The Odd Doctor Out | A Drama | S. 1

18 🩺 Golden Stars

Pushing the door open to the dance studio, Mingi could immediately hear the faint sound of music floating down the hallway accompanied by the strong whiff of aircon that hit him like a wall.

He peeked into the doors of the practise rooms, until he came across a window that showed a beginners class full of six to ten year olds directed by a dark haired male who was smiling as he greeted the excited children. Knocking, he pushed open the door, and everyone turned around.

'Mingiiiiiii~~~' Screamed most of the children, running up to him and hugging his legs before he could even kneel down.

'Mingiii~. Are you studying again?' another child asked.

'Yup. Are you having fun dancing?!'

As the little ankle biters laid off, Mingi wandered over to his usual spot in the corner, the group of children running after him.

'Yessss! Sannie is making it funnnn!'

Sitting down on his cushion, Mingi smiled. 'Aww that's nice.' Looking up, Mingi made eye contact with San who was wearing a wide smile. Mingi winked, before looking back at the children. He lowered his voice. 'But you know,' he whispered. 'It's still technically class time, and you don't want San to get mad, do you? How about we chat after class?'

The children all nodded, giggling quietly as though some secret had been spilled. They all ran along back to their spots, leaving San to just roll his eyes at his roommate.

As he recommended his class, Mingi got out his laptop and textbooks and set up his little work space in the corner, listening to the music and the giggles of both the children and their instructor, as they all enjoyed themselves.

He loved studying here. It wasn't exactly the most orthodox place to learn, but it was certainly the place he felt the most comfortable. He loved the excitable and happy atmosphere, and loved seeing all the happy little children bouncing up and down with glee. But out of all the classes San taught, he loved this class the most.

These were all children who had developmental disabilities, injuries, or physical developmental issues. It had been San that had pushed his boss to start the classes. Mingi remembered how fired up his roommate had become every time his proposal got beat down. And to say Mingi was 'scared' that San would loose his job after loosing the plot one afternoon after class, neigh-on screaming at his boss that he was being un-inclusive, unfair and part of the reason why these people were shunned in society, well that, was an understatement.

However surprisingly, that had been what it took to finally get his point across. He was given a slot twice a week to hold his classes, and the spots filled immediately. After just six months, San was taking five sessions a week, not including his others, just dedicated to giving the children a safe space to enjoy themselves and be around other children who wouldn't tease or bully them for their differences. And that was the thing. Here, they weren't differences at all. Here, they were all the same. All equal.

It was what drove Mingi through his last degree, and what drove him straight into medicine. He'd never planned on going into med. It wasn't even a blip on his radar. He'd only gone into physiotherapy because he had no idea what else he'd do. However after seeing first hand, over many years, helping San to develop ideas that were physiologically safe for each child, he realised just how much he loved it. It was then, he realised, he wanted to go into paediatrics.

And so, like most afternoons, he sat on his little cushion with his nose stuck in a book, surrounded by his golden reminders of why he was doing the work - although it occurred to him that work may not have actually been the correct word to use after all. Because whenever he sat, surrounded by those brave little children, and his best friend who was so dedicated and kind, it didn't actually feel like work at-all.

~~~