Detached | Seungjin

Thirty-Seven

Six hours. It took six hours before the surgery was finally finished. And as expected of Dr. Kim Seungmin, the surgery was successful. Everything went smoothly. They did experience some difficulties regarding the patient's heart rate, but Seungmin remained calm the whole time and was able to finish the surgery successfully.

Two hours had passed since the surgery finished and now there he was, sitting alone at his his office, and in deep thoughts. He has been like that ever since he came back to his office. His expression showed how much he was in deep thoughts, as if he was thinking about something important.

He breathed heavily and stood from his seat, walking towards his coat rack where his lab coat was placed. He slid his hand inside the pocket of his coat, taking out a certain item and gripping it tightly to his hands.

"Ten years... huh."

* * * * *

"It's such a miracle, don't you think?"

He lets out a sigh of relief as he nodded, "Indeed." He said. "I was honestly ready. I already prepared myself for the worst possible outcome."

"But well, it was indeed successful." Yeji told him.

"It is, really." He stated. There was a moment of silence between the two of them as they had their eyes on their grandfather who was still unconscious in his bed.

Hyunjin then turned to the nurse who was adjusting his grandfather's dextrose, "Hey, um... can I see the doctor, please? I mean the doctor who operated on my grandfather."

"I apologize, Mr. Hwang. But Dr. Kim is busy right now and does not approve of any meetings at the moment."

"Let's understand him for now, Hyunjin." Yeji told him.

Hyunjin raised a brow in confusion, "What?"

"Dr. Kim. He must be a really busy person, considering he's one of the top surgeons in this hospital."

Hyunjin nodded in agreement, "You're right."

Silence.

Yeji was bitting her lip, contemplating within herself if she should be opening up the certain topic in her mind.

"Hyunjin?"

"Yeah?"

"Have you— met up with him?"

Hyunjin stayed silent for a moment. "Are you talking about him?"

Yeji nodded, "Yeah."

Hyunjin shook his head, "No. Besides, Seungmin probably doesn't even want to see me." He stated. "I did meet Minji, though."

Yeji's eyes widened, "Y-Your daughter?"

He nodded, "Yes... Kim Minji, my daughter." He affirmed. "Minji... she grew up so fast. She has turn into a beautiful teenage girl, and her personality never really changed." He told her. "Seungmin... he seems to be doing fine too. I assume that he's— he's probably a successful person now who had finally achieved his dreams."

"Does Minji recognized you?"

"No, she didn't."

"Are you really okay with that?"

A gentle smile formed into Hyunjin's lips as he gave his sister a nod. "As long as they're doing well and happy... there's nothing more I would like to ask for."

* * * * *

He puts his left hand in his pocket of his lab coat and he turned the door knob, peeking inside the patient's room. He saw that no one was around, and that was his cue to enter inside.

As soon as he closed the door behind him, he looked at the patient in front of him, whose eyes were currently closed. He slowly approached him and stared at him. Slowly, the patient's eyes began to open, and their eyes met.

The patient looked very week. But as his eyes met with the doctor in front of him, his eyes clearly widened. He recognized him.

He recognized Kim Seungmin.

He tried to lift his hand towards Seungmin, murmuring incoherent sounds as if he wanted to say something but he couldn't because of his current condition.

Seungmin's lips curved into a smile, "It's been a while... Mr. Hwang Beomsoo." He told him. "How are you feeling?"

The patient in front of him was clearly shocked. His eyes landed on Seungmin's name tag, and he completely understood the situation immediately, that Kim Seungmin, the person whom his grandson loved, the person whom he had underestimated, is now a surgeon.

In fact, the surgeon who have saved his life.

"So many years have passed, don't you agree?" Seungmin said as he uttered a chuckle, leaning against the wall. He looked up, meeting with his patient's eyes again. "So, have I finally met your standards now?"

A tear escaped his eyes as he heard Seungmin's words. Never did he even expect he would be shedding tears for this young man in front of him.

Seungmin took a handkerchief from his pocket in his lab coat, walking towards the elder and slowly wiping the tear away. "Mr. Hwang, I know you care for the future of your family name. But sometimes... too much caring can cause careless mistakes that may ruin your grandchildren's lives." He gave him a smile, "Sometimes... you just have to let go and let them decide for their own happiness." He took the elder's hand and puts the handkerchief in it.

Seungmin headed towards the door and opened it, stopping when he was about to leave the room and sliding his hand inside his pocket again, grabbing the same certain item.

It was the necklace.

He gripped on to it and shut his eyes, taking a deep breath before looking back at his patient with a smile.

"Everyone can be successful in their own way, even those who are in the bottom."

* * * * *

Hyunjin comes back to the room, eyes widening as he saw his grandfather conscious.

He immediately went to him, "Grandfather! How are you feeling?"

His grandfather slowly turned his eyes to Hyunjin, guilt present in his eyes.

"Grandfather...?"

"I'm... sor...ry..."

"What?"

The elder blinked and once again, a tear escaped his eye. "I'm... sorry..."

"What are you apologizing for?"

"H-Hap...pi...ness..."

"What?"

"Go... f-find... y-your... h-happiness..."

"I... I don't get it. What are you trying to say, grandfather?"

The elder did his best and slowly raised his hand, pointing at the certain direction. Hyunjin's eyes followed that direction and turns out, his grandfather was pointing at the name of the doctor assigned to him, Dr. Kim.

Hyunjin's eyes widened. He didn't need to think again to understand what his grandfather was trying to say. Thinking about it, it was indeed possible for their paths to cross in this certain situation.

Seconds later, Yeji entered the room and Hyunjin immediately moved from his place, hurrying his way out of the room to look for the surgeon of his grandfather.

He searched, and searched, and searched. He had already asked a lot of doctors, nurses, staffs around the hospital, but he found no clue on where the doctor may be.

He reached the garden, panting, still not knowing where the doctor is.

"Is there something wrong with my patient, Mr. Hwang?"

Hyunjin froze on his spot. There was no mistake, that voice clearly sounded familiar to his ears.

He turned around and there he was, Kim Seungmin.

He gave him a smile, "Hello, Hwang Hyunjin."

* * * * *

Omg omg omg I can't believe we're actually nearing the end— I'm not ready yet???