Once Upon A Spring

CHAPTER 10

April 28, 1995, BREAKING NEWS

According to the authorities, it exploded due to the leaking gas from the ongoing construction that is recently happening at the Lotte Department Store.

One hundred forty-one people, including 98 Heungnam students and other civilians, were reportedly killed. It was also recorded that 271 people were injured due to a series of accidents that occurred.

The blast burned down buildings, cars, and 60 houses, and The amount of those consumed reached 54 billion won.

I couldn’t help myself but to cry while watching the news.

It happened in Sangin-dong, Where we, the neighbors, Seong’s childhood friends, and Jong Hyun lives.

Jo... Jong Hyun?

*Jong Hyun's POV*

I didn’t expect this to happen.

My brother Chang Min was in class at Heungnam High when the fire broke out.

I can not accept...

That he was among the 42 students who died in the accident.

That time as I slept soundly, I heard a loud explosion not far from where we lived.

I immediately got up and peeked out the window. A great fire is going on near us and may even reach here to us.

So I have no choice but not to tell my mother and father. We immediately packed our belongings and left.

For now, only important tools and documents were brought outside.

As we took out our belongings, I could inhale smoke near us. I could also hear the explosion of other houses because of the tanks inside the house and the cars.

I was even more, overwhelmed as the fire got even bigger because large establishments near us also burned down.

Yoo Jeong's house is also being set on fire. It's good that they're not there anymore; if not, maybe her problem may worsen.

I immediately took a wet towel and told my parents to cover their noses and mouths.

For now, I could just see our dilapidated house and the burned house in our neighborhood.

At these times, I don’t know what I can do and just watch the fires put out by the firefighters.

You can also see that there are a lot of media here. If you visit or watch this Yoo Jeong...

I need you.

I really need you, now.

*Yoo Jeong's POV*

I can’t explain how I feel right now.

Even ahjumma cried earlier.

If we hadn't moved, our things might have been burned, too.

I approached Ahjumma. I don't know why I talked against her about Feng Shui.

That is the only thing that saved us from the disaster.

My aunt invited us to eat first for breakfast. Actually, my feet want to run to my old neighborhood to find out the status over there, especially of long-time friends of ahjumma and Seong.

''This is the rice soup for you to wake up. I know that it will be difficult for you. You know, it's your luck, and you've moved on. Otherwise, you might be in that disaster,'' Aunt said, full of concern.

''It's not just our fate that we think about. Yoo Jeong's neighbors and friends are what I'm thinking of. We have also lived there for a long time since she was born. We are so close to them. It's just sad that this still has to happen,'' ahjumma replied.

When I heard ahjumma's reply, I remembered that I came from the future. Why didn't I predict it? I didn't notice the date either.

Is it because of overthinking? I have become familiar with this accident. This is what they call the "Gas Explosion in Daegu." The explosion started in the subway, and Heungnam High was involved in this accident, killing 101 people overall.

This is precisely what happened. The accident also caused the whole Sangin-dong neighborhood to disappear and become an abandoned street.

This was the cause of it all.

The one in the internet and in the news today matched together, except for one piece of information.

The 141 total death. It should be 101.

I just shifted my attention to help.

''Ahjumma. I mean, mother. Can we go there? Please? I still have savings from the allowances that you gave. If you also have extra money, it's better. We can give it to them,'' I convinced ahjumma.

''Yes. We also have a lot of food stocks that don't need to be cooked and clothes that were not used very much. We can also help. May you now want us to wrap up a donation in your neighborhood? We also have extra money so that you can earn a huge amount. We will share it with the whole neighborhood so that somehow they can buy other necessities,'' Aunt insisted.

''We can't do anything because the houses have also disappeared. Our house was also burnt down, but we have already moved. I'm sure not all of them survived their belongings. It is good that we donate as much as possible,'' ahjumma confirmed.

It was night already when we reached Sangin-dong. Whenever I see the alley, we used to run to and play with some little children, and I can’t help but cry.

I know that I am not a soft person. But why is my heart so heavy? I feel like I'm getting closer to this place and those living here. It has also changed a lot here. If previously you could see high-rise houses and establishments that were immovable, now it seems to be demolished just because of the too much intensity of the fire.

It's not just the houses that are affected here, but the lives of other people here. Some people were also injured.

I carried the heavy things sent by Aunt, so ahjumma could bring only a little, and she could not get quickly tired. We plan to give it away this evening, and Aunt and I will provide breakfast tomorrow morning.

I also immediately saw Jong Hyun sitting on the rest of their stairs out of the burned house.

Even from a distance, his suffering could be seen in his position and face.

As well as his concern.

I immediately gave Jong Hyun the things we donated, including the money.

I also gave a sign to him to come closer, but when he looked at me, you could see his deep eyes.

The cheerful Jong Hyun I met is gone.

I voluntarily sat beside him. Maybe he is also tired because of too much thinking. Accidents like this are really unpredictable.

But what's more painful, I even forgot it would happen. I never even told the whole neighborhood.

It's my fault too. I became selfish. I didn't think about the situation of the people here. I m just thinking too profoundly only for myself and my problems, not once for them.

Jong Hyun was silent while staring. You can also see the dirt on his face resulting from the fire's smoke.

I didn't realize I was touching him, ''Jong Hyun.''

''Yoo Jeong, are you back?'' He looked at me and smiled slowly.

''I need you,'' once leaning on my shoulder, ''I want to rest. Still, no help is coming here. You are the person who comes first to help us. But just seeing you, I'm now happy. You are all I need now.''

I was shocked by what he suddenly said to me. I feel the heaviness of his head on my shoulder, probably because of the big problem right now. I don't expect Jong Hyun, who wants to catch my problem, who always gives advice, who smiles first, and who I always lean on...

Needs me right now…

''Yoo Jeong, my brother Chang Min, died,'' hesuddenly confesses.

I was shocked by the news of him. He was among the 42 students killed. With that situation, he even managed to smile earlier.

''The accident was inevitable. I accept that. But the loss of life, especially one of the things you love the most in life. I really don't accept it,'' he added.

Even leaning, and I can't see the expression on his face. I can see in his voice the frustration and sadness he feels.

I knew he was just holding back tears in front of me.

I tapped him on the shoulder, signaling that he could cry. Men are fragile, also. It's not because they are men., they have no right to express their emotions. Not all the time, they are braver, especially in such situations.

I can't help but cry again because Chang Min is too young to leave the world. The death of the brother you treasure so much is so painful.

I woke up early even though I slept too late. We first took Jong Hyun and his parents to my Aunt's house, but they only slept in the living room because my Aunt didn't have extra space.

I saw Jong Hyun in the kitchen and helping to wrap the food to be distributed later. I just felt obliged and, at the same time, clung to his arm.

He turned to me a little and smiled.

''If you ask me if I'm okay, I'm fine. Later I will go to Heungnam High to see my brother's body,'' he began.

''Is that so? Okay. We will provide breakfast to the people first,'' I replied.

If I were in this situation, I probably wouldn't be able to help. I will stare blankly and think about what I will do to my life, to the things that have been burned, and to my brother's corpse. I can't smile, and I might get irritable and just cry.

What kind of person is he? He can still do this to help even though he is also disadvantaged.

Maybe Jong Hyun is one of the people I don't understand. The kind of people who are so good at pretending, but they were crushed inside.

It is true to say that handling emotions really depends on the person.

We went to Sangin-dong again to provide free breakfast to the fire victims. You can see that the galvanized iron and wood they used as shelter and the others are no longer here. They may have lived with a close relative or maybe not, so they went straight to the temporary evacuation center.

Jong Hyun and his parents immediately said goodbye to go to Heungnam High. I want to come, but I'd better give priority to hungry people here. I'm sure they haven't eaten for more than 24 hours already.

I was caught in a noisy truck approaching here. I saw the mini truck carrying goods for the fire victims. I was surprised when someone got off the truck. Even though they were both masked and wearing shades, their hairstyle and posture were very familiar.

Hyeon Sil?

Chang Hyun?

''YOO JEONG!'' shouted Hyeon Sil.

I hugged her, suddenly.

''What happened? How are you? Did you get your belongings? I heard that you and Jong Hyun live here. So yesterday we were processing for donation immediately,'' she continued.

''I'm fine, Hyeon Sil and Chang Hyun.''

But I tried to hold back my tears when I said that Jong Hyun was the one who really needed their help.

I can clearly see Chang Hyun's concern, so he has no choice but to ask where he is. He immediately went straight to Heungnam High.

I also told Hyeon Sil that we moved the day before the disaster.

''It's good, and you're safe. Poor people here. I hardly see any high-rise houses here,'' she said sincerely.

''I gave them free breakfast. They can eat lunch and make extra food from the food you brought here,'' I said with a smile.

I am happy that there are people I can talk to and lean on in hardship and comfort. We also work together when it comes to such disasters like this.

Later, Chang Hyun and Jong Hyun arrived, and we had just finished distributing to the people here.

You can see in Jong Hyun's eyes a lot of tears. A wet eyes. It looks like he can cry in front of Chang Hyun. He may be comfortable crying with his fellow man.

I approached him to give him motivation despite what had happened.

"Jong Hyun, you did great," I greeted him with a broad smile as I hugged him.

Jong Hyun, you did great as a brother.

You did great as a son.

You did great as a friend.

You did great as a person.

Jong Hyun, you are the best man.