Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Choco's Hidden Trouble
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Meongmeong Animal Hospital was steadily gaining its footing.
Even though it had only been less than two weeks since opening, several referral cases had already come in.
"Ttangkongi's owner recommended us, right?"
"Yes, the director is amazing at diagnosing, they said I had to come here."
"Thank you. While you handle the paperwork, I'll take a look at Choco."
"Director... um... Choco gets really scared easily. I'll take him out in a bit."
"Sure, no rush."
Once the paperwork was done in the reception area, the poodle's owner shared her concerns with Lee Jun in the exam room.
"I've been worried Choco might have something wrong with his leg. He's just six months old, but lately he's been hating walks."
"If it's his leg, has Choco ever held one up and walked on three?"
"No, I haven't seen that."
"What about dragging it? Or crying out in pain during walks?"
The owner paused to think at Lee Jun's questions.
Lee Jun waited patiently for her to finish, his eyes on Choco, who was nestled in her arms after being taken out of the carrier.
'He hasn't even whimpered, so yeah, he seems pretty timid.'
As Lee Jun examined Choco, the owner shook her head.
"I don't remember anything like that, so probably not, Director."
"I see. Has Choco ever disliked walks before?"
"No. The first few times he was scared because it was new, but once he got used to it, he'd go crazy with joy the moment I got the leash out, racing around the living room. But now he hides at the sight of it."
"Suddenly hating something he loved... that does sound like a problem."
"Right, Director?"
The owner asked worriedly.
Lee Jun nodded at her, then looked at Choco.
Choco was still hunching his neck, eyes anxious as he stared back.
'He's wary of me.'
Lee Jun decided he needed to start a conversation to ease Choco's tension.
"Choco, do you have any sore spots?"
Choco flinched, his head jerking once, but he only moved his mouth without a sound.
'Hmm, did his head just tilt to the left?'
Regardless of the flinch, Choco's head tilted left.
The owner, missing it, smiled warmly at Lee Jun talking to Choco like an old friend.
"They said you communicate with animals, Director, and it's true. It really looks like you're having a conversation."
"We are, actually."
"Oh, you're funny too."
Lee Jun meant it literally, but she took it as a joke.
"From what you've said, nothing seems wrong, but let's do an X-ray to confirm."
"Okay."
"First, a physical exam."
With the owner's consent, Lee Jun turned to Choco.
"Choco, the doctor’s going to touch your legs. If it hurts, say so."
Choco stayed silent but nodded this time.
'He understands me. And again, he tilted left when I spoke.'
Since awakening his ability, every dog he'd met had expressed themselves clearly.
So Lee Jun was a bit thrown.
'I never imagined this. Well, people have different personalities too.'
But he quickly adjusted his thinking.
'At least he gets what I say. He can at least tell me what's happening?'
That meant even this timid pup wouldn't be too scared during the exam...
'Hang on. He's too calm for someone so fearful. And he's only six months old.'
Lee Jun felt like he was missing something.
'A poodle this docile? Especially at six months. And that head tilt to one side is odd.'
After pondering, Lee Jun asked the owner more questions.
How calm was he at home usually? Had they changed leashes? Any scares on walks?
"Hmm, scared on a walk... Oh, once. Could that be it?"
"What happened? Can you tell me?"
"About two weeks ago, we were heading to the park when a stranger suddenly picked up Choco, saying how cute he was. He got really startled."
"I see."
"Could that be the cause?"
"If he was startled, maybe. I'll check and let you know."
Taking Choco to the exam room, Lee Jun hid a firm Somi ball and dropped it lightly on Choco's right side without him noticing.
It fell so softly it would go unnoticed if you weren't paying attention.
Choco kept staring at the door.
'Sure enough.'
Lee Jun tried the left side next.
Whoosh.
Choco looked down at the falling Somi. He'd heard it.
Lee Jun touched Choco's right ear and whispered into the left.
"Choco, is this ear hard of hearing?"
Choco, who'd shown little reaction before, slowly nodded.
"Just as I thought."
Choco's walk aversion wasn't a leg issue.
His legs were perfectly fine—sturdy, even.
With the answer in hand, Lee Jun carried Choco back to the owner.
"Owner."
"Yes? How's Choco?"
"No issues with his legs."
"That's a relief. Then why does he hate walks so much...?"
"Did you know Choco's right ear has a problem?"
"What? His ear? What's wrong with Choco's ear?"
"Choco has congenital weak hearing in his right ear."
"...Oh my god... Choco..."
The owner hugged Choco tightly at Lee Jun's words.
"That stranger who grabbed him two weeks ago probably came from the right. With weak right hearing, Choco had no choice but to panic."
"...I see. Poor Choco. I didn't know... I'm sorry."
After stroking Choco and apologizing profusely, she sighed deeply.
"Director, will walks always be impossible for Choco? Staying cooped up at home will make him stuffy."
"No. He's just traumatized from that incident right now. Once he feels safe, it'll be fine."
"That's such a relief..."
"Oh, one moment."
Lee Jun stepped out and returned with a leash.
It had big letters: 'Do Not Touch' and 'Scaredy-Cat'.
"Oh, something like this exists?"
"You'll be careful too, but this helps. Fluorescent, so visible at night."
"If only I'd known about this sooner."
Watching her regretfully pet Choco, Lee Jun spoke up.
"Choco, Mom will protect you. So don't worry and enjoy your walks."
Choco looked at Lee Jun and nodded.
The owner's eyes widened.
"Oh my god. Choco nodded at what you said, Director. He really understands you."
"Looks like it."
"I'm so glad we came. We never would've known without you. Thank you so much."
"Haha, no need. Just doing my job."
"Truly, thank you. We'll be back."
"Yes, Choco. Next time, tell me about your fun walks."
[...Okay.]
It was a tiny, thin voice, but Lee Jun recognized it as Choco's instantly.
Lee Jun's mouth curved up.
"Yeah, Choco. No more worries—have fun on your walks."
***
Right after leaving the hospital, Choco's owner pulled out her phone from her coat pocket.
It rang a few times before the other side picked up.
-Choco's mom, what'd they say?
"Oh my god, Ttangkongi's mom. Thank you so much. The director is wonderful."
-Right? Director Lee Jun is the best.
"Exactly. Such great skills. He knew right away what was wrong with Choco."
-See? Told you.
On the way home, Choco's owner gushed about how great Meongmeong Animal Hospital was.
Their long chat only ended when she got home.
But she still wasn't satisfied.
"Let me see..."
She scrolled through contacts of owners she'd met at the park.
"Talked to Ttangkongi's mom already..."
She still had over ten more to call.
"Hello? How've you been? No, nothing else... Remember how I said Choco's been scared of walks? Well, that new Meongmeong Animal Hospital nearby..."
To anyone watching, it might look like a multi-level marketing pitch as she enthusiastically promoted the clinic.
***
A few days after Choco's owner left.
Meongmeong Animal Hospital was bustling.
"Director!"
"Yes! Coming!"
From owners buying treats, to dog exams and consultations.
Lee Jun was incredibly busy.
Yet he never skimped on exams or talks.
He treated each animal with full dedication.
But something odd was happening to Lee Jun.
Even with treat-buying owners.
"He seems bored with that one. He wants this treat."
"Really? Then 10 cans of that, please."
"Ten cans? Maybe start with one or a sample..."
"No! Ten, please!"
"...Pardon? Alright."
Even post-exam consultations.
"No need to worry too much. But admission for a day would be good."
"Got it. If the doctor says so, he needs to stay. Take good care of our Minky."
"...Yes? Oh, sure..."
The owners trusted Lee Jun's words almost blindly.
Unusual for new customers, not regulars.
It felt a bit strange to Lee Jun, but good was good—he gave his all.
After a frantic few hours, as he caught his breath.
Ding-a-ling.
A woman with a carrier opened the door.
Hearing it, the dogs started barking.
Woof! Woof woof!
The woman froze at the door, looking hesitant and puzzled.
'Cat owner.'
Lee Jun sensed it from her appearance.
He set down his charts and said,
"Guys, quiet down."
The barking stopped instantly, as if it never happened.
"Huh?"
"Uh?"
The owners in the clinic were surprised, but the one at the door was most shocked.
'He calmed the dogs in seconds. A trainer?'
Having only seen trainers on TV, the cat owner watched curiously.
The vet-like man bowed to her, then spoke again.
"I get you're having fun, but the cat over there is super timid. Can you keep it down?"
[Sure.]
[What's that? A cat?]
[Bro, I was quiet from the start. They were the noisy ones. You know?]
Woof! Arf arf! Woo woo!
The dogs barked again, wrinkling the cat owner's brow.
But silence fell abruptly. And that was it.
Not a single bark after.
'No way. Just words, and they quieted.'
Stunned, cat owner Hong Ji-su opened the safety gate and entered.
"Welcome."
The pleasant baritone vet greeted her.
"Shall we go to the exam room?"
"Yes... yes."
She followed him unconsciously, relieved upon seeing the room.
'A separate cat exam room.'
She hadn't expected one in such a small clinic and was impressed.
Cat tower, litter box with sand.
'Pheromones too.'
One wall had cat-calming pheromones on.
It was small but had everything. Then Lee Jun pulled a blanket from a drawer and draped it over the carrier.
"It'll be unfamiliar here, so better to acclimate before the exam. Oh, this blanket's new and disinfected."
Hong Ji-su, already pleased with finding a good clinic, lit up further.
She hated clinics yanking cats from carriers for immediate weigh-ins—this doctor was different.
'Good choice.'
Expectant, she filled out the new patient form diligently.
***
Since opening Meongmeong, Lee Jun had talked to many dogs.
But no cats yet.
He was eager.
'Bet I can talk to cats too.'
Full of anticipation, he picked up Hong Ji-su's form.
Then a sound in the quiet room.
Sneeze! Sneeze!
'Sneezing?'
Sneezes are convulsive reflexes from nasal irritation.
'Foreign body? Or upper respiratory syndrome?'
Lee Jun quickly checked the medical history.
[Yellow nasal discharge: antibiotics and cold meds for about two months (1 week on, 1 week off, then 2 weeks more. Then another clinic for a month since no improvement.)]
'Two months of meds and no better? Can't rule out allergies, fungal infection, or tumors.'
Unaware of specifics, he broadened possible diagnoses.
"You gave meds for a long time."
"Yes, but no improvement. They suggested a CT, which we did—no foreign body or tumor, just inflammation."
"When was the CT?"
"About a month ago. After switching clinics and a week of meds with no change, they recommended advanced tests. Last week, discharge lessened a bit, so they said redo it..."
Hong Ji-su's face darkened.
"Two anesthesias on little Dubu, a month apart... I couldn't bear it. But it's not getting better..."
Lee Jun alternated glances between her and Dubu.
"Name's Dubu, huh. Could you detail Dubu's history? From the first symptoms."