Episode 8. Leeches Department, Joo A-gang
Every time they met, the director and professors of Cheonwu University Hospital would clear their throats with dissatisfied expressions, while colleagues exchanged faint, unreadable smiles.
In the end, the place she had fled to as if chased out of her alma mater was here—Sein University Hospital.
“Although I studied at Cheonwu University, I will be buried in bones here at Sein University! Please take care of me, Professor!”
Joo A-gang took a short breath.
She forced the frown between her brows to relax and gave a strained smile toward Professor Park.
“Your spirit is at least admirable. But you…”
“Yes?”
“Why are your hands in that condition? You’re a doctor, aren’t you?”
“I got injured…”
“You’re a first-year and already falling apart. Are you really here to work?”
“…I’m sorry.”
A-gang hid her bandaged right hand behind her back, curling it tightly. Cold sweat seeped out.
“What use is a doctor without hands?”
“Hands are…”
“What, do soldiers go to the battlefield without a gun? Soldiers have guns, doctors have hands! Don’t you know that?”
“I’ll be more careful from now on.”
“From today until your hand heals, the PS (plastic surgery) leeches will be assigned to Joo A-gang!”
“L-Leeches?”
Whether A-gang was confused or not, Professor Park nodded toward Seongjin, who had been organizing charts.
“Seongjin, hand over the leech training properly to the newbie!”
“Yes, Professor!”
At the command, as if afraid the professor might change his mind, Seongjin hurriedly pulled a large plastic container from the department refrigerator.
He looked like he was welcoming a tiny savior who would finally free him from leeches.
“You know they’re 70,000 won per piece, right? If even one dies, Joo A-gang, I’ll deduct it from your salary! Take good care of them!”
“Professor…”
“Oh, do today’s rookies not care about that anymore? Fine then—if a leech is lost or dies, your return to duty will be delayed by one day per leech!”
After dropping that bombshell, Professor Park left the department.
This is insane.
A-gang looked on the verge of tears.
Leech duty on her first day.
Instead of going into the operating room, practicing procedures, and learning surgical skills…
She wanted to run out immediately and grab the professor by the waist to beg for forgiveness.
“Junior, please take good care of our leeches! They’re expensive, so handle them carefully!”
Seongjin placed a large container right in front of her.
“Yes, senior…”
A-gang answered almost in a sob, staring blankly at the square container.
Dozens of black leeches, each the size of a pinky finger, writhed and tangled inside the transparent box like a living dance.
“Ugh.”
“I can’t even if I’m told to do it.”
“Me neither. I’d rather kneel and beg. This is clearly the professor trying to assert authority.”
“But Senior Seongjin, why are these in the department fridge vegetable drawer? I feel like I’m going to throw up.”
“I kept them in the treatment room fridge before, but they kept dying. This place must have good energy—they survive well here.”
Seongjin still smiled brightly, his lips almost reaching his ears.
He looked like he was barely holding back a hum of satisfaction.
“Ugh, I’m never eating anything from that fridge again!”
“I already moved everything to the orthopedic department fridge across the hall.”
The other interns grimaced and stepped away.
Then it happened.
“Joo A-gang. A-gang? Hi! Nice to meet you!”
A girl with long hippie-permed hair tied it up high and approached A-gang’s side.
“There are only two female residents in PS, you and me, so let’s get along. You can drop honorifics too.”
“Ah—y-yeah!”
“I’m Sodam.”
“Nice to meet you!”
“Eat this and cheer up! I have to go because the professor is waiting. Fighting!”
Sodam pulled a handful of chocolate from her coat pocket, gently placed it beside the leech container, and skipped out of the department.
Her slightly narrowed eyes looked sympathetic.
“That poodle-like friendliness of hers is something else. Joo A-gang! Follow me!”
Seongjin muttered while watching Sodam leave and urged A-gang on.
“I’ll hand over the patient currently under leech treatment.”
“Yes…”
“Oh, I’m Kwak Seongjin. Second year. Since you’re not from our school, this is our first time meeting, right?”
“Nice to meet you, sir.”
“Having a junior finally join feels so good! Haha! You know we use leeches a lot in PS, right?”
“I’ve seen them in textbooks, but this is my first time seeing them in real life.”
“Leeches can do the work of several interns. Tiny things, but real experts. Precious little beings.”
Seongjin, walking ahead, turned back with a grin.
His steps down the ward corridor were unusually light as he gave the handover.
“The patient is 83 years old. While farming, his hand got caught in a soybean threshing machine and his index and middle fingers were amputated. He underwent finger replantation surgery three days ago.”
“Ah… yes…”
“If congestion develops, you’re dead meat in the professor’s eyes, so manage it carefully! Especially the leeches! The professor absolutely hates losing them, so be careful!”
Knock knock.
After a brief knock, Seongjin opened room 1208.
Under the long streaks of sunlight by the window, an elderly woman with neatly pinned white hair was chatting softly with a man who appeared to be her son.
“Did you sleep well, grandmother? This is our new resident. She’ll be helping with dressings and leech therapy starting today.”
The grandmother and son both turned to look at A-gang.
“Oh my, what a pretty young lady! How can someone be so fair and delicate?”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Joo A-gang! May I take a look for a moment?”
Carefully unwrapping the bandage, two leeches swollen with blood dropped onto the sterile pad with a soft plop.
“Ahh!”
A-gang let out a short scream.
They had grown several times larger than what she had seen in the department—puffy, almost the size of sausages.
“Focus! The patient is here—why are you more surprised than them?”
“I’m sorry, sir…”
“Oh my, it’s alright. It can be creepy! Young ladies these days probably don’t see leeches often.”
As A-gang looked close to tears from the scolding, the grandmother gently patted her shoulder with her uninjured hand.
“What a delicate flower-like girl doing such rough work. Tsk tsk. You should marry well and live comfortably instead of suffering like this.”
“Mom! What are you saying? And she’s a doctor, not just a girl!”
“I’m just saying it’s a pity. Our village headman’s third son runs a cattle business—he’s only in his fifties and has over eighty cattle…”
The son beside her nudged her discreetly, glancing at A-gang.
“What? Did I say something wrong again? I was just trying to help. Such delicate hands dealing with disgusting bugs…”
“I’m fine! Please recover quickly!”
A-gang forced a bright smile as she picked up a new leech with forceps.
“How much longer do I need this treatment?”
“Mom, not again. We agreed to follow the treatment.”
“These leeches would be everywhere in our rice fields back home, but in Seoul they’re worth gold.”
“Medicine has changed. These are medical leeches, so they’re expensive. Right, doctor?”
The son tried to explain carefully, worried about his mother’s feelings.
“We’ve already used over three hundred in just three days, changing them more than ten times a day… my heart can’t take it…”
“Mom, don’t worry about the money. What matters is recovery.”
“Our Dong-yi is spending all the money he worked so hard for…”
“I should just die sooner so you don’t have to waste money…”
“Mom, how could I ever regret spending money on saving your fingers? Even if it costs thousands, it’s worth it.”
I’m sorry I’m not successful enough to make you think like that.
The son lowered his head, gently holding his mother’s calloused fingers.
“Even if it looks disgusting, leeches are very helpful friends. You’ll get better soon.”
Seongjin nodded at A-gang and spoke quietly.
“Watch carefully. We attach the leeches to the grafted flap so fresh blood keeps flowing. If blood pools, the graft will necrotize—it’s only a matter of time. Then what happens to you?”
“…What happens?”
“You’re dead meat. Got it?”
“….”
“Check the skin color every hour. Drain pooled blood immediately. If it turns dark red or dusky, report to the professor immediately!”
“Yes, sir…”
“Don’t even think about sleeping until the patient improves. Checks are 24/7. Understand?”
After finishing the handover, Seongjin walked out with an almost unnaturally light step.
