-WHOOSH
It wasn’t a lie—golden light was truly pouring out of the pocket watch.
Kim Cheol-soo approached it with a slightly suspicious expression and picked it up.
Instantly, he felt the golden light being sucked into his body.
Having never experienced such a bizarre situation in his life, the drunken Kim Cheol-soo let out a scream.
“Waaah!!!”
But within five seconds, the golden light completely vanished into his body.
Startled, Kim Cheol-soo brought the pocket watch inside and examined it under the light.
The watch, old enough to emit a musty smell, gave no clue how long it had been lying in that spot.
Made entirely of gold, it was, unsurprisingly, broken.
The minute and second hands were intact but motionless, and the hour hand was snapped off.
Moreover, a chilling bloodstain inside the watch sent shivers down his spine.
Feeling an ominous vibe and tempted to throw it away, he hesitated, noticing it appeared to be made of real gold.
He slipped the pocket watch into his military uniform pocket, thinking he’d look into getting it repaired.
If I clean off the blood and replace the hour hand, it might work.
Too exhausted to think further, Kim Cheol-soo spread out some bedding and lay on the floor.
There was no bed, but the abandoned house didn’t feel unpleasant.
He couldn’t quite explain it, but it felt oddly welcoming.
Closing his eyes, Kim Cheol-soo, too tired to wash up, drifted into a dream with a faint smile.
“Mmm… mmm… Bossam… so delicious. Please make it one more time, Grandma…”
**
The next day, June 21, 2001.
Shin Se-young, who lived in an apartment near Hampyeong Hospital, hurriedly put on her military uniform.
She had overslept after pulling an overnight shift in the patient ward.
Even with just a quick wash, her pretty face shone as she grabbed the toast her mother had prepared and stuffed it in her mouth.
“Mom, thanks for the toast. I’ll eat on the way!”
“You were on duty last night; can’t you go a bit later? Even if it’s the military, this is too much.”
“You know general surgery is short-staffed. Nothing I can do. I’m off!”
“Ugh, the military works people in public service so hard. Still, stay strong. I heard a handsome military doctor arrived yesterday, right? Kim Cheol-soo? Try to get along with him.”
“Oh, Mom, it’s not like that! I’m going!”
Unfazed by her mother’s teasing, Shin Se-young replied energetically and stepped out.
She didn’t blush and quickly strode forward in her military boots.
Soon, she arrived at the guard post of Hampyeong Hospital.
“Good morning, Lieutenant!”
“Good morning! Thanks for your hard work so early. Keep it up!”
A striking beauty, rare in the military, Shin Se-young greeted the guards kindly as she passed through the post.
The soldiers on duty grinned and stared at her.
“Wow, she’s so pretty. Why would someone that gorgeous join the military instead of becoming a celebrity? Should I make a move? I think I’ve got a shot.”
“Don’t even dream about it. Someone like her wouldn’t even see us soldiers as human.”
“Nah, I don’t think so. She’s got a good reputation. They say she’s really kind to patients. I heard it from a guy in the general surgery ward.”
“Really? Beautiful and kind? Whoever ends up with her is one lucky guy.”
**
“Ugh…”
When Kim Cheol-soo woke up in the morning, the sunlight streaming in stung his eyes.
Shielding his face with his hand, he groggily got up.
What a beautiful countryside morning… he tried to think, but looking up, he saw the sun already high in the sky.
Hurriedly throwing on his uniform and rushing outside, he instinctively pulled out the pocket watch to check the time.
“11:30 a.m. Oh no, this is bad. It’s almost lunchtime, and I haven’t even gone to work. That nursing officer’s going to give me an earful.”
Her soft eyes and brown pupils.
Her short hair perfectly framing her small face.
A woman anyone would call beautiful.
She was only 27, but her face looked even younger.
Though Kim Cheol-soo had only been at work for a day, he could feel the gazes fixed on Shin Se-young from all directions.
Not just the patients, but even the bachelor department head of general surgery, Lee Young-cheol, and other officers had their eyes on her.
Kim Cheol-soo wasn’t interested in her, but getting scolded was another matter.
After causing a scene in the operating room yesterday, he already felt uneasy.
“If I’m late on top of that, she’ll be a pain. Might as well head in now… No, no need. Since I’m already late, I’ll just go during lunch.”
Better to slip in during lunch when everyone’s eating than stand out by showing up during work hours.
So, he brewed some green tea from a teabag he’d brought from Seoul and sat leisurely on the platform in the yard.
He popped a chocolate-flavored snack in his mouth.
Sweet… delicious! It pairs perfectly with the slightly bitter, rich green tea.
Skipping work like this didn’t feel half bad.
It felt more valuable than lounging around on a weekend.
Is it because I’m in the countryside? Phew… So relaxing and happy.
-Chirp… Tweet-tweet!
A lark perched on a thick branch of the jujube tree, singing as it looked at him.
The lively, cheerful sound made him laugh without thinking.
“Haha! You want to be my friend too? You’re more than welcome. I came to the countryside to live this leisurely, you know.”
Tweet-tweet!!
“So peaceful… I’m bored, though. Maybe I’ll listen to the radio news for a bit.”
…Crackle! We’ll now hear from Gwangju citizens about Kio Motors acquiring the Tigers baseball team a few days ago! “It’s great! If a big company invests, the team will do well, right?”
The mechanical noise felt jarring in the rural atmosphere.
The news suddenly seemed too loud, so he turned off the radio and listened to the birds instead.
-Chirp… Tweet-tweet!
Lost in the calm, relaxing moment, he let time slip by.
With a content smile, he glanced at the pocket watch and jolted in shock, shouting,
“Oh no! It’s 12:30! I’ve got to go, or I’ll miss lunch!”
**
As he passed through the guard post, the soldiers eyed Kim Cheol-soo suspiciously.
It was odd to see an unfamiliar face strolling in past noon.
Watching Kim Cheol-soo walk leisurely into the hospital, one of the guards tilted his head.
“Hmm… His ID checks out, but he’s weird. Shouldn’t someone who’s late be running? He’s moving like a turtle.”
“Which department did he say he’s in? He seems nice. I’d want him to treat me someday. Bet he’d get me admitted easily.”
“Tch, what are you thinking? Stop dreaming of slacking off when you’re perfectly fine and focus on guard duty. He’s in general surgery, by the way.”
“So he’s in the same department as Lieutenant Shin Se-young? Man… I’m so jealous.”
“Yeah, seriously jealous.”
Ignoring the soldiers’ chatter behind him, Kim Cheol-soo entered the first-floor cafeteria.
He picked up a tray and spoke to the kitchen lady serving food.
“Sorry for being late. Is there anything left? I’ll take whatever you’ve got.”
“Oh dear, what to do? We’re out of officer meals, only soldier meals left.”
“That’s fine. Just give me anything. As long as it fills me up, haha!”
“Then come here. Today’s menu is kimchi stew and stir-fried potatoes. Since you’re an officer, I’ll give you extra.”
“Thank you! I was starving.”
The kitchen lady thought he seemed kinder and more approachable than the typically arrogant, high-nosed officers.
Curious about what he did, she noted he didn’t seem like a typical military man.
As she heaped on the stir-fried potatoes, she casually asked,
“Are you really in the military? You don’t give off that vibe…”
“I am. I’m a general surgery military doctor, just assigned here yesterday.”
“Oh my, so you’re a highly educated person! My son’s serving nearby, and he’s been complaining about stomach pain. I’m so worried… He hasn’t even been examined yet. I know military doctors are busy, but could you take a look at him?”
The kitchen lady asked nervously.
Even though this doctor seemed kind, he was a military officer with the power to influence her son’s military life, so she chose her words carefully.
Military doctors were notorious for their sense of privilege.
She’d once cautiously brought it up with the general surgery department head and got a harsh scolding, berated for making such a request.
Still, for her only son, she mustered the courage.
Even if it cost her job, she wanted to ask for help.
A mother’s heart, anxious for her only son’s well-being, couldn’t be stopped.
Her sincerity touched Kim Cheol-soo deeply.
How bad must it be for her to make such a personal plea? The other military doctors must’ve treated her harshly.
With a gentle smile, he said,
“Where’s your son’s unit? I’ll talk to his commander and arrange an outpatient visit. Don’t worry too much, ma’am. I’ll make sure to check what’s wrong.”
“Oh my goodness, thank you so much! From now on, I’ll make sure to give you the best side dishes, Major! Wait, no, I shouldn’t just say that—I’ll go fry some eggs right now!”
“You don’t have to—”
Before he could finish, the kitchen lady hurried back to the kitchen and secretly slipped three fried eggs under his rice.
Feeling both grateful and unable to refuse, Kim Cheol-soo bowed in thanks.
“I don’t know if I deserve such special treatment. Anyway, I’ll eat well! Thank you, ma’am!”
“Hoho, anytime you want something to eat, just tell me. I’ll make it even if it’s not mealtime. Oh, and if you’re working late, let me know in advance. I’ll cook you some ramen!”
“Don’t you go home in the evening? How would that work…”
“When a kind and handsome doctor like you is working late, why would my going home matter? Hoho. Even if it’s not about my son, just you calling his unit is more than enough. He’s been saying his stomach hurts so much, but the officers don’t care, and he’s getting worse. I’ve been so stressed… But you stepping up like this, I’m so grateful…”
As she wiped tears from her cheeks with her sleeve, her heartfelt emotion hit Kim Cheol-soo hard.
It must’ve been similar to how his own mother felt 18 years ago when she sent him to the military.
Not wanting to show how moved he was, he thanked her again and sat down to eat.
How bad must it have been for her emotional pain to become physical?
Suppressing his longing for his mother in Seoul, he tried to soothe the ache of past memories by scooping up the hot fried eggs hidden under the steaming white rice.
Delicious… Lightly salted, with the rich, savory taste of the egg shining through. It’s simple, but the care put into it makes it exceptional.
Not fully cooked, not quite soft-boiled—just perfectly done.
The moist, tender yolk melted in his mouth.
There are countless delicious foods in the world, but could anything taste better than fried eggs made by a mother thinking of her child?
The hearts of two mothers worrying about their sons in the military must be the same.
And when that son is ill, how much more must their hearts ache?
Kim Cheol-soo couldn’t fully grasp that pain, but he wanted to do his absolute best.
Whether it was tests or surgery…
For a sick soldier unable to get proper treatment, he would do everything in his power to help.
Because right now, he was a doctor at a military hospital—a military doctor.
After quickly finishing his meal, Kim Cheol-soo stood up abruptly to call the patient’s unit.
“Where did she say his unit was? I need to call now and tell them to bring the patient to the hospital immediately.”
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