Hyungnim, I'll Be Right There!
The next day dawned.
Though his body ached from the unexpected encounters with patients the day before, Min-hyeok rose at his usual time, washed up quickly, dressed, and headed down to the first floor.
"Samwol-i, you up? They'll be here soon. Get ready with the little ones."
It was the time he would normally take Ssal-i for a walk.
But Hanmaum Animal Hospital already had a visitor that early in the morning.
"Sorry, Director. I came a bit too early, didn't I?"
"Not at all. I'm grateful you came so readily. Come on in. The kids are in the back…"
"Oh my~ So you're Samwol-i? Goodness, what a good girl, raising all these babies on your own."
The middle-aged woman, eyes misty as she gently stroked Samwol-i and her kittens who had come out to the waiting room, was the guardian of Pureum-i, who had crossed the rainbow bridge not long ago.
"As I mentioned on the phone, I've finished all their vaccinations. You just need to register the chips."
The woman, gazing at Samwol-i and the kittens with eyes full of honeyed affection, finally tore her gaze away to look at Min-hyeok.
"You're treating sick animals, appearing on TV, and now fostering too—you must be so busy. Thank you for all your hard work, Director."
"No need for that. Besides, today we're interviewing new vets, so things should get a bit more relaxed for me going forward."
"Oh, that's great news."
"I'm the one thankful—you decided to adopt so readily. Anyway, for the registration chips, do you prefer implantable or collar-mounted?"
After a moment's thought, the woman smiled gracefully.
"Implantable, please. We got a collar one for Pureum-i before, but she always seemed uncomfortable wearing it around her neck."
"Collar types are easier to lose, so that makes sense. Please wait just a moment, ma'am."
Min-hyeok implanted the chips one by one into the kittens and then Samwol-i, not forgetting a few words of advice for her.
"Samwol-i. Your new guardian seems like a good person, but you have to adapt well too. No more eyeing human food like before, got it? It's not good for your health."
Don't worry. You've told me a bunch of times already.
Min-hyeok stroked the now much calmer Samwol-i—compared to when they'd first met—and smiled faintly.
"I know. Just saying it 'cause I want you to do well. I'll make sure your guardian brings you back in a month, so we'll see each other then. And… if she ever treats you badly like your old owner…"
I'll tell you right away. Thanks for everything up till now.
"Good. See you later, Samwol-i. Eat well."
With final goodbyes, Samwol-i and the kittens followed their new guardian—who would now be called Samwol-i's mom—out of Hanmaum Animal Hospital.
…Daddy…
Ssal-i's fluffy tail drooped as he watched them go.
Unlike patients who stayed just a few days, Samwol-i and the kittens had spent weeks with them, so Ssal-i seemed especially saddened by the parting from his first friends.
"They'll come back in a month. No need to be too sad."
I know… I know, but…
Min-hyeok lightly patted Ssal-i's back.
"Anyway, it's time for you to help Daddy now. You didn't forget, right?"
Oh, right! It's interview day!
That's right.
Today was the first time in Hanmaum Animal Hospital's history they were holding vet interviews.
As Ssal-i belatedly remembered his mission and wagged his propeller tail furiously—
Knock knock—
The front door creaked open cautiously with the sound of knocking.
"Hello. I'm Kim Min-jae, here for the interview today."
"Ah, you're early. Come in. I have to make a quick call, so would you mind waiting in the director's office for a bit?"
"Haha, sure. No problem."
The first interviewee had arrived.
The hearty-laughing first candidate glanced around only after Min-hyeok had stepped completely out of the hospital to make his call.
"Hmm… Smaller than I thought. Came for the vet on Animal Kingdom, and it's this? Tsk. Guess I gotta tough it out for a year and jump ship somewhere else."
Fail.
"Huh? Is that the dog they keep here? Why're you barking like crazy? Hungry?"
No, I said you're a fail. I'm telling Daddy everything.
That's right.
Ssal-i's mission today: secret interviewer.
As the saying goes, animal therapy—people tend to reveal their true feelings easily around animals.
And Ssal-i's fluffy, round, innocent looks had the added effect of lowering newcomers' guards even more.
"Hello. I'm here for the 11 o'clock interview…"
"Hi. I'm the one here for…"
Following the first, the second and third interviewees arrived one after another, and Ssal-i easily overheard their inner thoughts.
Of course, some didn't reveal much right away, but Ssal-i unfailingly deployed Plan B.
"Ugh… Why'd it pee and stink up the place."
"What a mess. Sigh… Better pretend I didn't notice."
"Did I come for an interview or to wipe dog piss? Tsk."
The title of the hospital's director who appeared on Animal Kingdom was like a pro boxer's champion belt.
A flood of applicants came chasing the halo effect, but none passed secret interviewer Ssal-i's judgment.
"Oh dear, I didn't notice the puppy's accident. I was so nervous for the interview."
"Ssal-i's still in potty training, sorry. I'll clean it right up."
"No, no. I've raised several dogs myself, so this is nothing. Let me do it."
What happened to not wanting to clean? You're a fail.
"Sorry, Ssal-i's still training and had an accident right there…"
"Pardon? Oh! I have mild rhinitis, so I didn't smell it. I would've cleaned it immediately if I had."
You said it stinks earlier? Fail.
Morning interviews passed, afternoon ones continued, but the secret interviews and Ssal-i's exploits showed no sign of stopping.
Said our hospital sucks.
Fail.
Fail.
As evening fell, only one last interviewee remained. Min-hyeok sat with Ssal-i in the waiting room, heads together.
"Their experience is all similar, but… what can I say…"
Their personalities suck!
"Yeah… Kinda. The fifth one was maybe the best of the bunch?"
These days, more people saw veterinary work as a high-paying job with good social status rather than a calling born of a mission to save animals or pure love for them.
Min-hyeok knew this well, but it was still bitter to see so many applicants to Hanmaum with that attitude. Just then—
Sniff sniff, someone’s coming?
"……?"
Min-hyeok shifted his gaze to the entrance as Ssal-i wrinkled his nose, and there stood a massive shadow.
Who is that? Forty minutes early—not an interviewee, probably…
Besides, an interviewee wouldn't just loom at the door. Min-hyeok decided to check who the man was.
As he approached the entrance, Min-hyeok was certain.
A sturdy build at least a handspan taller than Min-hyeok's over 180cm.
A long scar slashing across his right eye.
Definitely not an interviewee.
"…Hello. How can I help you?"
The man scowled fiercely at Min-hyeok's cautious words, swallowing dryly.
"Hello. I'm Kang Ha-neul, here for the 6pm interview. I arrived way too early, so I was waiting outside…"
"Oh, no. It's hot out—come in and wait."
"Thank you."
A deep, cavernous bass voice and a feral smile.
With footsteps like a marching soldier, Kang Ha-neul entered Hanmaum Animal Hospital, and Ssal-i's propeller tail froze.
Screeech…
An overwhelming size he'd never encountered before.
Sapsalgaes could take down tigers in packs of three, but to puppy Ssal-i, this was a giant beyond imagination.
"Heh heh, palm-sized and adorable."
"S-Ssal-i's my baby, so he stays here at the hospital. I just need to take a quick urgent call first—mind waiting in the director's office?"
"Sure, I'll wait inside."
I trust you, Ssal-i.
D-Daddy…
Unaware of Ssal-i's trembling, Min-hyeok pretended to take a call and hurried outside.
As Kang Ha-neul lumbered into the director's office, Ssal-i followed on shaky legs, unable to stay away.
Psssh—
Not forced this time—Ssal-i straight-up fainted just from seeing Kang Ha-neul's face.
"Hm?!"
W-What're you staring at? Think I'll go easy if you glare scary like that? I'll tell Daddy what you're—
"Oops, sorry about that."
……?
Kang Ha-neul grinned his feral smile and glanced around.
"I must look too scary, huh? Where's something to clean… Ah, there."
With careful hands, he nudged Ssal-i aside gently and wiped up Ssal-i's accident spotlessly.
"If it's okay, mind if uncle wipes your paws too? Doesn't show much to the eye, but peeing off the pad can splash your feet. Gotta keep those pretty paws clean."
P-Pretty…? Am I pretty?
"Haha, that's a yes? Good. Uncle'll clean you right up."
Kang Ha-neul lacked Min-hyeok's ability to understand animals, but beneath his intimidating looks lay a delicate touch.
"Animals always get scared of my big build. This scar on my face? From when Kitty scratched me as a kid… Gets me misunderstood sometimes. Haha, but uncle's not scary, so no worries."
Kitty? Where's Kitty now?
"Your snow-white fur reminds me of Kitty. She's up in cat heaven now, living happily."
No real conversation possible, but their hearts connected somehow. Though it was mostly Kang Ha-neul's one-sided monologue.
"Kitty's why I became a vet. Wanted to treat animals who can't speak for themselves… Heh heh, all clean now."
Kang Ha-neul finished wiping Ssal-i's four paws neatly and sat down. Soon after, Min-hyeok rushed back in.
Worried Ssal-i might've been bullied.
"Sorry for the delay."
"No trouble. Hope I didn't inconvenience you by coming too early."
"Not at all. But did our Ssal-i make any messes? I thought I heard barking from outside."
Kang Ha-neul turned his massive back, winking subtly at Ssal-i as he replied.
"None at all. He's a good boy."
* * *
The sky was dyed red.
A couple out for dinner under the beautiful sunset quenched their thirst with iced Americanos as they walked.
"Hey, oppa? Oh no, what is that!"
"What's up?"
"Look over there. Some huge bird's carrying off something like a little mouse. It's gonna eat it."
"Huh… Yeah. Nothing we can do. That's just the animal world."
"Ugh, seriously. What do I even expect from an INTP. Whatever."
"Why's MBTI coming up now?"
As the couple bantered cutely—
The chipmunk, dangling from the egret's talons in midair, fumed.
What'd you call me? Mouse? Mouse?! You blind or somethin'? How's a chipmunk a mouse?!
Thunder, quit wigglin'. Hold still or you'll fall.
Hey! I ain't dead yet, tsk. Anyway, where's Hyungnim's animal hospital? Can't see it.
Nureoguman said it's a three-story building with dog and cat pics on the sign… Like that one?
Hey! That's it! Fly, bird!
Spotting Hanmaum Animal Hospital's sign, Thunder shouted as he cleaved the summer evening breeze.
Hyungnim, I'll be right there!