She ran away.
From the country she desperately wanted to go back to. From the people she really wanted to be with. She ran away.
And..
She had been running from the past five years.
-
Jisoo had been working as a cook from the last five years in a small village in South Korea. Cooking was the only thing she had ever known, she had ever loved and that was all because of her mother. Even when she was no more with jisoo. The skill she had taught her atleast provided a roof over her head and bread to eat.
She didn't expect anything from life anymore neither did she wish for any better situation. She had accepted whatever turns her life had decided to take and all she wanted now was to hold onto her dignity for whatever life she had left with.
Fortunately, in this village nobody knew her past. Nor was anyone interested as long as the food she cooked for them tasted good.
Many times in these years she thought of Taehyung. Many times he had crossed her mind. The way she cooked for him. The way she had started to like feeding him. The way he had made her feel. Sometimes those thoughts helped her sleep peacefully at night.
She had realised that even if she was in chains there but she was free. She claimed she had no dignity but Taehyung was always careful with hers unlike her own people. Unfortunately, the one she hated the most was now the only pleasant living, breathing memory she had held on to.
A tear rolled down her cheek, " hurry up, move your hands fast. They need more rice cakes on the table! " a woman yelled at her.
"I'm sorry. They're almost ready. " she replied. Wiping the tears away.
-
"oh no! " jisoo whispered to herself as she quickly moved to the sidewalk of the street, trying not to get wet from the rain. The clouds were grey but it didn't seem like it'd rain this heavy as she cursed herself for not bringing her umbrella. While waiting she stared into the distance, the streets were empty as if no-one ever lived here and it was partially true. The village didn't have much young people or families living here.
It had about two to three hundred people and most of them were old people. Many had fled for better opportunities in other parts of the city and for many this village was nothing more than a trap. No hope for growth in it but for jisoo it was better than anywhere else. People here were nice to her and there was nobody who'd call her a prostitute of Japanese soilders.
"hey lady! " jisoo immediately got out of her little trance as she stared at an old man standing on the other side of the street. " do you need help? " he asked loudly.
Jisoo chewed onto the inside of her cheek," yes, I forgot my umbrella." she answered and the man quickly walked towards her.
"if you stay out in this weather any longer, you'd catch a flu. " jisoo gave the man a knowing stare and stepped under the umbrella beside him.
"come in." he asked her to come in his little soup shop. It was warm and smelled so good that it made jisoo's stomach growl.
"you're hungry? Aren't you? " the man smiled at her.
"a little.." she replied. Her cheek flushed with embarrassment. He smiled lightly at her. His eyes were old and kind. "sit down, I'll bring something for you to eat."
-
Dumplings and soup.
Jisoo's heart sank. Dumplings and soup was the first ever meal she had cooked for taehyung. Back at that time she didn't even like him but she still guessed it was his favorite meal although he had never told her but she could just feel it.
"don't you like it? " asked the man, breaking her out of the chain of thoughts. "I love it. " she responded as she took a bite of her dumpling.
"so what brings you here to this old village? " he asked. She stirred her soup for a moment before she replied, " I had nowhere else to go. " she looked at the man.
"this village is the house of many like you." he smiled at her and jisoo felt kindness in his eyes. She was truly grateful for all that he had done for her without him even knowing her.
These people, they knew nothing about her and were still nice to her. Many a times she wondered if they'd still behave the same if they knew her comfort woman status.
"thank you so much. " jisoo whispered to the man.
"you're welcome." he smiled at her.
Meanwhile the man stood up to gather the dishes, jisoo crouched down to tie her laces and by that time the rain had almost stopped.
"looks like you've got company! " a manly voice made jisoo's heart flinch. The old man immediately attended to the visitor, "oh my son! What a surprise to see you! " he spoke.
As Jisoo immediately turned around to take a glimpse of the visitor.
It was his voice, that made her heart vibrate in her chest but she was unable to see his face. The view was blocked by the old man's back facing jisoo, who was standing right in front of the visitor, talking to him.
Trying not to look too desperate, jisoo decided to let it go and put money on the table. She then stood up from her spot to leave.
"dawwy (daddy) pick me up" a child whimpered and the visitor crouched down to pick scoop the kid in his arms when jisoo walked past him, whispering a "thank you, see you soon. " to wihispered in a rush to the old man as she walked away.
" see you too. " he whispered and Taehyung and the old man walked in his soup shop.
---
By the way, HAPPY NEW YEAR Y'ALL!!! ❤❤❤
