Not in the Mood for Work / 1
"You're Thanos, that underground rapper." said the patient whom he is taking care of at the moment, panic surges within him, trying to remain calm and oblivious is not all for Subong. "Is everyone here deaf?"
Gulping, No need to respond.. he thinks to himself, remembering Jun hee's words. Though as silence haunts between the two males, one trying to avoid eye contact and one staring at him. Almost like analyzing.
Then the patient looks at the ceiling, seeming to point something out. "Hey, Thanos. By any chance, have you seen the dragon on the rooftop?" Namgyu babbled, leaving Subong looking at him, whether he should respond or not. This guy seems to know him as well.
"He will talk nonsense, no need for a response."
"It'd be nice if someone joins my party, though I don't see anyone." The guy now not staring at him like a hungry animal, instead looks around as if finding people or a person. It wouldn't be bad to play along, right? waiting here for the treatment is only going to bore him more and being silent isn't going to help him as well.
"Yeah?" He said, turning to face his torso to Namgyu, "So you can hear me." Namgyu deadpanned, but his face turning into a slight grin. "Whenever you yap around somebody whose like- a chair distance, yeah. They can hear you duh"
Namgyu chuckled, a finger on his glasses to push them up and looking at Subong not like from before. "It's been so long ever since someone's responded to me. I thought i was going crazy, you know?"
I might think you are now.
"Wait where was i again?" the sudden shift on the patient's face turned into a genuine confusion as his smile grew even wider, more of a sheepish smile. "Hmm.. Oh! yeah the party?" Subong tilted his head. "Yes yes! right so like i didn't see any party candidates. Normally, we're supposed to wait until a healer arrives!"
The colorectal doctor now looking at both of them, kind of shocked to see them get along, knowing the patient wasn't taken seriously by other nurses present.
"I used the fire blade skill on it, but it wasn't enough.." seeing and hearing this, Subong gets reminded of a game he played once in a computer shop when he was down as well, a bit too similar to what this guy's been saying. "Oh.. no." Namgyu nodded, "Due to it's fire resistance, I should've used fire damage.. I'm an idiot sometimes! i keep forgetting those, Thanos-" Namgyu seemed to inhale and put a hand on his mouth before letting out a big cough following another cough and another.
The doctor, noticing this, went and gave him water. "H-here- have this." Subong patted his back, "Drink this."
"That water's not enough- cough -to cleanse me." His voice obviously getting strained and almost inaudible. "Ambrosia-"
"What's ambrosia?" Subong immediately cutting him off, his voice full of worry but held volume enough. "Green water." Namgyu's voice, barely a whisper as it is followed by coughing non stop. "Green water?.."
After realizing what it might've meant, he hurriedly went and stood up, running and when he came back with a cup of 'green water' as per what Namgyu suggested. Taking a quick sip, "Oh my.. to give out precious ambrosia like this.." gulping another drink that Subong himself thinks it of it as heaven for Namgyu after those horrendous coughs.
He looks at Subong, "Thank you, Thanos- Oh mediator."
Subong, not knowing how to take that compliment, "Feeling good now? are you okay?"
"I am, all thanks to you. Though, My HP's low.. down flat rock bottom." Sighing out of relief, "and i can feel my mana surging." The doctor, looked at them both, once again. Scanning the eyes of the male nurse as if he has seen him before.
.
.
.
Subong in the Internal medicine area was somewhat an over all strange experience. Surprisingly, he didn't slack nor goof all the time, if he did he would've been fired now. he was over all a decent nurse when he's bored, definitely. There were a patient of some chick in the unit, the patient was seemingly be in pain because of the fluid or possibly the needle itself, the nurses seem to always dismisses her plea.
"Uh excuse me hey, my arm kinda hurts." she called out to a nurse coming by, showing off her arms. "Oh that? a lot of people experience some pain when getting fluids." the nurse then went closer to the IV equipment, "it seems to be running well." And before the patient could even comment again, the nurse already left. It was like this for a few times with a few more nurses she asked. Subong came in the room out of boredom, fiddling with his ID strap before he notices a girl gripping her arm like she was trying to slow down the fluids coming in her veins, "This is so annoying.." Subong seeing this action, came over with curiousity.
"What's got you acting like that missy?" He started as he takes a closer look at the possible cause. "Uh. My arm hurts a little." she admitted, quite hesitant. "Oh? well technically some people actuall-" "experience pain when they get fluids?" the girl cutted him off, Subong raises his brows, nodding after. "Yeah." Checking the drip chamber, he opens his mouth as if to say something, "And it seems to be running well. I get it, nurses already told me that, I'm fine." The girl turned to her side where she faces the wall, leaving Subong pondering if he could help her or not.
Not trusting himself with the choices he has to face, he opens his phone after he gets out of the patient's room. Scrolling to find In ho's contact, messaging him a text that says "Hey you avail? Can you help me out with smth." and sent.
Waiting for a few minutes of going back and forth on the staff room, his phone finally buzzes in his pockets.
Boomerz 1: "What I'm working."
Smiling, he types a text back almost immediately."
Rap god: "PLWS WHELP ME THERES TA PATIENT RN LIKE STRUGGLING DO I HELP THEM OR NOT"
Boomerz 1: "What are they struggling for.."
Rap god: "uh fluids"
Boomerz 1:"IV?"
Rap god: "Yip."
Boomerz 1:"Then yeah of course."
Boomerz 1: "why are you even asking me, aren't you a nurse."
Rap god: "I don't trust myself bro"
Subong was then left on seen.
He looked through the cabinets, opening them one by one. "Not here.. wait what was i looking for again." He paused then continued, having to already find what he was supposed to think that helps the problem with the information he tries to remember over the years of him being in the medical field.
"Let's try switching em." Said him while he carefully removes the needle. "People with weaker veins can experience more pain than others, like erh.. me. Very painful as I say for myself." Subong tried to reassure the girl. "I found a child sized one, hope this helps you bro." the girl was concerned. "I don't think the needle is the problem."
"Better trying than suffering." Subong smirked, injecting the child sized needle as he checks the IV equipment. Looking at her, he asks "Well?"
"This.. actually feels much more better." She admitted, her smile showing a relief that uneasily makes Subong also feel good. Which is weird, for him. "I mean.. I told you so."
"Thank you." The girl says it with such gentle and sincerity, It makes him a little bit shy now.
"Ahah.. Glad i helped."
"Mr. Choi, do you know how many patients a nurse has to cover for you?" A nurse said to him, looking at them now from his desk. "Just do your work and not slack off. Others have to cover for you." the other nurse joined in, sighing and then pointing with her head on the table full of medicine and unfinished work. Subong could only scoff.
"Other nurses are really bothered by me, huh." Subong muttered to himself, Mina hearing this by his side answered "I heard some complaints myself." She flipped her hair, her hand resting on the nape of her neck. "You know, I personally think you're more fitting in the psychiatric unit. Why not try it there instead since you feel.. well, not a good one here." Mina suggested, her voice monotone and sarcastic as ever.
That's what Subong likes about her the most, It's like a guessing game you have to confront with whenever you talk to her. But stepping that aside, "hmm.. you think so? but I don't think i could survive a day without seeing you, Señorita!" He teased, his voice laced with a flirtatious and unserious tone. Throwing a pose that screamed damsel in distress.
With a moment of awkward silence while he kept up the pose, "I could visit." Mina deadpanned, not even bearing to look at him shine that pose out of his ass.
"I could recommend you, you know?" Subong blinked at her, his face forming with uncertainty. But he does admit, It is getting a bit boring here. "i guess.. i could give that a try then. Anything for you, My glorio-" His face was met with a form that Mina threw at him.
"I'm quite glad and feel bad for passing such a trouble some nurse to you Ms. Jang."
I have heard of this voice before.. my past doctor?
"We were already neck deep in work, If we kept him any longer we would all be falling behind." The older lady groaned, Subong kept eavesdropping, sitting a nearby table where he could hear them both. "He's just not cut out for this, he may risk lives." Subong didn't agree not disagree, he doesn't know where he belonged also.
Hearing enough, he got up from the chair carelessly resulting him colliding with a doctor. Both of them tripping on a dish the doctor originally had now on the floor. As Subong panicked, he kept apologizing while picking up bits of food and putting them on the tray.
"I'm sorry.. gosh." He repeated and repeated and bowing every apology. Everyone's eyes are on him now that they've heard of the commotion. If he could've been more careful, this wouldn't had happen.
In ho has always been close to Subong when he was a young adult with a rap career dream, He'd always support him through out, he funded most of his work and promoted them. He always treated him like a son more than a friend. In ho is a divorced man, he had a kid that was awfully like Subong. Though the mom doesn't allow In ho to visit their kid, it was pretty depressing for him. He works in a busy job but it pays well for himself and even for the monthly child support.
Subong knew In ho because when he was young he was practically a chatterbox, In ho being the lonely guy he was, just listens to him in which they are both now close.
"Coem pickkk mrr upim siowasteddd......;;;l" Subong sent this on his phone apparently 23 minutes or so, He knows where the hell Subong wastes himself whenever he is extremely down or just outright tired of everything. He knows. He goes there, club pentagon. The bodyguard eyed his formal suit, definitely not the type to go in a party nor a literal club. "I'm here to pick up a friend." He said, brushing his suit's dust off. The bodyguard understood, he lets him in.
Now in the club, he looks for Subong, more specifically on the bar counter. And he was right, Subong always prefers to sit while drinking anyway. Seeing him almost passed out with glasses of unfinished beer and wine around him only makes the older man face palm his own face, "Ugh.. What's up again?" In ho shakes Subong. "Does hick a.. man need exiiiccccuses for feeling like getting drunk todayy..?" This guy is definitely wasted, now In ho wonders if the reason was that one girl rejecting his love for her. But definitely not that, he doesn't have tear stains, "Something happened there, huh?" He laid his head on the counter, "Look man I am not carrying you, I'm nearing my 40's give me a break.."
Carrying Subong on a piggy back, He tries to locate his apartment, he remembers that it's on a third floor on that building. "Good thing you live close to that club. On purpose or just a coincidence?" Subong groaned, "My head..." "That's what happens when you gulp more than a three digit number drinks." He readjusts the position Subong he was in because he was almost falling down.
"Minnaaaa.. nooo.." Subong hicked, In ho sighed, even if he's an adult, Subong will truly not change. "
"Where are your keys even?" In ho having his hand on his hip, Subong sitting, having his back laid beside his apartment door. In ho turned the doorknob, that shit was not locked. "My god.." He groaned, rubbing his face out of distress while looking at the passed out Subong.
Since he was tired, he just shoulder dragged Subong and placed him on his couch. The entire house smelled like a sweet odd scent, too strong for his nose. He probably thinks he just sprays a lot due to the stench this house had when he was deeply depressed, a bad time for him truly.
Having to feel bad, he left Subong for the time being, buying mugwort rice cakes. He tried finding a paper and a pen to write, after some digging on the messily made cabinets in it, he finally found the things he needed. He set up Subong's alarm and got ready to leave.
"Goodnight."
Subong woke up to the horrible alarm sound, his head aching like crazy. He stayed in bed to regain what had happened to him. But, still anything doesn't ring anything. He should check his contacts if he accidentally sent someone an outrageous message. The last message he sent was to In ho, five hours ago.
So hyung brought me here.. I already have so much to owe him.
Sighing, he checks the time, he's not late but still has a lot of time. In ho probably set up his alarm too early. His head was still throbbing, feeling a sharp pain. Subong fully stood up, stretching his arms and legs. He then noticed a box that has a paper stuck on it.
"Mugwort rice cakes, if you can't finish them, then give them to your coworkers." - Hwang.
"What the hell? no one likes these.. and there's hella a lot." Subong thought, but it would be a waste for sure. In ho did brought these. "I guess i could give it away as a gift."
"Rice cakes are not allowed." Said the security guard, "Oh? why is that?" Subong asked the guard, tilting his head. "Another hospital had a rice cake related incident recently." the guard answered back. He nodded, biting his lip. "Oh.. yeah okay, I understand."
"Let us hold on to them, you can ask for them on your way out." The guard reassured while he takes the rice cakes, putting them in a locker. "Yeah, thanks dude."
"He certainly doesn't look diligent at first glance." Subong heard Jun hee's words when he was getting out of the dressing room, it was then followed by another sentence. "Must have been exhausting for other people." Subong froze in place, he forgot. He forgot about what had happened in the cafeteria, feeling the shame and embarrasment he felt penting up mixing with the headache he still has was stressing, He went back in the dressing room, "Of course.. everyone's heard about me by now, shit." sighing as he tries to open the door more slightly to hear more of what the nurses has to say.
"Watch your mouths! Don't go around badmouthing doctors." was what Subong heard instead, It was Dr. Jang's voice, motherly and strict as ever but he was fond of her, a great geezer. "There's enough division around here."
"The doctor probably doesn't even know we're gossiping.." Jun hee's voice, He groaned.
Subong took a deep breath and exhaled, massaging his forehead to help his tremendous aching head before getting out.
.