Broken Deal | Choi Jiung

9

time flew by so fast, they didn't even realized it was already 8 p.m and they had to go home. ba ram's mom gave her a lecture to just go home and not stay at the hospital with her and that she can't miss school anymore. so, ba ram had to comply.

"be safe, both of you. take care of each other on the way home, okay?" the two of them bowed at her and made their way out of the hospital.

"you don't have to walk me home today, ji ung. it's already night, your parents must be worried." ba ram broke the silence when she realized that they almost arrived at the subway station.

"it's okay, your mom told me to take care of you so i have to."

"she told me to do the same too. we can just separate when it's our stop. where do you live?"

"anyang."

"anyang?! isn't it like one hour from here?"

"ah, is that so?"

"why don't you know? i thought you use subway too?"

"i mean, i always sleep and i j-just follow anyone with the same uniform as us. i don't know the exact route." ji ung stuttered not knowing how to answer ba ram.

ba ram was speechless yet again at ji ung who looked unbothered, staring at her. she sighed and figured on what to do with him. "here. let me help you."

ba ram pulled ji ung's hand and brought them in front of the huge map displayed in front of the subway station. she then started to explain on which station he should drop at and where to change lanes and finally the destination he should get off to to finally reach anyang station.

"it's night so I don't think you can see anyone from our school that you can follow. do you get it?"

"i don't think i get it but i can try!"

"no. it's not something you can just try and error plus it's night! it's very dangerous! give me your phone." ba ram said strictly, holding out her hand for ji ung to place his phone on her hand.

she started to type whatever it is that she wanted to in his phone before handing it back to him.

"that is all the routes and stop that you should pay attention to, okay? if you get lost or not sure of anything, call me or text me, i will help you."

ji ung just nodded and they waited for the next train to arrive and got themselves a vacant seat and sit next to each other. when it was one stop before ba ram's stop, ba ram got ready and tapped on ji ung's hand to get his attention.

"text me if anything happened, okay? don't follow unknown people. it's dangerous."

ji ung chuckled at her advising him as if he was a 5 year old kid. "yes, mom. i will. text me too when you arrived home safely, okay?"

"okay." just then, the train stopped and it was her cue to leave. she stood up, waving him goodbye along with a gesture to text her. ji ung dismissed her, gesturing her to just go away and chuckled again when ba ram glared at him.

when ba ram had finally gone and the door to the train closed, ji ung heaved a sigh of relief. he hugged his bag close to his chest and pulled out his phone. he sighed again at the notes ba ram did in his phone before making a call to someone.

"hello? no, you don't have to pick me up today. yes, I'm fine. but, can you wait for me at anyang subway station? will i be fine? i think so, I don't really know. okay, thank you ahjussi."

ji ung ended the call and stared at the notes again until a message from ba ram popped out.

[ 'i'm home, very safely. don't sleep, choi ji ung.' ]

ji ung was sure he laughed so loud the other people in the train thought he was crazy. today was exhausting for him with all the talking he had with ba ram's mom and now he had to use the train for the first time, alone at that.

"things i do for you, ba ram."

he was absolutely anxious but he was smiling to himself from ba ram's message and could only pray that he could get home safely (hopefully).