Chapter 33: CH 33

Yiyoung stared at Dr. Park, eyes wide with surprise. “What? What did you just say, ma’am? I couldn’t hear you. Maybe there’s something wrong with my ear.”

Dr. Park put her wet hands on Yiyoung’s face and repeated, “Go on a blind date. You’ll only take care of yourself if you have someone next to you.”

When Yiyoung looked away to avoid answering, and Dr. Park added, “Don’t fool around.”

Yiyoung merely rolled her eyes in response, before finally saying, “A blind date? No, I don’t want to.”

Dr. Park squeezed Yiyoung’s cheeks, making her lips pucker up like a goldfish. “You don’t want to? Why? Didn’t you say you want me to feel better? Did you not mean it?”

“How will me going on a blind date make you feel better? That’s very sly of you!”

“Well, I get to be sly to you.”

Yiyoung puffed up her cheeks in indignation, and it would have made Dr. Park burst into laughter had she not desperately held it in. “You need to go on a date. You need to realize how pretty and great of a woman you are by meeting someone. Don’t just work at the hospital all the time!” Said Dr. Park with a serious face.

“You’re the one who said I look like a skeleton.”

“Oh gosh, really? You want to do this right now?” Dr. Park jokingly raised her hand, and Yiyoung yelped as if she was hurt.

Dr. Park glared at her. “Just go on the date. I’ll set up everything, just get there when I call you.”

Yiyoung hummed warily.

“He’s a good guy.” Dr. Park tapped her friend on the shoulder when she noticed the frown on her face. “It’s always hard in the beginning, but once you start, you’ll be fine. And who knows? You might end up meeting someone who you’re meant to be with. No matter what, this has to be the year you go on your first date!”

Yiyoung sighed on the outside, but deep down, she agreed with her friend. She was a 32 year old ER specialist and had yet to experience her first relationship. “Fine. I’ll go, but only if it’s just having dinner with him. Nothing more than that.”

“Dinner or coffee, I don’t care what you do as long as you meet him. Just be there when I call you. It’s not like I’m going to force you to date him.”

“This is the only time, okay?”

“Yes, just this once.”

“Park Jaehee,” Yiyoung said sternly.

“I promise!” Dr. Park said earnestly, “After the first date, you can do whatever you want.”

Yiyoung sighed again, unable to find it in herself to reject her friend’s suggestion.

* * *

Yiyoung’s phone rang just as she got off the bus.

Uncle Sangsu’s voice blared through the speaker, “Where are you? Are you still at work?”

“No, I’m headed home,” Yiyoung replied, “I just got off at the bus stop.”

“Great. Your aunt made your favorite, so come and have dinner with us.”

“Really? Did she add clams as well?”

“Of course she did. Don’t be late.”

Yiyoung began to walk down the road. “Do you need anything? I’ll buy it on the way over.”

“No. But your aunt made so much dough… Just be prepared to be stuffed tonight.”

“Okay!” She hung up the phone, her steps becoming eager from the excitement.

By the time she reached Sangsu’s house, his wife, Honghee was pouring soup into the bowls. Honghee noticed Yiyoung and said, “Come on in! How was your day?”

Sangsu entered the room, setting down a bowl of kimchi on the dining table. “She’s being a workaholic, again. It hasn’t been long since she fainted, and she’s still coming home after working for 36 hour straight.”

Yiyoung reached out a hand to help move the plates, but Sangsu stopped her immediately. “Don’t even think about it. I don’t want you to do this after working for so long.”

“Oh, come on. I’m only a human, so there are times when I can’t help but work long. Why is working overtime such a big deal?” Yiyoung whined.

Sangsu’s face turned serious. “Of course it’s a big deal. There’s a saying, when someone dies without having gone on a date even once, they can’t go to heaven. Ah, I’m so depressed! You won’t be allowed in heaven all because you haven’t been on a single date yet.”

Yiyoung laughed out loud; the sight of the intimidating Sangsu being emotional was always funny. “I’m going to start dating!”

“You’re claiming that while working over 36 hours at the ER? Sure.” Sangsu said sarcastically.

“My goodness, stop it now. Can’t you leave the poor child alone?” Honghee lightly smacked Sangsu on the back, putting an end to his antics.

“Thank you, Auntie,” said Yiyoung.

Honghee handed a spoon to Yiyoung. “You already know Sangsu loves you dearly, don’t you? Don’t worry too much about what he says.”

“Okay.” Yiyoung nodded and dug into the food: her favorite dish filled with clams!

Sangsu wasn’t joking when he warned her; by the time dinner was over, Yiyoung was rubbing her stomach and praying it wouldn’t explode. “I ate too much, Auntie, all thanks to you…”

Honghee smiled. “Glad to hear you had a good meal.”

“I’ll do the dishes.”

“Oh, you will? Thank you.”

Yiyoung stood up and wiped down the table. Just as she was taking the empty plates to the kitchen sink, Sangsu approached her and asked, “Are you still taking the restorative herb medicine we gave you?”

It was then that Yiyoung decided she would never faint again. She was known for being strong, so when she, of all people, collapsed, it worried everyone to no end. Honghee was especially concerned after the incident, and ordered Yiyoung to take some restorative herb medicines. “Of course. Auntie gave them to me, so I would definitely take them.”

“You should! And earlier… Did you really mean it when you said you’re going to start dating? You weren’t just lying to make me feel better, were you?” Sangsu had made a promise to a 14 year old Yiyoung. True to his word, he became her uncle in all but blood. He cared for her just like a niece, so it was a given that he was so concerned about her future and health.

“Dr. Park said she’ll set up a blind date for me,” Yiyoung explained.

“Really? That’s good to hear! When is it?”

“I guess whenever the schedule allows it.”

“You’re talking as if it’s someone else’s date.”

“That’s because it’s my first date…”

“You’ll definitely go, right?”

“You’re not the only one pressuring me to go,” Yiyoung huffed.