"But you really want to go back?" Mrs. Hirai inquired, "After all, you had to invest a lot of your time in this position," she said, sympathetically, to Jinyoung.
Having taught him a lot and being together for a long time, she loved him in a motherly way, and did not want him to jump into the quick decisions.
"Honestly, I love working here and do not want to leave, but I think it's about time I should prioritise my father's wish. He wants to give me a post in his company."
The lunch break was nearly over, and they were heading back to their office-room, with a coffee in each's hand.
"Wherever you work, anyway, I believe you'll be fine."
Jinyoung smiled at her comforting words.
"According to the reports, the accident happened an hour ago. In Gangnam, Korea, two young men of about twenty-six were injured and admitted to the hospital in the severe condition. The other bus also..."
Jinyoung took a glance at the news on the TV screen due to the word 'Korea'. It was about a car accident in the Gangnam area. Just the typical news, but what caught his eyes was the two men who were injured.
With horror and disbelief, his eyes were stuck at the screen, asking himself if his eyes were tricking him. But how could he have mistaken? It was his friends, Mark and Hoon, their bodies in blood and unconscious being carried to the hospital.
His hands started to shake and he felt his own heartbeats wildly thumping in his chest.
"Jinyoung, are you okay?" Mrs. Hirai's voice seemed to come from a distance far away, when compared to his own screams in his head.
The coffee he had been holding, dropped to the floor, spilling over.
"I-I'm sorry."
"It's okay, dear. Are you alright?"
Jinyoung shifted his attention back to Mrs. Hirai, who was looking at him worriedly.
"E-Excuse me. I need to make an urgent call."
He left her, without waiting for her response, and at a corner, his trembling hand dialed the number of Hoon's mother, that was the only person he could think of calling at the moment.
To his dismay, the first call was not answered. At the second call, however, the weak voice of Hoon's mother was heard.
"Hello, aunty, it's me, Jinyoung. I-Is that true? I saw the news."
At the end of his words, the sniffling sound was heard. She was crying. That was all real, then.
"J-Jinyoung, your friends, t-they were involved in the car accident. Now in the operation room. Their condition is still not known. Up to now, I don't see any hope, Jinyoung."
"Please, don't be too worried, aunty. They will be okay," reassured Jinyoung, although his mind was already shattering, thinking of the worst. Their bloody bodies didn't leave his eyes.
"I'll come back, aunty, today. Please be strong."
After some more words to comfort her, he hung up, and just on the spot, he booked the same-day flight, that would bring him to Seoul as soon as possible.
With the heavy heart but with the quick strides, he hailed a taxi and told the driver the name of the hospital, which Hoon's mother had told him, and got in the car.
Except talking to his boss that he had already resigned, he had left everything just like that. His rented apartment, his car and other necessary stuff. He would arrange them later. As of now, all he could think of was Mark and Hoon, and praying that they had not suffered from the fatal injuries.
