Chapter 32 - Workaholic

They first met at their university’s orientation. Yiyoung was that student, the one surrounded by rumors. Her life story spread around quickly; how she was an impoverished orphan but was exceptionally smart, and beat up a student back when she was attacked by a bunch of them. It was a legendary story which interested everyone who came across it.

The first person to talk about Yiyoung was a student who had graduated from the same high school Yiyoung used to attend. “She dropped out during senior year, but I see she’s here now.”

“Why did she drop out?”

“Who knows. I wasn’t close to her. I only knew her because of the rumors.”

 Yiyoung was like a rose blooming from a concrete ground; her origins were nothing excellent, but she grew up brilliantly. She received all sorts of scholarships, was so bold and confident and had proved her worth through her countless achievements. Her personality was good, too; she laughed and joked around with others easily, and always gave her all to treat the patients. However, she was always alone. A maniac obsessed with work, Yiyoung did not think of anything other than her job.

“Now I’m alright. So don’t worry.” 

Dr. Park opened the tap and washed her hands, wishing the water would clean her heart of the pain that welled inside her whenever she thought of Yiyoung.

“I had no choice but to work overtime today. I’m just washing my face so I don’t fall asleep on the bus later,” Yiyoung said brightly, but Dr. Park stood in silence. The sound of the water gushing out of the tap reminded her of the day she bawled her eyes over Yiyoung.

Yiyoung noticed the serious look on her face, but did not know how to respond.

“Yiyoung.”

“Yeah?”

“Do you remember how you fainted in the ER the other day?” said Dr. Park.

Yiyoung smiled bitterly at the memory.

Dr. Park pressed on, “Remember what I always call you? You’re the savior of the ER, Yiyoung. Whenever you make the rounds, your strong presence reassures all the staff. But if a person like you faints… Do you really want me to remind you of how everyone reacted?”

Yiyoung sighed. “No.”

“I reject your refusal,” her friend stubbornly continued, “Listen, I cried a lot because of you.”

Yiyoung often worked overtime, partly because she quickly wanted to become a professor at the hospital, and partly because she just couldn’t ignore the patients in critical condition. And with the S University hospital’s ER being renowned for getting the most difficult cases in the entire country, the ER was a war zone, and every day was a fierce battle.

“Didn’t I tell you not to work overtime again? I told you to trust your colleagues more. If you really can’t bring yourself to go home, then just next to them and watch. When you fainted, I thought you…” Dr. Park abruptly closed her mouth before muttering, “What will I do with you? Why do you not understand how serious this is?”

Yiyoung lightly bumped her shoulder into Dr. Park’s. “Please forgive me, Doctor. I will reflect on my actions. From now on, I’ll try my best to go home right after my shifts.”

 Dr. Park gave Yiyoung a sharp look. “Are you really going to reflect?”

“Yes, yes.” A small smile bloomed on Yiyoung’s face.

Dr. Park couldn’t help the smile creeping on her own face, but did her best to maintain a stern attitude. “I can’t deal with you.”

“I already told you. I had flu and body aches that day, so I couldn’t handle myself,” Yiyoung shrugged and explained.

The endless slew of cases and shifts at the war-zone like ER had caused her to faint one fine day. Yiyoung never knew she was capable of collapsing like that. If not her strong, healthy body, her confidence, and her brain, Yiyoung had nothing. Her sudden collapse had caused a panic.

Yiyoung turned to the mirror again, changing the subject as she observed herself, “Don’t you think I look s*xy after losing weight?”

Dr. Park snorted. “Yeah, right. All I see in front of me is a skeleton.”

“How can I reassure you I’ll keep my words? I don’t want to go home like this…” Yiyoung said.

Dr. Park observed her dear friend’s face, noting the lack of sleep and exhaustion from the way dark bags circled her eyes. She wished she could just command Yiyoung to lie down on one of the hospital beds and inject nutritional supplements in her for days. But she knew Yiyoung was too focused on her goal of getting promoted and becoming a professor. With no connections or family to support her, the poor woman had to put in ten thousand times more effort than anyone else.

But Yiyoung was used to being alone and taking care of herself since she was young. She was so independent, never complaining about her troubles even if she was sick or tired.

Suddenly, Dr. Park imagined Yiyoung in a relationship. Would she stop being such a workaholic if she had someone beside her? Dr. Park herself had felt her perspective on life change after meeting her lover, so it didn’t seem like a bad idea. Besides, everyone felt the same way; all people changed after falling in love. She wished Yiyoung would find her significant other soon, but that wouldn’t happen unless she met someone new.

Dr. Park suddenly thought of a list of people and came to a decision. “Do you really want me to feel better?”

“Yes,” Yiyoung continued, “That’s what I want.”

“Alright. Then go on a blind date.”