Always, It's You

Chapter 59

Ashley submitted all her paperwork at the front desk and went to the nursing station on the fifth floor as per instruction.

"Hello," she bowed a little to the elderly nurse sitting behind the counter.

The nurse looked at her with a question in her eyes.

"I am the new consultant here, I was asked to report today on this floor."

"Name please," the nurse nodded opening a register.

"Dr. Ruth. Ashley Charlotte Ruth."

"Here you are," The nurse smiled and pointed to one name out,
"Neurosurgery, huh?"

Ashley nodded.

"You will be accompanying Dr. Han. He is the chief of neurosurgery here. You can wait for a little, he is in his round now. By the way, I am Park Aera."

"Nice to meet you," Ashley smiled back.

"Have a seat there," The nurse indicated the chairs near.
Ashley again bowed and sat on the chair in the hallway, waiting for Dr. Han to finish his duty.

Half an hour passed by and she decided to come back later. She had a class in the afternoon, she has to go if she didn't want to miss that.

"Ummm...Ma'am, I..." Ashley approached the nurse in the station again, "I need to go, I have classes at the uni, so can I come back later?"

"Oh, no...please don't call me ma'am. As an elder, we prefer unnie," The lady smiled sweetly.

"Unnie?" Ashley smiled back. "Still gotta learn a lot I guess."

"Don't worry about that." The lady touched her hand, "everybody here, knows English a little bit. You won't have to feel uncomfortable. And call any nurse whenever you have to attend to patients, they will help you to translate and communicate. I know it's hard to work in an unknown place, but I wish we would make a good team."

"Thank you very much," Ashley bowed gratefully.

"And this one here," The lady patted the shoulder of a younger girl beside her, "she is the best in English here. She'll help you."

"I am Yuri. Nice to meet you, Dr." The girl immediately got up straight and bowed.

Ashley saw someone shoved a clipboard on the counter from behind her. She looked at the person. He was an older man in his early sixties. Ashley moved a little to the side to give him space. He didn't look at her, rather said something to the elderly nurse. The nurse replied something pointing at Ashley.
The man took a good look at her putting his glasses back on.

He stretched his hand towards Ashley, "Hello, heard you are the consultant I've been waiting for. I am Dr. Han."

Ashley shook his hand and bowed, "I am Dr. Ruth. Nice to meet you."

"Dr. Ruth?" He seemed trying to remember something. " Dr. A. Ruth?"

"Yes, Ashley Ruth," Ashley agreed.

"Weren't you the one who won WFNS last year?" He was smiling confidently.

"Yes. I did," Ashley smiled shyly.

"I was there to attend too. I must say, very impressive work, Dr. Ruth!" Dr. Han complimented.

"Thank you very much. I am looking forward to working with you."

"You didn't apply to be a full-time consultant here, why's that?" He asked curiously.

"I am completing the P.hd here in SNU. So I won't have much time for practicing. But you know, gonna have to make a living!" Chuckled Ashley.
" So planning to work side by side, but not fully."