Just One Day [Taekook]

2) The Kims

"Shit, I'm on my way. Please don't leave until I come."

"Taehyung, I'll stay till you get here, but after that I'm leaving. I'm sorry but I quit. I can't work for you anymore."

Taehyung cursed in his mind. He cannot deal with this anymore. He was already stretched thin working as the only cardiologist in the Daegu Multispecialty Hospital, and taking care of his 4 year old daughter Kim Ha-Eun all by himself. He wanted a break real bad, but unfortunately that seems unlikely considering his daughter's caretaker quit again. This was the 4th caretaker in 3 months.

"Please Mrs.Song, I know my daughter is a bit difficult to handle, but please don't quit. I can give you more salary, if you want. Why don't we discuss it when I get there?" Taehyung tried a last ditch effort to make her stay.

"Taehyung, I don't want to have this conversation over the phone, so please come as soon as you can." Mrs.Song said, disconnecting the call.

Taehyung clutched his hair in frustration. He didn't know what more to do. He was already at his breaking point, but it looked like life isn't done fucking him over yet. He didn't even know what he was going to say to Mrs.Song to make her stay. He was even willing to beg on his knees if that's what it takes. At this point he didn't even care about his pride or dignity. Well, you can't really afford to have dignity when you haven't slept in God knows how long, not to mention the back to back surgeries and endless appointments with patients that he keeps postponing.

He was already on thin ice with the Dean of the hospital. The only reason he still has a job is because he was the only cardiologist in the hospital and trying to find a replacement for him wouldn't be that easy since most eligible doctors prefers to work in a big city hospital with a big paycheck than to work in a small town hospital where the salary was basically peanuts for the amount of hours they have to put in. Well he can't really blame people for chasing after money and success, after all he was just like them a few years ago.

He already left a message to his assistant to cancel today's appointments and to postpone all the surgeries. He knew he'll have to hear all the insults and yellings from the Dean tomorrow, but there was nothing he could do about that. He sighed for the 100th time today before reversing his sleek black Hyundai Elantra out of the hospital parking lot.

Mrs.Song was already waiting for him on the porch with her luggages. Taehyung internally cursed seeing that. Looks like even begging and a promise of higher pay was not going to work.

"Mrs.Song, please come inside and let's talk about it? I'm sure we can come to an understanding. I can increase your salary if you want." Taehyung said, desperately.

"Taehyung, let me stop you right there. You and I both know the problem is not the money. I was only doing this job because your grandmother was a dear friend of mine and when you moved here with little Eunie, we all saw how you were struggling as a single parent to take care of your daughter alone. I thought I could help you since you are also like a son to me and in this community we take care of each other. You should know, after all you grew up here."

"Your grandmother was a great lady and has helped so many families in this community. She never sent anyone away who came to this doorstep asking for help and her death affected all of us greatly. When you returned to this town as a doctor we all were happy and wanted to help you in any way we could just like your grandmother, but generosity and kindness can only go so far."

"You are a doctor yourself Taehyung, so you should know that your daughter needs professional help that me or anyone else you hire after me can't give her. Today she almost burned down the entire kitchen when I turned my back on her for just a minute to use the bathroom. Last week she broke anything she could get her hands on just because you came late from the hospital. I almost got a heart attack trying to get her away from the broken glass pieces on the floor."