“Oh, Jin-oh!”
“Mom!!”
“Why’s your face like this? Why is it so yellow? Are you really okay?”
“Mom… sob!”
After the tests were done, Kim Cheol-soo arranged for the kitchen lady to meet her son, Private First Class Hong Jin-oh.
Official visitations were only allowed on weekends, but he made it possible for them to meet discreetly in the cafeteria.
The kitchen lady, seeing her son’s condition, wept but was overjoyed to reunite with him. Kim Cheol-soo felt warmed by the emotional embrace between mother and son, but he soon found himself at a loss for how to break the news.
At that moment, Shin Se-young gave him a look and stepped forward.
“Ma’am, hello. I’m Lieutenant Shin Se-young from general surgery.”
“Yes… Lieutenant… Is my son really okay? I can’t understand why he’s in so much pain… What did the tests show?”
“It’s best to prepare yourself. The results aren’t good. It’s gallbladder cancer in the hepatic portal, and it’s spread to the liver. Surgery will likely be necessary.”
Shin Se-young delivered the facts with a calm gaze, restraining her emotions to keep the patient and his mother from panicking.
Kim Cheol-soo watched her, thinking she was a strong woman. He was grateful, as she’d taken on the difficult task of breaking the news for him.
Stepping in to support her, he added,
“As Lieutenant Shin said, it’s cancer, but surgery offers a chance of survival. If you sign the consent form, we’ll schedule the operation, and I’ll perform it myself.”
“Oh no! What do I do… My son has cancer? This can’t be real, can it, Major? How can a young man in his prime have cancer?!”
“Please don’t get too upset and try to stay calm. It’s not time to give up yet. I’ll perform the surgery and make sure he survives.”
“…Yes. I trust you, Major. What other military doctor would go to a unit to bring a patient back? Thank you so much. Because of you, my son, who might’ve died needlessly, has a chance to live. Thank you, Major. Just wait a moment—I’ll go to the kitchen and cook some ramen for you.”
“You must be going through a lot; you don’t need to do that. We can manage, and there’s the commissary too.”
“The commissary’s closed now. You’ve worked late for my son, so I need to treat you to something to feel at ease.”
While the mother stepped away, Kim Cheol-soo and Shin Se-young had a moment to talk with Hong Jin-oh.
He was visibly shaken after learning he had cancer.
Shin Se-young knelt on one knee, meeting his eyes, and spoke gently.
“Private Hong Jin-oh, are you scared?”
“…Yes. I’m terrified. So terrified. Cancer at my age… Haha, is this the price for being harsh to my mom and living recklessly? Am I destined to die so young…?”
To encourage him, Shin Se-young warmly held his hand.
“Let’s stay strong together. The Major and I won’t give up until the end. We’ll monitor your condition with non-surgical treatment for now, then proceed with surgery. You can survive this, so let’s be brave, okay?”
“Yes… Understood, Lieutenant. I still have so much life to live—I won’t give up here. I’ll fight with all I’ve got to survive! Thank you. Because of both of you, my fate of dying in the unit has changed. Even if the surgery goes wrong, I won’t hold it against you. So please, don’t feel burdened!”
Despite the daunting surgery ahead, both the surgical team and the patient steeled their resolve.
Considering how many patients give up upon hearing a cancer diagnosis, this was a remarkable outcome.
-SLURP!
Kim Cheol-soo dug into the ramen the kitchen lady had cooked.
Honestly, he was starving, having missed dinner.
Hangover-curing ramen with fresh bean sprouts after yesterday’s drinking? It was absolutely delicious.
The noodles, so plump they practically begged to be called moist, slid effortlessly into his mouth.
“Have some rice with it, Major. Here you go.”
“Oh! Thank you, ma’am!”
The spicy red pepper powder revitalized his tired body, and mixing in rice made it pure heaven.
It had been a hectic day, and the sincerity in the ramen made it taste even better.
He hadn’t even had time to drink water while anxiously awaiting the CT results.
Looking over, he saw Hong Jin-oh and Shin Se-young eating just as eagerly.
Sure, they could’ve had cup ramen in the Air Force, but how could that compare to ramen cooked by a mother?
The bean sprouts, not overcooked, were perfectly tender, adding a delightful texture as they slid into their mouths.
-SLURP!!
Shin Se-young, unaware of the sweat on her nose, widened her eyes in awe.
“Ma’am, your cooking is amazing! This is so good!”
“Come back anytime you’re hungry. I’ll cook for you. Lieutenant Shin Se-young and Major Kim Cheol-soo get special treatment!”
The mother smiled as she replied. She was so grateful to them that she wanted to do anything she could.
In fact, she felt cooking was the least she could offer.
“That’s quite the privilege, isn’t it, Major?”
“Absolutely. This ramen is incredible! Just like those fried eggs last time.”
Despite the heavy and heartbreaking situation, no one showed negative emotions anymore.
Though the future was uncertain, they ate the ramen with a glimmer of hope.
Kim Cheol-soo, thinking this might be the last time the four of them shared a meal, wanted to make it a memory.
He pulled out his phone and suggested taking a photo.
“Kimchi!!!”
“Major, smile! Is that supposed to be a smile? It’s so awkward!”
“Haha! Alright, I’ll smile bigger!!”
Before they knew it, Hong Jin-oh, now comfortable enough to joke, held up the phone.
Kim Cheol-soo responded with an even wider grin, and they took several photos to capture the moment.
To ease the minds of Hong Jin-oh and his mother, Kim Cheol-soo hammed it up.
Shin Se-young joined in, keeping the mood light, and stayed late to ensure the mother and son could spend time together.
As officers, their presence allowed this unofficial visitation to continue.
“Mom’s going to visit on the weekend, so take care until then, okay?”
“Oh, Mom, I’m admitted now—what’s there to worry about? I’m going to have fun. Eat snacks from the commissary, go to the recreation room.”
“That’s right. Do whatever you want, my boy!!”
A glint of tears appeared under the mother’s eyes, but Kim Cheol-soo looked away, pretending not to notice.
Without officers around, she’d probably be sobbing uncontrollably.
What mother could hold back tears knowing her son in the military had cancer?
Kim Cheol-soo signaled Shin Se-young to step outside the cafeteria.
“Why? We should stay inside…”
“You can still see them from the door. Let’s give them a little time alone.”
“Alright.”
After about ten minutes of private conversation, the unofficial visitation ended.
Hong Jin-oh went up to the general surgery ward, and his mother watched his retreating figure with a reluctant expression.
Hong Jin-oh, following Shin Se-young, kept looking back at his mom.
“Ugh…”
The mother, her heart
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