Chapter 14: The Results of the Surgeries and the Cost of Living

Time kept moving forward, and we moved to the waiting room. After an hour, a nurse came and told my parents that aunt Seonmi's operation was a success and her life was no longer in danger.

There was still no news about uncle Jung. But just the news about auntie was enough for Seonhwa to look much more relaxed, and then it took only a few minutes for her to fall asleep while leaning on me. I could only move her to make her as comfortable as possible; these hours must have been hellish for her.

My parents also looked more relieved, but their tension was still high because uncle Jung's survival was still hanging by a thread.

The hours kept passing, Seonhwa woke up at some point and we were almost reaching the seventh hour of waiting, that is when a clearly exhausted doctor came to inform us.

"Are you Mr. and Mrs. Seol? The relatives of Mr. Yoo Jung?" asked the doctor. My parents nodded, but before they could say anything, the doctor fixed his gaze on Seonhwa and me and then once more on my parents as if to confirm something with them.

When he did that, my heart sank; the news is not good, I felt that what he would say next could break Seonhwa's heart, she did not notice the doctor's subtle exchange of glances with my parents.

The doctor seemed to make a decision and before my parents could say anything he spoke first.

"First the good news, Mr. Yoo Jung overcame the operation, but we will keep him under surveillance in the intensive care unit until his life is out of danger," said the doctor in a tired tone.

My parents looked quite relieved and Seonhwa hugged me tightly while saying "thank you" many times.

But I know that this is like claiming victory too soon, the intensive care unit means that he needs life support until his body recovers and there are great risks that he might die before the body condition improves.

"As for the following news, I have to ask that the minors leave us alone, it is a matter among adults, so I ask for a little cooperation from you children," said the doctor while looking at Seonhwa and me.

"Honey, why don't you take Seonhwa to buy some drinks, we won't take long talking to the doctor," my mom said. To which I nodded and took Seonhwa's hand and dragged her with me, she wanted to stay and listen but obviously she couldn't.

We walked away and went to a vending machine that was not too far from the waiting room, far enough that a normal person could not hear them, especially if they speak in a low voice.

Using my [Physical Reinforcement] to the maximum to enhance my hearing capacity through, I could hear the conversation.

"What I'm going to say is difficult, but I have to do it. The operation was successful and Mr. Yoo withstood it well, but the problem is what happens afterward. The brain damage was extensive and he will need life support from the intensive care unit for a very long period of time to have a chance to recover.

The cost of being in the intensive care unit is very high and I need to know if you can afford it and the time he will be there is indeterminate. Therefore, the decision to keep him there usually falls to the immediate family, in this case, it would be the wife. But given the circumstances where she is unable to make such a decision and has no other relatives to make it, the decision falls on you as the next in line on the legal reference list in your documents," said the doctor.

"What about medical insurance? I'm sure it has to cover the expenses, right?" asked my dad.

"We have already contacted them, but the medical insurance they have will only cover the surgery fees for both Mr. and Mrs. Yoo, the subsequent care and ICU will not be covered," said the doctor regretfully.

"How much will the intensive care unit expenses be?" asked my mom nervously.

"Each day in the ICU has a value of 1,500,000 won," said the doctor. His words were like a blow to my parents, and I understand why.

That amount of money is equivalent to half a month's salary for one of my parents. It could be said that in 4 days of ICU they would spend a whole month's salary of both of my parents.

I know my parents have some savings, but no matter how much it is, it would last at most for one month of ICU, and according to what the doctor said, the time Uncle Jung will need in the ICU will be long and indeterminate, it could be a few weeks or months or even years...

"There are installment payment methods for medical bills, right, we can use one of those. We could pay it over several years," said my dad with some hope.

"They do exist, but they only apply to patients who have a good measurable prognosis for recovery. In the case of Mr. Yoo, unfortunately they do not apply. It really saddens me that the world operates based on money, but that is how it is. I can't do anything about it. I can only advise you. I have seen cases like this before, and really, some patients don't leave the ICU for several months, most do it in two or three weeks.

Don't worry or strain your economy. I see that you have children and a future, don't sacrifice more than you can for false hopes. Give Mr. Yoo one, two, or maybe 3 weeks, whatever your economy allows, and if it doesn't work, then don't risk what you have for sure. I have seen many families fall into tragedy by sacrificing beyond what they can afford," said the doctor with much regret.

My parents thanked the doctor and told him to keep Uncle Jung under care, at least for a few days they can pay without suffering an economic downturn and would use that time to make a decision, and they said goodbye.

Seonhwa was desperate to try to go to them to listen to what they were talking about, but I didn't let her go, and now that they finally finished talking, we approached.

"Is everything okay, uncle, auntie? Is there a problem with dad?" Seonhwa asked worriedly.

"No dear, there is no problem, they were adult things that you don't have to worry about, we were just talking about paying medical bills and those things, don't worry and leave it to us," said mom trying to smile and reassure Seonhwa.

Fortunately, it seemed to work somehow, and seeing how the situation was, my parents decided that we should go back home. The doctors said that Aunt Senomi would not wake up for 3 or 4 days and she would be the one to improve the fastest, so Seonhwa couldn't protest much even though she wanted to stay.

To finish convincing her, I told her that we still had to go home and take care of Seunghae, who was still with Jinhee and Hyung, who stayed to take care of them today.

So we all went home together. The trip was slow and silent, none of us were in much of a mood to talk, and we all had worries. My parents are most likely worried about the money and how to maintain the costs of uncle Jung if his recovery takes too long.

Seonhwa is most likely worried about everything that is happening, especially what to tell Seunghae when she asks about the uncles.

And I'm worried about the damn wretches of the Nightmare Gang, a problem I have to solve sooner rather than later. I can't wait too long, or they might try to finish what they started if they find out that the uncles are still alive.

I have to go after them, find out who they are, why they targeted the uncles, and most importantly, get revenge. The anger, pain, and suffering they have caused us, I will not forgive them.

We arrived at the house. Hyung, when he saw us, came straight to hug Seonhwa and me and then my parents. Jinhee and Seunghae did the same, although they don't understand what is happening, now that they are 6 years old, they can realize that something was not normal. And then Seunghae asked the question that no one wanted, but that we knew would happen sooner or later.

She asked about the uncles, and my parents told her that they had to stay working and that they would spend a few days working, that in the meantime she and Seonhwa would stay with us.

We all went along with that and somehow managed to calm her down, but like any child her age, not seeing her parents for a full day is not easy. The more days pass, I know things will get more complicated. I even remember how both sisters suffered in the novel because of their parents' death, and now that I personally know them, it hurts just to think about their suffering.