GOODBYE [이재현]

Chapter 6

Park Hyeri’s POV

“Hyeri? Are you okay?” Hyunjae asked softly, there’s a trace of confusion in his voice as well.

My head stopped throbbing. I wasn’t sure what happened, but for a moment, painstaking events flashed in my mind. It was sudden, and I couldn’t remember those things vividly. A part of me says that it has something to do with my death.

“Hey.” Hyunjae called.

After calming down, I looked at Hyunjae whose face was so close to me. I don’t know how he managed to show a sincere expression, but he was worried. About me. At some point, I wondered if anyone ever cared about me when I was still alive. But I immediately set aside that thought.

“Are you okay?” He asked once again.

“Y-yeah.” I answered weakly. What happened to me earlier almost took my entire energy.

“I thought afterlife’s going to fetch me.” I joked. But he didn’t budge, he still looked at me with a worried expression.

“What happened?”

“I don’t know, Hyunjae. My head throbbed, it felt like it was about to split into two. Then suddenly, things started to flash in my mind. Scattered papers, bus stop, and an accident. I don’t know anymore...” I explained while trying to remember again. But the more I try to, the more things made no sense.

“Do you think it has something to do with your death?” He asked. He really has no filter, huh?

“I think so. But I have no idea what triggered it.” I said, frustrated.

“Is it the first time you experienced it for the last 2 years?”

“Yes, it is.”

We both sighed.

“For now, don’t force yourself to think about it. I’m sure we’ll find out everything in the right time.” He said, trying to comfort me.

It wasn’t comforting, if I must say, but it’s more than enough to calm me down. Maybe I should listen to Hyunjae, he had a point.

Papers. Bus stop. Accident.

I recited in my mind repeatedly, I have to remember those things as much as possible. It may be the key to afterlife.

The long silence between Hyunjae and I was replaced by a commotion in the middle of the road.

“What’s happening?” I asked.

Hyunjae and I decided to look at the commotion and learned that an accident broke. A large truck crashed to a stop light. It was a miracle that no one was hit and injured, even the driver is safe and sound.

Suddenly, I remembered the accident that flashed in my mind a while ago. It was in my point of view, but instead of a truck, a bus crashed to another bus. Passengers’ scream echoed in the road. Then, the memory stopped.

Maybe those memories were triggered beforehand, before an accident occurred. Or maybe it was just a coincidence. I don’t know. My head hurts from thinking too much.

“Let’s get out of here.” Hyunjae said while holding my hand.

“Let’s go to the riverside?” He asked, smiling at me.

That smile. Has anyone smiled like that to me before?

“Why don’t you let go of my hand first?” I smirked.

“And if I don’t want to?” He said with a smug look.

“You’re gonna be dead.” I warned.

It took us seconds to realize what I said. We later burst into laughter.

“Silly.” He spoke in between his laughter.