Sometimes, everything is not what it seems it to be.
Nicole was a lovely nurse in the small town near Seoul. Unfortunately, being a single working lady has forced her to take extra late shifts at the hospital. She very much enjoys working at the hospital, not only because of her nice co-workers, but mainly the thought of helping people.
Recently, her co-workers have been pestering her about finding a mate. Nice men or women that can help her make it through life with a shoulder to lean on. Every time they would question Nicole about her love life, she would simply laugh and say that no man or either a woman has caught her eye.
Until one day, a gorgeous and charismatic, young woman, a bit older than Nicole's age suddenly moves into town. With her silky blonde hair and her striking attractive eyes, it's hard for any woman and man not to notice her. She works at the local gas station, pumping gas for the customers.
The few times that Nicole has gone after her earlier shifts, she's had the pleasure of talking to her. And after every conversation, Nicole comes to the conclusion that she's a very nice, respectable young woman.
Sometimes, while Nicole's working through the day, she finds herself thinking about her, bringing a small smile to her face. She often hears the younger nurses speaking highly of her, saying they consider her as wonderful girlfriend material. The older nurses, however, have growing suspicions about her sudden arrival in town, concluded that she's running from a bad past she has elsewhere. Since she always spoke pleasantly on the nights she stopped for gas, Nicole had automatically discounted the few disturbing rumors that accompanied her sudden appearance in the area.
Whenever Nicole would stop there for gas, she would make sure to have a small conversation with the attractive young woman, staying a little longer than usual. She eventually learned that her name is Kim Hyoyeon, and they grew to be good friends over time.
Until one night, Nicole and Hyoyeon's relationship took a drastic turn.
Nicole had agreed to take a late shift at the hospital due to a lack of nurses. After her shift was done, she hurried across the hospital parking lot towards her car. After getting in her car, she waved to her co-workers who were also leaving, and started the engine. Pulling out of her parking space, she honked to the security guard, indicating she was taking her leave. Luckily, the late hour meant light traffic and a peaceful ride home.
Suddenly, in the darkness of her car, she noticed the gas gauge indicating her tank was empty. Despite the situation and the fact that she was tired, Nicole had a small smile tug at her lips knowing very well who would be working at the gas station tonight.
Nicole drove slowly to the gas station, trying to save as much of the little gas in her tank in hopes of her car not suddenly stopping on her in the middle of the night.
As she finally approached the bright lights radiating off the open gas station, Nicole took a quick glance at her wrist watch reading 11:55pm. She sighed, it was very late and as much as she enjoyed seeing Hyoyeon, she wanted to make this quick so she could hurry home.
She pulled into the station at a pump and rolled down the window as Hyoyeon walked towards her car.
"Hi, Miss Nicole," Hyoyeon smiled sweetly at her, "Fill 'er up?"
"Hi Hyoyeon," Nicole said returning the smile, "Yes please, fill it up."
As Hyoyeon headed to the gas pump she asked, "Any more ping-pong sounds coming from the hood?"
"No, there's no more noises thanks to whatever you did," Nicole said, "I don't believe I thanked you for that."
"Yes ma'am, you have, plenty of times," Hyoyeon chuckled, "it was my pleasure Nicole."
Nicole smiled at the fact that she used her first name.
Hyoyeon filled the tank and then cleaned Nicole's front windows before reaching into her pocket to fish out change for the twenty dollars Nicole had handed her earlier.
After she handed her the change, she looked at Nicole for a moment, "I know I didn't tell you this before, but my birthday was on Sunday. My cousin got me this amazin' gift, why don't you come inside and see it. It's absolutely incredible!"
"Oh, Hyoyeon, I'm sure it is, but it's nearly midnight and I should really be getting home," Nicole replied, "next time I promise to come in and see the gift."
"C'mon Miss Nicole, it'll be real quick," Hyoyeon pleaded, "and besides, it won't be as new next time."
The next few moments were spent talking back and forth, Hyoyeon trying desperately to convince Nicole to come into the office and Nicole insisting that she do it next time, when she wasn't in such a hurry to return home.
After a while Nicole sighed, "Okay, you win Hyoyeon. But this better be good!"
Hyoyeon had a look of relief before she smiled at her, "It is, I swear. Before you come in, angle your car this way, just in case anyone wants to pull in."
Watching Hyoyeon's gestures, Nicole parked the car and followed her into the station office.
Nicole stepped inside first, followed by Hyoyeon. She didn't have the time to react as Hyoyeon locked the door behind her then reached into the drawer pulling out a gun.
Suddenly all the rumors about Kim Hyoyeon's sudden arrival in town came flooding back into Nicole's mind making her heart beat intensely.
Despite the deafening pounding of her heartbeat in her ears, Nicole managed to hear Hyoyeon say that there was no birthday and no present. Her whole body went numb as she pictured what Hyoyeon was going to do to her. Nicole felt sick to her stomach knowing that this pleasant woman turned out to be so sneaky and deceiving. She felt glued to the ground due to shock and fear.
It would be anytime before her legs would give way.
Her body went cold as she felt tears form in her eyes. Nicole knew that in the confines of this small gas station office, she would never walk out the same...If she even walked out at all.
Her entire body felt paralyzed, and since she was a nurse, she concluded she's facing the many symptoms of shock. Nicole felt weak, unable to make a self-defense attack or even attempt to scream for help. Suddenly, in the midst of her hysteria, Nicole felt an urge to burst out into laughter. The entire situation was driving her insane within minutes.
Realizing she had not once looked at Hyoyeon, nor has she moved from the window looking out onto the gas station. She looked up noticing first that her lips were moving and her attention was directed towards her car. Nicole still couldn't hear anything above the pounding in her ears.
Finally, after taking a few breaths, she started to hear sounds. Slowly, each sound became a word as her mind cleared more and more.
"...I really didn't mean to scare you by lyin' about my birthday. I just didn't know what else to do when I saw that dude on the floor in the back of your car. I wouldn't want anythin' to happen to you ma'am. I told you to angle your car so that if the idiot tried to make a run for it, I would see him getting' outta your car. I called the cops," she said finally taking a quick glance at Nicole, "don't worry, you're safe here ma'am, it's a good thing you stopped for gas tonight."
Nicole felt tears fall down her face as she heard the sirens and saw the familiar red and blue flashing lights indicating the arrival of the police. All Nicole's sense finally same back to her as she rushed forward and hugged Hyoyeon from behind, unable to control the sobbing.
"Thank you so much," Nicole whispered in her back.
Hyoyeon turned around and brought her closer, wrapping her arms protectively around her.
"Don't worry Nicole," Hyoyeon said kissing her on the head, "I'll always keep you safe."
Last stop for this day!
Thank you for reading! And please do comment! :)
