New York, 29/07, 8:46 am
Coffee and a doughnut. I know, it sounds like a dumb cliche, a joke, but that's exactly what I'm having for breakfast right now. I forgot to mention, I'm a policeman. That's why it's meant to sound stupid. Is it my fault for liking doughnuts? I have a sweet tooth, I can't do nothing about it. Deal with it, and let's move on. So, breakfast. I'm reading my newspaper and minding my business when my radio starts talking. It's meant to be my free day, but I guess it isn't the case anymore.
"Officer Jung, do you receive me? Officer Jung?"
"Yes, I receive you. What's going on?"
"I'm sorry to call you today, but we have a... situation, and your help is needed at Port Newark. We have an officer down, several hit and a number of civilians rescued from a ship seizure. They all seems to be foreigners, and they've all been assigned a translator... all but one."
I can't seem to grasp where do I chime in. "...and? I don't understand why do you need me in particular, sir."
"That one civilian only speaks Korean, Jung. The translator is on holidays, and, well, you're the only officer who speaks the language. Again, I know this was supposed to be your free day, but..."
"Don't mention it, I'm on my way. Send coordinates to my unit."
I wear my uniform, bolt my breakfast, jump in my car and set the navigator: I should be there in less than 15 minutes. It's quite strange for me to find a new compatriot, I'm somewhat excited, even though I know that's not quite appropriate since they will probably be in distress and disoriented. They told me nothing about the whole case, nothing about why they're there, who they are, what happened to them. All I know is that one of them is Korean and that they don't speak a single English word, and they're probably scared shitless.
The trip seems even shorter since I'm so lost in my thoughts, and when I arrive the Lieutenant greets me and escorts me to the cargo ship. around twenty people, who I suppose are the civilians, are there, covered in blankets and holding plastic cups with fuming hot tea. They're all talking with the interpreters they've been assigned to, sometimes multiple people to one translator, all but one man, who sips on his cup with his eyes wide open, like a lost, scared puppy. He has what looks like a notebook in his other hand.
"Officer Jung. He's the civilian we talked about on the phone. No one has been able to talk to him. He had a tag on his jeans saying 'KR', so we positively suppose he's from Korea. Please, try to talk to him and reassure him everything is okay. As all the others, we suppose he was on this ship to be sold as a 'mail order partner'."
"Mail... what?!"
"You heard that right. People order their spouse on the Internet based on their racial and physical preference, and... they get them shipped to them. It's sick."
"But they're... human beings."
"I don't know what to tell you, officer Jung. Escapes me." the Sergeant pats me on the shoulder and makes way for me to go to the civilian, who notices I'm getting nearer to him, and takes a step back. I start talking in Korean, slowly and with a calm tone of voice.
"Hi. My name is officer Jung and I'm a policeman. I'm here to help you. You're safe now. Do you understand me?"
The man just nods, without saying a single word.
"Good, that's good. Would you like to tell me what happened to you so I can help you out?"
He looks scared and he frowns, shaking his head.
"Okay... Well, what about your name? I would love to know your name. My name is Wooyoung."
He looks at me with a blank expression, then he glances at his shoes before meeting my eyes and timidly saying "S-San..."
