Emergency Instinct - Chapter 61

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The last Thursday of the month.

It was the day for the children’s ward volunteer work that had continued for several years.

Song Jeong-suk walked into the lobby of Hanyeong Hospital.

Her gaze briefly went toward the emergency room, but she quickly turned it away.

An unremarkable gray cardigan, low-heeled flat shoes, and a green volunteer vest worn over them.

Dressed plainly, she moved with a volunteer name tag bearing the alias ‘Kim Jeong-suk’ pinned to her chest.

Almost no one in the hospital knew her true identity.

When she came here, she was simply the ‘book grandmother.’

Though her heart was heavier than usual due to Tae-jun’s problems, she forced a bright smile and gathered her strength.

Today too, the play room for the children’s ward kids was bustling with noise.

Hands small as maple leaves.

IV drips inserted into thin veins.

Bright, innocent eyes that contrasted with pale, bloodless faces.

Whenever she saw the sick children, her heart ached.

It was okay even if she couldn’t be of great help. If only she could hold the children, even briefly.

“Grandmother! U-ram wants Rapunzel! Rapunzel!”

As she entered the play room, U-ram, a pediatric cancer patient who had been living in the hospital for over a year, ran to her first.

U-ram, who had lost all his hair due to chemotherapy, was particularly attached to her.

Though he was a boy, he especially loved Rapunzel. So every time she came, he would beg her to read it.

When the scene came where Rapunzel escaped by letting down her hair from the high tower, he would always cheer.

Some days he would be envious, and other days his eyes would redden with tears.

Today his condition seemed quite good, so he cheered.

But soon he wore a gloomy expression.

“Grandmother! Will U-ram’s hair grow back too?”

“Of course. After you finish treatment and leave, it’ll grow as long as Rapunzel’s.”

“But U-ram is a boy… Is that okay?”

“Of course. Naturally.”

She gently stroked U-ram’s head as he pressed down his cap.

“Our U-ram is so handsome that long hair will suit you well too. You’ll become strong like Samson.”

“Samson? Does he have three hands?”

“…What?”

She burst into laughter at U-ram’s absurd imagination.

She was thinking she should bring a fairy tale book with the story of Samson next time, when U-ram’s eyes dimmed again.

Perhaps due to his long hospital stay, the child’s once purely bright eyes now had deep shadows cast over them.

“Then does Samson have cancer too?”

For a moment, her breath stopped.

“Is that why his fingers were cut off? Leaving only three…”

“No. No, U-ram.”

She shook her head vigorously in surprise.

“Samson is a very strong uncle who gets superhuman strength from his hair. Like U-ram, his hair disappeared for a while, but it grew back and he became strong again.”

“Really?”

“Of course. U-ram’s hair will grow back too, and you’ll become strong.”

“…When my hair grows, will U-ram be able to go to school like other friends?”

“You can go. If you receive treatment bravely, you can play soccer, baseball. You can do anything U-ram likes.”

She hugged U-ram even tighter.

If only she could give him the gift of health.

Right now, all she could do was offer hope.

Suddenly, her chest felt heavy.

She shouldn’t cry in front of the children, but lately she couldn’t control her emotions and tears welled up.

She got up from her seat and quietly left the play room. Needing time to calm her turbulent heart, she headed to the lounge at the end of the hallway.

“Doctor! Wait a moment! Emergency room doctor!”

Someone’s shout was heard as she was passing through the hallway.

At the sound of ’emergency room,’ Song Jeong-suk unconsciously stopped walking.

When she turned her head, she saw an elderly grandmother with a bent back holding onto a young female doctor.

“Doctor. Do you remember me?”

“Yes. Of course. Your granddaughter’s name is Min-ji. Kim Min-ji, right?”

“Oh my, you even remember our granddaughter’s name. Thank you.”

The grandmother’s eyes quickly reddened.

“Our Min-ji survived. She received a kidney transplant yesterday.”

“Really? Grandmother, that’s wonderful news.”

The female doctor grabbed the grandmother’s hands and rejoiced together with her.

“Thank you. It’s all thanks to you, doctor.”

“What did I do? Min-ji and grandmother overcame it well.”

“I heard everything. They said you asked Min-ji’s attending physician several times.”

“I just asked about her condition a few times since she was on the transplant waiting list. I’m really glad it worked out. Min-ji’s parents in heaven must have helped.”

“Sob, that must be it. I was going to follow our Min-ji if she died.”

“Hey, why would you say such things? You need to be stronger and live for your son and daughter-in-law’s share too.”

What a kind way of speaking this doctor has.

Watching the female doctor comfort the grandmother while matching her eye level, Song Jeong-suk naturally smiled.

“How is your back? Back then, you seemed to have back pain.”

“Me, well…”

“The caretaker needs to be healthier. When you come to visit Min-ji, get examined at orthopedics. All the orthopedic doctors at our hospital are very skilled. Follow me. I’ll make an appointment for you right away.”

“Oh my, thank you, doctor.”

The female doctor held the grandmother’s hand and guided her to the end.

Song Jeong-suk felt envious of that caring scene.

How wonderful it must be for a mother to have such a daughter.

Having always longed for a daughter, she entered the lounge with a bitter feeling. With a deepened sigh, she put money into the vending machine and pressed a button. But.

“Huh?”

No matter how many times she pressed the button and looked around, there was no response.

“Why is this acting up?”

That’s when it happened.

“Ma’am. Let me help you.”

A low, calm voice came from behind.

It was the female doctor who had been with the grandmother earlier. Appearing like a problem-solver, she skillfully gave the side of the vending machine a light tap with her palm.

Clunk. A can fell with a clear sound.

She personally took out the can and handed it over, saying.

“Sometimes it gets stuck inside like this.”

“Thank you.”

Song Jeong-suk nodded as she received the can.

That was the moment.

As she lifted her head, she saw the name written on the white coat.

Emergency Medicine Department Hong Ji-an.

Song Jeong-suk, who had been smiling with gratitude, drew in a sharp breath.

Then this young lady is the one Tae-jun mentioned…

“From now on, if vending machine drinks don’t come out in the hospital, you can tap like this.”

“…Yes, I see.”

Ji-an chuckled at the lady who looked surprised over such a small thing, then turned around and inserted a bill.

As she picked up the canned coffee, suddenly one side of her chest felt heavy.

The hospital was still in chaos due to the fire incident.

Someone had left this world, and someone was still hovering between life and death.

This morning too, I saw a patient in the sterile room begging to be put out of their misery.

And yesterday, I heard that a husband who lost his wife in a fire accident signed for organ donation.

Perhaps that noble decision became a gift from heaven for Min-ji’s grandmother.

Min-ji was the high school girl victim of the motorcycle accident that Ji-an had seen, and she was on the organ transplant waiting list. There wasn’t much time left and the chances were really slim.

But it was truly fortunate that there was a good outcome.

That day, the grandmother’s wailing in the emergency room, begging to save her granddaughter, was still vivid. She was so different from the grandmother who had raised me that I had even felt envious…

I wonder if grandmother is repenting for her sins by now?

“Doctor. Are you busy right now, by any chance?”

A volunteer lady approached Ji-an, who was twisting her lips bitterly, and asked carefully.

“Yes. I’m fine until I get a call.”

Ji-an quickly composed her expression and continued speaking.

“You volunteer at the children’s ward, right? Is there anything I can help you with?”

“No, how did you… Do you know me, by any chance?”

Eyes filled with surprise, confusion, and wariness flew toward her.

“I do. Kim Jeong-suk.”

“…!”

When Ji-an said this with a smile, the lady’s eyes widened.

“You’re wearing a volunteer vest. You have a name tag too.”

Ji-an smiled softly at her cute reaction.

“Ah…”

The lady nodded as if she understood belatedly.

Did I look like this too?

Suddenly, the day she encountered Tae-jun again in the emergency room came to mind.

How surprised she had been when Tae-jun called her name that day. She had been relieved when she belatedly realized there was a name on her doctor’s coat.

Was it because the elegant and gentle lady’s reaction was somehow cute that she unconsciously thought of him?

Ji-an continued speaking with a bright smile.

“Actually, I saw you reading books to the children in the play room a little while ago. I was just passing by to take a quick look since I heard a child I know was there. You seemed quite popular.”

“Ah, you saw me there. I thought…”

Her gaze toward Ji-an was somehow intense. Like someone with other thoughts, tilting her head this way and that.

Ah, people who usually want to introduce men to me used to look at me like that.

Ji-an smiled faintly, suddenly remembering the middle-aged woman patient who had wanted to set her up with her son.

“Um, ma’am. I have a boyfriend.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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