Yonghwa bolted back the way she had come, the echoes of her footsteps reverberating through the nearly deserted station. Her mind was flooded with panic as she looked around for any sign of her earring.
It was late, and the lack of people around made it easy for her to weave through the few obstacles in her path. But her rapid progress was halted by a sharp scream, chilling in its suddenness and despair. It cut through the night air, stopping her cold in her tracks.
She whipped around, just in time to see a blur of hair flailing in the air, a shadowy figure tumbling down the cold stone stairs. A thud resonated as a body hit the ground.
With her heart in her throat, Yonghwa sprinted towards the stairs. At the bottom lay a girl—crumpled and motionless—a thin stream of blood trickling from her temple down the side of her face.
Panic seized her as Yonghwa skidded to a halt, gasping for breath. Kneeling beside the girl, her hands shook as she gently touched her arm, hoping for some sign of consciousness. But the girl remained unresponsive, her face pale in the flickering station light.
Desperation clawed at Yonghwa as she scanned the empty platform for help, finding none. With trembling hands, she slid them under the girl's limp body, her slight weight being nothing compared to the heavy burden of responsibility Yonghwa, now shouldered.
She quickly lifted her, her head lolling unsettlingly as Yonghwa turned and hurried back to where she had come from, the sound of her heels now sounding louder with the added weight.
"Minho!" her voice cracked as she called out for her friend, her tone tinged with urgent fear
He turned sharply at the sound of his name, his face registering shock as he saw Yonghwa rounding the corner, the girl limp in her arms.
"Min, help me!"
"Yonghwa, what the hell?" Minho dashed towards he, his eyes wide
"I-I don't know, she just... she fell!" she was breathless, struggling to articulate the horror of the moment
"She fell? Who is she?" Minho helped her ease the girl back onto the ground, his brows knitted in concern
"I don't know, I was leaving and I heard her scream. I found her like this, there was blood and-" her voice broke, the reality of the situation overwhelming her
"It's okay, it's okay," Minho's voice was steady, though his eyes betrayed his concern as he tried to comfort her "Just call an ambulance. She'll be okay"
Nodding, Yonghwa fumbled for her phone, her fingers clumsy with adrenaline. As she dialed emergency services, Minho gently brushed the girl's long hair away from her face, checking her breathing and pulse.
They were stable, but the wound on her head, though small, continued to bleed and was a stark reminder of the gravity of the fall. His eyes roamed over her in search of any other injuries.
She was quite pretty, he couldn't help but notice. Despite her unconsciousness, her face appeared almost angelic—her features were delicate and perfect like a doll's.
Looking into her purse, he found her wallet and pulled out her ID card. Her name was Jo Serin, she seemed to be a local and to his surprise, she was the same age as him and Yonghwa.
He glanced at her again, she looked much younger than her age suggested—she looked so small and fragile. Maybe it was due to her frilly dress and the fact she looked to be asleep.
"The ambulance is on its way," Yonghwa reported, her voice steadier, but still tinged with worry as she returned to Minho's side
"She doesn't seem too badly hurt. Probably fainted from the shock,"
YOU ARE READING
Maze of the Heart
RomanceYonghwa's world revolves around her best friend, Minho, who has been by her side through thick and thin. For years, she has hidden her true feelings for him, afraid to risk their deep bond. And just as she finally build up the courage to confess, so...
