The Odd Doctor Out | A Drama | S. 2

272 🩺 Up Shit Creek With A Fork

Yunho sat with the university appointed legal representation in the hospital waiting room, filled with other people who had been patients the night of the ER incident.

Textbook open in his lap, wasting zero time having already known it would be a long, drawn out process, he had a highlighter in his teeth, and a pencil in his hand as he scribbled down notes in the margins, occasionally highlighting lines of importance.

'Jung Yunho.'

Glancing up, he saw a lady standing at the doors to the Director's office, motioning for him to come in. As his representation stood, Yunho sighed, rolling his eyes and following suit. Textbook under his arm, he followed the uni representative into the room, feeling like groaning as he sat the Director sitting at the head of the long coffee table. He'd hoped he'd never see him again.

And yet, another day, another drama.

Taking a seat down on one side of him; his representation beside him; the double doors suddenly opened again and the Director's Secretary entered also, with his own legal representative.

Yunho took a deep breath, trying to remain calm.

When all parties were seated, the Director took his time before he spoke, seemingly just as irritated as Yunho felt.

'Here we are once more. Jung Haksaeng. what are you-'

'On behalf of Student Jung Yunho, I ask that you direct any and all questions to myself, as his legal representative.'

Yunho couldn't help the surprised yet impressed face he made as the man beside him who he'd never seen before, interrupted the old codger at the head of the table.

Yunho glanced up at the Director to see his reaction, and upon seeing his obvious frustration, he couldn't help but smirk. Shrugging as though to say it wasn't me, he leant back and let the show play out.

The man beside him dropped down two thick stacks of paper onto the bench, one before the Director, and the other, the Secretary. 'These are the entirety of the documents regarding my student's injuries suffered as a result of the incident that occurred in your Emergency Center. It consists of both the workplace injury compensation claim, and the medical certifications and costs of treatment for said injuries.'

The Director's eyes narrowed at Yunho. 'So you're suing us now. Is that what this is?'

Yunho rolled his eyes as the man beside him began to answer for him. Of course all he cared about was the money. Money, money, money. The world revolved around money. And yet that couldn't have been further from how he felt...

'Jung Haksaeng suffered injuries due to the malfunction and systemic failure of hospital facilities. It was advised that he press for-'

Yunho sighed so heavily it interrupted the man. Leaning forward, Yunho slapped his textbook down on the table with a loud thud, and then somewhat loudly plonked his pencil and highlighter down on the cover. 'You think I want money?'

'Jung Haksaeng,' his representative said sternly, from the corner of his mouth through pursed teeth. 'It is best to remain silen-'

Yunho rolled his eyes again, a habit he was beginning to think he should be actively trying to avoid. 'With all due respect, Sir, I don't want a cent of your filthy money. I don't know what seems to be so hard to understand, that I just want to get my placement over with, quietly. I have no idea why this all had to happen, but I'm starting to not even be surprised.'

With his legal representation almost beside himself trying to get him to shut up, Yunho seriously didn't care. He already knew from the one conversation he'd had with him earlier, that he didn't agree with his wish to just go through with the compensation plans.

'So what is it you want then, Yunho?' the Director said, staring straight at him, and it was the first time Yunho really felt the weight of being spoken to, man to man, instead of man to child.

Yunho took it, and ran with it. 'I want that man,' he said, pointing to the Secretary, 'to apologise to Dr. Cha in front of the staff she was ridiculed in front of, and I want the staff duress bell to work. And in return I will sincerely apologise for my behaviour towards your Secretary.'

He felt his legal representative seem to give in, taking a deep breath and sitting back a little, while Yunho stared eye to eye in a battle of the wits with the Director.

More than a few long moments passed, the tension in the room able to be cut with a knife, before anyone spoke.

'My client will not be apologising for doing his job.'

Yunho let his eyes slip to the other lawyer. 'His job?' Suddenly, his own legal rep put his hand out to stop him as he spoke up.

'We have collected over twenty-five statements that can verify the sexist comments your client made towards the Doctor and staff in question. Perhaps you would like to rethink your stance, before you make empty statements in future.'

The Director sighed heavily. Taking off his glasses, he wiped his eyes, clearly well over the situation. Taking a deep breath, he held his hand out to the Secretary and waved at him. 'Mr. Lu, apologise,' he said heartlessly, as though he couldn't care less if it would get him out of his sight.

And the man's eyes widened. 'Wh- Sajangnim!'

'You will do it! Or you will get out of my hospital.' He turned his attention to Yunho, having already put the other out of his mind. 'Jung Haksaeng, in agreeing to this, you will agree not to take part in any witness statements of this... unfortunate accident.'

Yunho laughed. 'I will no-'

'That was not part of the deal my client outlined. Take it or leave it. Otherwise we will submit one hundred million won for medical compensation, fifty thousand won for standardised workplace health and wellbeing compensation, and will partake in the submission of the case to the authorities for audit, as outlined in the paperwork before you.' Yunho's rep leant forward and pushed the paper closer to him, knowing his point had sunken in.

And Yunho sat back, having slightly changed his opinion of the man. It turned out, he kind of liked him after all.

'Fine,' the Director said, obviously agitated. 'But I have a condition of my own.'

'Present it,' the rep said.

And Yunho watched as the old man seemed to show just how tired he was. 'You only have a month of placement left under this roof. The last I want to see of your face, will be on your hands and knees apologising to my staff, and getting out of my office. In fact I don't even want to see that.'

Yunho exhaled in amusement, leaning back and answering before his rep could. 'Deal. I do owe Secretary Lu an apology, but no one said it needed to be done here.' The sooner I see the last of you, the better, he finished in his head.

'Good. Then let it be known that this matter is settled.' The Director sighed heavily, his age showing. 'Everyone out. I have a lot of meetings left to deal with. Farewell Yunho. It has not been a pleasure.'

Yunho stood, picking up his textbook and pens, glad for it to be over. 'I'm starting to feel like a broken record.

Once again. Likewise.'

~~~