7 : His Genes

The next morning, Min Jae suffered from an extreme headache when he woke up. It was raining outside and since he slept in the living room, the temperature was colder. However, he barely felt the cold at all because a warm and fragrant comforter was draped over him. His feet were also warmed by thick socks and not far from him, an electric heater was turned on.

It must've been Eun Young.

Min Jae's head was still painfully throbbing so he took a few moments before returning to his senses. He was about to alight from the sofa when his eye caught a metallic thermos on the coffee table in front of him. There was a glass of water, a few pills and a note.

The note reads: Please finish the soup and take the painkillers. It would be helpful in easing your hangover.

Min Jae put the note down after reading it.

I acted horribly towards her last night yet she still troubled herself to take care of me? Just what is she trying to pull?

Min Jae took the pills and filled himself with the hot haejang-guk [1]. After a while, his headache eventually subsided. All thanks to the doctor's prescriptions.

---

Eun Young had an early shift today at the hospital. Some of the kids that were confined will be sent home today so she arrived early to see them out and give them a few reminders.

One of her patients, little Nam Jin, was crying when the needle supplying the dextrose was finally removed from his his hand. It wasn't because he was afraid of needles, but it was because he won't be able to see his favorite pretty doctor every day.

"Aww, little Nam Jin, don't be sad. You're healthy now and that means you can play all day again with your friends." Eun Young tried to comfort him.

The child vigorously shook his head and continued to wail. Nam Jin's parents chuckled at their son's appeal. But worried that he might further delay the doctor's schedules, they consoled him.

"Nam Jin, it's okay. We'll see Dr. Lee again when you feel sick. For the meantime, didn't you say you wanted to go and have some ice cream? Your Mom and I found a store that sells delicious treats too! Why don't we go check that out after we leave the hospital?" The father asked, definitely bribing his skn to calm down.

Nam Jin immediately wiped his small face and nodded. Well, that was quick...

While the father helped his son get changed, Nam Jin's mom approached Eun Young. "Thank you so much, Dr. Lee. My son's quick recovery was all thanks to you."

Eun Young politely acknowledged her. "It was my pleasure. Nam Jin is a really charming child. I do hope he grows up to be a healthy man."

Eun Young accompanied them as they made their way out. After exchanging their farewells, they soon went on their separate ways.

Eun Young's phone rang immedately after.

"Hello?" She answered.

"Eun Young! Where are you?" The woman asked from the other line. It was only then when Eun Young realized that she was speaking with her mother.

"Mom, I'm at the hospital right now. Is something wrong?" She frowned. Form her mother's tone, it seemed urgent so she couldn't help but worry.

"Yes! What's wrong is that my daughter just spent her birthday without even making time to celebrate with her parents!" Kim Cho Ah retorted.

Eun Young sighed with relief. "Mom, I'm still on shift right now. If you want, we can have dinner tonight to celebrate." She suggested.

Her mother agreed happily. "Can you bring with you my grandchildren too? Your father's been nagging me all week to ask you and bring them over! Now that I've come to think of it, I miss them too!"

Eun Young laughed at her mother's request. She remembered when Jung Hyun was first born. Cho Ah and Dong Yun couldn't get enough of the little munchkin. Even though her mother was excited for having Jung Hyun, her father Dong Yun didn't sleep a wink looking at his first grandson as he slept.

"Alright, I'll personally fetch them from the kindergarten and the daycare. Just promise that when you see them, avoid pinching their cheeks so hard. Their cheeks swelled last time when we came to visit you for lunch." Eun Young reminded.

Cho Ah chuckled heartily. "Fine, we'll do our best to restrain ourselves. Bring Min Jae too, dear. It's been a while since we last saw our handsome son-in-law. His good genes were really of great help in giving us both a handsome and beautiful grandchild. But then again, I believe majority of their best genes came from us." She boasted.

Eun Young felt a surge of panic when she heard her mother ask her to invite Min Jae. It was a good thing that she was able to think of an excuse immediately.

"Uhm, Mom, Min Jae's busy at the office right now. He's also a bit sick so it would be best for him to just stay at home and rest." She said. Partially, it was the truth after all.

"Oh..." Cho Ah expressed her disappointment. "Very well, the doctor knows best! Kindly send him our regards dear and we'll see you later. Drive safely sweetheart!" Cho Ah reminded her daughter before ending the call.

After Eun Young's shift, she made her way to fetch the kids. She shivered as soon as she stepped outside. It will be winter soon and the temperature is beginning to decrease. With the sudden rainfall, the road will be slippery too so as much as she wanted to arrive early, she could only take her time and obey her mother's reminder.