Accessory Wars

Chapter 9-Ki

            I woke up to my parents standing over me. Well, crap. My dad glared at me through his wire frame glasses, arms crossed over his chest. I wish I had gotten his genes for a few extra inches of height. Instead, I took after my mom, short and a bit overweight. Okay, a lot overweight for me. Her hair hung along her jawline in a straight line and her lips sat pursed, making her brow furrow. I've seen this face many times. I blame in on her managerial position and her band of incompetent monkey employees. Oh, the stories I've heard.

When I sank back into my pillows, I noticed I was no longer on the floor. At some point, the nurses must have found and coaxed me back into bed. I must have been half asleep when they did because I sure didn't remember moving. I shifted my gaze to my mummified hands and tried to think of something half-way decent to say.

"Ki," my dad called out, his voice sharp. The only thing sharper than his voice was my mother's kitchen knives. "What has gotten into you? You lie to us college, your degree! Then we get a call from the ERT saying you got gravitated!"

"Jae-Sun, that's enough," my mother said in a soft, but stern, voice.

"Ji-Eun..." My dad was interrupted by my mother's glare and he fell silent. They both looked to me, my fingers picking at the edge of my bandage.

"I had to save him," I muttered, keeping my eyes on my hands.

"Save who? The kid who..." My dad stopped and took a deep breath. "Who are you talking about, Ki?"

"Jay." I winced as my fingers brushed the edges of my stitches.

"I don't know who that is," my mother said. She laid a hand on top of mine so I stopped my fidgeting.

"He's the guy from the coffee shop. He saw me working and apologized to me right before the Elicits showed up." I numbly explained what happened during the attack, my mother keeping her hand on mine the entire time. I was grateful for the contact. It helped keep me grounded. I must have started crying because I felt my dad's fingers carding through my hair, something he only did when I was upset.

We sat together for awhile, my parents hugging me and murmuring words in Songi. We hadn't really gotten to talk since the college fiasco but I didn't want to talk. Not yet. I felt too unstable, like I would crack at the slightest waver. I think my parents sensed it too. At least, I hoped they did.

We looked up as there was a knock at the door. A guy poked his head inside and apologized for intruding. I recognized the warm up suit for the college football team, soccer if you're not familiar. His brown hair was swept to the side like he was in a constant side wind. He looked like he hadn't slept well in days.

"Um, are you the one who saved Jay?" the guy asked.

My parents looked to me. I gave him a look that said 'yes but I wouldn't exactly call it "saved"' with a shrug.

"I wanted to say thank you. He's been through a lot lately and knowing he had someone looking out for him, it's a huge relief. So, thank you." The guy bowed his head towards me.

"I'm glad I was able to help," I replied, my voice sounding weak.

"You were the only one who did." Mr. Jumpsuit excused himself, leaving us on that grim note.

No one else... When I thought about it, no one did run to the front. Everyone ran away, like we were taught. Run and hide until help arrived. Running towards danger was reserved for emergency personnel, police, military and the like. I thought of the three other people who died at the front of the store, those at the main cash registers. No one went for them either.