The Doctor's Unexpected Kindness

When I met Seo-ah, or rather, since I had already experienced the numbness in my ear during our previous conversation, I realized I could no longer simply let it pass. I decided to visit the hospital.

He probably wouldn't know I was going there because he didn't care about me, but people are people, right? Just in case, I pulled my hat low over my head and even wore a mask. I didn't want anyone to recognize me.

Officially, my face as his wife hadn't appeared on the news, but I had attended parties quite often, so I had to be cautious.

If he saw me at the hospital, it would reach his ears in an instant. He had firmly refused a health checkup, so going to the hospital? He'd suspect something, and he might even investigate further. The worst case would be him asking why I went to the hospital.

I also didn't want to lie to him. The wind was especially fierce today. I shrank my shoulders, wrapped my coat tighter, and headed into the hospital lobby.

I had visited Baekgang Hospital with him before, so today I chose a different one.

I stopped my feet in the bustling hospital where kind staff, patients, and guardians moved back and forth, and stood there blankly for a long time.

'It'll be fine. I'm right here by your side.'

Before seeing the doctor, I had been worried and tense, and he had patted my back and said that. I wish someone had just said one word to me that it's all right.

Tears were about to pour out. I tightly closed my eyes and held back my sobs. Even now, nothing had changed.

I headed to the otolaryngology department with a rather solemn face where my appointment was made.

'It's all right, it's probably nothing serious.'

Sitting in the consultation room waiting for my turn, I quietly watched the man ahead gently comforting his wife. Her face looked like she was having some trouble.

It seemed like a married couple. Seeing her husband tenderly holding her as if feeding water to a fish, my throat grew hot.

'.....'

I gripped my trembling fingertips. Honestly, I was pretending to be calm, but for days I hadn't slept because of worry. My heart felt like it was about to burst.

Yet seeing a person who looked similar to the past me and him, I felt like I was about to break. I fiddled with my hat and somehow lowered my eyes, pretending nothing was wrong.

'Jin Yeon-woo, please go to room number 2.'

'Yes!'

Pretending to be strong, I walked briskly into room 2.

'Hello.'

I opened the door and stepped inside. A doctor wearing a mask was there. I bowed my head in greeting and tilted my head. Even with the mask on, something about the familiar face stood out.

'Eh? Yeon-woo?'

I looked at the doctor with wide eyes as he called my name cheerfully.

'It's me, Do-hyun's friend, Choi Beom-jin.'

'Ah....'

I lowered the mask, and the doctor's face was revealed. His eyes widened in recognition. Without thinking, I stepped back, and the doctor stood up and offered his hand.

'Nice to meet you. We've met before, right?'

'....Yes.'

The doctor, with his wildly shaking eyes, withdrew his hand and sat in the chair. Choi Beom-jin. I knew him. He was the person in charge of this hospital, wasn't he? I had met him and greeted him at a party we both attended.

'Please sit down.'

The welcoming expression disappeared, and the serious doctor cautiously asked.

'You came here without Do-hyun knowing, right?'

'Eh, how...?'

How did he know? I sat in the chair across from him and tightly clasped my hands.

'There's Baekgang Hospital, and coming here... and even with the mask and hat. This means you came secretly.'

Of all things... the doctor I made an appointment with was his friend. It was a clear mistake on my part, forgetting that his friend was here. My face turned deathly pale.

'Please don't worry. I will never do anything that Yeon-woo doesn't want. I'm a doctor, after all.'

Feeling as if he was sincere, I looked into Choi Beom-jin's eyes. He smiled faintly.

'So, what brought you here today? You came because somewhere hurts, right?'

'....Yes. Um, my ear....'

That my left ear didn't work properly and I wore a hearing aid was unknown to my family and others. I didn't know if he had told my parents and grandmother.

Still, since he hadn't mentioned my ear until now, maybe he didn't know.

'How is your ear not working?'

I hesitated to tell Choi Beom-jin, my friend, that my ear wasn't working.

'It's all right, just talk to me.'

'All right... ugh... hup....'

Because I said it's all right? The tears I had been holding back poured out. I shouldn't cry, but once it started, it wouldn't stop.

'It's fine to take it slowly.'

Choi Beom-jin took out a tissue and handed it to me. He waited without saying a word until I stopped my questions. When the tears subsided, I removed my mask and wiped them away.

'The left ear has never worked properly.... But lately, the right ear doesn't work either, so....'

'You're here for a checkup.'

'Yes. I did check at another place before... but at that time, the right ear condition wasn't great, so I was told to get a detailed examination.'

I muttered that I had come to the largest hospital because of it.

'Good. Let's start with the checkup. I'll explain after the results come out.'

'....Yes.'

'It'll be all right, or rather, if there's anything wrong, I'll fix it for sure. So don't worry.'

The doctor saying not to worry made me feel a bit at ease.

'When you leave, the nurse will explain. See you later.'

'Yes, thank you.'

I put my mask back on and bowed. Outside the consultation room, the nurse was waiting as Choi Beom-jin had said.

She explained the list of things to check in detail and guided me easily to the examination locations. Following what the nurse said, I went underground, then to the third floor, then to the first floor, and when I returned to the consultation room, she said to wait a moment.

Not long after, my name was called, and I went back into the consultation room.

'Thank you for working hard on the checkup.'

'....What are the results?'

I asked the first thing that came to mind after removing the mask.

'Um. Look here....'

Choi Beom-jin pointed to the computer screen and continued explaining while showing the results.

'So, while it's true that my hearing is worse than that of normal people, it won't suddenly not work. But since the left ear isn't working, I'll have to rely more on the right ear, and if this continues for a few years, my hearing will likely deteriorate.'

'Then right now....'

I swallowed dryly and asked why the right ear was suddenly not working.

'Have you been under a lot of stress lately?'

'....Yes?'

'When stress reaches its limit, this happens. Your body is sending a signal to protect itself. I'll prescribe medicine. Take it well and come for regular checkups. The most important thing is not to be stressed.'

I raised my hand and touched my right ear. It was a relief. I had been worried what I'd do if my left ear suddenly stopped working like it did, but it was too much of a relief.

Now that I felt at ease, tears flowed again.

'Stop crying. If your eyes swell, Do-hyun will be shocked.'

Choi Beom-jin handed me a tissue and said it would worry him. I didn't even know my eyes were swollen.

I smiled bitterly and wiped away my tears.

'If the right hearing also deteriorates later, I'll have to wear a hearing aid?'

'It's likely, yeah.'

'When... in ten or twenty years?'

'Who knows. I can't say for sure. Like how a cancer patient who was told he'd die in a month lived for years, or how a healthy person suddenly collapses and dies. They might be fine their whole life, or they might not hear tomorrow.'

I held my breath for a moment from the feeling of falling apart. The thought of possibly causing harm to him made my body tremble.

'What we can do to prevent that, let's do our best.'

'....Yes.'

What kind of person would hate me like this? I thought a woman like me would hate me even more.

'You are a horrible woman'

His words pierced my heart like needles. The person who said I was horrible. I blinked rapidly to hold back tears, but Choi Beom-jin asked a sudden question.

'Have you ever learned sign language?'

'No.'

Because one ear worked, and since I wore a hearing aid I could hear somewhat, I hadn't learned it.

'It would be helpful to learn it beforehand.'

He spoke carefully, but I felt his firm heart.

'Yes, I'll do that. And... please keep this a secret from Do-hyun.'

'Of course. Doctors are supposed to keep patient information secret.'

My shoulders, which had been stiff, relaxed. My head had been foggy and complicated, but it felt like coming to the hospital was the right choice.

'In return, buy me lunch.'

'....Eh?'

Surprised by the unexpected words, my eyes widened.