In This Life, The Greatest Star In The Universe Chapter 45:

Chapter 45

Huh?

Whats happening to right now?

Without any ti to think, the scenery in front of changed.

The ergency room.

The sll of dicine and the chilly winter air, the noisy sounds of the ergency room.

It felt like I was experiencing VR.

I could perceive everything, but my body was sitting on a chair and couldnt move.

Whats going on here?

Before I could even ponder, there was a familiar face in front of .

An old man lying on a hospital bed.

It was Grandpa Choi Ik-hyun, the one I saved on the day of the college entrance exam last year.

What?

Is this real?

If I could move my hand, I would have pinched my cheek.

It was so vivid.

Everything around was realistic. Because it was literally reality.

Did I sohow go back to the past like in a movie? It was when I had such an absurd imagination.

-Cough!

My eyes turned to the old man who coughed and curled up.

The focus was on his ribs.

The area I pushed hard to save him.

At that ti, I felt sorry for him when I saw that.

What did I say then?

-Im sorry you seem to be in a lot of pain because of .

Even though I didnt move, my mouth moved and spoke on its own. It was a very amazing experience.

The lady next to waved her hand at my words.

-Oh, dont say that.

And the husband next to her nodded.

-If it wasnt for Seon Woo-ju, my father wouldnt have been able to lie on this bed, really.

-Thank you for thinking that way.

He said, handing a business card.

There was this writing on it, along with the hospital logo.

[Professor Choi Yong-jae, Pediatric and Adolescent Cancer Center]

Huh?

While I was feeling bewildered, the past chatted with the other person.

-If your grandmother is uncomfortable or if you need anything at the hospital, please contact . Ill help you as much as I can.

Just by looking at that, the scenery around started to change again.

It was reality again.

The hallway leading to the ward where Bi-jus younger brother was hospitalized,

I tried to move my hand as a test, and I could move it as I wanted.

It felt like I had been watching so kind of mory for a minute, but the ti in reality didnt seem to flow that way.

Hyung?

Bi-ju, who was walking ahead of , turned his head to . He asked with a puzzled look, and I handed him the bag.

Bi-ju, you said Minjun had to have another surgery, but you couldnt find a good professor, right?

Ah, yes.

Maybe

I swallowed my saliva and said.

There might be a good way.

Huh?

Take this. Can you go back to the ward first?

Brother, I dont know the way

Go left!

I shoved the bag of apples to the bewildered Bi-ju and headed towards where Professor Choi was.

Bi-ju was going to the right.

Bi-ju, left!

Ah, yes!

After confirming that he was going to the left, I approached the other person.

Hello!

He looked puzzled as I greeted him with a bright smile.

He did that for three seconds.

A hearty smile blood on the tired face of the middle-aged man.

Seon Woojoo?

Yes, its been a long ti. Professor.

My mind is still in chaos.

I dont know why the sudden flash phenonon occurred.

But that wasnt important right now.

Do you have so ti? I know it might be a bit sudden, but Id like to buy you a cup of coffee.

I decided to try my luck.

***

The hospital room was quiet.

My parents had quietly left the room to have a al, and Minjun, who had a fever all night, was asleep.

My one and only brother in the world.

Every year, when the new year ca, Kim Bi-ju made a wish.

Please make my brother better. I dont care if he doesnt beco an idol, just make him happy.

But his wish ca true in the opposite way.

He had won the music show even before his debut, and he had a dream-like happy ti.

On the other hand, his brothers health worsened as ti went by.

Lately, he had to be hospitalized several tis a month because of his high fever.

He didnt know his exact condition, but he could tell from the shadow on his parents faces that the situation was not good.

Today was a bit better than usual.

His fever had gone down a lot, and he had a good ti with his mbers.

It would have been nice if his sister was here too.

He wanted to show his mom a smiling face.

Thank you, everyone.

He thanked them in his heart as he looked around his mbers.

Kim Jung-hyun, who was sitting on the caregivers chair and reading Minjuns childrens science book, Seo Ri-hyuk, who was looking at his phone with a frown, Wang Ji-ho, who was resting his chin and lost in thought.

And Sunwoojoo, who was not here.

He covered his face with his hand as he thought of his face.

Ah, how embarrassing.

He would have been embarrassed even if he had done it in a place with a mood, but he had spilled his inner thoughts while picking out things at the mart.

I dont usually say things like that

He felt like he had told him everything, even the most trivial things.

But he couldnt help it.

He was waiting for him with his deep eyes, as if he would listen to whatever he said.

But he felt a little relieved.

It was the first ti he had told soone such a thing.

But why did he bring up the surgery?

He didnt understand what happened earlier.

Seon Woojoo had sparkled his eyes as if he had found an important opportunity.

And then he approached the man in the white coat.

Does he know the professor?

Kim Bi-ju thought that when he saw him.

Hey, hyung.

He turned his head and saw Wang Ji-ho sitting next to him, crouching.

He didnt have his usual witty expression, but a face that looked very nervous.

Kim Bi-ju smiled at him.

Is your ankle okay?

Yes, I put on the patch that hyung bought for .

Wang Ji-ho lifted his ankle and showed him the patch that was stuck on it. It was poorly attached and the corners were already loose.

Let see.

Kim Bi-ju properly attached the patch to the youngests ankle. Then he looked at Wang Ji-ho, who was crouching as if he had sothing to say.

I have sothing to say to hyung.

What is it?

Well Im sorry for being immature all this ti. I was also sorry for throwing a tantrum this morning because I was hungry. And Im sorry for ssing up the room all the ti. Oh, and

So thats what it was.

He had been pale since he t him at the hospital, so he thought his leg was hurting a lot.

But it turned out that he was watching his mood.

Hyung must have been worried about his brother every day, and Ri-hyuk and I always annoyed hyung at the dorm.

Dont drag into this. I was good to Bi-ju hyung.

Seo Ri-hyuk, who was looking at his phone, said.

The youngest, who had glared at him for a mont, looked around with a dejected face.

Im sorry. I shouldnt have done that.

Its okay.

Kim Bi-ju smiled and patted Wang Ji-hos head.

As I thought that, I wished Minjun would have so hair to stroke too.

I just thought you were cute as usual. Youre still like that.

Ill do better from now on.

too.

When Seo Ri-hyuk intervened, Wang Jinho frowned.

Why are you sneaking in when Im apologizing? Do it separately.

Dont you like it?

Guys.

Kim Jung-hyun, who was reading a book, spoke.

Minjun just fell asleep.

The two younger brothers imdiately shut their mouths. Seeing that, Kim Bi-ju smiled inwardly.

It was fine if they didnt change.

They were one of the few things that brought joy to his life.

He would feel happy whenever they liked his cooking, or whenever they wore the uniforms he ironed and left with a neat look.

While Wang Jinho and Seo Ri-hyuk were having a staring contest, Kim Jung-hyun ca over.

Where did Woojoo hyung go?

I dont know. He said he had sothing to say to a doctor he knew.

Unlike the two younger brothers, Kim Jung-hyun was a comfortable friend to him.

He was the sa age and didnt need any special care, a friend who lived well on his own.

Maybe that was why he told him his situation early on.

Then.

What about Woojoo hyung to ?

It was hard to define in one word.

Seon Woojoo was one of those people who seed familiar yet unfamiliar.

Sotis he seed very warm, but sotis he was cold.

When he rested, he would lie on the sofa all day like the laziest person in the world, but on weekdays he would stay up all night in the practice room.

Sotis he would lock himself up for hours working on a song.

He was a person who was hard to figure out.

One thing for sure was that he made impossible things possible.

He snatched the first place in the year-end evaluation when the morale was at its lowest, and he snatched the first place in music shows and music charts.

So if he had to define Seon Woojoo, he would say he was soone he wanted to rely on.

He felt like he could solve all his problems.

He wanted to tell him his worries.

That was why he confided in him about his brothers reoperation earlier.

Thats ridiculous.

Seon Woojoo was not Superman, how could he solve his brothers hospital problem?

Unless he had so connections.

It was hard enough to schedule a surgery with his fathers network, who used to be a college professor.

He was thinking that when it happened.

Bi-ju!

The sound of the door opening and the scream startled everyone.

The one who opened the door and ca in was his mother.

Mom?

His mother, whose face was flushed, ran towards him. And then she hugged him tightly.

He was confused.

What was going on?

He wiped the tears from his mothers eyes and asked.

Mom, whats wrong?

Minjun, Minjun

She couldnt finish her sentence, as if she had a lump in her throat. Kim Bi-ju calmly waited for her to speak.

Minjuns surgery date has been set!

What?

They said they could schedule the surgery!

What did she an?

Not only the mbers, but he also stood there with a bewildered expression.

Then three n appeared at the door.

Seon Woojoo, who had a faint smile on his face, his father, who had tears in his eyes like his mother, and the doctor he had seen earlier.

His mother wiped her tears and smiled.

Bi-ju, this is Professor Choi Yongjae.

Ah.

It was a na he had heard before.

He was an authority in pediatric cancer surgery. He heard that it would take at least three months to get a surgery from him.

He was thinking that when it happened.

Professor Choi said he would supervise our Minjuns surgery.

Really?

I would not have been more surprised if the world was going to end tomorrow. Kim Bi-ju opened his eyes wide and looked at his father.

He nodded.

And the calm-looking professor standing in the middle.

Kim Bi-ju awkwardly greeted him and then looked at Seon Woojoo.

He felt an indescribable heaviness as he saw him nodding with a smile.

***

I thought of the characters from Toy Story.

The green aliens.

The cuties who waited in the claw machine and said ooh whenever sothing happened.

The people in front of were like that.

Every ti Professor Choi Yongjae continued to speak, the people in the room said oh, ah, and um.

The surgery schedule will be like this. I dont an to be rude, but you must not tell anyone about what happened today. It could cause trouble if the word gets out.

Yes! Yes! Of course.

Bi-ju mother kept nodding.

Bi-ju father took off his glasses and wiped his tears with his sleeve.

How can we thank you for this You gave up your vacation for us

If you want to thank soone, you should thank Seon Woojoo here.

Professor Choi pointed at .

Hes the benefactor who saved my fathers life at the risk of his own. How can I refuse his request? I have to help him as much as I can.

They all looked at with pressure.

Professor Choi added.

Of course, I cant guarantee that the surgery will go well. But I can tell you this. I will do my best to supervise it.

He didnt give the patient any false hope, as doctors do.

But his sincerity was conveyed by his best.

Bi-jus parents and our mbers bowed their heads repeatedly.

Finally, when Professor Choi left the room, my siblings ran to .

Hyung, whats going on?

Did you know that professor?

Is this real?

I explained to them slowly.

He was the son of the grandfather I saved on the day of the college entrance exam, and I happened to run into him today and asked him for a favor.

I cautiously asked for his help, but he counter-offered to supervise the surgery himself.

Bi-jus parents t him on their way up to the ward.

When the short story was over, Bi-ju couldnt continue.

Hyung

But I couldnt say anything either.

Bi-jus father ca up to and hugged .

Thank you, really.

I heard his voice, which sounded just like his sons, in my ear.

Before I could co to my senses, his mother and Bi-ju joined us. I dont know why I was in the arms of this crying family.

I didnt feel bad.

Rather, I felt good.

Mom, whats wrong?

Minjun, who was asleep when the professor ca, woke up from the noise. He looked at us with a bewildered face.

Bi-ju quickly explained the situation to him.

And that day.

In my hand, as I returned to the hostel, was a trophy model of a board ga.

It was the trophy Minjun gave .

It was much smaller than the trophy I received for winning the music show, but it was a more precious gift to .

***

And a little later.

We were in the practice room, sitting around the phone, listening to the news.

It was the result of Minjuns surgery.

My mother, who was sobbing, told us what the professor had said.

It went very well.

So buy him a backpack and school supplies before next spring.