment later, he said,
"Sure, sure. Thanks so much."
He already put out a sign for temporary closure outside the restaurant.
"Let me come over to pick you up."
"No, you don't have to. I can come there myself."
"Well, I need to stop by somewhere near you, sir."
Of course there was no such thing.
Suhyuk just hated the idea of him walking to Daehan Hospital with a limp.
"Okay, then. I'll be here in front of the restaurant."
After the call, he moved to the elevator immediately.
When he was about to go in, a man was coming out of it.
He was Park Sungjae.
"Did you eat lunch, sir?" asked Park.
With a smile, he nodded his head, patting him on the shoulder.
"Enjoy your lunch hour fully before going back to the office."
Suhyuk got on the elevator, and turned back after pressing the button,
"I've got a surgery scheduled tomorrow. If you're available, can you help me as an assistant?"
Park's eyes became wide open.
He could not afford to hesitate as he was given a chance to be an assistant for Dr. Lee who made his name known to the United States in addition to his name already being recognized in Korea.
"Yes, sir. Thanks!"
After Suhyuk stepped into the elevator, the door closed and Park drank up his coffee.
"Yes! Yes!"
Finally he could help as an assistant for his respected senior.
***
Hana's father was sitting on the chair in front of his restaurant.
The scorching hot weather outside formed beads of sweat on his forehead.
Then a taxi stopped, and Suhyuk got out of it.
"Why didn't you wait inside on this hot day?"
Suhyuk opened the back door for him.
Limping along, he stood up and got inside the taxi.
Inside the taxi Suhyuk talked to him,
"You're going to be hospitalized today, and I've set the surgery for tomorrow."
Hana's father nodded his head, and stroked his legs.
He spent many long days with his uncomfortable legs, but he did not blame Suhyuk for that.
Who said in life that there are always ups and downs?
His restaurant was thriving, and Hana got a good job.
He just felt pitiful about Suhyuk who must have suffered from a guilty conscience for such a long time.
While he was having such thoughts, the taxi arrived at Daehan Hospital.
Opening the door, Suhyuk helped him out cautiously.
When he got out, he looked up at the hospital.
"What a big hospital!"
Suhyuk smiled, saying,
"Let's go in."
Chapter 138
Hana's father was hospitalized in the VIP room.
With IV on a drip attached, he looked around his bed, saying,
"I feel something different at a big hospital like this…"
There was everything in this room that he could ask for.
He felt as if he were lying on the bed in the main room of a rich man's house on TV.
"As the surgery is simple, it will be over quickly," said Suhyuk.
"Thanks, thanks," replied he.
"Daddy!"
Suhyuk turned back at the voice from behind.
It was Hana who just arrived here right after leaving the office.
She grabbed his hands firmly.
"Why did you come here, seeing as you're so busy? Suhyuk will take good care of me," said he.
"Anybody hearing what you said would think he is your son," said Hana.
"I feel sort of tired as I'm on an IV drip," replied he.
"Well, it doesn't include anything like a sleeping pill. I guess you didn't have a sound sleep last night," said Suhyuk.
At his remarks, Hana's father corrected his body position and lay on the bed.
"Maybe you're right. Hana, wake me up in an hour as I will go to sleep now."
Both of them turned off the light and went out.
Hana's father opened his eyes quietly and looked at the door that the both of them just went out of.
On the Sky Park Suhyuk offered a bottle of canned coffee to Hana.
"Thanks."
"How have you been?"
At Suhyuk's asking, she nodded her head, her eyes fixed on coffee, saying,
"Well, I just get by, day by day."
She swept up her hair.
Like Dongsu, she had not changed at all. She was as pretty as usual.
Though they had not met in a long time, they did not talk much.
It was Hana who opened her mouth first, though.
"Hope you can treat him well."
"Don't worry at all. It's my duty anyway. I'll do my best."
With a smile Suhyuk continued, "I'm going to cure his legs by all means."
Hana nodded with a smile, asking, "By the way, how is Ms. Binna doing?"
"I heard that she has taken a long vacation."
'About one month, I think?'
When he returned from the United States, she was not there at Daehan Hospital.
"I see… Ooops! Already one hour has passed. I should wake him up. Otherwise he would not be able to sleep later."
Suhyuk and Hana moved to his room again.
Greeting each other, they parted in front of the door.
Hana, who was about to enter the room, looked at his appearance from behind.
She had lots of things to talk with him about, as she had not met him in such a long time.
But she did not, just like a fool.
Suhyuk turned back before walking around the corner, but she went straight into the room.
***
The next day.
The faculty members headed for the operating room.
Today was the very day that Suhyuk was supposed to perform surgery by using stem cells.
In the meantime he was pushing the stretcher carrying Hana's father.
"Daddy, Suhyuk says it's an easy surgery, so don't worry too much," said Hana.
He replied with a smile, "I'm not worried at all. Don't you know Suhyuk's capabilities? He is Korea's signature doctor!"
Hana nodded her head, and looked at Suhyuk.
"Surgery without pain, please, Suhyuk."
"I'll come out with him soon. So wait here a moment."
When the door was closing, Hana's father waved his hand at her through the gap in the door.
Inside the operating room Hana's father could see many faculty members.
Everyone was a faculty member, except for resident Park Sungjae.
His glittering eyes trembled a bit.
He was told this would be an easy surgery, but it did not seem so, given the presence of many faculty members there, and the surrounding environment too.
Strange devices and metal tools, which made him tense.
Did Suhyuk sense him feeling like that?
Approaching him, Suhyuk opened his mouth softly,
"They are the best professors at Daehan Hospital. By the time you wake from a sound sleep, your surgery will be finished."
"Got it."
When he replied with a smile, the anesthetist came up.
"Please breathe in calmly."
When the anesthetist put the oxygen respirator on his mouth, he closed his eyes silently.
'After a nap, he will find everything different about his legs.'
Beep… beep…
After confirming that he was completely asleep, Suhyuk said,
"Let me start now."
At his remarks, the faculty focused their eyes on him.
"The patient had multiple fractures…" said Suhyuk.
The faculty there concentrated on his remarks in order not to miss any words.
Among them were professors Lee Mansuk and Kim Jinwook.
The more they saw him, the more they wanted to have him as their disciple.
But the timing for that was now gone forever.
He was not the kind of person that they could teach anymore.
"Anyway, he is great..." Lee murmured.
"I knew well in advance that he would become such a big success."
Suhyuk held out his hand to resident Park Sungjae who was there as his assistant.
"Scalpel."
His leg was incised by Suhyuk's scalpel.
Park quickly wiped the blood coming out of it.
Suhyuk's scalpel was quick and accurate, not touching the countless blood veins at all.
Even the professors' eyes became open wide.
Soon Suhyuk got hold of the needle he prepared in advance.
"This is what I originally cultured from the patient's stem cells in the past."
He stabbed the needle into the nerves and then the muscles step by step.
Suhyuk showed them all the methods of treatment, and at that, without any hesitation.
Beep… beep…
No other noise was heard.
Only Suhyuk's voice was filling the operating room.
'I'll make you walk as before by all means.'
***
The operating time did not last long.
Hana's father was gradually opening his eyes in the recovery room.
A dim light came into his eyes, with someone reflected there.
His vague eyesight became clear gradually.
"Are you coming to your senses now?"
Confirming Suhyuk's face, he nodded his head, asking,
"All done?"
"Yes, the surgery went very well."
"Nice job. Thanks so much for your hard work!"
Suhyuk checked his condition after confirming that his consciousness was normal.
Normal, normal, normal.
And he touched his legs wrapped with bandages.
"How do you feel now?"
"It hurts," said he, making a frown.
Now the only thing he wished for was that the stem cell cultures would work for him as intended.
"Let's go out to see Hana, sir."
Suhyuk pushed the stretcher out the room.
The door opened, and Hana raced toward him.
"Daddy!"
When she approached him, he grabbed her hands.
"Are you okay now?"
He nodded his head, replying,
"Of course. Looking at who performed the surgery on me!"
Hana's sense of tension was gone instantly when she saw his relaxed face.
He looked so relaxed that nobody could believe that he just had a surgery.
He looked as if he just woke up from sleep.
Hana looked at Suhyuk, saying, "Thanks."
Suhyuk made a satisfied expression, never seen before when he looked at Hana's father.
-----
About two weeks passed since Hana's father had surgery.
Suhyuk pushed the wheelchair carrying him into the Sky Park.
"It's cool here, right?"
At Suhyuk's words, he nodded his head feeling for the cool air.
"Let me bring you a soft drink, sir."
He moved to the vending machine and bought some canned coffee.
When he turned back, he noticed something surprising.
"Oh my god..."
Suhyuk's eyes became wide at the sight.
He was walking with his two legs cautiously.
Even yesterday he could barely stand up by himself.
When Suhyuk walked up to him urgently, he made a smile.
"I was itching to walk, so I did. And now I can!"
Suhyuk let out a long breath, saying, "Yes, you've made it, you've made it at last!"
"Hey, why are you crying? Why?" said he.
Suhyuk shook his head, saying, "No, who is crying, sir?"
A cool wind swept through Suhyuk and dried away his tears.
And about one month passed like that.
Hana's father underwent physical therapy during that time, and finally got discharged.
He could now jog along lightly, and Suhyuk looked at him pleasantly.
Suhyuk now felt all the psychological burdens come off his chest.
He felt he could now go his own way with a calm conscience.
The date for his enlistment was the day after tomorrow.
He exchanged greetings with the medical staff for the last time.
And he could see the patient Kim Suji who was getting discharged.
She, and her mother also expressed thanks to him.
"When you come out on vacation, don't fail to visit us!"
"I'll be waiting for you here, sir!" Park Sungjae said.
Suhyuk held out his hands to Park for a handshake.
"I hope you can become a famous doctor by the time I come back here."
"I'll keep it in mind, sir!"
Regrettably he could not see Prof. Han who went to an academic seminar.
So he instead called him to say goodbye.
And he left Daehan Hospital just like that.
-----
One week later.
Han was standing in front of the main entrance of Daehan Hospital.
"What a guy…"
'How come he came to see me without contacting me in advance like this? What if I was not here?'
Soon a taxi stopped before Han.
The person who emerged from the taxi was Prof. Daman of St. Hopkins Hospital, and his disciple Phillip.
"Hey, why didn't you inform me about your visit here in advance?"
At Han's asking, Daman opened his mouth, smiling,
"I just wanted to surprise you!"
And he presented something to him.
It looked like a thin book bound with leather, in the form of a notebook.
Han looked at the inscription on it.
"What the heck is this…"
Daman also gave him a medal.
"Yes, this is an award Dr. Lee Suhyuk has to receive. Is he inside now?"
Han made a bitter smile, saying, "You should have hurried a bit sooner."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"He was enlisted into the army."
Daman and Phillip's eyes became wide suddenly.
"What?"
"Enlisted in the army?"
Having said that, Han murmured, touching the award and medal,
"I had better display them on a spot where many people can see."
-----
A small boat with a tire attached on its side was crossing the sea.
Whenever waves hit the boat, it was shaking dangerously, but did not lose its balance.
On one corner of the boat was seated Suhyuk, who dipped his hands into the sea.
"We're almost there!"
Suhyuk lifted his head at the voice coming from the boat's steering house.
The island that looked like a dot in the distance became larger and larger before his eyes.