Family Ties And Old Promises

The automatic doors of Prestigious Seoul Hospital burst open as paramedics rushed in a gurney. The patient — a young man in his twenties — was pale and drenched in sweat, his clothes torn and bloodstained. His breathing was shallow, his pulse weak.

"Male, twenty-four! Car accident, high speed collision!" the paramedic barked. "Blood pressure dropping fast, suspected internal bleeding in the abdomen!"

Nurses scrambled around, pushing carts of emergency supplies. The ER buzzed with urgency, but one figure cut through the chaos like a blade.

Someone call the Dr.Kang.

Dr. Kang Min-jun entered, still tying his surgical mask, his white coat flaring slightly with his stride. His expression was calm, eyes sharp.

"Vitals," he said firmly.

"BP 70 over 40! Heart rate 150!" a nurse responded.

"FAST scan!" Min-jun ordered.

A portable ultrasound was rolled in immediately. Min-jun pressed the probe against the patient's abdomen, scanning the screen with practiced eyes. Dark shadows pooled where they shouldn't be — free fluid, blood.

"He's bleeding internally. Prep the OR. Now."

The team moved instantly. The gurney rattled as they rushed the patient down the hall. Min-jun walked alongside, already pulling on surgical gloves.

In the Operating Room

Bright lights flooded the sterile room. The anesthesiologist called out vitals. Nurses lined up instruments on a tray, glancing at Min-jun for cues.

"Midline laparotomy," he said calmly. "Scalpel."

The nurse handed it to him without hesitation. With a single decisive motion, Min-jun made the incision from just below the breastbone down to the lower abdomen.

"Retractor."

The abdominal cavity opened, and a dark pool of blood welled up immediately.

"Pack the quadrants," Min-jun instructed. Gauze pads were placed quickly to control the bleeding.

"Source?" the assisting resident asked, voice trembling.

"Splenic rupture," Min-jun replied, eyes never leaving the field. "He's losing blood fast. Suction."

As the blood was cleared, Min-jun located the shattered spleen, clamping off vessels with swift precision.

"Clamp. Ligation. Splenectomy."

The instruments moved between hands like choreography. Despite the beeping monitors, the shouting, and the urgency, Min-jun's voice stayed calm, his movements sharp and efficient.

"Pressure's coming back," the anesthesiologist called. "BP stabilizing."

"Good," Min-jun said softly. "We're not losing him today."

Minutes stretched into hours until finally, the bleeding was controlled. Min-jun removed his gloves, his face unreadable under the mask. Another life saved — but to him, just another day.

After a long night in the hospital, Min-jun finally closed the door of his apartment at 1:00 AM. The city outside was quiet now, neon lights reflecting faintly on the streets below. He leaned against the door for a moment, letting out a long, tired sigh, and then went straight to freshen up.

Finally, he sank into his bed, exhaustion pressing on him like a heavy weight. His eyes flicked to his phone — a message from his mother:

Mom: "Son, I hope you are doing okay. I have something to tell you. If you get a free moment, you can call me anytime. Love you."

A small smile touched his lips. He put the phone aside, closed the lights, and allowed himself to sleep, if only for a few hours.

Next Morning

The next day, Min-jun drove to his mother's home. It had been months since he'd visited, caught up in the endless cycle of surgeries and hospital duties. The moment he stepped inside, his mother rushed forward, embracing him tightly.

"After such a long time, you finally came," she said softly, brushing his hair back. "Your grandpa is waiting for you."

Min-jun hesitated, a shadow crossing his face. "Mom... again, marriage?"

His mother didn't reply immediately. Instead, she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Your grandfather is getting older, Min-jun. He's unwell day by day. Maybe he just wants to see you, show some concern... it's not always about marriage. You're already mature. What's the problem if he wants to talk?"

She watched him go, her expression tinged with sadness.

Grandfather's Room

Min-jun pushed open the door to his grandfather's room. Nurses stood quietly, waiting, but the old man waved them out with a weak but firm gesture.

"Go on, all of you. I want to speak with my grandson alone."

Min-jun approached slowly and sat beside the old man.

"Are you okay, Pa? Eating properly?" he asked gently.

His grandfather's eyes twinkled with a quiet amusement. "I'm fine. And you? Working so hard, treating patients... do you even have time for your pa?"

Min-jun shook his head. "It's not like that. I've been busy, but the nurses have been updating me about you. Pa, anything you need, just say it."

The old man's smile softened, but then a shadow crossed his face. "I want to see you married."

Min-jun's lips twitched in a small, reluctant laugh. "I knew this was coming."

"Look, grandson," his grandfather continued, his voice trembling slightly. "I'm old now... I don't know how much time I have left. It's my last wish. Please... marry."

Min-jun stood slowly, frustration rising in his chest. "Pa, I've told you many times — I cannot marry someone I don't love. Someone I don't even know. How can I?"

His grandfather's expression softened, a hint of pleading in his eyes. "Then... you can know her. I can call her, arrange a meeting. She's very nice. I saw her when she was sixteen..."

Min-jun's brow furrowed, incredulous. "Sixteen? You saw her when she was sixteen, and now you don't even know where she is... and you think you know her?"

"It's not like I don't know her," his grandfather replied, voice gentler. "Her grandmother often came to see me. She told me about her, how busy she was with work and life..."

Min-jun bowed slightly, the weight of respect mingling with frustration. "I'm sorry, Pa. But I can't marry someone I don't know."

Without another word, he turned and left the room. His mother, standing silently in the hallway, watched him go, her eyes misty. Min-jun didn't look at her; he simply walked out, his resolve clear, but his heart quietly heavy.

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