Memories of the Sea I BTS X OC I

Chapter 2 - Life Goes On

"We have no idea who she is, and the whole memory-thing can't be good news. I'm saying we just leave her at the next port, end of story". Namjoon was pacing on the carpet in the middle of the room, obviously agitated. The rest of the group I hat met on deck were spread out, lounging on couches and leaning against furniture. The discussion seemed to have already gone on for a while, some of the men nodding along with their captain, while others were frowning. Nobody had noticed that the subject of their discussion had entered the room, with the exception of Yoongi, who was leaning against the massive writing desk on the far side of the room, facing the door. His cool gaze lingered on Hae, but his neutral expression remained unchanged.

Hoseok shook his head. "That isn't fair, is it? I mean, if she really can't remember anything, we're kind of obligated to help her out! We're uniquely qualified, so to say. What is she going to do all on her own in some port town in the middle of nowhere?"

"Life isn't fair, Hoseok", Namjoon retorted bitterly.

Seokjin cleared his throat, and that was when they finally noticed the newcomers. Jimin smiled at Hae, and gave her a quick once-over. "I see my clothes fit you nearly as well as me", he said in a suggestive tone and winked at her. Jungkook, who sat next to him stared at the purple tattoo, obviously surprised, but when the girl met his gaze, he hurriedly looked away.

"Thank you for rescuing me, and letting me stay on board of your ship", she said, mainly in the direction of Namjoon. "And thanks for lending me something to wear while my things dry", she added, and smiled at Jimin. Seokjin closed the door behind them, and a strange kind of silence hung over the room. Hae felt like an intruder – the group was obviously not used to have someone listening in on their discussions.

So she spoke up herself. "I'm sorry for causing any problems. I know it must be difficult to believe that I can't remember my past, and I have no idea what happened to me. I'm glad for any assistance you decide to offer. I don't have any money, but I can work. On the ship, I mean. To earn passage to a safe harbour, and pay my debt? If that's okay with you?" Hae bit her lip. She could have definitely phrased that better, but well. Even if they decided to treat her as a blind passenger and threw her into the brig, that was still better than drifting about helplessly on the ocean. They could also just throw her back into the water to be rid of her. That would actually be worse, but she didn't believe they were that cruel.

"You are a sailor?", Teahyung asked doubtfully. He was fiddling with a pen, stretched out on a loveseat. "You don't look like one." Hae didn't flinch at the comment, but it was a near thing. "Well, you don't look like one either", she said, earning a "Hey!" from him and a laugh from the rest. The tension that had build up did dissolve a bit while the group bickered among themselves. The captain didn't look too happy, and she could understand his reservations. He carried a lot of responsibility. If she turned out to be liability, or dangerous, that was his problem.

"Well, you could always help me in the kitchen", Seokjin proposed, and Hae smiled at him. "What do you think, Yoongi? Should we let her stay?", asked Namjoon, and the attention of everyone turned to the first mate, who had followed the whole discussion silently, with crossed arms and an unreadable expression.

His gaze met Hae's. "We'll be in Solseom in a few days anyways, so it won't be for long. And if she can make herself useful, it's probably fine." He shrugged, seemingly unconcerned. Namjoon nodded thoughtfully.

"Well, if that's all cleared up, I'll take her with me for today, and we can figure out the rest later, alright?", Seokjin said. Hae pretended not to notice the silent exchange between him and the captain. It was a subtle thing, all lifted eyebrows and throwaway glances, hidden meanings behind every minute change of expression. They all did that, communication with each other without words. "How many years have they spend together to get like that?", she wondered. Despite the dispute she had witnessed, they seemed at peace with themselves, pieces of a puzzle that fit together seamlessly. Seeing a close-knit group like that only further drove home how lonely and lost she really was.