Spring Moon

39

"I NEED THE RESTROOM!"

The sudden and loud yell made me gasp, fluttering my eyes open from the slumber I didn't know I had fallen into.

The setting was confusing.

As I turned to my right side, the door of the vehicle was open and the frantic Chanhee was running. Desperately for restroom - proven. Then, the pieces clicked. I let my head fall backwards hitting the headrest at the certain memory.

It was today - the day we planned to go to the countryside Kevin had talked about. Jacob was driving the 7-seater car he rented somewhere and we must have stopped at the resting area. And, it was quite a surprise that I'd fallen asleep.

"You will get a headache later for waking up too suddenly," Evelyn's voice from the back row where she was seated with Faye was heard, her head peeking into my view. "Don't you want to get out?"

"No, I don't," unbuckling the seatbelt across my body, I stretched my numb limbs as I caught Kevin staring at me from the front seat next to the driver. His expression was kind of questioning but I assumed I'd unveiled it way too fast. "You guys can go. I'll stay."

"Then I'll stay too," he suggested, proving the assumption I had on him earlier.

"No, just go..." I shooed them all away. "Close all the doors, please."

Faye and Evelyn reminded me to call them if I needed anything before they closed the door which made me unable to notice the looks on the other two gentlemen at the front. I just couldn't easily accept the fact that Jacob would obey without any reminder - just like the girls, and also no retaliation from Kevin.

Maybe, just a little bit, I could hear Kevin opposed. Maybe that way, I could say then, let them all go and just you stay here with me. Would I look dumb for playing push and pull like this?

But, then, I didn't know what I wanted right now - whether to stay alone or have anyone with me. It was too complicated to say.

In my condition, I could say that I couldn't stand silence. It was too scary and it would interrupt my brain, raiding it by thinking about all negativity. However, right now, the soft music from the radio and the sound of the air-cond swooshing were nothing but comfortable.

I shut my eyes, enjoying the situation while it lasted when I found myself unknowingly chuckling.

What made me agree to this?

When Kevin said he had planned a trip to the countryside and he'd discussed it with all my friends, surprisingly, I never said anything. I'd just agreed. It reminded me of that time when he assured me to go to the school reunion. No matter how many times my friends convinced me to go, I'd always said no but when Kevin suggested the same thing, I immediately said yes.

Maybe, the power he had on me was still high.

Click!

All the anxiousness inside me jerked up to its max when the sound of the door on my side was clicked open from outside. The slow movement of the door sliding away revealing the outer world made my breath hitch. The tint of the window was too dark for me to figure out the layout of the person outside. Who could it be? Was I going to get abducted?

Is this the end of my life?

But, soon, I found myself slumped in the seat as I was greeted with a sweet smile from Kevin Moon.

"Hi..." He greeted, stalling a drink holder in one hand and another one was occupied with a plastic bag. "I was rushing to get back to you faster, so I don't know what have I picked from the store."