When We Return

Chapter 11

Day 2

A loud bang from afar alerted us all.

I jumped from the tiled chair and looked for the reason of the noise. Jay stood in front of me as if protecting me from any danger, and I didn’t complain.

Whispers echoed the place, talking about what happened or where it happened. When someone appeared from inside the train, holding a bag. It’s the blonde one.

“Where are you going?” (Korean) someone shouted from the crowd to the blonde guy. He looked at us and mocked laughter.

“What do you mean where am I going? I’m getting out of here.” (Korean) He seriously said sending chills up to my spine.

“There’s a way out?!” (Korean) the girls asked, though I didn’t get to understand them, hope is evident in their voices. The guy didn’t even bother answering back before walking away from us, didn’t even looked back.

Some of the girls tried to follow him but another guy, moved to stop them.

“Oh ohhh, girls! I’m Jhope, and I’m your hope!” (Korean) he said joyfully making the girls step back, looking at him confused.

“I know there’s no way out so you don’t have to follow him.” (Korean) he said smiling wildly. As if we’re not even trapped inside a scary tunnel, as if we’re not suffering right now. He’s literally shining.

How can he even smile like that? And what is he saying?

“What are you doing?!” (Korean)

The girl who helped me earlier, Yerin, stepped in front too.

“He’s right, there’s no way out. We rounded every corner of the tunnel and it is blocked with rocks.” (Korean) she grabbed a hand, one from the petite girl still clutching a bag in her arms.

“Everyone, no one is leaving this area. No one wanders around the dark. You understand?” (Korean) she said with authority. She looked like the guy who orders us around from before.

The smiling faced guy spoke again when no one answered her. “Okay! (English) We understand. (Korean)” he clapped twice. “Let’s settle down and try to catch some sleep, shall we?” he said once again smiling, he’s so bright.

Jay turned to me and pointed at the guy smiling. “That’s JHope, as what he said earlier.” He muttered.

JHope? What a weird name.

“What are they talking earlier?”

“Just some rules to follow. We shouldn’t wander around.” He said again before dragging me off the crowd. We sat on the chair we occupied before and rest my body.

“How is your wound?” I cupped my nape and feel the slightly wet wound. It stings so I flinch. “Aish, don’t touch it.” he retrieved my hand from touching it. “Let me see.” Then he turned me around so my back is facing him and he parted my hair.

“We need to clean it again.” He muttered. “If we don’t treat this properly it might cause infection.”

“You worry so much, how big is it?”

“As big as a man whole.” He teased so I slap his thigh, making him snicker.

“Stop kidding!” I grunt.

“Okay, okay. It’s not that big, but I think it’s deep. It won’t bleed too much if it’s not.”

“Let’s go clean it then.” I said and held his hand. I took the initiative to drag him inside the train, were the water runs perfectly fine. My heart flutters whenever he’s worried. So, even though it almost made me vomit when he mentioned that the wound is deep and bleeding too much, I tried to hide it to convince him that I’m fine with it.

Inside the train was a total mess. The glass windows are completely shattered, bags and things are everywhere, I could even see some rocks, some sides are bent from the outside.

The sight in front of me made me stop and shiver. Another wave of mixed emotions stirred up in my chest.

This is definitely happening.

We made our way towards the toilet room and he moved around, cleaning my wound and putting some ointment I didn’t know where he got from.

When he was finished, I turned around and fixed myself when I saw his left arm, and I gasped. Located just below his forearm is a large wound running from the intersection of his elbows down to his wrist.

I never saw that before.

And the blood already dried and is reddish brown. How could he not say anything to me? I feel so useless.

He must have noticed it and he instantly hid his arm behind his back.

“I’m alright—” the moment I looked at his face, my heart dropped and I started to sob when I saw his cut eyebrows.

“Sowon..” I burst out this time.

“H-how—” I wasn’t able to finish my sentence. How the hell I didn’t notice his wounds? He was so kind to take care of me yet I didn’t even check if he’s okay.

“I’m fine. It’s nothing.” He said almost in a whisper.

I shook my head and reached for his face. He didn’t look away. I parted his hair to reveal the cut on his eyebrow, it’s pretty big but not as large as the cut on his arm.

“I-I’m going to t-tend your wounds.” I stammered and looked for the first aid kit he used earlier in hysterics.

“It’s okay, you don’t have to—”

“No, it’s not okay! I should’ve noticed your wounds! I’m sorry you only looked out for me without giving you a hand in return.”

I tried to grab his arm gently careful not to touch the wound when he retrieved it.

“I don’t mind taking care of you..” he turned to the sink to wash his wound when I started to complain. “You’re under my care so you don’t have to feel burden.”

I stopped. And then he handed me a towel and extended his wounded arm to me. for a second I just stared at him.

“the wound won’t clean itself, you know.” He said and rolled his eyes.

Aish. I jabbed a finger on his side and he flinched.

Then we giggled in low spirit, all energy was drained from our body. 

“Guys! I need a hand!!” (Korean) someone shouted from outside the train that made Jay perk up his head, alert.

Noise was suddenly filling up as they speak together at the same time.

“What’s happening?” I grabbed his sleeve when he stood.

“We need to get out and find out.” He held my hand and we got out together.

I saw the guy who talked to me earlier carrying an injured girl on his arms with Yerin following him behind. The girl was unconscious and suddenly my insides churn.

She can’t be dead.

My body was frozen in fear as they carefully placed the girl to the ground. Yerin instantly move to action and placed her fingers under the girl’s neck, feeling her pulse.

My knees started to buckle and my hands found its way to my mouth. The tears started to brim at the corner of my eyes again.

“She’s breathing. Her pulse is not weak. I think she just fainted.” (Korean) Yerin muttered and turned to look at the guy who carried the girl.

“Go search the area, there might still be others too.” (Korean) she said and the guy nodded, stood and walked away half running.

I didn’t realize Jay was still there when he instructed me to stay exactly on where I’m standing and ran off together with the man and that Jhope guy followed afterwards. I nodded before he left but my mind was too clouded that I couldn’t understand what he said.

“Sowon..” I absentmindedly turned to the one who called me and saw Yerin looking at me, urgency is visible in her eyes.

“Fan. Please.” She was struggling to fan the unconscious girl with her hands and at first, I didn’t hear what she said and I just stood there, fidgeting with my fingernails.

“Fan!!” she shouted. I jolted and almost awake now from a daydream.

“O-oh, o-okay.” I stammered as I went to action. Trying my best to find a fan. But there was nothing, the tunnel was empty except for the rocks and heavy metals that fell.

I entered the train and searched through the bags and seats until I found a paper pamphlet. Too thin and small but it should help.

Going back to Yerin and handed her the fan. But she pulled my wrist and made me sit next to the girl.

“You, fan.” She motioned a gesture of fanning to the girl and I nodded vigorously, understood what she meant.

Then she stood and approached a guy that was sitting not far from us. I’ve never seen him before but I could say he was hurt badly, noticing the cloth wrapped around his head.

“Sir, how are you feeling?” (Korean) Yerin shook him by the shoulder and the guy turned to him slowly, then said something but too low for me to hear.

So, I just focused on fanning the girl beside me, she’s so pale and her arms are bruised. I checked her head for blood but thankfully nothing. Just small cuts on her arms and face but nothing serious.

I held her hand, it’s still warm. I fan harder. Though my heart is weak and scared, I can’t let anybody die in front of me today.

The other people just stared at us, too afraid to approach.

“Yerin-sshi!” the three guys appeared from the darkness cradling a half-conscious guy. Yerin instantly stood and helped them to make the guy sit on the ground.

“Sir? Can you hear me?” (Korean) she started and I didn’t mind anymore as I felt a twitch on my hand.

I turned to look at the unconscious girl slowly opening her eyes and I called for anyone’s attention.

“He-hello.” Was the first thing that escaped from her mouth.

I felt a presence beside me but I didn’t look back.

“Miss, are you alright? Do you feel any pain?” (Korean) It was Jay.

The girl was still too dreamy to respond.

“Miss, what’s your name?” (Korean)

“Y-yuju” she whispered that I have to crouch down to hear her.

“Her name is Yuju and I think she’s good.” Jay said and helped her to sit up.

I helped by massaging her hands. Some people when they collapsed, they can’t feel their feet and hands when they woke up and I experienced that before.

I continued to fan her as her eyes are fluttering from time to time. Since I can’t speak Korean, Jay was talking to her instead.

“His right arm is twisted.” (Korean) I heard Yerin say. She looks so concerned, and she’s so tough. I stared at her face, fierce and strong, and some scratches too.

She looked like she was so used to this. I wonder if she’s a doctor though judging by her features, she’s still too young.

I envy her strong will.

Jhope and the other guy, held the injured guy’s head and left arm as Yerin positioned on the right hand, extending it slowly.

And then..

“Oh, my ghad!” I blurted out as I watched in horror when Yerin snapped the guy’s arm. He was screaming so bad when she did that.

Jhope tapped his shoulder assuringly.

“What did she just do?” I asked still in daze.

“that guy’s arm is twisted, Yerin just put it back in place.” Jay explained.

“Without an anesthesia? That f*****g hurts!” I exclaimed.

“where can you find an anesthesia here, dummy?” I didn’t answer him and just stared at them.

“Jimin-sshi, we’re going to transfer you okay?” Jhope said in a low, sweet tone and both guys carried him towards the wall and let him lean his back there.

The guy looked beat and sleepy.

Then we also transferred Yuju there along with the others to rest well.

“That guy is Namjoon,” he said pointing at the man. So, that’s his name. “and the one who had a cloth wrapped around his head is Taehyung.” Again, pointed at the guy sitting next to Yerin.

“You already know Yuju, and that’s Jimin. The one with twisted arm.”

“What about the others?” I asked pointing at the two girls and a guy sitting not far from the casualties. They look fine except for some scratches on their arms and faces. But nothing serious I guess.

“I still don’t know. Why don’t you go ask?”

I shook my head repeatedly like a pup and he just smiled at that.

We were startled when someone started to cry. We turned to the side and saw its one of the gals the name I don’t know of. She was crying endlessly and I was hesitating to approach her.

Someone pushed me on the back, it was Jay, of course. And motioned me to go.

I can’t deny the fact that this dark tunnel already creeps me out but approaching a crying girl will be the death of me.

Hell, I don’t even know how to shut her up!

Before I could even take a step, Jhope already beat me to it. He hurriedly walked towards the crying girl and shushed her by smiling brightly in front of her and patting her shoulder.

“It’s okay, Eunha-sshi. We’ll get over this.” (Korean) he said in a comforting tone.

But the girl slapped his hands away.

“You don’t understand!” (Korean) she screamed and cried harder while Jhope was busy talking to her, making her stop crying.

I blow an air and turned only to smack my face into Jay’s chest.

“A little warning would be nice.” I frowned and passed him.

“What did I do?” he asked following me.

“Nothing.” I choked on my words. Stupid tears. Stupid emotions.

I walked faster, away from earshot before Jay held my arm and twirled me around, facing him.

“What’s the problem?” he asked softly this time. But I just shook my head and tried to suppress a sob, looked away from him.

“Come on, tell me.”

“I-I c-can’t—” my breaths are ragged making me lose my own voice. “I-I’m sorry.”

He waited, until the tears freely fell down my eyes. Too much emotions boxed in my chest and held it there for a couple of hours and I just couldn’t contain it any longer.

I’m scared as hell.

And I’m being useless.

I can’t be Yerin, who’s strong and knows how to help others.

I can’t be Jay, who can control his s**t together.

I’m just Sowon, a broken 21-year-old girl, introvert and just plain useless.

But he hugged me tightly in his arms, glided his hands across my back to comfort me until it settled on my waist and held it firmly.

He knows without even asking. Or he just pretended to know.

God, please. Spare us from this place.