Chapter 95: Big Shot (2)

Ko Yoon-ah had already been running 10 laps around the park.

-As a result of a thorough examination, no abnormalities were found in the bones and ligaments. It’s definitely not tennis elbow.

-No inflammatory response was found in the blood test. I think this is extreme stress pain.

The doctors she’d met yesterday said that this was just a mental problem that came because she couldn't handle a big game. She clearly felt the pain but they said it wasn’t real.

"Haa, haa."

She ran to the point where her head was blank, but her thoughts did not disappear easily.

Ko Yoon-ah, who was gradually slowing down and catching her breath, noticed a tennis court between two buildings. Some members of a college club were conducting step training.

She vowed not to swing a racket until the diagnosis came out, but she couldn't stop her footsteps. She put on her mask and picked up the bag she’d thrown to one side.

"Split! Tennis is a game you play with your feet, not your arms!"

College students were jumping in place following the command of their coach. He may be older than her, and his tennis career far shorter. But he was full of energy.

She was jealous of what she was seeing.

While watching the training scene, her cell phone rang. It was Professor Moon Hyung-taek from Korea’s National Sport University.

Although she could ignore everyone else, she could not refuse her mentor’s call since he was the one who recognized her potential since childhood and supported her both physically and mentally.

"Phew. I've only been gone for 2 hours…"

She answered her phone carefully.

"Yes, professor."

-I got a call from your father.

"I'm sorry."

-If you ran out, which you didn’t and not even complained about the hard training in your adolescence, that means you were in pain.

She’d thought she would be scolded, but he only spoke warm words.

-I heard from your father that the test results came out.

"The doctors wouldn't tell me anything for certain. Everyone just keeps saying that it's because of stress and is a mental problem…”

-It doesn’t hurt right now?

"It's usually okay, but it's especially bad when I hold a racket."

-I'm going to arrive at Seoul in the afternoon, so let's talk more about it then. And I'll talk to your father. The first rebellious act in your life, enjoy it as much as you can. I'm always on your side, Yoon-ah.

She felt a little relieved thanks to her teacher who was the only one in the world who understood her.

The college students had shifted to exchanging rallies. Watching the ball come and go, she only could see the racket that she couldn’t hold for the past week.

Even if she was surrounded by rusty fences on crude artificial grass, she felt much more stable than in a stuffy hospital.

How could anyone say that the tennis she loved so much could cause her stress?

Ko Yoon-ah would never believe it.

"You were here."

While watching, Ko Yoon-ah's head turned when a voice suddenly disturbed her.

A man in a doctor's gown.

She thought no one could recognize her because she was wearing a mask, but such an introduction came from the man before her.

"I'm Park Dowook, a neurosurgeon who was scheduled to examine Ko Yoon-ah at 10 o'clock today."

Dowook looked at Ko Yoon-ah.

She was soaked in sweat just as he saw her in the morning. Maybe because she was an athlete, she didn’t seem to feel cold. However, if anyone walked around for a long time while wet, nothing good would come of it.

"There’s another test?”

Dowook nodded at the question asked with slight annoyance.

"I heard that the patient did not trust the diagnosis of the orthopedic department, so I received a request for consultation from the neuro clinic. This fact was delivered only to the guardian, so there must have been a misunderstanding in the middle."

Based on what Dowook had heard before coming, he calmly revealed the situation. However, Ko Yoon-ah's eyes became sullen.

"I think the doctors are the ones misunderstanding things. I just came to the hospital once more to confirm things. I've already had a neurological examination at a local hospital in Australia."

“What?”

This was the first time Dowook heard such information. He tilted his head and Ko Yoon-ah turned back to watch the college students to show that she didn’t want to continue talking to him.

Her gaze displayed envy as she watched them practice.

Dowook wanted to ask her about the results of the test done in Australia but paused when he felt the tingling sensation that traveled up from his fingers.

He realized who it was from quite quickly. The sound of the tennis ball bouncing on the court sounded more clear than a moment ago. The want to play suddenly came with overwhelming intensity that he almost jumped over the fence.

‘Is it because this is the first time I got a sense from a pro-athlete? It’s more intense than I expected.’

As he was shaking his right hand to get rid of the sense, the phone in his chest pocket vibrated.

-What happened? Did you find her?

“Oh, Prof. Lee…”

Dowook hesitated.

He felt that if he revealed the fact that Ko Yoon-ah was here, it would only worsen her current depression. In this kind of situation, convincing the patient came first.

“Not yet. I’ll call you when I find her.”

Ko Yoon-ah stared at Dowook as he put his phone away.

“I’m thankful you didn’t tattle on me but I still think that doing the tests again here is just a waste of time.”

“Could I at least hear the results of the tests done at the Australian hospital?”

“Fibromyalgia due to stress.”

Dowook could only keep quiet. It was the same diagnosis Prof. Lee Won Seok had made tentatively.

Fibromyalgia. It was difficult to find the cause and the chronic pain it caused was even more difficult to cure.

If she had hurt her arm, surgery and rehabilitation could help her recover but if it was Fibromyalgia, the only thing to do was to exercise, eat well and live a healthy lifestyle.

He could fully understand why Ko Yoon-ah was so depressed.

‘She’s already gone through all the necessary tests from Neurology. There’s nothing more Prof. Lee and I can do to help… huh?’

Dowook trembled at the sudden sting that came from his right arm.

It was a strange pain that seemed to poke at the nerves in his arm.

Since he didn’t know the cause of the pain, he suspected it was the exhaustion that had piled up recently before he realized that Ko Yoon-ah’s sense hadn’t left his arm yet.

‘No way.’

As Dowook stood there with a blank expression, Ko Yoon-ah said for the last time.

“Please leave me alone here. I’ll enjoy this rebellion until the afternoon and return.”

“Umm. Ms. Ko Yoon-ah.”

Dowook asked with his gaze focused on Ko Yoon-ah’s right arm.

“That pain. Instead of feeling like your muscles are tingling or stiff, does it feel like a needle is prickling from the inside?”

Ko Yoon-ah’s gaze became a bit restless.

“That’s right.”

“If I can give you a diagnosis other than Fibromyalgia, would you be ok with getting some tests done right now?”

“What do you suspect it is?”

“I don’t know what it is exactly but I think the problem is not in your arm but in your head.”

“My head?”

Ko Yoon-ah’s gaze turned cold in an instant.

“The orthopedic surgeon also said that it was a head problem. My mind has always been clear, but suspecting it’s a mental problem just because of the semifinals. It's stress because it’s not tennis elbow. I'd rather wait for my teacher than trust people who don't even know what tennis is.”

It seemed like it wouldn’t be easy to convince Ko Yoon-ah, who had been hurt by several doctors who asked her to trust them.

At that moment.

“Ok, let’s start the practice games!”

At the shout from the court, Dowook felt his arms and feet react.

“Um… Ms. Ko Yoon-ah. Would you be able to trust in a doctor who knows a bit about tennis?”

“What?”

“There’s something I’d like to check. Please wait a minute.”

Dowook ran over to the court entrance.

If the cause of the pain was Ko Yoon-ah’s sense, there was no way her symptoms were caused by Fibromyalgia. This meant that there was something wrong with her neural circuit somewhere.

If so, this was not something to ponder over.

Instead of tests that only confused her, it would be more accurate for him to experience the error in her neural circuit for himself.

Ko Yoon-ah starred in bewilderment as Dowook talked to the coach inside the court.

Then he took off his doctor’s gown and suit jacket, pulled up his sleeves so she could only send a questioning gaze his way.

“Ok. Listen carefully!”

The coach’s voice rang throughout the court.

“That doctor said that if you win against him, he will pay for everyone’s dinner! Samgyeopsal!”

“Really?”

“Who should we send? Jung Chan? Eun Soo?”

A sudden bet.

A strong-looking college student stood on the other side of the net.

Holding a racket in hand, Dowook bounced a ball on the courts and tossed it into the air.

His waist and arm were pulled back appropriately and his knees were bent securely.

Kko Yoon-ah let out a quiet exclamation at the perfect pose that pulled all his energy into the serve.

The racket was pulled forward.

Tang!

Following a cheerful sound of the ball hitting the racket, the ball went over the net in a straight line and hit within the inline. Until the ball hit the fence, the college student who was preparing to receive the serve could not respond at all.

“Wh-what was that?”

“Did you see the ball twist into a drive just now?”

A big serve that never appeared on an amateur stage.

Dowook spoke after swinging the racket and his arm a few times.

“This is 1:0, right?”

“Fi-fifteen love.”

The surprised coach belatedly said 15-0 in accordance with tennis rules.

When Dowook bounced the ball again in preparation to serve, the college student on the other side swallowed his saliva. Seeing such a super serve in front of his eyes, he couldn’t help but be nervous.

Tang!

A clean ace appeared once more.

“Set Love…….”

The coach glared at Dowook while yelling out the score with a blank look.

"You're a semi-professional. Are you pretending you can't play?"

"I've never said I can't play.”

"Really. Jung Chan! If you can't get a point, that’s 10 laps around the court!"

Tang!

The next serve fell neatly. With a score of 40-0, the college student showed a teary expression.

“Doctor, please put less strength into it. I’m still the 1st in our club. Just one point.”

“This isn’t something I can control.”

“Please…….”

As if he was trying to win the game mercilessly, Dowook's preparation for this serve was also neat and cautious.

Ko Yoon-ah couldn't take her eyes off the line where Dowook's racket was moving. The semifinals. The first serve she made after entering the tie break was just as confident.

As she recalled that day, which was bound to be disappointing.

Bounce bounce.

The ball flew up into the sky.

Dowook, who was about to hit the ball with the racket, suddenly lowered his arm with a groan.

"Oh! Doctor! You lost a point with that swing!"

He said this after Dowook raised his left hand toward his opponent.

"That came faster than I thought. Is it because it's been a while since I moved? I lost."

The college student, who was pointing his finger at the swing, looked at Dowook with a bewildered expression.

"I give up."

Dowook walked toward the coach and gave him his phone number before walking out of the court.

Ko Yoon-ah's eyes were on Dowook who was putting on his suit again.

“Tennis….” 

“What do you think? I seem to know a bit right?”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”

“It’s alright. There’s no need for that. If you apologize, there are many things that would sting my conscience. Anyway, I got my confirmation. Your symptoms. Once we’re sure what it is, we can treat it.”

“Treatment?” Looking at the wide-eyed Ko Yoon-ah, Dowook continued his explanation.

"Neurosurgery is clear even to people who have no idea what the brain structure is like. Do you want to go now? I have surgery in the afternoon. The only other time I can do the checkup is after the Lunar New Year’s.”

Ko Yoon-ah nodded without even realizing it at the gaze of a young doctor who seemed full of power and confidence.

"Then, let's go. Oh, I searched it on my way here. I heard Ko Yoon-ah's Australian Open performance was amazing. I should have cheered for you while watching the live broadcast. Congratulations on the semifinals."

Ko Yoon-ah had no choice but to stare at the back of Dowook, who started walking.

It was the first congratulations she’d heard in Korea since most people were disappointed that she could not reach the finals.

"It should be better to take a shower here. You have clothes in that bag, right?”

“Yes.”

Dowook guided Ko Yoon-ah to the bathroom on the 5th floor and came out. It was difficult to go anywhere else so he sat on the bench in the hall and waited.

How much time had passed?

Nam Hana ran over from far away.

“Senior!”

“What’s so urgent?”

“The reporters keep coming to the office. By any chance, did you take over Ko Yoon-ah’s case, senior?”

Click.

The door of the bathroom opened and Ko Yoon-ah walked out in her casual clothes. Nam Hana’s jaw dropped as soon as she saw her. For Nam Hana, who was 158 centimeters tall, Ko Yoon-ah was also a giant.

She couldn't help but admire Ko Yoon-ah's beauty, who looked much younger than in the news.

‘There’s a reason the Internet blew up so much.’

Dowook forcibly turned his junior's head to the side and asked.

"What did the reporters say? Is there going to be a press conference?”

“There will be a press conference. That’s…….”

Nam Hana whispered to Dowook in a low voice.

“The fact that she was diagnosed with a mental disorder at the Melbourne hospital in Australia was also released.”

“Huh? Why is that a problem?”

“……since that would end her career as an athlete.”

Ko Yoon-ah seemed to have overheard as she shook her head and replied instead.

"He recommended antidepressants and said it would help with the pain. So I refused. Taking drugs that affect your condition is a serious crime that can disqualify you for more than three years."

Serotonin nerves that affected stress response. Antidepressants were the drugs that regulated it. Since fibromyalgia, which was difficult to treat, was the diagnosis, it was natural to recommend a medicine for depression.

However, Dowook didn't know she would have to quit her career just for relieving the pain, nevermind treating it.

Only then did Dowook understand why Ko Yoon-ah had such a calm face.

"Hana, if reporters keep calling me, tell them you don't know anything….”

-Ms. Ko Yoon-ah!

Before he could finish his sentence, he noticed that a reporter appeared near the elevator.

If he couldn’t finish the diagnosis quickly, Dowook thought that things would get troublesome until the afternoon so he spoke quickly.

“Hana, take the others and turn the hall of the Neurology clinic into an area prohibited to civilians.”

“Yes, senior.”

“Ms. Ko Yoon-ah, please follow me.”

When Dowook began to move, Ko Yoon-ah hurriedly followed after him.