dimensions • yang jeongin

s e v e n

The door slammed shut.

Aeri stomped her feet away with profanities leaving her mouth. A part of her was proud after seeing the disgusted look on Jeongin's face as soon as she said that, but another part of her was still angry at the guy for killing her hopes of returning. She was annoyed so a walk in the evening would heal her.

In the evening, she noticed a lot of people were either washing their clothes or having tea outside. Never in million years she thought she would see this in real life. It was interesting and quite unbelievable. Aeri? In the life of history that she learned in her history classes? Fascinating.

Her feet aimlessly brought her to the shop lots where Jeongin showed her just a few hours ago. Since it was evening, the fairy lights that hung above her were all turned on. She gasped lightly, amused at the beauty. Flowers were everywhere. There were musicians near the water fountain. 

Maybe being trapped in the past was not really bad as she thought.

After a few minutes of listening to the musicians, Aeri spotted a place which to be said as the factory according to the annoying guy, Jeongin. She looked around. The place seemed to be less crowded than the other side. She just shrugged and went there.

As she walked further from the crowd, she found herself in a narrow alley. It was fogged but it did not smell anything bad. Her heart thump faster against her chest with possible consequences that could happen but continued walking nonetheless.

It was quiet. The shop lots were empty.

"There's nothing." she breathed out. As she was about to return, she heard a loud noise nearby. Her heart almost jumped out.

"Shh!" a voice hushed.

Aeri turned around to see two silhouettes a few feet away from her. The figures seemingly did not notice her when they sat down on the ground, leaning against the wall. Carefully, she approached them without making any noise. 

"This is delicious." a guy said in a whisper.

"Luckily the shop was empty. The owner must be going to the toilet."

Both chuckled. Both guys.

"Um," Aeri finally showed herself in front of them. Surprised, they immediately stood up and one of them reached for a pole and pointed it dangerously close to her. The girl staggered a few steps backwards. One of them hid behind the other guy.

"Who?" Both of them were wearing brown berets so she couldn't describe them.

"I'm..." she tried to find a good answer. "I'm visiting a relative here and exploring this place alone." 

They looked at each other. Then the guy that was hiding behind his friend asked, "Which country?" the deep voice startled her.

Oh shit, she cursed. She did not even know the name of the country she was currently in. 

"It's far from here and it is a small country, you wouldn't know its name," she examined their shabby attire. "And I assume you don't go to school. You've missed a lot about other countries."

The guy put the pole down and sighed. "Leave, you are not allowed to be here."

"Why?"

"It's the factory and we are trying to eat secretly here." he sat back on the ground and continued eating the bread. The deep voiced followed him. "You need to leave before someone finds you and thinks you as a factory worker."

"You are factory workers?" she questioned.

The deep voiced nodded, "I thought you'd know since we don't go to school."