I am an emergency room doctor.

44_I am an emergency room doctor_2

44_One Request (Doeun's Past)

......

남도은

Wow... damn, what's going on? Why is no one here?

Doeun usually comes home with just one minute to spare every day, but today, perhaps because she woke up early, she excitedly slumped over the desk and closed her eyes, saying she was all alone.

담임

Doeun!

The homeroom teacher called out to Doeun while catching her breath, as if she had rushed over, and at that, Doeun, who had just started to fall asleep, lifted her head in surprise.

남도은

Huh?? Why!

담임

Could I go to the counseling room with the teacher just once?

남도은

Consultation? Why?

담임

No... not counseling, but a counseling room

남도은

Ah... yes!

Doeun, who had followed her homeroom teacher into the counseling room, sat down with a questioning look on her face at a man sitting with his head bowed.

담임

You waited a long time, didn't you? Doeun usually comes late, but she came a little early today...

민윤기

Oh, no, it's fine. I just came before Yul arrived...

담임

Then let's talk comfortably!

The homeroom teacher left the counseling room, telling them to speak comfortably, and only an awkward atmosphere remained between Yungi and Doeun.

남도은

Um... I'm a 3rd-year middle school student... no... um... I'm 16-year-old Nam Do-eun.

민윤기

Ah... I'm Min Yoon-gi, 18 years old...

남도은

By any chance... do you know Yul? I heard you came before Yul arrived.

Doeun was strangely sensitive about Yul's affairs. Yul always tried to stop her, telling her not to act that way, as Doeun could instantly turn her gentle personality sharp, but

Doeun, who is still sitting in front of Yoongi warily, wondering if that would change easily.

민윤기

That... you said her name was Doeun, right?

남도은

...But?

민윤기

Yul is my older brother.

남도은

Ah... my older brother.... Yes???

민윤기

I see Yul didn't tell me.

남도은

No... that's...

It was only then that Doeun noticed Yoongi's condition: an unmanly, skinny body and a listless-looking face. Yoongi was wearing a school uniform of long sleeves and long pants, looking as if he wasn't even hot despite it being summer.

Doeun and Yul knew each other better than their best friends did. Although they met in their first year of middle school, their friendship was deep enough to list their history back to when they were born—says it all.

남도은

By any chance... is Yul unable to come early today because he's sick? No... he didn't have a bruise on his arm until yesterday....

민윤기

...Um... I'm just coming a little late today.

Yoon-gi took a note and two white pill bottles out of his bag, and Do-eun turned her eyes to the white bottles.

민윤기

I... wanted to ask you a favor about this.

남도은

Huh? Isn't this the medicine Yul takes every day? He always says it's vitamins and never even told me.

민윤기

The thing is... actually, Yul has heart disease...

남도은

...Heart disease?

민윤기

It started after something happened when I was young... so I've been taking it since I was little, but I keep forgetting.

An incident from childhood, a father who struck the body of a girl who was no older than a kindergarten student with a golf club.

He tightly hugs the girl who has collapsed, and the mere elementary school student cries out, begging her to please wake up.

Then, she must have been grabbed by the hair and beaten countless times for being too loud. After that, without even thinking about her own aching body, she tightly hugged her younger sibling and headed to her aunt's house, her only refuge.

Doeun sat silently waiting for Yungi, who closed his eyes tightly and gasped for breath as he remembered what happened back then; Doeun then hung her head low with a tearful expression.

민윤기

Ah... I'm sorry

남도은

no...

민윤기

This note contains my phone number, my school's number, and my homeroom teacher's number. I can't answer when I'm at school, so please call one of these two numbers.

남도은

Yes... then that medicine bottle...

민윤기

Ah...it's heart medicine... I just need you to make sure to give it to me during the break after the second period and 30 minutes after lunch...

남도은

So, just in case, please leave one at school and take the other with you, is that correct?

민윤기

....

Doeun smiled faintly as she took the medicine box and the note and spoke.

남도은

You don't have to feel sorry, because you are my only friend, so you are precious to me too.

민윤기

....thank you

남도은

I didn't do this to hear you say thank you, so please don't be grateful. Just... please stay healthy, and live with Yul.

민윤기

.....

남도은

I'm saying this because you have absolutely no life in your face; you're sitting there looking like you're about to die.

민윤기

under....

Yoon-gi hung his head, clutching his pants tightly to hold back his tears, and seeing this, Do-eun opened her mouth.

남도은

Thank you for all your hard work protecting Yul until now. Thank you for protecting him.

Doeun bowed her head in thanks, and at that, Yoongi burst into tears he had been holding back, but perhaps afraid of his habits, he clamped his mouth shut and simply rubbed his eyes roughly.

민윤기

Ah... I really shouldn't be doing this....

남도은

.....

민윤기

Ah... I really shouldn't be doing this...

Doeun waited quietly for Yungi, and as if to say she was fine, she showed a bright smile she had never shown before, with eyes that were bloodshot from holding back for so long.

민윤기

It's a relief that Doeun is by Yul's side... haha

남도은

....

민윤기

Thank you for making our Yul smile and helping us hang in there. Thank you so, so much.

남도은

....Of course.

민윤기

Heh... I guess I have to go now. You can go to class alone, right?

남도은

Yes, have a safe trip.

Yoon-gi smiled at him and left the counseling room, while Do-eun sat down, staring at the medicine box and muttering.

남도은

I thought you were the only one in pain and wondered what the people around you were doing... but they are pacing back and forth anxiously because they couldn't protect you.

Doeun held the medicine bottle she had been watching and repeatedly opened and closed the lid for no reason.

남도은

I'm not worried because there's someone else who looks out for me and cares for me besides me... but make sure you keep that guy your brother under control.

Doeun muttered as she left the counseling room, putting two pill bottles in the pockets of her school uniform blazer and the note in the inner pocket.

남도은

I feel like I’m going to really break down trying to protect you... I’m worried about both of you because you’re neglecting your own health and seem like you’re going to collapse...

작가~~

Actually, I was planning to do Yul and Doeun's past, but I chose this one because I think the content is a little better!

작가~~

This post continues from the next story about Yoongi's past, so I hope you remember it well!!

작가~~

They met once, and at that time, Doeun looked so young, while Yoongi looked so, so vulnerable.

작가~~

However, when the two met at the hospital, Doeun had become a mature woman, and although Yungi was still thin, he was living life with vitality and a smile.

작가~~

We never even imagined that the other person was the same person from back then~! Well then, thank you for reading today!!