When We Return

Chapter 12

Day 3

Most of us still couldn’t believe what we’ve put ourselves into.

Like Eunha, who has been crying for hours since the accident happened. We all tried to calm her down. Not even Jhope nor Yerin can stop her.

Like Umji, who just stared into space and sat at the same place since and never left there. Yerin approached multiple times and tried to talk but she remained silent. 

Like Jungkook, who has been quiet but secretly cried in the corner. His innocent features will really make you feel pity for him. But then again, we’re facing the same situation here.

Like Yoongi, who got back an hour after he left us there, frustrated that he couldn’t find a way out and he’s been thrashing in the area the moment he appeared. Namjoon and Jay was controlling themselves not to punch the guy on the face. And mostly, only Jhope can approach him and prevent further damage.

And like me, who just relied to Jay most of the time and never left his side. Was crying from time to time but Jay was able to make me feel better.

We’re all gathered in the platform, forming a little circle but not quite. Except for Yoongi who sat on the far corner, away from us.

Three days, according to my watch—which is fortunately not damaged—we’ve been stuck here for three days. Just sitting here, do nothing, and just hoping for help to come.

And our hope is slowly crumbling down, along with my stomach too. I’m freaking hungry, and thirsty too. My throat is already paper dry for not drinking water.

I bet all of us are.

The casualties are also getting weaker as hours pass, without proper food and water intake. The water in the train stopped running. Me and Jay felt stupid enough not to think of saving some water for consumption.

I’ve got to know their names as what Jay told me so.

Yuju, Taehyung and Jimin are huddled together in the corner against the wall, barely breathing. We’ve been looking out for Yuju since she shivered badly an hour ago. And now she’s having a fever.

“Come on guys, why are you all so sulky?” (Korean) Jhope’s voice suddenly filled the silent space. Slightly echoing. So, we turned our attention to him.

“I’m Jhope and I’m definitely your hope.” (Korean) he said and even stretching him arms outward and bending slightly backward as if expecting someone for a hug. I looked at him weirdly, because first, I don’t know what he’s talking about and second, how can he even be like that?

He’s been like that since day one. Smiling, laughing, and always giddy. I wonder if he’s making us cheer up or just a plain weirdo. We’ve got all the right to be sulky considering the situation we are in. 

“then get us out of here.” (Korean) Jungkook said in a low tone. We turned our face to look at him, then suddenly he was embarrassed with all of us looking at him and he hid his face on his knees.

I smiled a little, knowing how cute he was, getting shy and all. Then I turned to look at others too, and like me, they’re smiling. Except for Umji who’s still staring into space. And well, for Yoongi, who’s not with us and chose to stay away.

No one said another word from then, but it didn’t stop Jhope from making noise. We just stared at him, watching him pulling stunts, but most of us just didn’t pay him attention. Not even Yerin, who chose to tend on the three casualties instead.

Jay was busy translating Jhope’s words for me but he got annoyed eventually and just let the guy be.

I appreciate his effort though, but really, I think this is not the best time for smiles and laughter and jokes. Not when we’re stuck here and don’t know what will happen from here.

When it finally dawned to him that we’re not listening to his jokes anymore—which I don’t exactly know of—he gave up and sat on the far corner. Now he’s the one sulking. I felt a pang of guilt but I shrugged it off.

Then again, there’s silence..

I should be used to this because Jay was always silent before, when he’s busy giving me the silent treatment. But now I can’t stand it. I don’t like the way my senses are on high alert. I don’t like the way I spun my head to the direction I thought I heard a sound of as if something bad will happen.

I need to calm down, but due to the deafening silence I can’t. and I hate it.

I wish Jhope didn’t stop his noise. I just appreciate it so badly now.

All I can hear was the water droplet from the ceiling to the ground, and Umji’s sudden outburst.

It’s the first time she cried since the accident and it’s the most heartbreaking kind it almost pierced through me and made me cry. Almost.

Yerin was on her feet the moment she heard Umji but she was cleaning Jimin’s wound at the moment that I’ve got no choice but to beat her to it.

I looked at her first and smiled, as if telling her that ‘I’ve got this’, but I’m actually nervous to approach.

The others were just looking at her, afraid to go near her. Even Namjoon or Jhope don’t know what to do.

My rattled legs slowly stepped forward until I’m in front of her. I turned to look back at Jay but he just urged me, so I did.

I almost crawl back to his side when Umji suddenly lift her head from her knees and cried harder. No, dammit. What to do!?

Reluctant, I reached for her arm, and slowly glide my palm back and forth.

“U-umji..” I said with a little bit of singsong tone in my voice. But she just continued to cry.

“I want my mom!!” (Korean) she started screaming.

“I don’t want to die here!!” (Korean) and she started to thrash out to. I tried to keep her calm by soothing out my voice and tried to grab her by the arm but the more she thrashes, the more I want to crawl back to Jay.

“Get me out of here!” (Korean) she continued and harshly pulled on her hair. Ah, sheez.

Her desperate cry is not helping my nerves.

“Damn it! Will somebody shut her up?!” (Korean) we turned our heads towards Yoongi, who’s walking to us in a hurried pace. Fear bubbled inside me thinking he might hurt Umji for creating such noise.

Jhope is on his feet the moment he reached us. “Hey man, you’re not helping.” (Korean) he draped his arm on Yoongi’s shoulder.

“Why don’t you introduce me in your little sanctuary and let’s have a little date?” (Korean) he continued as he leads Yoongi back to where he came from while the blonde boy tried to push Jhope away but he just keeps on clinging back to Yoongi.

I mentally thanked Jhope for that. Now it’s Jhope’s face I fear for, Yoongi might punch it one of these days.

I turned to Umji who still continued to cry.

“Okay, Umji.” I said in a broken voice. “I don’t know what you were saying but I need you to calm down.” So that I could calm down too, aish.

This time, she lifts her head and stared at me, her face wet from tears. For a moment I was tongue tied, and the corner of my lips started to twitch. I tried to smile but I guess it turned out to be a creepy one instead.

She pressed the heel of her palms on her eyes and harshly wipe the tears away.

“I want to go o-out.” Her voice broke. I let out a big breath when she spoke in English. A huge weight on my chest lifted. I can talk to her properly.

I moved my feet so that I can sit properly, in crossed legs, in front of her.

“I want to go out too.” I confessed and tried to catch her eye. I held both of her hands. “But as long as no one rescues us, we can’t.” tears started to form again in her eyes when I spoke. “And I know we will be taken out of here. Do you trust me?” I asked and I almost shove a brick to her when she shook her head no.

“But you don’t have a choice but to trust me.” I smiled plainly at her.

We stared at each other for a while, and I just stayed there, feeling her mood. She broke eye contact and stared at her feet instead, then tears started to slide down her cheeks again. This time, she cried silently, trying to suppress her sobs by covering her mouth with her hands.

I don’t have much choice this time, I don’t know what to say to quiet her down. Reluctant, I muster the courage by taking deep breaths and calm my nerves before I wrapped my arms around her protectively and rub her back up and down.

She, then, wrapped her arms around my waist and buried her face on the area just under my neck. And I slowly hush her down when she sobbed.

I didn’t know comfort until I looked at Jay, half smiling at me. Warmth swelled in my chest as I did, this is the first time I ever comforted a person. And it feels like a great achievement for me.

I smiled back before tightening my hug on Umji.

Absence of sleep for the last three days made me crave for it now. I didn’t remember falling asleep but I just noticed I did fell asleep when I woke up with Umji beside me.

I stirred, we are lying down on the ground. Which I perfectly remember that we were both sitting with our backs on the wall.

Then why—?

Wait.

Umji is snoring in front of me with both of her hands tucked under her cheeks as pillow.

Then why is it that an arm is draped over my waist? 

My heart raced rapidly inside my chest that it became hard for me to breath.

What the—! Who is hugging me?!

I looked down to my waist, sure enough there’s an arm, alright.

I tried to move away and closer to Umji when the arm tightened its hug on my waist. No, no, no!

I stopped moving, and the arm loosened. Okay, I need to carefully get his arm away from me. I mentally called Jay.

Where the hell is he? Damn it, Ja—

I froze, and looked down at the arm draped around me. I let out a heavy breath and clutched my chest.

Jeez, this man. I swear..

Umji started to move, so I momentarily forgot about the arm thing and watched her in case she wakes up.

When she stopped moving, I started to move too, carefully twisting my body to face Jay only to find out that it’s not him.

What the actual—

I literally yelped and scrambled to sit down the moment I saw someone else’s face. My outburst suddenly woke up Umji, but I don’t care anymore.

I-it’s…

He stirred and hazily opened his eyes.

Jungkook…

“What are you doing, sleeping beside me?” I asked masked with horror on my face.

He still seemed pretty sleepy and just stared at me.

“What happened?!” Namjoon abruptly approached us and I looked up to see him.

I’m still breathing hard and unable to speak this time.

I thought..

I shook my head and told Namjoon it’s nothing. He reluctantly leaves after shooting Jungkook a pointed look.

I stared at the sleepy guy in front of me, slowly getting up and sat on the floor, and tried to chase the sleep away by rubbing his hands on his eyes.

Umji was slightly shaken because she just stared at the both of us. I made a sideway glance and she met my eyes. I mouthed sorry and both of her eyebrows shot up and hesitantly gave a nod.

My gaze then went back to Jungkook, who’s yawning as if he didn’t just make a move while I’m sleeping, then I caught something from the corner of my eyes.

I turned to my left and saw Jay, a meter away from us, standing and leaning his one arm on the wall with his hand inside his pocket.

That f*****g moron, and he’s actually grinning.

I muttered a quick sorry to Jungkook and got up, making my way to the guy.

“You actually thought it was me, didn’t you?” he said the moment I’m standing in front of him.

I hit him on the arm, hard. He yelped and rubbed his sore arm.

“You—you!!” unable to form any more words, I just hit him again and again.

“Stop it!” he grabbed both of my wrist and crossed it together.

I just glared at him, while he smiled triumphantly.

“You act so weak in front of others, can’t even approach a crying person yet you always unleash your tough side on me. What’s the truth, Sowon?”

The way he raises his eyebrows in a questioning expression never failed to swoon me on my feet since he always looked so handsome in that way, but the way he just did today makes me want to smack his face.

What do you think, stupid?!

I forcibly retrieved my wrists from his grasp.

Stupid, person. A very stupid, stupid Jay.

Argh!

I walked away from him and returned to Umji—which was actually looking at me and Jay, and also Jungkook—and sat beside her.

She was about to say something but she chose to close her mouth instead. I want to ask her about it but I let her be. Aish.

I looked at Jay again and he is looking at me too.

But I just rolled my eyes at him.