Chapter 152: Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (7)

Song Jong-Ho was diagnosed with schizophrenia in the third year of middle school[1] and started taking medication since then. For the first six months, what Song Ji-Hyun said was true; they had caught his symptoms early on and treated it well. They got his auditory and visual hallucinations under control quickly, and he was able to be lucid until he graduated.

However, not all of his life had returned to the way it was before his illness.

Whats wrong with Jong-Ho?

Thats

Jong-Ho?

What happened to him?

He gained a lot of weight due to the side effects of the medication. This time, he wasnt hearing things; students were actually whispering about him. His handsome and charming looks were quickly ruined. It was difficult for him to be active as he gained forty kilograms in an instant. He lost his confidence and strength, and he felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness and depression from the medication. Ordinary people usually had a reserve of extra cognitive resources in their head, and they could tap into that reserve when they felt stress. However, people with schizophrenia did not have that line of defense.

Song Jong-Hos fall from the peak of popularity at school during his sensitive adolescence: the whispers from his friends pierced his heart like thorns.

Hes schizophrenic

My god

He hears things and stuff like that?

So hes basically crazy?

Ive never seen a schizophrenic before.

Maybe hes possessed or something.

Friends left his side one by one out of fear. Even those who had suppressed their aversion to schizophrenia and remained friends with him could not endure how much Song Jong-Ho had changed. Students began to distance themselves from him, as they also felt depressed around him.

I want to go to your high school, Song Jong-Ho said.

He was almost finished with middle school.

My school? Song Ji-Hyun said.

Yeah

All Song Jong-Ho had left was Song Ji-Hyun. She was the only person he could trust and the only person who understood him. He thought that he would be less lonely and it would be less painful if he went to Song Ji-Hyuns high school.

... Okay.

Song Ji-Hyun told him to in a calm voice, but she felt different about it. She too was only in her first year of high school, and it was too much pressure to take care of a younger brother with a mental disorder.

Jong-Ho said hes coming to my school.

That night, Song Ji-Hyun locked her door and called her friends.

Jong-Ho? Your little brother?

Yeah.

Isnt your brother super cute?

He was before, but Hes sick now, so not anymore. Dont get your hopes up.

Why is he sick?

...

Song Ji-Hyun had never told anyone around her that her younger brother had schizophrenia; she was scared of how they would react.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia?

It was too shocking for students, who thought being sick just meant something like the flu.

Oh my god! Is that contagious?

Is it really schizophrenia? Is he not possessd? Why dont you try an exorcism or something?

What if he causes trouble at our school?

Her friends concerns made Song Ji-Hyun both frustrated and irritated. Perhaps Song Jong-Ho heard their conversion, or maybe he just saw those emotions on her face because from then on, Song Jong-Ho stopped taking medication.

Later, Song Jong-Ho said that he thought he had been cured. He said that he thought he could differentiate and control his delusions and fantasies himself without his medication. He believed that he could manage his weight and not be depressed anymore since he wasnt going to be taking any drugs. He thought he could go back to his old self.

Then, Ji-Hyun wont avoid me anymore.

After entering Song Ji-Hyuns high school, Song Jong-Ho joined the broadcasting club. He also ran for class president. In his second year, he wanted to be a student leader at school. He wanted to participate in many extracurricular activities and be a smart and popular student again.

Then, in the early fall of Song Jong-Hos first year of high school, just after summer break, his schizophrenia returned. The dopamine that was running wild after he had stopped taking his medicine took him over the edge. This time, he had stronger symptoms that were accompanied with some brain damage. Song Jong-Ho even lost his consciousness.

The morning of the huge accident: everything felt like a nightmare, and Song Ji-Hyun struggled to wake up from it.

The principal put a chip in my head.

Song Jong-Hos voice was coming from the speakers right before the morning broadcast.

He put a chip in my head and is taking all my thoughts away, and I think he is selling that to the district office. Please help me. I know I have schizophrenia. It is because some site is trafficking everything inside our head.

Surprised, the teachers ran to the broadcasting room. They called for Song Ji-Hyun as they stopped Song Jong-Ho. Even the teachers were unfamiliar with schizophrenia, and they wanted to ask Song Ji-Hyun, his family, about his condition.

However, she was not in class. She didnt even take her things and just ran out of the school. It felt like a huge pit was holding her ankle and dragging her in. She wanted to run away from it all.

* * *

I just kept walking without thinking, and I ended up at Mapo Bridge. I just stared at the Han River there until the sun set. I ignored all of the calls I was getting from teachers, Song Ji-Hyun said.

This was when Rosaline was observing Song Jong-Ho, who was still asleep. Song Ji-Hyun was telling Young-Joon about the psychological factors behind his schizophrenia.

I ignored Jong-Ho back then. I ran away, she said.

...

Song Ji-Hyun wiped away a tear from the corner of her eye. She chuckled in embarrassment.

It feels like Im confessing or something, she said. I was so uncomfortable when Cellicure came out and people were comparing me to you. It was like I was wearing a big hat that didnt fit.

...

I am not someone great, like you. You saw your younger sister get sick, and you stood by her until the end. Then, you started anticancer research to get revenge. You are different from ordinary people, and Im not talking about your ingenuity.

Song Ji-Hyun covered her face with her hands.

You are not a cold, rational scientist, Doctor Ryu. You have a lot of compassion for humans.

...

Thats why I told you this. Because I trust you. The psychological factor that caused schizophrenia I think its my fault I should have taken better care of him before it even came back.

Its not your fault, Doctor Song, Young-Joon said.

Song Ji-Hyun looked like she was tired of everything. It was probably because she had to take care of her brother. Maybe it was because she forced herself to talk about a difficult topic.

She rested her head slightly against Young-Joons shoulder.

Please help me, Song Ji-Hyun said. Id do anything to cure my brother.

Young-Joon lightly put his arm around Song Ji-Hyuns shoulders.

Do you remember Lee Yoon-Ah, the nine-year-old liver cancer patient at Sunyoo Hospital? The girl we treated together.

Yes

If it wasnt for you, I might not have been able to do it on my own. It was possible because of you and Cellicure. And that Young-Joon trailed off. That was also about healing my trauma. I promise you that I will help you this time. I will make a drug that cures schizophrenia.

...

Song Ji-Hyun stared at Young-Joon. As there was a tense silence between them

Click.

That was when the door opened, and Song Jong-Ho and Rosaline came out into the living room.

* * *

Why is your heart rate so high? What did you do here while I was going through Song Jong-Hos head?

Rosaline asked after returning to Young-Joons body.

W-what do you mean?!

What?

Nothing. All I did was listen to Doctor Song.

Suspicious.

Rosaline said with her eyes squinted.

Im not sure about this, but if you have children, I think I will be able to go into your childs body as well.

What?

Its like a country house. And your body is the main house.

What are you talking about?

Im always open to it.

Ugh. I dont have anything with Doctor Song. Dont do this to me.

While Young-Joon was talking to Rosaline in his head, Song Jong-Ho spoke to him.

Um I know a little bit about you, Doctor Ryu. What brings you here to our house?

Young-Joon was going to say that it was because of the schizophrenia cure, but he stopped. The fact that he came here because of that would mean that he knew that Song Jong-Ho suffered from schizophrenia. No matter how he got that information, it could be a little uncomfortable from Song Jong-Hos perspective. As there was an awkward silence, Song Ji-Hyun spoke up.

Its because he is developing a drug.

A drug?

Hes developing a cure for schizophrenia. Thats why I requested a meeting.

I see.

Song Jong-Ho glanced at Young-Joon.

When is that drug coming out?

There is still a long way to go because it is still in its early stages.

Will I be able to take the drug if I participate in the clinical trial?

If you sign up, we will randomly select volunteers for the clinical trial. You may get it.

This was only possible if the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety even approved of it. This was going to be their largest crisis.

1. Middle school in Korea is from grade seven to nine, so the third grade of middle school is the ninth grade.

Clara's Thoughts

OMG! Young-Joon and Ji-Hyun finally had physical contact! Do you think they are right for each other? I think they complement each other well, and I hope they start dating!