Jiyong

 

 

I passed by busy nurses, injured patients, and worried visitors on my way out of the hospital. I got a few questioning looks as I
limped passed people but no one stopped me.

 

I was still in my original clothes. My white shirt was covered with dirt and my dried blood. The zipper of my leather jacket was
missing. Without it, I placed my bandaged hands in the pockets of my jacket, manipulating it to cover the noticeable stain.

 

 

I managed to find the exit of the big hospital. Stepping out, I saw the sun that was about to set in the West. It was semi-dark outside, the sky was in shades of purple, blue, and pink. The cold seeped through my clothes as I moved, nipping at my skin Feeling my jean's pockets as I walked down the street, my phone, wallet, and car keys were missing. I bit my lip to keep my composure.

 

 

I grimaced as I walked pass by the alleyway from before to get to where I parked my car. I wasn't surprised to see that it was there. Even though Kyesang took my keys, he left behind my BMW to mock me. Not to mention, every car owned or used by mafia members had trackers on them for emergency purposes.

 

 

Remembering that I walked passed by a pay phone earlier, I dug deeper into my pocket to find loose change. I had enough for one call. I stood still in front of the pay phone as I contemplated my choices. I decided to call one of my best friends.

 

 

"Hello?" Top's recognizable deep, raspy voice flowed through the phone. 

 

"Send a car to West Clover street," I said, cutting to the point. 

 

"Jiyong? Is that you?" He asked.

 

"No, you dumb nut, it's Santa Claus." 

 

"Are you calling me to tell me I've been naughty?" Top replied to my sarcasm, suggestively. 

 

"Top," I warned him. I was not in the mood for his overly ual humor.

 

"Fine, I'm sending a car. Does five minutes sound good?"

 

"Good." I hung up. 

 

Sighing, I leaned against the wall as I waited. Just as Top promised, one of the cars kept at the mafia house drove up to me, a particular car that shouldn't be driven.

 

 

"Really, Eric? "I asked, as the TVR Sagaris pulled up. It was illegal to have a car like this in the U.S. 

 

 

"I just had to test it out." He shrugged, talking to me through the passenger seat.

 

 

Eric was one of Mafia's diver, having easy access to our garage. Even though he was good at his thing, probably the best driver in our mafia, he sure wasn't the safest driver. 

 

"I rather you take it slow, I don't want to end up in the hospital for the second time," I said, knowing this bad boy could go 0 to 60 in 3.8 seconds with 380hp pushing it. The TVR Sagaris was built with no airbags or ABS, defiantly not baby-proof. 

 

"What happened?"

 

I pulled up my shirt, "I ran into Kyesang and he pulled a knife on me." Keeping his eyes on the road, "So.. you willingly went to the hospital?"

 

"No."

 

Eric shot me a confused look.

 

"Some doctor found me in the alleyway and took me to the hospital." Eric and I arrived at the mafia house both in one piece. It was located somewhat out of the city, placed in the middle of the huge private property.

 

 

Only necessary, or upper class, members were allowed to
stay at the houses. The mafia house runs like an illegal free five-star hotel, in some cases, it runs like home.

 

"Let's find my father and tell him about Kyesang." I told Eric, standing in front of the front door. 

 

 

My hand was on the doorknob, when it suddenly swung open, causing me to jump back to avoid getting hit by the door and a shoe that hurdle passed my face. 

 

 

"I sent you to the store to get eggs, and you come back a decade later! Do you want me to die waiting for you?" My grandma yelled, waving her left shoe in her hand. It wasn't long until she was whacking me all over the place with her sandal.

 

 

"Grandma" I whined, trying to protect my wound. 

 

 

"You even came back empty handed! I ought to whip you!" My grandmother said as she pulled my hair, bending me to her short height and slapping me on the . I looked at Eric for help to find him, awkwardly, slipping through the door and into the house. 

 

 

"You took five hours, Jiyong!" She yelled, pulling me by the ear. The door closed behind us with a slam, catching everyone's attention. She dragged me through the living room, filled with members who stopped their conversation to look over. I recognized Top in the crowd, who took out his phone to snap a picture. I'm going to to have to make him delete that later. 

 

 

My grandma forced me into the kitchen, where my father happened to be eating dinner before anyone else. He looked up from his soup and raised his brow.

 

 

"Here's your son. You should teach him the time and how to buy eggs." She told him before leaving me to check whatever was being cooked inside the oven. 

 

 

"What happened to you?" My father asked me, pointing to the blood stain and my bandaged hands with his spoon. Hearing the question, my grandma walked back to me and carefully examined me. 

 

 

"Did you get into a fight with the chicken, stupido?" My grandma asked with no concern. 

 

 

--

 

"So you bolted?" Taeyang asked. 

 

 

I nodded.

 

 

Taeyang was laying at the end of the bed, flipping through the channels of the TV. He passed one that caught his eyes and switched it back. I rolled my eyes as the  scene of the movie filled the screen. 

 

 

"I already watched this one." I heard him murmured to himself.

 

 

"Without trying the hospital food? Is it as bad as people say it is?" Top questioned. I turned my head over to Top. He was
sitting in my desk chair reading a comic book. 

 

We were in my spacious room. After telling my father what happened, My Grandma pushed me to my room. I wasn't allowed to get up from my bed. Feeling the urge to pee I began to get up. As I did, the door of my room opened and stepping in was my Grandma. Immediately, I flopped back onto the bed, Taeyang fumbled the remote to switch the channel, and Top clumsily replaced his comic with one of the big books laying on my desk.

 

 

"There you are, Top and Taeyang." My grandma said. "You guys can help me give Jiyong a sponge bath."

 

 

Our expressions turned into horror. The image that popped into my head made me iller.

 

 

"No. Absolutely not." I firmly said.

 

 

"You think I would give you a sponge bath? You're a man, Jiyong, take your own shower." My grandma scowled at me. 

 

 

Dara

 

 

"As told, after the treatment, the patient just walked off and out of the hospital. The man fled without payment after receiving treatment for his stabbing wound. The police are on the investigation, believing that the man must have ties with the well-known mafia, probably his motive was to escape." The news reporter said.

 

"Wow, Seyeong. Isn't this the first incident that has ever been reported with Seoul Medical Center?"

 

 

"Yes, Hyunbin. It is quite shocking to hear that this had happened in the most prestigious hospital in South Korea. Their clean record is now broken. Dr. Sandara Park was in charge of that patient, one of the new and young doctors at Seoul Medical." Seyeon stated.

 

 

"Should we start questioning their procedures?"

 

"Who knows, Hyunbin? Who knows?"

 

I turned away from the TV and focused back on my breakfast. I was currently in my apartment, getting some munch on before work. After reporting the incident, the chief physician first instinct was to find the man. That lead to the police taking the investigation. Somehow this ended up with the media and it does not look pretty.

 

It's been three days since the 'walking patient' incident, as the media would say. My spoon full of cereal was halfway to my mouth when my phone rang. I dropped my spoon back into my bowl and picked up the call.

 

"Hello, chief," I said as I greeted the head physician. A heavy sigh was his response.

 

"I tried talking to Mr. Kang." Mr. Oh said.

 

 

The name of the CEO of Seoul Medical Center sent shivers down my back. He was known to have quite a temper and when he does he becomes unreasonable. With money and power on his side, no one stops him from doing what he pleases. He's gotten pretty old. We were waiting for him to resign or something so his son would take over.

 

"He wants to see you. He has a meeting scheduled for you, I heard that the board of medicine will be there." My stomach churned.

 

 

"With the board of medicine? Why? Is this case that serious?"

 

"It's Mr. Kang we are talking about. Everything is serious. The meeting is scheduled an hour before your shift. Good luck."

 

 

"I'll need it," I told him before ending the call. The conversation ended with perfect timing. I placed my empty bowl in the sink before grabbing my purse and coat.

 

I headed out of my apartment, into the parking garage. I quickly went to my car and drove to Seoul Medical Center, which was only 20 minutes away. My today's shift starts at 9, meaning the meeting was at 8. I looked at the digital clock of the car in the dashboard and saw it was only 7:20. I arrived at the hospital at 7:45, having enough time to make my way to the 5th floor of the hospital.

 

Entering the hospital, I walked to the elevator. I pressed the button, repetitively. Finally, the metal doors opened apart
revealing someone already inside. I stood there, flustered, as the CEO, Mr. Kang, looked at me with annoyance.

 

"Good morning, Mr. Kang." I nervously said.

 

"Well, come on in. Don't make us late." He said, grumpily.

 

 

I stepped inside. We both stayed silent through the whole five floors up.

 

 

The doors opened and he walked out. I trailed behind him. We made it to the room where the meeting was to be held. We walked in and was greeted by the faces of the board of medicine.

 

They were here to evaluate the meeting. I noticed how they two slightly began to grow nervous in the presence of Mr.Kang. They had every control of him and yet it was him calling the shots. I sat in my assigned seat, which was at the end of the long table. The old hothead CEO sat at the other end while the Medical Board sat between us, three at each side of the table.

 

"I called for this meeting to evaluate the responsibility of the recent incident." Mr.Kang said, "Thank you for coming."

 

 

"Sir," one of the female board member interrupted. "The situation isn't extreme enough to bring us into this."

 

"Don't worry. If you think I'll be wasting your time, you are wrong. You'll be very needed." Mr. Kang promised.

 

 

I at my lips, trying to simmer down my anxiousness. The worst thing they can do to me is firing me, right? I didn't do anything illegal.

 

"As we all know, as everyone says it in the media, the 'walking patient' incident happened on the watch of Dr. Park. Isn't that right Dr. Park?" Mr. Kang asked me.

 

"Yes, that's true."

 

"Due to Dr. Park lacking ability to proceed the proper procedure when having a patient, checking him on the system, caused the hospital to be displayed on the news and internet negatively." The hothead for a CEO stated in disgust.

 

 

"Can you explain what happened?" Mr. Kang questioned.

 

"The patient had a stabbing wound that was serious, and he was losing a lot of blood, I wasn't able to get his information since he needed immediate help and was unconscious." My throat was getting dried. I felt like I was in a courtroom with Mr. Kang as the judge.

 

 

"After, when he woke up, I asked him if he needed anything to drink. I was looking out for the hospital by making sure the patient would have the best experience getting treated here. By the time I came back with the water, he had already fled."

 

 

"He fled without paying, without getting caught." He reminded.

 

 

"This incident has everyone talking about my hospital, questioning its functions. This hospital, since its start, was shined in its glory. This is the absolute first that we are shined in bad light."

 

 

Everyone in the room can tell that Mr. Kang was angry as he yelled. The board of medicine all grimaced when his voice rose.

 

"Someone needs to take responsibility. The police have no sign of finding that man anytime soon. This incident has to be solved and be forgotten about."

 

My stomach turns at the thought of that. I, for sure, was going to get fired. I shut my eyes and braced myself.

 

"Sandara Park, you will be taking full responsibility for the 'walking patient' incident. By that, I will make it so that your licenses and your ability to practice is suspended." My eyes widen at his statement.

 

"As for now, you are fired from Seoul Medical Center, you are no longer considered as Dr. Park, but as Ms. Park if you ever enter this hospital again." Mr. Kang continued.

 

 

Right as Mr. Kang shut his mouth, the room turned into chaos.

 

"Sir!"

 

 

"Mr. Kang!"

 

"That punishment is not necessary and does not do any justice."

 

"That's a bold claim, Mr. Kang. The Medical Board will not be taking her license."

 

"You have no power in order for this to happen."

 

I sat there in disbelief. Was my license being taken away? Without it, I won't be able to pursue my career as a doctor. I worked hard to get where I was at. I spent years of school for my diplomas and degrees.

 

"Mr. Kang, firing her is under your control. However, taking her license isn't within your power. I know that you are angry because of how your hospital is being dragged through the mud, but at times like this you have to think clearly." Mr. Lee, the man sitting among the medical board members, said.

 

"Mr. Lee, do I have to remind you that I happen to have close ties with your boss?" Mr. Kang said, annoyed. It was clear that Mr. Lee and Mr. Kang have met many times before. The tension between them told me this wasn't the first time Mr. Lee disagreed with the  grumpy CEO and said something about it. 

 

 

Mr. Lee went unfazed, "Is that a threat you are proposing? If so, let meboffer mine. Headlines on newspapers are what you are running away from, correct? Does 'Hospital CEO unfairly suspends a doctor's license using money and the hierarchy system?"

 

 

"Mr.Le-" the girl next Mr. Lee tried to hush him.

 

 

"Mr. Lee, if you know what's best for you, you'd shut your mouth. We'll see how things play out." The CEO said before leaving.

 

 

With him out of the room, they all turned towards me. Every one of them looked at me with pity. Not know what to do, I sat there silently contemplating my choices.

 

 

"Mr.Lee, you have to stop testing him." The same girl who tried to hush Mr. Lee earlier scowled him. "He'll get you fired."

 

 

"He disgusts me. He thinks he can do whatever he wants whenever he wants without consideration."

 

"You're right, but it's Kang, he always gets his way."

 

--

 

What you think about Mr. Kang decision? 🤔