-JIN-
Lying awake in my bed and stared at ceiling, pondering unmet deadlines about everything in my thought. I rolled to other side on my bed, wondering why Min Jung doesn’t back home yet. It’s already 12:30 a.m. I heaved a sigh, getting bored waiting for Min Jung. My stomach grumbled asking for food badly. Mom and Jong Hyun already eat before. And seriously Min Jung made me to wait her every night as she didn’t like to take dinner alone. But I can’t blame her because her works made her to.
“I’m home!” I heard Min Jung’s voice echoed in hall house, making I flinched a bit, because really, did she have to scream like that every time when she’s back home? I make way to her, greeted her with a sullen pout.
“Yah Min Jungie. Why you are so late?” I asked, faking my angry tone.
Min Jung gave soft smile and hugged me tight. “Did you miss me that much? Omo, Omo, Omo.” She replied, shaking me with all her giddy mood.
“Uh-Oh, please. I don’t have time to do that.” I broke the hug with another pout and cupped her face. “I waited for you too long you know? I’m hungry!”
“I know my dear. Let’s eat!” She shrugged, not looking too phase with grin.
Late night dinner became my routine because Min Jung’s work. Became stylist for the new trendy celebrity group, EXO was not an easy job. But still I don’t understand why she can stand with those works. Wake up early in morning, coming home late, always busy following them and always brainstormed how to style them more creative and good. It was tired thingy actually.
But I take no concern on it as Min Jung was the only my giddy best friend slash sister slash inseparable-buddy I had since a month ago.
She was my savior on that day, the day for the time I stepped in Korea. The day I was met EXO accidently with my luck at the airport entrance. Also the day unexpectedly I being bullied and beaten by the EXO’s crazy fans a.k.a sasaeng fans. The day which makes my heart turned back from liking EXO. The day started my entire trauma about EXO. The day which make me build hatred about everything related with EXO except for Min Jung because she save my life back then.
… … …
“Why you doing this to me?”
They snorted a laugh. And one of them, probably leader of the gang came closer said. “It is because you disturbing my happy mood to see my EXO Oppa. You know?!”
“But I already apologizing you right? No need to be harsh. I…just stepped on your shoes accidently not purposely. N-nothing big deal actually. ” I cried as she trying to garrote my neck with her hand roughly. “Let.. me.. go..” I shuttered, the tears started to well out in my eyelids.
She raised an eyebrow and laughed. “Not so fast dear. You’re not Korean. So we don’t need to respect you for that little thing.” She lifted my chin to make eye contact with me as she tried to eat up my soul from staring. “You have to payback bitch.” She whispered and turned her head, giving signals to her fellow gang at the back.
Not split seconds after that, her gang started to palpate my body harshly. They took my phone, money and some clothes in my beg. As I fought to get back my things, they smacked hard my stomach to halt me from fought earning I slouched down and yelped in pain.
“D-Don’t take m-my things. P-Please.” I cried before they laughed maniacally. Anxiety wrapped me tightly. I brought my teary eyes to the crowd in airport. But no one cares. Maybe they did care and seen the scene, but they were not brave enough to encounter to save me. My hope dropped to zero as for that time, I didn’t see any police or security guard wandered nearby.
Then she grabbed strongly my upper arms as she wanted to dig her nails into it and shove me to stand roughly. “No need to ask sympathy for those people!! They don’t care. You understand? I just have to take this punishment and remember to behave properly next time!” Soon as she ended saying, her gang pushed and bumped me to the wall hardly, brought the pain to my spine. They kicked my shin repeatedly without mercy, grabbing my nape, clutching my both hands to prevent me from fight back and threatening me with small knife.
“Stop on what you doing right now!” The unfamiliar voice popped up from their back, startled them from action.
That girl wearing black glasses shouted bravely, shoved them aside. She knelt and hugged me. “Are you okay?” She asked earning more my tears streamed on my face. Thanks God because sent someone to save me.
“Go run save yourself before I called police! NOW!” She exclaimed in stern voice making them grunted and then ran. The one who held knife tried to scratch my shoulder with it before she ran away too with her friend.
… … …
“Are you hear me? Yah!” Min Jung slammed on the table, snapped me from drift reminisced those terrible memory.
“A-Ahh, w-what?” I asked blankly because zoned out from the reality back then.
“I said eat your food. It’s getting cold.”
I sighed deeply, and take my spoon deliberately mouthed the food in.
She noticed the gloomy expression on my face. “Are you okay?” She asked, squeezed my hand reassuring her concern.
I pasted a weak smile before continue eat, “I’m okay. N-nothing big.”
“Hmm, Okay if you said so.” Her expressions lighten up as to cheer up I. “I know today, EXO were completely cool and daebak! Their dance—”
Suddenly, my body tense heated up after hearing the EXO word. “Could I please not talking about that to me?” I cut her off, setting my eyes down, without looking at her. It was rude, I knew it. But I still cannot stand if heard or seeing things related to EXO. Can’t she understand?
She seems startled from my act. “You still can’t move on from your trauma?” She carefully asked. Her eyebrows curled up, waiting me to reply her.
“Mmm..Mmm..” I just hummed and nodded, responding to her. I heard she sighed.
“It’s getting nowhere if I still act like this. Why don’t you open your heart and not to hate them? They’re not the one who’s guilt to me. But their crazy fans! Not EXO.” She mentioned, trying to convince me about the truth. Truthfully, it was not exactly EXO fault. I acknowledged that.
“But I can’t.” I said, throwing sight to side, helplessly trying to avoid this topic.
“Yes you can. It’s basically based on your mind set.” She tightened her squeeze on my hand, grabbing back my attention to her. I looked her with absentminded. I really don’t know what and how to respond to her with all of this. I can’t even mad at her because she’s the only best friend I had.
Why she can’t understand? That I really can’t tolerate with EXO thingy. Maybe she was right, it was basically based on mind set. But I were too lazy and tired to fix up this thing. So, the easiest way, avoiding them, not to talk about them which casually reminded me to the unpleasant memory. It’s hurt. Very much.
“I can’t. Stop it Min Jung.” I said back.
“I’ll make I can. Seriously, I don’t like to see you like this. You should break your shells telling that you’re not afraid or scared anything related with EXO. Including those crazy fans.” She uttered, sounding sincere from her heart. I turned, avoiding looking into her eyes.
“I know it’s hard for you. I can feel it. I’m being like this, talk about this because I love you. If I didn’t care, we wouldn’t be having this talk I know.” She added, circled soothing thumb on my cheek. All her words slowly dissolved into my heart.
Yes, she had the point. I heaved a sigh. “I-I-I will try. But no promises.” I said earning her chuckled. “It will be good then.” She replied with smiled curled on her lips.
