It’s Not a Hand Problem

The waiting room is buzzing with noise.

"Word must have gotten out about this place. Where did you hear about it?"

"I was eating kimbap and overheard a conversation at the next table. They say the acupuncture here is so good that the building owner didn't even want to charge them rent?"

"Hey, that’s a bit of an exaggeration."

"I guess so? We'll find out once we get treated."

There are people who came separately but bumped into familiar faces, and then there are the neighborhood ladies who seem to have come together.

"I'm glad we came early. They said they only take twenty reservations, so it’ll fill up fast."

"What are you here to get treated for?"

"My back. How about you?"

"Maybe I should ask them to take a look at my knee arthritis?"

Those who came alone are looking around the clinic, secretly eavesdropping on other people's conversations.

'I only came because they said they were giving out opening gifts... are they really that good at acupuncture?'

'Is there something special here? I was just going to grab the gift and go back to Somyung Clinic...'

And here, there was someone holding the glorious number 1 waiting ticket.

She was none other than Gil Hye-young, the owner of Gille Hair.

With a slanted bob cut with bangs swept to one side and voluminous wine-colored hair, she scanned the clinic with the eyes of a hawk.

'A neighborhood hair salon only stays busy if you keep up with the latest rumors.'

Hair styling skills? She prides herself on being top-tier.

But in a neighborhood commercial district where competition has become even more intense since COVID-19, she needed a special selling point.

-I went there, it’s nothing special.

-I went there, it’s amazing!

Which of the two rumors would she be bringing back today?

First, she carefully inspected the waiting room.

'They spent some money on the interior, huh?'

As a hairdresser, she had a keen eye for aesthetics. Even at a glance, the wood wasn't MDF with a sticker, but real solid wood, and the high ceilings made the interior look quite luxurious.

Next, her gaze landed on the director's profile hanging ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in the waiting room.

'Oh, he’s a Kyung-hyun University graduate. And he graduated at the top of his class?'

This was the point that had made Shin Nakhyun nod with satisfaction. Given Kyungwoo’s personality, he wouldn't have put such a blatant remark like on his profile for a normal opening... but since he had the firm goal of taking down the Somyung Oriental Clinic across the street, he intended to use every means possible, as long as it wasn't illegal.

'Plus, he’s a specialist. He’s handsome, too... The director is a bit young, but then again, young directors are good these days. The Somyung director is young, too.'

Like that, the material for her gossip was being updated in her head... but she didn't have high expectations for the treatment itself.

'Well, occupational diseases are friends for life.'

Her ailment was the numbness and stiffness in her right hand. Since she used her hands all day for shampooing and cutting hair, it was a condition she had lived with for a long time.

'Somyung told me to come consistently three times a week, too.'

But how could a working person manage that? Forget three times a week; it was a miracle if she could go even once. Somyung often had long wait times, so when she couldn't go, she’d just ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠get a massage at the management room next door.

Finally, 10:00 AM sharp.

"Ms. Gil Hye-young, I will guide you."

The desk staff called for Gil Hye-young. She followed the staff and asked,

"Do you do your own hair at the salon?"

"Pardon? No, I do it myself."

"You have a knack for it."

Showing off her max-level social skills, Gil Hye-young arrived at the director's office.

"Hello. Where are you feeling uncomfortable today?"

"I work with my hands, so my right hand is always stiff and uncomfortable. Well, it’s an occupational disease, so I don't expect it to get completely better, but..."

The director looked at her hand for a moment and then said something like a fortune teller.

"You must work in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hairdressing."

"Oh my, how did you know?"

"Your flexor digitorum muscles are well-developed, you have chronic eczema from frequent contact with water, and there are wounds under your fingernails where hair has pierced the skin."

"Gasp, Director, are you Sherlock Holmes?"

"Hairdressing is tough work, so many people come to the clinic. Today, we will treat the hand numbness, and I’ll give you an herbal ointment for the eczema. And while it’s true that eczema flares up when it touches water, the hand numbness can be cured."

"It can be... cured?"

"Let me check your pulse for a moment."

After sensing Gil Hye-young’s body, Kyungwoo confirmed that it matched his expectations exactly.

'As I thought, it’s not a hand problem.'

"Today, we will not be treating your hand."

"Then?"

"We will be treating here."

Kyungwoo pointed to Gil Hye-young’s chest area.

* * *

Gil Hye-young moved to the treatment room.

'Oh my, it’s a single room?'

She asked the staff member who brought her in,

"Are all the rooms single rooms here?"

"We have single and double rooms. The double rooms are separated by curtains."

'Single and double rooms! Our customers would love this. By the way, do they hire staff based on their looks?'

The staff member, who spoke with a slight Chungcheong-do accent, had a fair, clear face without any makeup and a pure atmosphere. But her hands were incredibly nimble. She set up the disposable bed sheet and pillowcase in five seconds flat, guided her to change into a gown, and closed the door.

After spending a satisfying time with a hot pack and physical therapy in a quiet space filled with low music, Director Gil had already given this clinic a score of 8 or higher.

'At this level, even if the director’s skills were mediocre, I’d tell people to just go try it. Isn't it a bargain to pay 10,000 won and rest comfortably in a private room for 40 minutes?'

The director entered.

"Did you have any discomfort while receiving physical therapy?"

"It was wonderful."

"Yes, then let’s begin the treatment."

Now it was time to confirm the reality of the claim that he would treat her chest because her hand was uncomfortable.

"The numbness usually goes down this way, right?"

The outside of the hand, meaning the 4th and 5th fingers.

"Yes, that’s right."

"Haven't you been to other hospitals?"

"I went to the clinic in front of here, and they suspected a herniated neck disc, so I even got an MRI, but they said my neck was fine. But I really use my hands a lot. It has to be a hand problem..."

"It would have been good to visit another place. Actually, it’s not a difficult condition to diagnose."

Ms. Hye-young tilted her head.

'Does this mean... Somyung misdiagnosed it?'

"Now, look at this."

The director pressed firmly around Gil Hye-young’s right neck. In less than 30 seconds, the numbness intensified sharply.

"Ahhh!"

"This is a condition called Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Have you heard of it?"

"Huh? I think I’ve heard of it on morning information programs."

"The symptoms are similar to a herniated neck disc, but they are actually different. The nerve bundle called the brachial plexus is being compressed around here. It frequently occurs in people who perform a lot of movements that shorten the pectoralis minor and scalene muscles. Fortunately, the blood vessels haven't been compressed yet, so it will improve with treatment."

"If I get treated... will it really get better?"

"Yes. It’s a disease that can sufficiently avoid recurrence if you follow a few precautions and do consistent stretching after treatment."

'Wow...'

She was tempted by the fact that it could be cured, but Gil Hye-young was moved by the director’s attitude of explaining things in detail even though patients were piling up.

'This place is truly amazing, isn't it?'

She had come to collect rumors, but Gil Hye-young was becoming a genuine believer.

"Now, so we need to loosen the pectoralis minor and scalene muscles that have shortened and are pressing on the nerves, but there is one problem here."

"A problem?"

"Both are muscles known for having a particularly 'nasty' acupuncture sensation."

Pfft-

Gil Hye-young burst into laughter. It was a little funny to see the director, who had been explaining things so seriously, suddenly frown and blurt out that the acupuncture sensation was 'nasty.'

"This isn't the time to be laughing..."

"Oh my, you say you’ll cure me, so how could I not endure that? I’m a person who has given birth to two children."

"Labor pain. There isn't much pain that compares to that. Then, I will proceed with confidence."

"Yes, do whatever you want."

However, the reason Kyungwoo frowned wasn't just out of concern for the patient. If he chose this condition to practice on this evening, he imagined sticking needles into his own scalene and pectoralis minor muscles... which meant the acupuncture sensation was truly nasty.

"Aack! W-wait a second!"

"It will be over soon."

"Aaaack!"

On the first day of the opening, the scream of the first patient rang out. Fortunately, the suspicious noise from the soundproofed single room was buried by the faint music and didn't spread far.

"I will also apply herbal acupuncture."

"Do as you please... just kill me and bring me back to life..."

Director Gil, whose mouth was still alive even while sprawled out in exhaustion. After that bout of chaos ended.

"Huh? Why is this like this?"

Director Gil was bewildered while changing her clothes. The hand numbness that had tormented her so much... she couldn't feel it at all?

"What is this? Did you use anesthesia? Whoa... I have to go tell the customers right away!"

Miyoung was watching that scene with hawk-like eyes from outside the treatment room.

* * *

A message in the promised format arrived from the treatment room. Kang Sera was very bewildered after seeing it.

'Is this... correct?'

The diagnosis was Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. This is a condition that usually requires at least 2 to 3 months based on 2 to 3 treatments per week.

'But... once a week for 4 weeks, so it ends in 4 treatments?'

Even though she was busy with many customers, Kang Sera eventually went to find Miyoung in the treatment room herself.

"Miyoung, the message you just sent, is this a typo?"

"Ms. Gil Hye-young? Just a moment."

The two had settled their titles yesterday. Kang Sera had asked to be called Team Leader Kang, as she was called at the dermatology clinic since she wasn't a head manager yet, and Miyoung said she preferred being called by her name.

"It’s not a typo."

"Hmm... It’s hard to reverse once a guide is sent to a patient. Can I confirm this with the director once?"

"Yes, of course."

A blank face that didn't know the first thing about power struggles. 'She definitely sent it in earnest.' Kang Sera had no choice but to send a message to the director. Not because she didn't trust Park Miyoung, but because she couldn't guide the patient with content that she couldn't accept with her own common sense.

'Accurate?'

There was no choice. Inside the clinic, if the director is the head, she is the hands and feet. Once the director has affirmed it, she shouldn't doubt it anymore. Kang Sera hid her confusion and put on a perfect smile.

"Ms. Gil Hye-young, I will set up your next reservation."

"Oh, this place is amazing. When should I come again? Tomorrow? The day after?"

Director Gil, who had scoffed at Somyung—where they told her to come three times a week—saying, 'How can a working person come three times a week?'... but after seeing the effect properly, she was full of the desire to come every day. Of course... the acupuncture was a bit painful, but if she just endured it then...

'I feel like I could handle twenty hair customers today!'

Of course, she wouldn't overdo it since she was in the middle of treatment. She just meant that was her condition. But...

"You can come next Monday, what time is convenient for you?"

"Pardon? Next Monday?"

She was surprised by the high-pitched sound. "No, I told you I could come tomorrow or the day after!"

"That’s what the diagnosis says. The director said you can come next week."

"It’s true that I’ve improved a lot right now, but it’ll flare up again by tomorrow. Do you think this is my first time at an oriental clinic? I’m going to come consistently until I’m completely healed, so set it for tomorrow."

A firm demand. The patients in the waiting room were watching her transformation into a 'difficult' patient... and here, Kang Sera’s experience was activated. She smiled softly and lowered her voice tone.

"I fully understand what you’re saying, patient. You’re worried that your body might get worse again after it has finally improved."

She lowered her body slightly to meet the patient’s gaze.

"Our director tends to accurately match the treatment cycle after a specific diagnosis. Right now, your body is in a state of recovery, and next Monday is the most effective time for treatment."

"Is... that so?"

And then, she lowered her voice a little more, adding as if sharing a secret,

"Actually, the people who match the treatment intervals accurately are the ones who recover the fastest. We also want the patient to get better quickly."

In fact, the doubts that hadn't been resolved still remained in Kang Sera’s head. But she was a pro. Her face, which had accepted the director’s conviction as her own, showed not a single shred of doubt... and Gil Hye-young was eventually persuaded by that expression and attitude.

"Then... make it 10 o'clock like today."

"I will send you a reservation text for March 23rd at 10 AM. We have shopping carts prepared as opening gifts, which color would you like, red or green?"

The slight bitterness that had remained was erased, and Director Gil smiled brightly.

"A cart? You’re giving out good stuff! I want red!"

While paying the medical bill and leaving the clinic, she coolly threw a word to the gazes that were curiously following her.

"This place is amazingly good. You all came to the right place."

Director Gil returned to the hair salon like that. After a while, while showing off her flashy hand skills to a haircut customer for the first time in a while, her mouth began to open.

"Miseon’s mom, did you know I had Thoracic Outlet Syndrome? But Somyung never said a single word about that, did they?"