"Lisa, you don't need to say any more. It's been decided, so just do as you're told. This is a task assigned to you by the hospital. If the official recovers well after the surgery, I will reward everyone involved with the procedure with bonuses and honors."
Against his expectations, Lisa shook her head and stood up. "Director Jung, I don't need awards and honors," she said, "I just don't think I can accomplish this task. I apologize, but I cannot accept this."
"You are really a stubborn child, aren't you?" The director's voice carried a hint of dejection.
"Director, I'm only telling the truth as I see it. This surgery is far too important. If this were delivering a child or something of that nature, I might have been able to help. But with a neurosurgical procedure, I may just be a hindrance to the team. I suggest you find someone more suited for the task."
With that, Lisa stood up and headed towards the door. She wasn't about to catch this hot potato.
She was really questioning the director's sanity at this point. The Asan medical center had hundreds of outstanding nurses, so why did he have to pick her, an intern from the OB/GYN department, to serve as the scrub nurse for such an important operation? It was laughable, really.
Just as Lisa made it to the door and was about to open it, the director's voice sounded again.
"Lisa! The truth is, I'm not the one who decided that you should be the scrub nurse for this surgery. The attending neurosurgeon handling this case personally asked for you."
"The attending neurosurgeon asked for me?" Lisa turned around in disbelief.
"That's right. The attending neurosurgeon has an odd temper and was even more difficult to invite. It took a lot of effort for us to convince him to perform this surgery, but he had only one request - that is you to be the scrub nurse. Otherwise, he won't perform the surgery. You should know that there's a life at stake here. The official is still at our hospital. If anything were to happen to him… it wouldn't just affect you and me. The entire hospital will be crippled from the repercussions."
"But…" Lisa was dumbstruck. "I don't know any attending surgeons. Did he get the name wrong? Are there any other nurses with the same name as me at our hospital?"
"No. You're the only one. I wouldn't get that wrong."
"But…" Lisa was still somewhat reluctant.
"Stop saying 'but', we have no time to waste. The surgery will commence three hours from now, and you need to be in the OR in an hour to begin prepping. You'll also need to meet with the other team members."
"Director…"
"Lisa, this is an order. You must accept it." Director Jung was getting impatient. His face fell, and his demeanor took on a forceful edge.
Lisa fell silent.
She wondered if she would seem overly inconsiderate if she were to resign right now. However, if the surgery were to fail and the official kicked the bucket, wouldn't she be just as doomed?
Lisa felt like crying. She should have known that being summoned by the director himself all of a sudden couldn't have possibly been good news.
After a moment of silence, Lisa finally nodded.
"That's great. Then you should go prepare now. Be at the Neurosurgery Department's VIP OR on the top floor in an hour."
"Okay." Lisa nodded again.
Walking out of the director's office, Lisa's mind was a mess of emotions.
When she returned to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, she saw the head nurse waiting there for her with several other nurses. It was quite like a welcoming committee.
YOU ARE READING
SET IN STONE• (part-1)
Fanfiction*THIS IS A LISKOOK ADAPTATION* PART-1 They were known as childhood sweethearts. They say, first love is difficult to forget. He was her first but she strongly believed last love was THAT love. The type of love, which was set in stone. Absolutely I...
