The day began with a palpable tension in the air as Dr. Kang Dong-joo stood in the scan room, glancing impatiently at his watch. Already present were the interns: Dr. Jeon Jungkook, Dr. Park Jihyo, and Dr. Minatozaki Sana, all silently waiting for the last attendee. The silence broke when the door opened, and Dr. Kim Taehyung, a 4th-year surgical resident, strode in confidently.
Dong-joo didn't waste a moment. "You're late, Dr. Kim," he remarked, crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow.
Taehyung, unfazed, checked his watch and replied, "Actually, I'm three minutes early. Perhaps your watch needs recalibrating."
The air grew tense. Jihyo and Sana exchanged wide-eyed glances, while Jungkook awkwardly shuffled his feet. Before Dong-joo could retort, the door opened again, and Dr. Kim Dahyun entered, holding a set of scans.
"What's with the awkward silence? Did someone die?" Dahyun asked, her tone light but curious.
Jihyo quickly grabbed Dahyun by the elbow and pulled her aside, whispering, "You just missed the Taehyung versus Dong-joo showdown. Trust me, it was intense."
"Really? Taehyung just got here," Dahyun replied, confused.
"It's like they've got unresolved beef," Jihyo muttered, eyes darting between the two men.
Dong-joo cleared his throat and gestured toward Dahyun. "Dr. Kim, why don't you present the case?"
Dahyun stepped forward, holding up the scans. "Our patient is a 19-year-old heiress diagnosed with a rare form of glioblastoma multiforme. The tumor is pressing against critical structures, including the optic nerve and the motor cortex. She's experiencing vision disturbances and early signs of hemiparesis. The family has requested aggressive treatment options."
As she spoke, everyone gathered closer to examine the scans. Dong-joo nodded and addressed the group. "Thoughts on the best course of action? Let's hear it."
Jihyo was the first to speak. "A standard craniotomy with microsurgical resection seems like the safest option, considering the tumor's proximity to the motor cortex."
Sana chimed in next. "I agree with Jihyo, but we could consider adjunct therapy post-op to minimize recurrence."
Jungkook added, "A combination of surgery and Gamma Knife therapy might work, but we'd have to ensure minimal damage to surrounding tissues."
Dong-joo nodded approvingly at each response. When it seemed like he was ready to move on, Taehyung, standing quietly in the corner, spoke up. "You haven't asked for my input yet."
Dong-joo turned to him, his tone dismissive. "I didn't ask because I assumed you'd say the same thing as everyone else."
Taehyung's jaw tightened, but he remained calm. "I'm not an intern, Dr. Kang. I'm a 4th-year surgical resident who represented this hospital in an international exchange program. I think I've earned the right to present my ideas."
Dong-joo raised an eyebrow. "Fine. Enlighten us."
Taehyung stepped forward, pointing to the scans. "I propose a minimally invasive awake craniotomy. By keeping the patient awake, we can monitor real-time neurological responses, reducing the risk of motor or sensory deficits. Additionally, using a combination of 5-ALA fluorescence and intraoperative MRI will ensure complete tumor resection."
There was a brief silence before Jihyo whispered to Dahyun, "Has he always been this... brilliant?"
Dahyun shrugged. "I honestly didn't know."
Sana, smirking, added, "That was so hot."
Jungkook groaned audibly. "Really, Sana? We're in the middle of discussing a tumor."
