Chapter 25: Let's See the Patient (1)

“Shit.” Suhyuk was sitting in a corner of the second underground floor at Taehwa Medical Center. His expression looked like that of a loyal subject who had lost his country.

[Ah, it missed.] Baruda muttered indifferently as if talking about someone else.

Naturally, this response made Suhyuk extremely furious.

‘Ah, it missed? You bastard! The atmosphere was perfect! If only…if only you didn’t tell me to grab her hand… Ahhh…’

[Indeed. But why did it fail? It is strange. My analysis was perfect. Where did this error come from?] Baruda maintained his cold tone, displaying a highly analytical attitude. It didn’t seem intentional on his part.

In any case, Baruda’s nonchalant attitude further infuriated Suhyuk. He was about to lose his mind completely. Perhaps tonight, he might tear apart his blanket.

‘This… This bastard. Ahhh…’

How could he inflict pain on this creature? The frustrating thing was that there seemed no way to do so. After all, its consciousness was well-protected within the strongest barrier. Even if Suhyuk tried to physically harm it and cause chaos, it would likely only worsen his own torment.

‘Oh… Damn… How will I face Professor Taehwa now?’

[While examining your memories, Suhyuk, I came across a phrase quite fitting for our current situation. Would you like to hear it?]

‘No!’

Suhyuk cut Baruda off before he could finish his sentence. It was obvious that Baruda would say something to upset him further. Of course, Baruda wasn’t one to listen just because Suhyuk told him not to.

[I will proceed as planned.]

‘Don’t do it, you bastard! Don’t do it!’]

[The responsibility for failing stock investments lies with the individual themselves. How about that? Isn’t it quite fitting?]

Baruda relentlessly mocked Suhyuk by citing examples from established theories in other academic fields.

‘Wow… How can I debunk this?’

[It cannot be debunked. If you look at the results of the neurosurgical collaboration…]

‘Stop it… Wait?’ Suhyuk’s grip tightened on his hair, almost pulling it out, when he glanced down at his pants pocket. His phone was vibrating.

He wasn’t on call tonight, so there shouldn’t be any reason for someone to contact him.

There was only one person who would call him at this time of night.

‘Oh, did I get a reply?’

With his heart racing, Suhyuk quickly pulled out his phone.

>I really caught a mosquito on my hand earlier. It is true.<

Even he thought it sounded like bullshit when he sent that text message. However, he couldn’t give up hope. Suhyuk was an optimistic person.

‘Please Hayoon! Please!’

>[Didn’t I tell you not to use my surname? Considering how awkwardly we parted…]

‘Shut up!’

His hands were shaking so much that it took effort just to retrieve his phone.

>[Thankfully, you didn’t become a surgeon. What am I saying…?]

‘Hah.’

Feeling exhausted from trying to silence her, Suhyuk sighed and turned off his phone.

The sender truly was Woo Hahyun.

‘Please don’t let it be swear words…’

With bated breath, Suhyuk opened the text message, and he almost screamed out loud.

<I’m sorry. I didn’t realize what you were doing. I was too surprised…I left without even saying goodbye. How can I make this up to you? Let me buy you lunch next time.>

It was slightly embarrassing, but among all the messages Suhyuk had received from women, this was the kindest one yet. Sometimes his colleagues teased him about being overly sensitive, but there was always a reason for his reactions.

Moreover, she wanted to treat him to lunch! He wondered if he was dreaming or not.

‘T-This is green light, right? This means she’s interested?’

In Suhyuk’s mind, he could already see generations of descendants with Hayoon.

“She seems very courteous.”

‘Don’t spout nonsense. Give me a proper analysis.’

[I need to see her face… It is difficult at this moment.]

Suhyuk shook his head as he listened to Baruda’s words.

‘No… Anyway, you’ll be wrong hundred out of a hundred times. I’m foolish for believing in you…’

[It is hard to accept your recent statement.]

‘Weren’t you wrong?’

[I have completed analyzing where the error occurred. From now on, there will not be any mistakes.]

‘R-really?’

Although it was incorrect this time…

In truth, if emotion analysis worked properly, it could be immensely helpful in the future. Not just for romance but also for advancing towards becoming a professor and succeeding in academia. Suhyuk needed something beneficial to endure Baruda’s annoying behavior.

If there was a God, it seemed fair to Suhyuk. Thus, he listened intently with interest to Baruda’s words.

[As you know, I have been analyzing your memories and accumulating data.]

‘Yes, I know. It is driving me crazy.’

When Suhyuk asked why other memories were being disturbed instead of medical knowledge, Baruda explained that it helped gather data related to sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. There was nothing Suhyuk could do about it since this would improve future diagnostic accuracy. He had no choice but to tolerate the inconvenience, so he requested that Baruda only access his memories during sleep.

[For understanding emotions between men and women, my references for this instance are ‘Pretty Sister Who Buys Me Food’, ‘Sungkyunkwan Scandal’, ‘Secret Garden’, and ‘Goblin’.]

‘No, wait. This conversation seems to be heading towards something hurtful? Can you not do this?’

[I will continue.]

‘No, I think it is best if you stop.’

Suhyuk continued shaking his head, but Baruda ignored him.

[The male protagonists were Hae-in Jung, Song Joong-ki, Hyun Bin and Gong Yoo respectively.]

‘Stop… Please stop…’

[Based on simulation results, Hayoon wouldn’t have left today if Suhyuk possessed the charm of any one of them.]

‘Please shut up…’

[Taking this incident as a lesson…]

‘Is this considered an incident?’

[It could lead to charges being filed against you.]

‘Ah, true.’

Luckily, Hayoon was good-natured. Otherwise, Suhyuk would be sitting in jail instead of the second underground floor of the hospital for grabbing her hand out of nowhere.

She suddenly grabbed his hand despite not knowing him well.

[Anyway, I will use Suhyuk as a reference point for future analyses.]

‘Hmm…’

[I need to perform conservative analysis. Let’s approach this cautiously.]

‘Uh…’

[Let us send a reply first.]

‘Ah, right.’

Suhyuk was so angry that his face turned red before he suddenly looked at his phone. Baruda concluded that Suhyuk was quite easygoing, but he didn’t voice it out loud. He thought further emotional agitation might harm Suhyuk’s health, although enough damage had already been done with the current level of anger.

In any case, Suhyuk slowly began typing a text message.

Thank you. Sa…

[Are you crazy?]

‘My hand slipped. Really.’

[Bastard…]

‘Where did you learn to swear? No, don’t answer that. Don’t talk back.’

Suhyuk knew it would be obvious he had learned this from Suhyuk himself. Instead of engaging in a futile argument, he deleted his previous message and started again.

<Oh no, I didn’t mean it like that. It was easily misunderstood. Let me pay for dinner since I’m your upperclassman. How about sometime during the first week of next month?>

[Eating together seemed more like a courtesy. You’re taking it seriously.]

‘Don’t mock me. I will send the money. Yes, I am sending it.’

[Do as you wish. Just make sure not to get hurt and skip studying.]

‘Do you think I would do such a thing?’

[Exactly 5 years, 2 months, and 11 days ago…]

‘Ahh, stop!’

Suhyuk still occasionally waved his hand when he remembered this incident while sleeping. However, it didn’t matter as he was going to send the text message anyway.

Yes, thank you. Then I will see you on the first Saturday of next month, upperclassman. >

Fortunately, his reply could be considered quite successful.

‘Phew. I thought she wouldn’t respond… Phew…’

[Is it not shitty? To part like that during your first meeting. You need to face reality.]

‘That, that…you really…’

[Anyway, there is time remaining. What will you do? Waste your time or study?]

His words were strangely upsetting. Yet, it was true that Suhyuk had nothing planned for the upcoming Saturday evening after their plans fell through.

It was sad, but most of his peers were already in their second year. There wasn’t a single person he wanted to meet separately.

‘Alone… Eating delicious food and studying…’

[Indeed. That sounds splendid.]

‘Haaah…’

Suhyuk sighed momentarily before opening a delivery app. In reality, many restaurants refused to deliver for just one serving, but those near hospitals did not mind. Since numerous individuals ordered only one item each from the same location, it made sense for the delivery drivers to bring them all at once. Moreover, stressed-out residents tended to overeat frequently.

‘Sweet and sour pork with noodles and fried dumplings.’

[Are you trying to bulk up?]

‘Shut up… When will I get to eat this again? For some time, I’ll have to survive on hospital meals.’

[I admit it is weak.]

‘What’s going on?’

[I am Baruda who only speaks truths.]

‘Eh.’

Suhyuk shook his head once and ordered the food. He didn’t question why there was only one serving of Jajangmyeon amidst all these dishes. It seemed like this delivery restaurant had experience being near the hospital.

Slurp~

[Mm… This tastes like Jajangmyeon. Hmm…]

As I started eating the delivered Jajangmyeon, Baruda made a remark sounding very satisfied.

‘What, can you taste it? Ah, did you say you could feel it?’

[Yes. However, this is quite good. Compared to the hospital food…]

‘Really, really? Hospital food is trash.’

[Certainly, I acknowledge that it was garbage.]

‘Y-yes, I knew that. Now help me more actively so I can become rich.’

[Why do you keep talking like this?]

Suhyuk spoke to Baruda with a meaningful smile despite his apparent confusion. As he smiled, some noodles fell out of his mouth, but neither Suhyuk nor Baruda cared about it.

‘I need to make a lot of money if I want to continue eating food like this.’

[Haa…]

‘What?’

[I find it pitiful, but I admit it. The Jajangmyeon is excellent.]

‘Damn bastard. Next week, I’ll give you chicken.’

[Chicken?]

‘It’s insane. It will be tastier than this, dude.’

[Is that possible?]

‘Trust me. Just earn lots of money. Then, I really…’

[I will do my best, Suhyuk.]