1 Joshua

"Park Joshua, make it fast or else you gonna miss the flight" my mom shouted at me from downstairs. After hearing her shout out my full korean name that was the warning for me cause everytime she calls out my full name it means she was fuming with anger.

I last checked everything in my room as I ran downstairs with all my belongings.

"Mianhae omma" I said as I came to her.

"You know right the flight is in a hour?"she asked glaring at me.

"Ya mom" I said.

"Now let's go if you are done" she said as she headed out the door.

I followed behind her. Dad and my little sister was already in the car.

"What took you so long?" My dad looked at me and asked.

"I just wanted to make sure not to leave anything" I replied with a smile.

"Ok. Now get in" he said. "We have to be fast as not to get stuck in traffic" he added.

I climbed in the back seat along with my sister as we drove off to the airport.

After about thirty minutes we reached the John F. Kennedy international airport. We board the plane as we settled in to our seats. My sister seated next to me and mom and dad were seated next to each other to our adjacent row. We arrived at Incheon international airport in a hitch. After going through customs and immigration, we gathered our luggage as we headed out the airport. We took a cab to our new home.

It was located at the outskirts of Seoul far from the crowded city skies. It was three bedroom apartment along with kitchen and a living space. It was a beautifully designed interior with a very traditional korean and a little bit of Japanese feel to it. The tiles on the wall being printed with wooden textures. Sliding doors instead of the regular doors. We settled in as I ran upstairs to the room I was gonna make mine. My room had a glass on its straight end opposite to the door looking over a little bit of the seoul city and mountains on the other side. I settled in as I cleaned up my room and going through my things and placing them at thier appropriate places. I was tired from the jet lag. I laid down on the bed after I was done. I decided to take a shower before call it a day. Once I was out of the shower all dressed up for the night I heard my mom call me for dinner. I was curious what had she made for dinner as we just arrived. I rushed down the stairs as I saw them on the dinner table near the kitchen station. I came to the table and took a seat beside my sister. I scanned through the table, I saw steam-cooked rice as long with Kimchi, boiled napa cabbage and doenjang with some pickle. I looked towards my mom.

"What?" She asked.

"When did you had the time to buy all this?" I asked curious.

"I never spill my secrets" she said laughing.

My dad and sister joining her.

"Ok. Anyway thanks for the food" I said. " I need to get some sleep. I need to join tomorrow itself" I added.

"Ya you should" my dad said. I finished it up as fast as I could as said goodnight to all of them a d headed to my room. I froze off to deep sleep before even realising.

Next morning I woke up to bird chirping outside the window on a nearby tree. I looked to the side table to look at the time. It was seven in the morning. I got up from the bed. I could hear my mom preparing breakfast. I got a towel as I walked into the bathroom to get freshen up. I brushed my teeth and took a shower as I walked into the room. I saw my sister sitting on my bed.

"Goodmorning Rachel" I said.

"Morning oppa" age said.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Nothing I dont wanna go to school today?" She said. I smiled seeing her sulking.

"And why is that?" I asked as I walked over to her and sat beside her.

"I don't like meeting new people" she said still sulking.

"How do you know if you will like them or not?" I asked patting her head.

"I just know" she said. I smiled back at her as I pinched her cheeks.

"You know what Rachel, you never know you may meet avery nice friend" I said to her smiling. "Why don't you go today to school and try making new friends and we will see. Ok" I added.

She nodded.

"Now go help mom and get ready" I said. " I'll drop you".

"No thanks dad is gonna drive me" she said. "I dont wanna let others see my handsome brother" she added sounding jealous.

"Why is that?" I asked chuckling.

"I won't share you with anyone" saying she ran downstairs.

I laughed at her silliness and her cute act. I got in a pair of Jeans and a tee and walked downstairs.

"Morning mom, morning dad" I wished them as I walked towqrds the table as I took a seat.

"Ready to leave?" Dad asked.

"Ya" I answered.

"All the best" my mom said.

"You know mom I am the best" I said chuckling gaining a laugh from them.

I ate my breakfast as I bid them goodbye and walked out the door. I took one of the cars provided by dad's company.

I drove into the traffic as I switched on and set the gps to Seoul Medical centre, one of the most prestigious hospital in seoul. After an hour's drive I reached my destination. I parked my car at the parking lot and walked towards the entrance. I walked through the rotation door as I walked over to the receptionist.

"Annyeonghaseyo. dagteo kim-ui odumag-euloganeun gil-eul allyeojul su-iss-eo?" I said to the receptionist.(Trans: Hi. can you tell me the way to Dr.kim's cabin?)

"Yagsog-i iss-eusingayo?" She asked me back. (Trans: Do you have an appointment?")

"josyua pakeuga yeogi issdago malhae" I said to her. (Trans: Say Joshua Park is here)

She called him and talked to him. After they disconnected she looked at me and smiled.

"This way please" she said in korean as she gestured me to follow her. She led to an elevator as we went up the third floor. Once we were out of the elevator she led me through a corridor to a room which had Dr. Kim's name written on it and below it head of general surgery written in bold letters. She opened the door for me and gestured me to go in.

"Hi doctor" I greeted him as I entered the room.

"Oh! Hi Dr. Park. Nice to meet you finally" saying he came over to me and shook my hand.

"Please have a seat" he gestured towards the sofa nearby me as he sat on one.

"Thank you" saying I sat.

"So. Welcome to South Korea" he said smiling.

"My pleasure" I said to him smiling back.

"When did you arrive here?" He asked. "From when we chatted last time, you were gonna come next week right?"

"I thought coming sooner would let me ad ad pt here" I said.

"Ya that's true. So you wanna join today or just came to see" he said.

"I'll join today. Yesterday I got a call from management saying short on staffs" I said. "So here I am" I said chuckling.

"Glad to have you here" he said.

"Pleasure is all mine" I said smiling.

"So let me show you around and introduce you to the staff and most importantly your residents" he said smiling.

"Ya sure" I said.

He led me down to second floor as we walked out the elevator to the nurse's station. As we neared the nurses greeted us.

"Please get everyone here" Dr. Kim said to the nurse standing behind the station in korean.

She rushed to nearby room. After a minute or two they were all gathered here.

"Annyeonghaseyo" they all greeted him and looked towards me I'm confusion.

"Meet Dr. Joshua Park. He will be your new attending doctor here" he said to them.

They all greeted me. I greeted the back with a smile.

"We have heard a lot about you. I am a big fan of yours. I have read many of your papers" one of the guys in white coat said to me.

"Thank you" I replied to him smiling.

"He is a very renowned doctor. He is famous for performing very complex operations. Make use of it. Learn as much as you can" Dr.kim said teasing me.

"Please doctor I am not that good" I said felling shy.

"And see he is so humble too" he said chuckling.

"Doctor kim?" I said to him nudging.

"Ok. Ok. But seriously speaking. Very glad to have you here Dr. Park. Our residents will get to work with a great doctor like you" he said smiling.

"No. Don't say that. Pleasure is all mine", I said to him.

"Okay then I'll take my leave" he said. We shook our hand as he walked away towards the elevator.

I looked at all of them and smiled.

"Looking forward to work with you all" I said to them still smiling.

"Pleasure is all ours" they all said in unison.

"So let's introduce ourselves" I said.

"Oh. Sorry doctor. I am kang young joon, a fourth year resident, this is kim min chul and park shin woo, third year resident and this is soe jin woo, first year resident" one who said he was a fan said.

"This is head nurse kim Emma head nurse and Park hye mi, park in ah, and kim yoo na" he added.

"Nice to meet you all" I said smiling.

"Nice to meet you too" they all said.

"Ok. Now that introductions are done let's get to work" I said to them.

The nurses headed back to thier station.

"So, all the residents get ready to go for rounds. I am new so I need to know every patient under my care. I'll be going for rounds in few minutes so get ready to brief me. Ok" I said to them.

"Yes doctor" they all said in unison.

"I'll give you ten minutes to get yourself together. Go" I said to them as I headed towards my cabin.

After sometime I went with the residents to do the rounds. Asking them questions along with all the briefing of all the patients. It was a lot of hectic work. After attending all of them I instructed them to call if anything happens as I resided to my cabin.

I was going through the critical patients file, then my phone rang. It was my mom.

"Adduel hows work?" She asked.

"Mom its fine" I replied.

"Had your lunch?" She asked.

"No ma" I said.

"Why haven't you? It's already half past one" she said in a high pitched tone.

"Calm down ma. I am fine I'll have it after the next attending comes" I said.

"And when is that?" She asked.

"She must be here any minute now" I said.

As I was saying to my mom not to worry I heard a knock on my door.

"Come in" I said in korean.

"Ma I'll call you later ok" I said and disconnected the call. A girl in her thirties came in.

"Annyeonghaseyo" she greeted me.

"Dae. Annyeonghaseyo" I greeted her back. "Please have a seat" i gestured her to take a seat.

"Thanks" she said as she got settled.

"How may I help you?" I asked her.

"No, I am not a patient. I came to say hi, I am the attending fellow" she said flustered.

"Oh! I am sorry" I said to him feeling embarrassed.

"Nice to meet you. I am Joshua park" I added.

"Ya I know" she said. "Who would not know you?"

We chatted for a while talking about patients.

"So, listen I need to go now. You can take it from here right. If anything serious comes up call me immediately ok" I said to her.

"Ok doctor" she replied.

"So, have a good night" I said to her smiling.

"To you too doctor" she replied.

We headed out my cabin towards the nurse station.

"Then I'll take my leave" I said smiling at her and the other staffs.

"Thank you for the hard work" they all s as I'd to me bowing.

"You too. Keep it up don't slack off" I said to them glaring with a smile.

"And I almost forgot. If you can't reach me then call Dr. Kim immediately ok" I said to them.

" I'll give him a call".

"Ok doctor" the fellow one said.

I strided out of the hospital as I headed towards home.

I reached at the streets leading to my house. I got down from the taxi at the path leading to my house as I wanted to enjoy the breeze and walk to home. I paid off the taxi as I started walking towards home. The street was silent and calm. As I walked closer to my house I felt as if someone was following me. I turned around to see but I didn't see anyone. I dismissed the thought as I started walking again. I heard footsteps again. This time I started walking faster. As I was walking someone came up to me and started holding me putting his hand on my shoulders. I hit him with the bag I was carrying.

"Who are you?" I asked him panicking.

"Aish" he said.

"Why are you following me?" I asked again.

He looked towards me glaring. It was the most beautiful pair of eyes I have ever seen in my life. It was a electro blue with little darker tone in the center. I reverted my eyes away feeling scared as he started coming closer to me.

"What do you think you're doing? Don't come closer or else I'll hit you again" I said taking back steps.

He kept on coming closer as I swinged my bag at him again and ran towards home as fast as I could. He ran behind me. As soon as I was inside the gate I locked it and a sigh left out my breath. I rushed to the front door and rushed into the house.

"What happened?" Mom asked in concern. "Did you run to here?" She added. My dad looking at me.

"Nothing happened" I answered. I didn't wanted them to worry so I didn't tell her.

"Ok. Go freshen up. Dinner is ready" she said.

"Ok" I said as I walked upstairs to my room.

I let my bag on the edge of my bed and laid down.

Who was he? Why was he following me? What if he follows me again?, all sorts of thoughts were flowing in and out of my mind.

Keeping all the thoughts aside I walked into the bathroom to get freshen up. After taking a shower I rushed downstairs to have dinner. I took a sear beside my sister. As I scanned through the food.

"Thank you for the food" I said as I started digging in.

"How was your first day?" Dad asked.

"It was better than I imagined" I answered.

"How was yours dad?" I asked him back.

"It was so so. Nothing bad happened" he said.

I looked towards sister.

"How was yours Rachel?" I asked smiling at her. "Did you make any friends?" I added.

"It was great oppa. I made many new friends" she said all cheerful.

"See I told you right" I said chuckling.

After the dinner was done I decided to help my mom with the dishes.

"Omma let me help you" I said to her.

"No it's okay addeul" she said. "Go take some rest you must be tired".

"Its okay omma I am not that tired" I said helping her set the dishes.

After it was done I headed back to my room still thinking about that guy who followed me. His eyes still boring into my thoughts. That eyes of his, as if it has hypnotized me fully. I kept thinking about it until I felt asleep.