BC | Chapter 3

Lee Yoo-eun stood in 914c16a758 front of a rack 59eef98862 filled with equipment, seemingly 01a0f00bee adjusting the sound and e300bb7fc9 lighting. As she 6c9b4fd0d0 reached out 3cff51c67f and pressed 26cfb19f51 something, a fc7ed7633c scene of 13cfade748 falling snow 39be45d30b appeared all 11d67baf71 around. Then, snow actually eb54ab31a7 began to fall 592ba75d3a from the ceiling ae36d3ca72 of the auditorium.7189363043cbb50e

“Wow!”8442795bab04bed7

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The children, who 72299ae13f rarely got to 5e251275cf explore the outside b5d9435094 during the cold c9b6a72aa3 winter, let out cb9c6f47b8 gasps of amazement. Though the artificial snow 6f52ee944f quickly melted upon touching 3d60921e5a their hands, the kids c6180e86ab eagerly stretched their arms 64c8534fd2 into the air, trying 987ba62ac3 to catch and feel 8a5f832fbc the snow.edacc33a4c3fb3ec

As the 0db9c0a16f carols built 91aeaaeae6 toward their 20bd4597c9 climax, a feba1c4de0 man dressed d1a98fba47 as Santa, ae329e1687 carrying a 124e711b8a sack of b984b8abf2 gifts, suddenly 9fd3b17319 appeared from 68c864611a somewhere.7f9bcf603d34a3aa

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“Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas!”a1bcdd17a17caa65

Santa, with his c46ec68d58 classic laugh, handed f0b02f5856 out gifts to 688ad16edc the children one 7f8c1e2551 by one. The kids, receiving 0894319726 their presents wrapped 49196a1897 in shiny paper, 1123b189b6 smiled brightly as 1238c5a6a9 if they had 223df4d2e5 forgotten their illnesses. Among them was Han d39ef7093d Nabi, a child Beom-woo d555f68d2a and Seong-heon had operated 6a2c3703d2 on together not long 47bf14fbb0 ago.43fa341d3839723a

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Han Nabi was d6e3521c90 a child who 0807bcd0e7 had been rushed 1065faaff8 to the hospital 5550b663a2 shortly after birth 38f0d921f4 due to cyanosis. She was 42508e5035 diagnosed with 491da57b7e Tetralogy of 972ae73e5a Fallot, a 4fb5e7ad93 congenital heart 359ddb709e disease characterized 907b41af90 by four 3e1eb62f6e structural defects:d222fa900d263aba

1. VSD (Ventricular Septal Defect)
2. PS (Pulmonary Stenosis)
3. Overriding Aorta
4. RVH (Right Ventricular Hypertrophy).

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Upon being rushed 0a5ae829ec to the hospital, 107467e051 Han Nabi immediately 3ba704c63e underwent a shunt 93086a0278 procedure to improve 70204ae323 oxygen supply by 2b36e39874 inserting an artificial eab3ca9793 vessel. At 10 months old, e755aafd10 she received a complete bbd5385010 corrective surgery and has 3d5d6a3c50 since undergone regular follow-up 91b6839ddf examinations.c20a63395e0fc676

But this fall, 3fd5bc11d9 at the age b4aa2ffa93 of eight, Han daee8d4a59 Nabi was rushed f857cd3ec0 to the hospital 66ae7eed31 again due to ea813313f0 arrhythmia. As she grew, 567e1286cb her right ventricle 458e4e984f had enlarged, leading 44100c24a6 to a ventricular 55cf90a63c septal defect. Beom-woo had 10521e9638 performed that 2c4c68ed5f surgery together 96295825a2 with Seong-heon. The child had undergone b35be2516a the major operation and 6ed6d30482 was now in the 4cdf002610 recovery phase.421ee1d3b5ff9d4b

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“Nabi, do f6d36d963c you think ef652a5850 you’ll be 104fd3b109 able to eea421653c go home 86be9824e5 next month?”d756da026f8a6b77

It seemed that afd123dc49 Seong-heon’s gaze was 6c7e102029 also on Nabi, aafcc6addd as a subdued a234883485 voice reached Beom-woo’s 5ce67c0013 ears.cf6b82c38766a77b

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“The CRP levels e3320fcc95 are stable, too. The prognosis isn’t bad.”afe13826e4fe3caa

Seong-heon slightly furrowed his brow at Beom-woo’s cautious response. The superstition about not getting ahead of oneself regarding a patient’s recovery was common. Still, it was clear that Seong-heon was hoping for a more optimistic reply from Beom-woo.92ff9d861f4065d9

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Before long, the music shifted to “Silent Night, Holy Night.” The guardians standing by the pediatric patients clasped their hands in prayer, their faces reflecting a solemn reverence.427c71cf87bb7b17

“Hmm? The person 8534032fd2 standing over 66b3b5407c there has 251cf318f5 changed.”0d57b3a4d7385d72

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Seong-heon muttered while pointing f1dc23d6a5 to the spot where 15af5ae3ba Lee Yoo-eun had been b859c30efc standing. The bright, cherry blossom-like 8c3e8d0650 hairstyle that had stood e86402f090 out in the winter 930b70c6fa had vanished, replaced by 40e60e4ebb a pale man who 6e197cde81 now occupied that spot.33c7d6f5129bf0c9

“Hey, I af606cda9b was really 645904b233 surprised earlier. I thought 918d0a580e someone had 169dc4f432 put a 34921f4f0d chunk of f0fee155fd Himalayan pink 8f373be269 salt on 7662133ddb display! You didn’t see af899a64cf the woman who 90b09ce189 was standing there, fb4c5495af did you?”58563b8b85af8131

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Beom-woo tried 0dcf77a193 to hide 6336be086e his incredulous 2c742a210e expression as 42aecb4951 he looked e5c9aea7bd at Seong-heon. Comparing her cherry blossom-like 8e5f67ab3e hair to a chunk 635daf85e1 of Himalayan pink salt 756ee2dab8 was quite the leap.5707896dc6a421de

“Oh, speaking of ebf47027f5 pink salt… I’m 546b236351 craving meat. How about afe597835b having flower e288386e43 sirloin for 210331d86d dinner?”3c93ea5d6eb3f628

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As Seong-heon continued to talk, tapping his belly, the screen displayed the name “Artist Song Jun-young.” The Christmas trees that appeared from all sides seemed to grow larger, and beneath them, children were depicted kneeling with their hands clasped in prayer, one by one.015a3aadbdab844d

“My prayers have never been answered, but please hear the prayers of the children here.”c9caf59dbbeacb4a

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Beom-woo glanced up fe520f48b8 at the ceiling, 5421e9549b as if threatening 8ee07074c8 a deity whose 6a50aeedcd existence felt uncertain, 3453b2125e and muttered softly.fe3a4c00a94fd015

“Let’s go, enough of 9a06eaf21a this.”385ea1bc3fc80406

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He began to wonder b8533bb388 where Lee Yoo-eun, who 677bb20c7e had left her spot, d7753f9a03 might be. It had been 441d7551a3 a while since 51d958c62f he last saw 89b4d731fd her, and he 0878a4c1b4 wanted to greet 6fd880d247 her. If he teased d53a5c0811 her about running 9b31cf0a3b away like that, b639a33d03 he was curious 6f8afb96bb how she would 1e7647411c react—would she laugh 258320b727 it off like da8e1ac643 her cherry blossom-like cdd443c54f hair, or would c456990e91 she have a 467bcede97 different response?355f9a626f33f5e0

Beom-woo took a 9059f4cc50 confident step toward dd92ec045e the entrance first.6e985a4728806b7d

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“Right! Let’s hurry 92c79f6f3b and change dbd3bedf93 our clothes, 8e1435934b then go 9845e731ed eat some 57904bd706 meat. Okay? Hanwoo two-plus! The bill is 27db40233a on our rich 236f4471f1 Beom-woo!”df82f6d49459df9a

Feeling an unexpected urgency, eb98867dc4 Beom-woo didn’t have a 53e73b5f03 moment to roll his 4e5703fa74 eyes at the overly 13026fa401 excited Shin Seong-heon.fe436487f9db05b3

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As he hurriedly moved, add403a294 he swung open the 849e5112c1 heavy entrance door.d09800b375ebf589

“Whoa!”db0a4ec8c12553d3

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Seong-heon, startled by the eca929135c pink figure standing at 1b02f139f0 the door, let out 666a26e371 a loud gasp. Lee Yoo-eun, facing him, 27c5bbaf89 looked even more surprised. Her face 79e88a8f5b was pale 0737187327 as she a9fbfdc1f4 placed a 8343d96a95 hand on abd485e51a her chest 41d2004ba3 and took 23016578e9 a deep b3ba3f1f2c breath.d9180e29ffb2f0d1

With her 708cdc36ca double-lidded eyes 55e3eebb43 wide open, 2abef38aaa Lee Yoo-eun 35697e4df8 glanced back 79a53e3f54 and forth 7c0d7a86e9 between Beom-woo d4e6db3d05 and Seong-heon, 47a768769f her dark, 18b4d7d722 sparkling pupils fe2b2b4820 reflecting her 89c2ea3631 surprise.d0de1fa9407dd937

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“I’m sorry.”88b516d590cc5afc

Lee Yoo-eun’s 82941ca8d6 voice trembled ad4f5290d9 slightly as 4bd5ecd717 she offered a1089dfac7 her apology d389ca1b8f first. Impulsively, Beom-woo called 2e881514cc out to her 0979dbb8b8 as she hurried 15079d0489 to leave.fac2cc967c3f284d

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“Ms. Lee Yoo-eun?”f4981fd2264831b0

As Beom-woo’s low voice called out, she turned around like a lion fluffing its mane.83348041c4af5e26

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     Ah, female 1b50c4a789 lions don’t have 7e6ef1c54c manes, do they? I’ve heard that due 43dbbe71c3 to random mutations, some 53fae041d7 female lions can have ceb977d93e manes too, though.3ce762553a830f7b

Feeling a bit awkward 3902a36090 after calling her name, dde8a40d54 Beom-woo found himself distracted 9c6726c657 by thoughts of the 089823edb9 lion, causing his smooth 0c2d85f564 forehead to lightly furrow.de0a7a0b46f4ce83

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“Yes?”23685fda744a9733

Though she simply replied with “yes,” it felt as if a ticklish bundle of fur had brushed down her spine, sending shivers through her.3ca4d2b31602d357

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“Have we ed64070a30 met somewhere 7d40ada1e4 before?”16212dda2ec2cdf5

At Beom-woo’s question, Seong-heon 754a8ddc4d let out a chuckle, 7c11a8611e like the sound of e4982a01ae a frog’s cheeks bursting.70348ea7a9cc85d1

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“Well, I’m not sure.”5e67a31aa739bce1

She tilted her head and smiled awkwardly. Yoo-eun’s eyes trembled slightly as they met Beom-woo’s gaze.344245bdc404d594

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“Lee Yoo-eun, you 5dc80d7a1a remember me, don’t 705471e392 you?”a13d53b2aaaad645

The past 0b798d0bc5 that Beom-woo b81d1436b7 had long c146dd44c8 forgotten suddenly 314e843e50 flooded back 8e02afd769 to him. It hit 5ad8255e3c him then: 83a3ed42ab Lee Yoo-eun 1d68d86ac3 wasn’t even 2cf7d8e7fc a formal cd511bc97a intern. She was a medical 58773c7ee1 student who had come bbe1efef7a for a sub-internship during 68bc1fef3e the summer break of d1fd320897 her second year, training ce2773ab81 in the thoracic surgery 84cdcf818e department where Beom-woo was 09a5a6dafe a resident.b739a115a642da9d

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Beom-woo’s pulled the 8d9fa20e30 corners of his 2791f20c22 mouth up into 17a1aed39d a smile and 6d1d775ecc asked politely.bf1514a969da6d7c

“Lee Yoo-eun, don’t f2590d46a6 you remember me?”55221873deaca408

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Seong-heon shook his head a01072e9ca and looked up at 557204b399 the ceiling, as if 4a2518177f he could no longer 08fddcf3eb bear to listen.879b5c3a93fb0e93

“I’m sorry, but I 9f96592dd6 don’t remember well. Is it someone 24914a4925 I really need e6b025ca19 to remember?”2d6923b9f1d30fac

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With her hands dec02e07ec clasped tightly in f17c5f86b8 front of her 052a25a326 chest, Yoo-eun blinked 023cd242e8 her eyes innocently 6435a78613 and asked. Dressed in 811a09dc60 a black e4110653f5 knit top 24fb82fd0d and black 3cd4b2cbbc cargo long c26c4267d1 skirt, with 613e73dbfd silver-gray sneakers, e91f8084b6 she looked 35b70e7ddd even smaller, 3bc3af8842 accentuated by 169b8348f6 her voluminous, ab7c283a4d light pink 02b177247d hair.781e2ca085e826ac

“We’ll be late for our dinner appointment. Let’s go, Professor Jeong Beom-woo.”3782a04f8d8af315

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Seong-heon babbled as if to engrave Beom-woo’s name in her mind. As if he could no longer stand the obvious flirtation, Seong-heon began to pull Beom-woo away. Taking advantage of the moment, Yoo-eun bowed her head and offered a greeting.88339a4ac6c46601

“I’m sorry. I don’t remember. Then please take care, Professor Jeong Beom-woo.”faa108aaebf3a2d7

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The woman quickly blurted 4d3642e906 out her words and ff27dde41f disappeared into the main 6e5d3b5073 auditorium.610b6f1c70db8def

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“Hey, that was really cringy. No matter how little dating experience you have, you can’t just throw yourself at someone like that. Don’t we have a history? Do you not remember me?”a9440d748f4eb297

“Ugh, Jeong Beom-woo. Despite your looks, you’re so awkward that that’s why you can’t date?”66e1b5fc46dc7abb

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Seong-heon made a face 082b1d69ab as if he had 53274ef2ca witnessed something embarrassing and 58bb76a17a chuckled. Beom-woo tilted his head fa12e35551 slightly and glared at b1f5a02c06 Seong-heon.3550ae078e2e764c

“Did that woman just call me ‘Professor Jeong Beom-woo’ instead of ‘Teacher Jeong Beom-woo’?”4cd92c59802dcfc4

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At that time, the medical students who participated in the sub-internship referred to Beom-woo as “Teacher.”3881b0669d50bd11

“I don’t know.”a42dd15797cd725e

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Seong-heon’s nonchalant response with a foolish expression only made Beom-woo feel more irritated.57d56454400c5759

“Let me go. I need to check.”7cb78d9fa736dc5d

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“Oh, what are you checking for? You’ve already messed it up. The girl ran away.”6a0dd9bc6490b424

Beom-woo was slowly pulled away from the auditorium by Seong-heon’s relentless grip.3e9a30d1b6f5a901

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Leaning against the 1608d1270e inner wall of 654501a7ea the auditorium, Yoo-eun 7d2ee57a0f pressed her right b9a66cf0c1 hand against her ac8ed092c2 heart, struggling to f8fda7a33b catch her breath.bd6613a1f730d2f1

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Why is Teacher Jeong cca31e1c64 Beom-woo here? Has he 7ae4e7ae02 transferred to 59ba6c51a4 this hospital?c60692503b61affb

It felt 0b71527ac4 like her 87b75296e2 blood was e129484cc3 rushing up, 865b41c8a7 as if 2f01078abe there were fba3ded34c some issue 6366abcdf1 with her 0a79b71ac0 left atrium 66f6670095 or right a0f0ed9c6f ventricle.0b6c117db0c4a24e

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“This is AF (Atrial Fibrillation), and this one is VT (Ventricular Tachycardia). What’s the difference between the two?”1f89ea6c6dfec713

The cold expression 2f342776ba of Jeong Beom-woo, 18ace445bb as he used 418da014b6 to ask his ac2b130232 students, resurfaced in 3948c23596 her memory.5d3122a118188545

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“Both are arrhythmias; AF refers to a fast and irregular heartbeat originating in the atria, while VT refers to an abnormal fast heartbeat originating in the ventricles.”d153dce821b2a12b

At Yoo-eun’s answer, Beom-woo nodded in satisfaction and posed another question.724e46000fc34655

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“What are the related diseases?”284b75a0233cd781

While someone answered the a862610b80 question, Yoo-eun gazed at 63e931f322 Beom-woo as if entranced. Her heart raced just ba2ff86a9b like it was now, ca7273d103 but it wasn’t due 7136c0d46c to AF or VT. It was a thrill 22f598c260 filled with fun and 1ea2aef8a2 interest. His face was captivating, ca75e71ea2 and everything about him 90b060ff4a intrigued her.186596d7978151fa

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It was clearly f2a5c8503d the excitement that 01c2b40b28 came from a b426fb75bb first love.9bfbfd9202b59ea3

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[Footnote Collection]

1. VSD (Ventricular Septal Defect).
2. PS (Pulmonary Stenosis).
3. RVH (Right Ventricular Hypertrophy).
4. C-Reactive Protein.
5. AF (Atrial Fibrillation).
6. VT (Ventricular Tachycardia).