PARADOXICAL

Takers

It was kind of fuzzy at first, but then the dim brightened up, and the mist cleared before he could see more than barely.

He continued to cough, calming the effect of the mist. "Moly! What on earth!?" He opened his eyes slowly to the light, filled with anticipation, but immediately with curiosity as his eyes set on what was before him.

Another coughed also. "Really! The ninety-ninth time and I still haven't gotten used to this shit!"

Jimin slowly turned to the voice. There were ninety eight others in there, all sited in rows on each side; forty nine on each.

"Great! Just one more and we'd be ready for the meeting," another said with both a hint or sarcasm and annoyance.

Jimin turned towards the new voice again. He swallowed.

"Speechless aye?"

He jerked a little. This time the voice was closest to him. He turned to it to see the owner. He sat just in the first seat in the right row

"I'm Sean," he said, coming to his feet. "You must be here for the job... we all are," he smiled shipishly.

Jimin scrunched a little. "All of you?"

"All of us. Including you," he continued to smile. "What is your name?" He asked.

He swallowed first. "Jimin. Park Jimin."

Sean pressed his lips. "I thought so."

Jimin batted a brow. "And what is that supposed to mean?"

He led him to the seat next to his. "Sit. It took a ton before you arrived. It probably would take another before the next arrives."

Jimin sat trying to seem most comfortable. Sean sat too.

"You mean one else would still come?"

"Yes. They need hundred of volunteers to begin the meeting--"

"What meeting exactly."

Sean inhaled. "I'm sure the person who referred you to this job said they'd test if you're fit for the job first before they can take you... did he or she?"

"He did."

"Great. That is the meeting they're talking about."

"But how'd they test a hundred people at once--"

"Not at once. We'd be tested differently. One at a time."

Jimin looked around the place. People bored as fuck. Tired. Stressed. Impatient. He looked back. "How long have everyone been in here?"

Sean huffed. "I've been here since midnight. Others have just spent a few hours since I first came," He finished.

He swallowed and looked to the doors. "And has any one gotten out?"

"No one has tried. They already told us not to. It'll be a waste of time, I guess," he smiled. "I've been reserving the seat you're in since I came. Told everyone else to take another. Said I was expecting a friend... which was a lie. I just wanted someone like one, you came and I thought it was time to give it out."

Jimin glitched a smile. "Thank you."

He plopped in his seat. "What brought you to the US?"

"College. I got a scholarship through a non-governmental organization in Korea."

He smirked. "Ahahh! The reason for the glasses aye? Smarty. You must be. It's not easy to be awarded a scholarship."

Jimin huffed shipishly. "Please... I'm just in my first year."