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After thoroughly checking the patient’s condition, it was painfully obvious that the poor woman needed surgery, so Master Kim asked Nurse Joo to notify Dr. Nam and set up OR 1.
“I’ll ping Nurse Park, Master Kim, he just assisted Dr. Seo with a patient in ICU,” Nurse Joo offered and was about to turn her back when Master Kim shook his head no.
“No, let him stay with Dr. Seo, he needs the assistance–Sussaem should scrub in instead,” he clarified and then went back to checking the monitor in front of him, showing the scans of the patient’s internal bleeding.
Nurse Joo sighed, “Nurse Oh isn’t available, Master Kim. She’s in a meeting with President Park,” she explained and added “President Park asked not to be disturbed for the next hour.”
“Just the two of them?” Master Kim countered, his eyebrows rose close to his hairline, and gave Nurse Joo his complete attention.
The nurse was caught off guard by Master Kim’s tone, like it was her fault somehow that Nurse Oh wasn’t available. She let out a nervous laugh and clarified, “No, sir–I mean I think Dr. Shim’s with them too. They’re discussing President Park’s elective surgery tomorrow.”
Just as he was about to answer, Dr. Shim sauntered towards the nurse’s station in the ER where Master Kim and Nurse Joo were.
Master Kim acknowledged Dr. Shim with a nod before he asked, “Where’s Sussaem? I thought she’s in a meeting with you and Dr. Park?”
Dr. Shim nodded and reached for the charts at the station looking for something. “They’re still in the meeting. I forgot I need to check something regarding my patient,” she answered.
“Just the two of them?” Master Kim countered, asking the same thing he asked Nurse Joo, but this time with a more pronounced incredulous tone.
Nurse Joo stared at him, unsure what Master Kim was implying. Is there something going on? Why does he sound annoyed? She mused internally.
Dr. Shim smirked and gave Master Kim a sideways glance and then continued checking the chart in front of her. “Don’t sound like a child whose toy has been taken away from him,” she teased Master Kim, and then averted her eyes to stare at him, challenging him to counter her analogy.
Caught off guard, Master Kim eyed Dr. Shim incredulously, “Wh–what? Don’t be ridiculous!” he spluttered but after considering it, he added “I’m checking in on them,” and then turned his back away from the women at the station as he made his way to leave.
Dr. Shim laughed out loud, “Gee, Bu Yong-ju–don’t make it too obvious,” she snickered as she continued reading the patient’s test results.
Nurse Joo just gawked at the two doctors when she realized what just happened.
Upon reaching the door of President Park’s office, Master Kim took a deep breath and contemplated his actions.
If he was being honest, he knew he was being ridiculous by actually going there to fetch Nurse Oh to assist him when he could very well be assisted by Nurse Park. However, he also argued to himself that Nurse Oh knew his movements and tactics like no one else, and the patient needed the best kind of help they could offer (as always), and so it should be him and Nurse Oh. Yes. That’s right. Him and her. He managed to somehow convince himself that his actions were completely justified, and he didn’t personally fetch Nurse Oh just because he wanted to make sure no monkey business was happening between her and Dr. Park. Yes. That’s right. Because why else? And what monkey business? And if there’s actually something going on–
He had to stop his train of thought as he could feel his temper starting to flare with the scenarios his mind conjured.
Jesus Christ get yourself together, Bu Yong-ju. He berated himself, sighed, and then finally knocked on the door in front of him.
He’s impatient in general, and so he didn’t wait for any response and decided to barge in.
They were laughing. Nurse Oh and Dr. Park were laughing at something. How dare–
The temper that Master Kim was trying to taper down earlier came back full force and he couldn’t understand why, but that’s that.
“What’s so funny?” he demanded angrily, but then he regained his sense of himself when he noticed the dumbfounded look on Nurse Oh’s face.
“Master Kim,” Dr. Park greeted, a smirk lingering on his face.
Still stunned at Master Kim’s tone, Nurse Oh tried to explain, “Kim Sabu, we were just–”
“Nevermind–sorry to disturb you,” Master Kim scoffed. “I need Nurse Oh to scrub in on my surgery,” he snarled towards Dr. Park, totally ignoring Nurse Oh. He was having a hard time controlling his emotions and he hated himself for it, and so he wanted to end the conversation as soon as possible.
President Park understood what his fellow doctor’s burst of temper tantrum was about and decided he might as well poke some more. He nodded and deliberately responded, “Not a problem, We’re done here–I got what I needed from her,” he taunted, as he gave Master Kim a menacing smile.
President Park knew his words would hit a nerve but he honestly didn’t give a damn. After he was sure Master Kim got his message, he averted his gaze to Nurse Oh and almost chuckled at the incredulous expression etched on the nurse’s face, staring at him.
He just shrugged and smirked, “You may leave now, Nurse Oh. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Master Kim couldn’t believe what he heard. Did Dr. Park just imply something–one day I’m gonna have to punch his face and– his train of thought was cut off when President Park asked, “Is there anything else, Master Kim?”
He looked him straight in the eye, his jaw clenching, and took a deep breath. He didn’t answer him but instead looked at Nurse Oh, who was already making her way towards the door. He wanted to yank her arm and ask her what it was she gave Dr. Park but he knew that would be too much. Instead, he opened the door fully and motioned for Nurse Oh to head out first.
Once Nurse Oh stepped out, Master Kim closed the door without looking back. He didn’t trust himself not to slam the door if he saw Dr. Park was still smirking.
He allowed Nurse Oh to walk ahead of him by a couple of steps, but the nurse decided she needed to clarify things with him so she stopped in her tracks and faced the doctor, “What was that about, Master Kim?” she interrogated, trying her best not to be annoyed at the man in front of her.
Master Kim tilted his head and gave her a sideways glance. He smiled sheepishly at her as he felt himself gradually calming down, now that Nurse Oh was with him. He still wondered sometimes how Oh Myung-sim could affect him like that.
“What do you mean? We have a patient,” he said almost defensively.
“Yes, but what–”
“What was funny back there?” he cut Nurse Oh, almost sounded like he was whining, demanding for some answers.
Nurse Oh sighed, “He said a joke–a dad joke, something about–wait, why do I have to explain myself to you?” she argued, her ire slowly rising.
“Dad joke, huh. Didn’t know you’re into that,” Master Kim snickered, and then gazed at Nurse Oh.
The two stared at each other, as if silently challenging one another to see who would break eye contact first. After a couple of eternal seconds, Master Kim averted his eyes, accepting defeat. “Let’s go. We have a patient,” he groused, then moved forward without looking back at Nurse Oh.
Nurse Oh was left confused. She really couldn’t understand him sometimes. She took a deep breath and decided they could table this for now.
Yes, that’s right.
FIN