Chapter 48
It wasn’t exactly a pleasant memory.
Back when they were younger, one of Yeonwoo’s older cousins, Segwon, had once brought home a motorcycle with no license plate and made her ride it.
“When Oppa Segwon was in high school, I think? He didn’t even have a license, but he insisted on giving me a ride on that motorcycle. He got caught by Dad and got the beating of his life.”
“Really?”
“Yes. After that, I never went near a motorcycle again.”
“He’s reckless.”
“Yeah, Segwon’s always been a little… out there. Still is, really.”
“It’s a scooter, so it’s less dangerous. Do you think you can ride it?”
“I’d love to!”
“Alright. I’ll make sure it’s a safe ride.”
“I think it’ll be fun.”
“Then shall we go?”
“Yes.”
Sajun pulled a black helmet over his head.
Yeonwoo swallowed nervously, a strange tension tightening her throat. She was glad the helmet hid her flushed cheeks as she carefully climbed onto the scooter.
Is this the right way to sit? Where do I put my legs?
As she fumbled, Sajun firmly steadied her.
“Your feet go here.”
She had been just about to ask. He helped place her feet on the footrest.
“Thank you.”
He gave a small chuckle and got on in front of her.
It wasn’t one of those big, cool motorcycles from the movies—just a small scooter—but why was her heart pounding so wildly?
Her feet were in place now, but what was she supposed to do with her hands?
“Yeonwoo.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t fall off. Hold onto my waist.”
Sajun’s voice was calm, casual.
Her awkward hands hovered midair before she placed them on his waist.
“Hold tight.”
She timidly grabbed the hem of his shirt, but then Sajun placed his large hand over hers.
“Like this. Hold on firmly.”
Yeonwoo bit her lip and tightened her grip.
“Then we’re off.”
His voice, laced with amusement, echoed through the cool night air and tickled her ears.
Her heart raced.
Sajun gently started the scooter.
CLANK!
Suddenly, a loud noise came from the front gate.
“Y-you…! Don’t you dare make a move on my Yeonwoo!”
It was Igwon, shouting at the top of his lungs. He must’ve just come out and caught sight of them.
Sajun turned his head toward Igwon and gave him a wave.
His face was hidden by the helmet, but Yeonwoo could somehow tell he was smirking playfully.
Sajun could be surprisingly mischievous.
“Hold on tight. I’m picking up speed.”
“O-okay!”
VROOM!
As Sajun accelerated, Yeonwoo’s upper body tilted backward slightly.
She pressed herself against his back.
She could feel the warmth radiating from him.
A refreshing scent tickled her nose.
The wind blew her hair wildly, and the roadside trees sped past in a blur.
Thump, thump.
She could hear the strong thudding of Sajun’s heartbeat through her ears.
He picked up even more speed, and Yeonwoo, eyes shut tightly, wrapped her arms around his waist.
His solid, muscular frame tensed beneath her touch.
Yeonwoo bit her lip and smiled quietly.
The great and mighty Sajun, nervous? What a sight.
“Yeonwoo, are you okay?”
His voice carried on the wind to her ears.
“Yes! It’s so much fun!”
“Wanna go a little farther?”
“Yes, let’s!”
Se-young and Igwon were probably still waiting, necks craned in impatience, but right now, that didn’t matter at all.
***
After a quick spin around the neighborhood, they arrived at the convenience store just before it closed and got off the scooter.
“Aaagh!”
But before they could even enter, a man’s scream rang out.
“Hyunsik! What’s happening to you, Hyunsik?!”
It was followed by the wailing cry of the elderly shopkeeper.
Yeonwoo and Sajun rushed inside.
As soon as they opened the door, the old woman clung to Sajun like he was her last hope.
“Doctor! Please, save my son. I don’t know what’s happening to my Hyunsik!”
“Ma’am, give me a moment. Let me take a look.”
The man named Hyunsik was lying on the floor, convulsing violently.
Sajun quickly began his assessment, while Yeonwoo calmed the crying woman and observed the situation.
“GCS score is 2, 2, 4. It might drop further.”
If the score fell below 8, he might not be able to breathe on his own. He needed to be taken to the hospital immediately.
“Did you call 119?”
“Yes, yes! They’re on their way now!”
“Good job.”
“Yeonwoo, when the paramedics arrive, ride with them straight to our hospital. I’m taking Igwon ahead.”
“O-oh, understood.”
“A brain CT will confirm it, but it’s probably an SDH—subdural hemorrhage.”
“Got it.”
“Then I’ll see you at the hospital. Don’t worry too much.”
“Please… save my Hyunsik. Please.”
“We will. Also, call the rest of the family. Tell them to head to the hospital right away.”
“Alright.”
Sajun met Yeonwoo’s eyes once more before hurrying out of the store. Moments later, the distant roar of the scooter could be heard again.
Yeonwoo stayed by the patient’s side, making sure his airway was clear as she waited for the ambulance.
Wee-woo, wee-woo.
Soon, the ambulance arrived with a blaring siren.
Yeonwoo explained the situation to the paramedics and got in with the patient.
“I’ve already called Sarang Hospital. Please head there.”
“Understood.”
One of the EMTs was someone Yeonwoo recognized.
She placed an oxygen mask on the now-still patient and waited nervously for them to reach the hospital.
“If it’s a brain hemorrhage, shouldn’t we go to a larger hospital?”
“A new neurosurgeon just joined us. He’ll be able to operate immediately.”
“Oh, that’s a relief. We were so worried Sarang Hospital might shut down. But with new staff like this, I guess that’s not happening, huh?”
“Hopefully not.”
“Thank goodness. All the ERs around here are closed at night. Sarang Hospital is the only one open.”
That used to mean many patients missed their golden time for treatment.
“Now that we can even handle major trauma surgeries, it’s such a relief.”
“…Yes.”
“Do you get patients from other cities too?”
“Yes, recently the numbers have gone up.”
“It must be hard, but thank you for your work.”
“You EMTs work just as hard.”
Yeonwoo turned to look out the window.
The dark countryside stretched on.
Far ahead, the glowing sign of Cheongbong Sarang Hospital shone like salvation.
***
What the hell is this guy?
Igwon let out a baffled laugh as he watched Sajun quietly assisting beside him.
When Sajun had told him they needed to perform emergency surgery and sped off to the hospital on that scooter, Igwon had honestly thought he might die.
Have you ever seen a scooter going over 120 km/h?
Anyway, after hopping off Sajun’s scooter and confirming the CT scan, Igwon headed straight into surgery.
The patient was a man in his 50s with a 1.5cm thick subdural hemorrhage spread across the right side of his brain.
With such heavy bleeding and significantly reduced consciousness, immediate surgery was required.
If left untreated, the pressure could cause fatal damage to the brain.
Igwon had been worried about whether this small rural hospital even had the right surgical equipment—but those fears turned out to be unfounded.
The anesthesiologist and PA nurse arrived despite the late hour, and Sajun had already completed the craniotomy cleanly by the time he got there.
This wasn’t the work of someone doing it for the first or second time.
“The intracranial pressure is high. We need to remove the hematoma immediately.”
This lunatic.
Now he’s rushing me?
Even behind the mask and surgical cap, the sharp gleam in Sajun’s eyes bore down on Igwon.
