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Chapter : 06
“Hello, Director. What’s with the pork belly?”
“Come on in, Dr. Park. Samnye Granny came by late last night and gave this to me as a thank-you. There’s an enormous amount. And since we’ve got a sick person here, I thought it’d be nice to eat together. Come on over and join us.”
“Ah, then I’ll gratefully accept.”
Junpil replied easily and took a seat.
“Dr. Yoon, could you bring the patient over? I peeked in earlier and he was asleep. He hasn’t eaten anything all day, so he must be hungry.”
“Yes.”
When the door opened, Taesin stirred and opened his eyes, as if he’d sensed someone.
His complexion looked much better than it had in the morning.
“Um… if you can move, come out and have dinner with us.”
Seol frowned slightly and took hold of the man’s arm as he pushed himself upright, helping him up slowly.
It was easier than in the morning.
He was young and strong, and it seemed his recovery was remarkably fast.
Still, he looked a little unsteady, so Seol quickly supported him and guided him to the sofa.
Junpil’s uncomfortable gaze shot toward Taesin.
Seol helped Taesin sit down on the sofa.
“I made abalone porridge with lots of abalone. A fishing boat captain gave me a whole bunch. Eat plenty. You need to eat well to recover quickly.”
Director Jang said this as he placed the porridge and meat in front of Taesin.
“Thank you. It seems I’ll have to trouble you for another day or two. I’ll make sure to repay you properly later.”
“Repay? Don’t say things like that. Just stay comfortably. The health clinic belongs to the state anyway, and I’m just a public servant responsible for the residents’ health.”
Taesin looked like it was difficult even to sit, but he slowly began eating the porridge.
Watching his reaction carefully, Seol placed some grilled meat on the small plate in front of him.
“By the way, how’s work? You said the third-years are especially tough this year—are you managing?”
Director Jang asked.
“They’re third-years, after all. Graduation is coming up, and college entrance exams too, so they’re pretty quiet. Everyone knows causing trouble makes it harder to get into college.”
Of course, some students who had completely given up on studying still disrupted class and caused minor incidents, but overall things were calm.
“That’s a relief. Hwang In-woo isn’t in your homeroom, right?”
“No. He’s in Class 1.”
Hwang In-woo—the problem student of the third grade—was in Class 1, which was led by a veteran teacher well accustomed to handling difficult students.
“They say even the teachers can’t mess with that kid.”
“That’s right.”
“…Why can’t they mess with him?”
Taesin, who had been listening quietly, spoke up out of curiosity.
“Oh, that’s because… Hwang In-woo’s uncle is a gang boss everyone around here knows.”
Hwang In-woo was the nephew of Choi Mugwang, the Jeonnam branch head of “Future Credit Company.”
With a gangster uncle backing him, no one dared lay a hand on the boy.
On top of that, he was big and stronger than most adults, and his violent temper made other students avoid him whenever they saw him.
Rumors circulated that he’d buried someone in a remote mountain area, beaten gangsters to a pulp in a brawl, and even gotten tattoos on his back.
Not long after the semester began, that very “Choi Mugwang” had even visited the school.
Seol had run into him there that day. Seeing the sharp eyes that couldn’t hide his cruelty and the faint smile hovering on his lips, she’d quickly looked away.
Then she’d hurried off, afraid he might recognize her.
It wouldn’t do any good for people to know she’d borrowed money from his loan company.
“So no one can step up. It’s a real problem.”
Director Jang shook his head.
“I’m surprised there’s a high school on such a remote island.”
Taesin joined the conversation for the first time.
“It’s the only high school around here, so all the nearby middle school students come here. For an island area, it’s unusually large. There are ten classes total across all grades.”
“That’s considered big?”
“Of course. It can’t compare to Seoul, but for the countryside, it’s very large. That’s why the government provides a lot of support.”
“What subject do you teach?”
At Taesin’s question, Junpil grumbled as he shoveled a large piece of meat into his mouth.
“Why are you even curious about that? Just eat quietly.”
He clearly didn’t like the presence of an outsider.
Seol shot Junpil a look and answered.
“English.”
Taesin nodded, his expression unreadable.
“How did you end up coming all the way out to an island like this?”
“Island schools are usually assigned to teachers aiming for promotion or to new teachers. As a newcomer, I don’t really have much choice.”
Taesin mostly listened to the conversation while eating quietly, then set his chopsticks down.
“I’d like to take a shower.”
“You can use the bathroom over there. There’s no shower booth, but hot water comes out just fine.”
But he really shouldn’t shower in his current condition.
“I’ll change your dressing so water doesn’t get into the wound. Let’s go to the exam room.”
Seol stood up immediately and supported him.
Having spent over a year at the clinic and often helped Director Jang when they were short-handed, she was fairly familiar with basic treatments, medications, and equipment.
“Why are you doing that? He can handle that much himself.”
Junpil protested, eyes wide.
“The wound is large and deep, so it’d be difficult alone.”
At Director Jang’s explanation, Junpil said,
“Then the Director should—”
“Dr. Yoon is good at these things too. Since you’re changing the dressing anyway, disinfect it as well.”
“Yes.”
After bringing Taesin into the exam room, Seol took disinfectant and dressing supplies from a drawer of medical aids.
She approached Taesin, who was sitting on the examination table staring intently at her.
For some reason, it felt as though all of his attention was focused on her, making even her breathing cautious.
“Lift your shirt.”
He did as told, raising his shirt to expose the wound.
As Seol frowned slightly while carefully removing the blood-soaked dressing from his well-defined abs, Taesin’s gaze poured down onto her face.
The wound was long, so it took quite some time to remove the bandage.
Each time her fingers touched him, his muscles twitched.
“Does it hurt?”
“It’s fine. Keep going.”
His persistent gaze was distracting.
“Have you contacted the people who were with you at the restaurant? They’re okay, right?”
She asked to divert her attention as she continued removing the bandage.
“They’re safe.”
“That’s a relief. Are they your younger siblings?”
“…Yeah.”
“Then you’ll be leaving soon, I guess.”
He didn’t answer.
So she decided not to ask when or how he would leave.
They weren’t close enough to feel regret or cling to anything.
He was safe—that was enough.
Once the bandage was removed, the long stitched wound was exposed.
Even after it healed, it would leave a scar.
She soaked gauze with disinfectant, wiped away the blood, applied ointment to prevent infection—and as she blew gently on it, she felt as though his breathing stopped for a moment.
When Seol met the man’s deep, dark eyes, she panicked, stopped blowing, applied the ointment quickly, and tore open the packaging of a new dressing bandage.
This was the first time she’d ever felt so flustered and helpless just from meeting someone’s gaze.
She wasn’t some teenage girl.
What was wrong with her?
Her heart was pounding uncontrollably.
“This is a waterproof bandage. Still, if it gets wet, the adhesive weakens, so keep your showers short. All done.”
She added while putting the tools back in place,
“You seem to be recovering faster than most people, but still, be careful for a while. Disinfect it daily and change the dressing. And…”
The man’s gaze lingered on her face, waiting for her next words.
