Golden Time

His face was also handsome like a movie star’s. It was Kim Hyunwoo.

“What are you doing here?”

Kim Hyunwoo, with a slight smile, scrutinized Suhyuk up and down.

Suhyuk, dressed in a white gown, seemed to be a doctor already.

No, the Suhyuk he had in mind was already a doctor.

Even though he had no medical license, he was taking care of his mother.

“Well, I came here to inquire after someone’s health. By the way, who is this person?”

“Oh, he is the professor here.”

Kim Jinwook also wore a curious look.

“This is a person I know...”

“I’m Suhyuk’s uncle. I hope he is in good hands.”

Kim Hyunwoo reached for a handshake.

“Oh, no need to say that. He’s a very smart student.”

“Indeed he is,” said Kim Hyunwoo, looking at him proudly as if he was his nephew.

“Well, next time I’ll see you again.”

Kim Hyunwoo moved straight to the elevator. At that moment he looked back at Suhyuk.

“Next week is my mother’s birthday and I hope you can come. She really wants to see you.”

She was irritated daily because she wanted to see the doctor.

“Yes, I will certainly come and see her.”

With a peeking smile he got on the elevator.

“Has he ever come to the hospital before?” Kim Jinwook asked.

Suhyuk shook his head at his question.

“I think it’s the first time he’s come here.”

‘Kim Hyunwoo knew I was practicing at Daehan MS. If he had wanted to come here,

he would surely have contacted me first.’

The professor nodded his head slowly at Suhyuk’s words.

Prof. Kim had seen his face before many times somewhere, but he couldn’t recall where that was.

‘Where did I see him before?’

“Prof. Kim, what are you doing here?”

Prof. Lee was walking down towards him.

Kim Jinwook bowed his head and said h.e.l.lo.

“Long time no see. I should have come to see you first...”

“We are not the kind of people who are just happy-go-lucky. I wish we would find a new talent, so that we can take a break,” said Prof. Lee.

Lee’s eyes gleaming at Suhyuk shone as if he were looking at bars of gold.

“Then let’s see each other next time.”

Prof. Lee then prodded on Suhyuk.

“Let’s go.”

“Well, professor Lee,” said Kim.

Lee, who was moving forward, glanced at Kim with a flinch. He felt something doubtful.

“What do you have to say?”

“I think you are going out for dinner. Can I join you? I only had bread for lunch...”

Lee looked at Suhyuk with an embarra.s.sed look.

“I’m okay, but I think this guy will be uncomfortable.”

“Hahaha. It’ll be okay. I’ve known him all along, from the time when I was an intern.”

At that moment Prof. Lee knitted his brows.

***

An old-fas.h.i.+oned home decorated with tiles.

The two professors and Suhyuk sat in a neat room.

“Of the specialty beef restaurants I have visited, there is no place like this for meat. Just go ahead and eat it.”

“Thanks for the meat.” Suhyuk put the raw meat on the stove.

Befitting the expensive price of the meat, the stove was made of red clay. As soon as the meat was put on, the red color of the thin beef disappeared in an instant.

“Eat it quickly. You’re supposed to eat it as soon as beef is put on the stove.”

At Kim’s words, Suhyuk took the meat into his mouth.

“It melts in your mouth,” was exactly the right expression.

The meat disappeared in his mouth even with just a few times of chewing. Suddenly his parents came to his mind.

‘I’ll have to come back here later with them.’

Kim Jinwook and Lee Mansuk continued to drink, while Suhyuk was eating the meat.

“Professor Lee, please drink it with the meat. Otherwise it’s bad for your stomach.”

Lee smiled at his words.

“Well, I do not have appetizers when I drink alcohol. Why don’t you eat it? Didn’t you say you had only bread for lunch...”

“Well, I just feel bloated even though I ate a little. Can I order one more bottle of alcohol?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

Although both of them did not directly express their intention, they knew it well.

This was a battle of pride to them. Whoever drinks himself down first is the loser, and the winner is given the right to win over Suhyuk’s heart.

Neither of them could ever back down and each was confident.

Both of them have never been defeated before in a drinking battle.

Empty bottles continued to pile up, with one bottle, two bottles...

And when the full course of beef was served out, Kim Jinwook, whose face got hotter with intoxication, started to speak up in earnest,

“You served me delicious meat, so let me treat you at another place. I know of a great bar that I stop by at sometimes.”

“Sure, why not? I would feel sorry if we part here.”

Kim heard his answer as a clear provocation. He could not be beaten.

Suhyuk shook his head quietly at both of them. It looked like they were determined to drink throughout the night.

“Then, let me leave first...” said Suhyuk.

The two professors shouted at him, “You should come with us!”

***

A room where sweet jazz was playing. Fresh fruits of the four seasons were well placed on the table. Kim Jinwook opened the lid of hard liquor and said,

“I drank 38 year-old Royal Salute the other day, and it tasted very good, I wonder if you’d like it.”

“It’s a pretty expensive liquor. I know it’s over two million won.”

“That’ why I only drink it sometimes, and seeing as I have come here tonight with you, I have to serve this much. hahaha.”

‘You want me to drink it up and get knocked down.’

Lee, who muttered like that, drank it with a smile.

“Oh, Suhyuk. You too should have a drink.”

Suhyuk drank it without any reservation.

How was the taste of such an expensive hard liquor?

Clink, clink.

Suhyuk, who rolled ice in the cup several times, swallowed it instantly just like when he drank soju.

He felt it going down his esophagus, and he could feel some sort of fragrance inside the mouth that he could not express in words.

‘That’s why people like to drink this kind of liquor.’

He could probably understand why it was expensive.

“You are drinking well. Have another drink.”

Suhyuk did not refuse it again this time.

As he was not in a position to join the conversation, he just had to drink.

An hour pa.s.sed quickly.

When the liquor ordered ran out, Lee, very drunk, shouted at Kim, “Order one more bottle. Let me buy this time.”

At that moment, Suhyuk rose from his seat.

“Where are you going?” the two professors opened their mouths at the same time.

“To the bathroom...”

Their surprised look went back to normal instantly.

“Okay, come back soon.”

Inside the bathroom Suhyuk cooled off his hot face by was.h.i.+ng it.

Was it because he drank hard liquor first? He got tipsy instantly.

He felt as if would fall asleep if he closed his eyes.

“I have to say that I have to leave first.”

It was already 1am. After drying his wet hands, he went out the door.

At that moment, he ran into a man’s shoulder.

“f.u.c.k you! Open your eyes straight, okay?!”

Suhyuk, who had a slight twist in his face for a moment, soon said, “Sorry.”

There was nothing good that would come about for him if he were to deal with such a guy.

It won’t cause any trouble if one backs down first, and it was a place where there were the professors waiting for him.

“Watch out!” said the guy, going into the bathroom quickly.

Suhyuk moved his body again. He put his hand on the the wall while stumbling along.

Was it because he drank too much? He felt dizzy.

Moreover his black pupils had shrunk considerably and went back to normal in an instant.

The man who b.u.mped into Suhyuk then came out.

“What the h.e.l.l are you doing here? Just go home and hit the sack if you’re drunk.”

Staggering along, he pa.s.sed by Suhyuk.

Suhyuk, who had his head lowered down, raised his head slowly.

His eyes rested on the guys back.

Suhyuk began to step towards his back.

***

“d.a.m.n, it’s killing me.”

The staggering man walked through the alley and walked well.

“Hey.”

Did he hear someone calling him from behind? The man kept walking on.

“Hey.”

Only then did the man turn back.

“What the h.e.l.l?”

It was Suhyuk.

The man burst into laughter.

“You son of a b.i.t.c.h, were you following me like a puppy? Were you mad at me because of my swearing?”

Clenching his fist, he approached Suhyuk while cracking his finger knuckles.

“Sorry, but you’ll get beaten up tonight seeing as you have followed me up to here.”

He threw his fist at Suhyuk’s face fiercely.

Surprisingly, it was the man who made a stuffy groan.

He had his back against the wall, and Suhyuk was pressing down his neck with his forearms.

“Oh, you son of a b.i.t.c.h...!” He could not speak any further.

It was because Suhyuk grabbed the ribs with his fingers.

Suhyuk grasped the ribs so perfectly that he would have broken the ribs if he pressed it a little harder. Suhyuk looked into his eyes coldly.

“What did you say to me?”

“f.u.c.k you!” said the guy, but he could not say any more because of the feeling that his ribs were going to fall out. Suhyuk was pressing down on the ribs more and more.

If he had pressed even more, the bones would break sharply and would be able to cause serious damage to his organs.

It was really like using one’s bones as a sword.

“What did you say to me?”

The man apologized hastily. He felt that if he resisted any more, Suhyuk would break his bones.

Though he was drunk, he could definitely sense it, because his body gave a warning that Suhyuk was dangerous.

“I’m sorry. Let go hold of your grasp first.”

Suhyuk laughed.

“You a.s.shole... you should have checked your opponent first before attacking him.”

As soon as he said that, the man’s body was thrown plummeting to the floor.

Suhyuk hurled him down. Suhyuk’s foot hit his face.

“You want to be killed? How dare you hit me?”

At that moment someone shouted,

“Het, stop right there!”

Police were coming towards them.

Someone, noticing them tangled as if they were fighting, had reported to the police.

Suhyuk, who was kicking him, stopped and muttered, “d.a.m.n it.”

***

It was noisy and chaotic in the police box.

A drunken man sang a song loudly, and hurled curses as if he could not get over his anger over something. Among them was Suhyuk, who was sweeping up his hair.

Instead of responding to the police officer’s questions, he just looked at the guy who had a fight with him as if he was still mad.

The guy who took a glance at Suhyuk said,

“Oh, it’s okay with me. I do not want to do anything like taking charges. Just let me go, please. I’m busy!”

With a frown, the police officer nodded his head with an appreciating gesture.

“You said you do not want to take charges and you just want to go home? Got it. But as someone reported to us, all you have to do is write down some details on the paperwork. As it’s our job, we can’t help it. It’ll be done quickly, So, give me your ID, please.”

“I didn’t bring my wallet.”

The officer gave a little sigh and gave him a piece of paper.

“Write down your name and the resident number before going.”

With a pen, he started to write down his personal information in a hurry.

The officer then approached Suhyuk this time.

“Hey, you heard me talking to him. As he said he didn’t want to take charges, just fill out this and go home. Stop drinking.”

Then someone called the officer from behind.

“Hey, brother.”

The officer turned back.

A rookie officer, with a flyer in hand, was staring at the guy filling out the form.

“F*ck!”

Throwing away the pen, he jumped out of the police box quickly.

“Catch that b.a.s.t.a.r.d!”

The police followed him instantly.