A competent doctor can cure everything

It was only natural for me to react sensitively.

Ever since I heard that name, I’ve been thinking about that person every chance I get.

I even searched for the name “Kyung-soo” on various social media platforms.

Of course, it was like looking for a needle in a haystack, so I soon gave up.

‘I thought Eunjung’s unrequited love, being in her 40s, would be for a middle-aged man.’

But this young man, Kyung-soo, looks at most to be in his mid-20s.

There’s quite a significant age difference for them to be lovers.

Moreover, she mentioned it happened a long time ago, so this club president would have been even younger back then.

Is it really just a coincidence?

If so, the things those club members said earlier are still troubling me.

They clearly mentioned that since Kyung-soo became the club president, they’ve been visiting cancer wards around the metropolitan area.

‘I need to verify this…’

I bit my lip while staring at the side profile of Kyung-soo, the club president, who was laughing with the club members.

Meanwhile, the time was approaching 7 PM, the scheduled start of the performance.

On the stage, a tall stool, a microphone, and an acoustic guitar were set up.

Additionally, in the space between the stage and the audience, foot baths and massage tools were prepared.

Patients, faces filled with anticipation, began gathering one by one in the small auditorium.

The seats quickly filled up. There were quite a few patients who had come in wheelchairs as well.

“Now, we’ll begin the healing concert for cancer patients!”

At 7 PM, the host energetically took to the stage and made the announcement, and the crowd welcomed him with smiles and applause.

“Wow, quite a crowd.”

“Right? We kept the news about Mika coming a secret, too.”

Without joining the conversation of the interns, I carefully scanned the audience.

And then, I spotted Kang Eun-Jung in the middle of the audience, accompanied by her caregiver.

She was no longer in a wheelchair.

Even though she was a bit slow, she was often seen walking on her own around the ward.

Today, too, she had come without a wheelchair, whispering with her caregiver, her eyes filled with anticipation.

The host announced the order of the performances.

“The first part is a choir performance, the second part will be an acoustic guitar performance, and for the third part, we have a very special guest, so please look forward to it.”

The club president was scheduled to appear from the second part.

In the third part, Mika would sing a few solo songs and then finish with a chorus alongside the club members.

“After the performance, you can enjoy a foot bath and a foot massage.”

Soon, a lively and bright mixed-gender choir performance unfolded.

While everyone focused on the stage, I kept my eyes on Kang Eun-jung in the audience.

She was enjoying the performance with a childlike, radiant expression.

‘If the club president is the person Kang Eun-jung has been looking for, there will definitely be a reaction in the second part.’

The choir’s performance ended, and the stage curtain closed briefly.

Behind it would be the president.

“……”

Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, but I was the only one feeling anxious, with my senses on high alert.

And finally, the curtain opened again.

The sight of the curtain parting to the sides felt as slow as a movie in slow motion.

The club president sat on a stool in the center of the stage under the spotlight, holding an acoustic guitar.

Without any introductory words, he immediately began strumming the guitar strings.

His head was tilted slightly as he looked down at the guitar fretboard.

The beautiful melody drew exclamations of admiration from various parts of the audience.

Yet, even amidst all that, I kept my eyes solely on Kang Eun-jung.

However, there was no noticeable reaction from her.

‘Hmm, maybe they really aren’t connected in any way.’

Just as I was about to relax my shoulders, thinking it was nothing, the intro ended, and the president turned his slightly tilted head to face forward.

‘……!’

At that moment, I definitely saw it.

Kang Eun-jung’s expression changed drastically.

Her previously calm eyebrows shot up, and her eyes widened to the size of saucers.

As the president’s voice flowed through the microphone, Kang Eun-jung’s mouth slightly opened as she continued to stare at the stage.

It wasn’t an expression of admiration. She looked surprised and shocked.

However, her face did not transition from shock to another emotion—like joy, for example.

That expression remained the same until the song ended.

After finishing the song, the president took the microphone and, with a bright smile, gave his greeting.

“Hello, I’m Lim Kyung-soo, the president. I hope today’s performance brings you a little bit of joy in your fight against illness!”

While everyone laughed at the president’s cheerful tone, Kang Eun-jung’s face had gone completely pale.

Finally, she whispered something to her caregiver and, with their assistance, staggered out of the small auditorium.

‘……!’

I was momentarily taken aback by her sudden action, but I quickly collected my thoughts.

Let me think back to what Ms. Kang Eun-jung said in the rooftop garden at that time.

She endured the difficult chemotherapy because she wanted to see her “unrequited love” one last time before dying.

However, she didn’t want to meet them face-to-face.

She had committed a grave mistake in the past and didn’t want to trouble someone who was likely living a good life now.

‘I assumed she meant a man she used to date, and now that he has a family, she didn’t want to bother him by reaching out.’

But the age gap between the two seemed odd for that to be the case.

‘For them to be lovers, the president is almost young enough to be her son…’

I rubbed my temples. Then, suddenly, I stopped.

Almost young enough to be her son? What if he really is her son?

I had narrowed my perspective because Eun-Jung said she was unmarried, but marriage and childbirth are separate matters.

Now that I think about it, they do resemble each other.

The way both the president and Ms. Kang Eun-jung’s eyes curve gently when they smile.

‘……’

What should I do now?

I’m not sure, but it’s clear that there’s a complicated situation here.

I could either pretend not to know and stay uninvolved, or I could step in and intervene.

But… what if I leave things as they are and Ms. Kang Eun-jung passes away in a few days?

If I ignored this situation, would I be able to pray for her soul with a clear conscience?

‘No. Every time I thought of Ms. Kang Eun-jung in the future, I’d probably feel uneasy.’

Besides, that president…

He said that after taking office, he made visiting cancer wards a goal for the club.

He must be looking for Ms. Kang Eun-jung too.

It seems like I could just connect the dots for them.

‘Looks like I’ve made up my mind on what to do.’

I swallowed a sigh and followed Ms. Kang Eun-jung out of the small auditorium.

“Hyung? Where are you going?”

I heard voices calling me from behind, but I ignored them.

* * *

“Ms. Kang Eun-jung.”

The patient was staggering, being supported by her caregiver as she walked.

I could catch up easily because her steps were slow.

Ms. Eun-jung turned to look at me, her face pale.

“…Doctor.”

“It’s him, isn’t it?”

At my blunt question, her mouth fell open.

However, no words came out of her mouth.

After a moment, Ms. Eun-jung turned her head and muttered.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Doctor…”

“Shall we talk here? Or would you prefer to speak with me alone?”

“……”

At my firm stance, the patient lowered her head.

Then, after a brief moment of contemplation, she looked determined and spoke to the caregiver.

“I’ll have a quick word with the intern doctor and then head back in.”

“Alright, then. I’ll be in the hospital room.”

Sensing the seriousness of the situation, the caregiver nodded compliantly and stepped away.

Once the caregiver was far enough away, we moved to a bench near the small auditorium.

I was the first to speak.

“That person is your son, isn’t he, Ms. Kang Eun-jung?”

“Yes.”

Ms. Eun-jung nodded without hesitation and even added information I hadn’t asked for.

“He’s a child I had when I was young and immature.”

“…You’ve been wanting to see him. So why did you leave in the middle of the performance?”

She hesitated for a moment, her lips moving slightly before muttering in a voice as quiet as a mosquito’s buzz.

“Seeing his face, I felt ashamed and ran away.”

“……”

“Do you know what my first thought was when I was diagnosed with stomach cancer?”

When I glanced at her, her eyes were filled with sadness, but the corners of her mouth were twisted upward in a grimace.

“Oh, a wretched woman who deserves punishment is finally getting what she deserves.”

Suddenly, a loud cheer and applause erupted from afar.

It seemed the third part of the concert had started, and Mika had made her appearance.

With the joyful screams of people in the background, Ms. Kang Eun-jung continued to speak calmly.

“I abandoned my child and lived my whole life in guilt. I could never bring myself to love another man or think about having his child, so I stayed alone all my life.”

“……”

“I wasn’t confident I could raise him, so I let him go. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t want to see him. Once, I recklessly went to the neighborhood where he had been adopted. It was his birthday that day. Just like today.”

The club members had mentioned that today was the president’s birthday.

Ms. Kang Eun-jung remembered that date as well.

“I introduced myself to Kyung-soo as a friend of his mother and blew out candles on a birthday cake in the park. That was the first and last time I celebrated his birthday.”

Ms. Eun-jung hung her head low, her fingers fidgeting on her thighs.

“But I regretted what I did that day. I realized that if he found out he was adopted, he would be confused. So, I never sought him out again.”

“This is the first time you’ve seen your son since that day?”

“Yes. In fact, there was a time when Kyung-soo reached out to me. I think he found out about his adoption then. But I felt too ashamed, and I thought I didn’t deserve it, so I avoided his contact.”

Her face had turned pale, and she looked like a sinner confessing her sins before a priest.

“But now, as death approaches, I feel a sense of greed. I guess I’m just as selfish as ever, right until the end.”

“Don’t you want to talk to him directly?”

At my question, she let out a deep sigh.

“I do want to. But what about Kyung-soo? He must be at the point of hating me so much that he could die. I don’t have the courage to face that expression. That’s why I said I wanted to watch from afar.”

“Well, I think your son might have been looking for you too.”

As I began slowly, Ms. Kang Eun-jung’s eyes widened in surprise.

“What? What did you say?”

“I heard that after your son was chosen as the club president, he has been mainly working with cancer wards in the area. There must be a reason for that.”

“……!”

Seeing Ms. Kang Eun-jung at a loss for words, I asked another question.

“If your son does want to see you, would you meet him then?”

She hurriedly nodded.

“Yes… Yes! Of course. If Kyung-soo feels the same way…”

“Then I’ll ask your son after the performance is over. Please wait in the hospital room for now.”

At those words, Ms. Kang Eun-jung flinched as if frightened.

“Did Kyung-soo really want to find me?”

“Well… you’ll have to ask him directly.”

At her whisper-like question, I shrugged my shoulders.

The patient bit her lip, thought for a moment, and then nodded.

“Understood. Then I’ll wait in the hospital room.”

Since the caregiver was not nearby, I helped the patient to the hospital room.

Then I headed straight to the auditorium, where the performance was almost over.

“Did everyone enjoy the show?”

Soon after the final song ended, the host came on stage and announced that patients who wanted to receive foot baths should come down from the stage.

In the space below the stage, club members and interns stood, each in charge of a foot bath station.

Including Kyung-soo.

I took a step closer to him.

And then, I stood face to face with the bewildered Kyung-soo.

“Could you talk with me for a moment?”