Stop Being a Monster
Stop Being a Monster
"Do you eat a lot of high cholesterol food?" she asked.
"No," the woman replied. "I'm usually on diets because of my work. I'm a PR person at a company so I always have to look my best. I eat mostly salad, soup and boiled meat."
"What about exercise?" Mina inquired.
"Daily half an hour jogging."
"And your work life balance? Is it normal? Do you overwork a lot?"
"I usually return very late at night," the woman confessed. "I have to work almost till 1 am everyda due to the nature of my work. There are many office events too. And on weekends, I'm busy with conference calls from other countries. We have clients there too."
Mina noted everything down. "Well, we'll need to do an X-ray of your heart, " she finally said. "To see if there's anything abnormal forming in it. But from what you said, it seems as if your abnormal routine is to blame here. I see that you've also written that you sleep for less than three hours every night and you don't even snack between meals. Dieting is important but if done the wrong way, it can have bad consequences on your health."
"I'm writing you up a new diet chart," Mina went on. "With food good for the heart. And also some medicines you need to take this week. Conduct an X-Ray and come back next week. Alright?"
She scribbled down the instructions and a prescription before handing it to the woman. The woman thanked her and left.
Just then, a nurse came in. "Doctor Hwang your next patient is here," she informed Mina.
Mina, who was busy writing on her notepad about the patient she had just received, did not reply but motioned the nurse to call him in.
"Please come in," the nurse told the patient. Mina was so absorbed writing her notes, that she did not notice the man who had just sat across her.
"Busy day, huh?"
She froze and looked up to see Haejong sitting there, observing her.
"What are you doing here?" she frowned.
"I'm still a patient, remember?" he reminded her, pointing at his heart. Mina completely forgot that he was supposed to have his heart examined that day. The bullet wound had been deep and Haejong still needed occasional outpatient treatment every month.
"I have the x-rays," he said, pushing a file in front of her. Mina did not reply but picked up the file to read it.
"So far, everything is normal," she stated. "Do you feel any pain? Or discomfort anywhere?"
"Now that you mention it," Haejong recalled. "I think the wound has swollen."
"What?" Mina frowned. "Swollen?"
"It's red and a little full," he claimed. "Occasionally itches."
"Take off your shirt and lie on that bed there," Mina ordered. "Let me take a look at it."
She went back to reading the files while Haejong smirked and got on the bed. He took off the shirt and laid back, waiting for her to examine him. Mina put the file away and picked up her stethoscope. She walked towards him and began to examine his wound.
The operation had left a large scar on his chest. It was a very difficult procedure and Mina only recalled how stressed she was that day. Not only was she operating on a mafia don but if she had failed, his minions would have killed patients in the hospital.
She gingerly touched the wound with her gloved hands. Haejong felt his heart beat faster when she touched his skin and despite his ploy to use her against Kanji, he could not help but slightly blush. Mina was unaware of the reactions he was having, focused on her work.
"A little higher," he told her. Mina kept on pressing lightly on his chest, trying to feel any abnormality.
"That kid we found in the woods," he began. "I saw the news. His picture was on it. His dad killed him, huh?"
"Yes," Mina sighed. "Some people are just plain monsters."
Haejong was quiet while she kept on feeling his chest. "Do you think I'm a monster?" he asked.
"Does it matter what I think?" Mina asked, still focused on her work. "How do you see yourself as?"
"I'm a mafia leader!" Haejong snickered. "Of course, I'm a monster! Didn't you tell it yourself? I kill for fun."
Mina met his eyes, wary of the man who was constantly messing up her life. "Yes, you are," she said. "But the question is, will you keep living like one? I mean, if you wanna be someone like Kang Danny, then go ahead. Live your life just like you've been living all this time. But the next time you're shot in the heart, I might not be able to save you."
"But you will operate on this monster the next time he gets shot?" Haejong slyly asked her.
"I'll operate on all those who lie on my operation table," she said. "And I see that you are not hurt anywhere so you can get up now."
She was about to pull her hand away when Haejong caught it and pulled her towards him. Mina was startled and fell on the bed. Before she could react, he flipped her, pressing her beneath him while he towered over her.
"What are you doing?" she exclaimed. "Let me go!"
Mina glared at him but Haejong was amused. "Tell me something doctor," he whispered. "How does one stop being a monster?"
"What?"
He held her hands to her sides, rendering her unable to struggle. She tried to push him off but he was too strong for her.
"Let me go!" she hissed. "This is a hospital! And I'm your doctor!"
"Then tell me how do I kill the monster in me," he insisted. His face was very close to her to the point she could whiff his cinnamon musk scent. It was strange to be in such close proximity with a guy like him. But he was giving her an intense gaze which was almost impossible to escape from.
"Just start being yourself," she gritted. "And the monster will die on its own."
They stared at each other for a while, Haejong feeling interested while Mina was simply tired of this strange back and forth between them. Finally, the grip on her hands loosened and he was about to let her go when the door burst open.
"What-"
Kanji stood there, shocked by the scene. Haejong lifted himself off Mina while the latter was flabbergasted at Kanji's sudden appearance at her chamber. He was revolted and looked as if he was going to rip Haejong's arms out.
Haejong smirked at his rival as he put on the shirt while Mina tried to explain herself.
"Kanji, listen to me," she began but Haejong cut in between them.
"Hello Jang Kanji, right?" Haejong asked, pretending to forget Kanji's name. "I'm sorry you had to see that. Doctor Hwang led me to the bed to examine my wound but both of us tripped-"
Without a word, Kanji grabbed Haejong by the collar and pushed him roughly against the wall. His eyes were full of rage and anger at what Haejong was doing.
"Kanji!" Mina shrieked, trying to pull him away from Haejong but Kanji was not going to listen to her.
"What the hell are you doing to her?" he yelled. "Why are you here? What's your purpose? Stop messing with Mina!"
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Haejong spat.
"Kanji, let him go!" Mina ordered. "He's my patient! You can't treat him like this!"
"Oh and you're treating him like a doctor should?" Kanji retorted. He was being irrational but his jealousy overtook his judgement and he simply could not stand seeing Haejong near Mina. What he witnessed caused him to snap and his suppressed anger was coming out.
"You're mistaken!" Mina shrieked and used all her strength to free Haejong from Kanji. The latter let go of Haejong, who calmly fixed his collar.
"I didn't expect your friend to be so possessive," he remarked.
"Shut up!" Kanji yelled at him and was about to attack him again but Mina stepped in between them.
"Kanji, for god's sake stop behaving like a brat!" she scolded him. "I told you! You're being mistaken! He's just my patient and nothing more!"
But Kanji's anger and grief had taken the filter off his mouth. "I get it now," he scoffed. "Since I'm no longer available for you, you're hugging his thigh, right?"
Mina was shocked to hear those words. Even Haejong raised an eyebrow at his words.
"Aren't you crossing the line, Jang Kanji?" he questioned Kanji. But Kanji was ruthless, angry at Mina for putting up with Haejong and also at himself for choosing his own fate.
"You're now running after his money!" Kanji laughed a sardonic laughter. "Because my money isn't enough-"
SLAP!
The sound of the slap echoed through the room. Mina's lips quivered in anger while Kanji's cheek was red with her handprint splashed on it. His words cut deeper than a knife in her heart, effectively scarring it forever. The remnants of their friendship were gone, leaving behind nothing at all.