Heartland

~Two~

Jin has packed his belongings and had them shipped ahead. He then tells Mingyu that he can keep the apartment and they both part ways, wishing each other well. He didn't bother telling his mother where he was going nor his father. He has had minimal contact with them since his graduation. He still hasn't gotten a clear explanation to why his father didn't attend from either of them. So he decided to steer clear of them.

He is currently on a bus heading down to the small town of Ungcheon. He has a window seat and can't believe how different the scenery is along the way. From bright lights, big city. To wide expanse of open spaces.

He is surprised when the guy in the seat next to him suddenly falls asleep on his shoulder. He tries pushing him off of him, but the guy tried to snuggle up closer to him. So he decided to leave him be for now. At least he didn't stink.

He watches the sun set and he gets sleepy himself. So he gets comfortable in his seat and falls asleep. When he wakes to the bus driver announcing his stop, he finds his seat mate sitting up wide awake.

He gives him an embarrassed chuckle and tells him, "I'm really sorry that I fell asleep on you. I had been awake for 17 hours and I couldn't stay awake any longer.. I hope I didn't put you out too much."

Jin sits up and says, "Don't worry about it. I would've done the same if I was in your position."

The man smiles and offers him a bottled water. "We're getting close to the next stop. I heard it doesn't have much except a small restroom. That's it."

Jin doesn't know what to expect but he takes the water just in case he'll need it.

A few minutes later, the bus stops at a tiny bus stop with a shed in the back with a restroom. He gets off the bus along with the bus driver. He takes a look around and sees there's a couple of benches in front that are covered in a plastic shelter.

Jin is confused because it doesn't seem like there's a town anywhere nearby. He then realizes nobody else is getting off and then the bus driver gets back on once he takes Jin's luggage off.

He then runs back to ask the driver, "Excuse me, but where is Ungcheon?"

The driver tells him, "It's about 15 miles or so down the road. This is the last stop in this direction before I head to my last stop down south."

"But how am I supposed to get there?"

The bus driver shrugs and says, "I don't know. But this is as far as I go this way." He then closes the door and begins to drive away. He looks at the bus passengers who are all looking at him as it drives away. His former seat mate waves from the window.

Jin then looks around and the entire place is deserted. There's a map on the bus stop window so he grabs his rolling luggage and pulls it towards the stop.

He sighs as he sees which way he'll have to go. He tries his phone in the hopes that he'll be able to get a cab or an Uber. But he doesn't get a signal.

He has no choice but to keep walking and hope he doesn't get killed along the way. He is surprised that he hasn't seen a car drive by in either direction and it's giving him horror movie vibes.

The sun is already out beating down on the road and on his body. He removes his jacket and carries it in his arms as he drags his luggage around. He is very thankful his seat mate gave him the bottled water as he takes a few sips.

'Fuck, I wonder how long it will take for me to reach that place. They couldn't have arranged a bus line straight there?'

He continues walking for a while when he takes a look behind him. That's when he sees a car driving his way in the distance. He turns forward, hoping the car isn't full of weirdos.