First Love

Chapter 30

Yoongi was frantic. He tried calling Jae again. He knew it would go directly to the voice message he didn't know who to ask. He couldn't think.

"Hyung?" asked Namjoon.

"That's Jae's place," was all that Yoongi could say, pointing to the news on the TV as he paced. "I couldn't get her. I don't know who to ask," said Yoongi, pushing his hair back in despair. Jae was not a direct employee under Big Hit so getting the information from the person in charge would be difficult. He tried calling up the number for the cleaning agency but all he got was an automated message, showing that the office was not open for business yet. It was still too early. Calling her brother, Chin Hwa? Yoongi didn't even know his number.

"Are you sure, hyung?" asked J-Hope as he walked from the kitchen.

"Of course I am fucking sure. That's the very damn building I sent and took her from," snapped Yoongi.

"Have you tried the restaurant? She's close to the owner, right?" suggested Jimin.

Without replying, Yoongi looked up for the restaurant's number and there were 3 numbers listed. The first number was a landline number and he was sure no one would be there at that time. He tried the second number was glad when Chan-Ri's voice greeted him on the first ring.

"Thank god you called," said Chan-Ri. "I don't know how to get to you. I've been trying to call Big Hit and all I got was a voice message that said working hours starts from 9 a.m."

Yoongi knew, even if Chan Ri got through, it would be difficult for anyone to get his phone number unless he gave it to them himself. You can't simply call up Big Hit Entertainment and ask for the BTS member's number.

"Is Jae...?" Yoongi couldn't go on.

"She's one of the victims they saved," said Chan-Ri. Yoongi felt weak with relief before Chan-Ri added, "But the doctor said her condition was quite severe when they brought her in."

"Where is she?" asked Yoongi in distress. Chan-Ri gave him the hospital name and he rushed out, taking his bag from his room, forgetting his jacket and just wore the closest sandals to the door. It was probably Taehyung's or Namjoon's, but he didn't care. He was unable to think straight. All he had in his mind was to get to Jae. He didn't want the conversation they had earlier that morning to be their last.

The emergency room of the University Hospital was packed with anxious family members of the fire. Some were sobbing and some were standing still in vigil. He located Chan-Ri in the crowd and went straight to her. She looked distraught.

"How's Jae?" Yoongi asked.

"I'm still waiting for their update. I went here straight away when the gosiwon management called me up at dawn. The place is already chaotic when I came," replied Chan-Ri looking at the reception desk. "I already went in and confirmed her identity. It was hard registering without having any proof of identification on her. I don't even remember her Resident's Registration Number. Ki-Tae went to the restaurant to get a copy of her ID."

"How is she, noona?" asked Yoongi.

Chan-Ri looked at him sadly, "She was covered in soot when I saw her. Some of it may already went into her respiratory system. I didn't see any burn on her. The doctor didn't say much but from their expression... I just hope that she would pull through this. She had faced too much for a girl her age to last a lifetime."

"Do you know what happened?" he asked.

"I don't know the full details but from what I heard, the fire came from the third floor. Most of those who didn't survive were from the third and the fourth floor because the fire blocked the only stairs there. They were trapped."

"Jae's on the second floor," said Yoongi.

"The firefighters said the smoke was quite thick on the second floor during the rescue mission and they actually missed her," said Chan-Ri, trailing off.

"Then... how... who saved her?"

"One of the witness said a big guy wearing a suit took an oxygen tank from the fire truck, went in and saved her. My hunch is telling me that he could either be Mr Nam or Mr Gil," said Chan-Ri.

Yoongi was chilled to the bones. What would happen if her guardian thugs were not there? From what he knew, smoke inhalation could cause death. How much had Jae actually breathed in? Being a heavy sleeper, he was pretty sure that Jae was in her slumber throughout the ordeal and she wouldn't realize what had happened. He slumped down dejectedly on the seat next to Chan-Ri as they waited.

"Yoongi, take this," called Chan Ri, passing him something.

Yoongi looked at the items she was giving him. It was a beanie cap and a mask that she pulled out from her bag. He looked at her in question.

"People may not realize it now with what is currently going on. You blend in just well with what you are wearing. But when the chaos dies down, some people here might recognize you," said Chan Ri.

Yoongi took the cap and wore it straight away. He didn't think much about covering his identity when he went out. It was not even his priority. He then took his phone out. It was buzzing constantly before and there were few missed calls from the guys. He called up Namjoon saying that it would take him a while before he could go on to work and turned off his phone right after.

Chan Ri's and Yoongi's head turned when they heard a woman crying in sorrow not far from them. A doctor was there, probably delivering bad news. "No... my son, please tell me it's not him," she wept brokenly, gripping on to the doctor's coat. "He's my only son... please doctor. Tell me you got the wrong person."

The doctor just shook his head, "I am really sorry for your loss, madam."

Yoongi felt a lump in his throat as he stared at the wall blankly. This probably wouldn't have happened if he met up with Jae after she called. He couldn't bear it if Jae didn't survive this because of him. He was sound asleep in his bed while Jae was battling for her life. The guilt was overwhelming.

Ki-Tae arrived, running towards them. "Honey, these are Jae's copy of identification. I brought extra just in case," said Ki-Tae, passing some papers to Chan-Ri.

"I'll hand it in to the counter," Chan-Ri stood and made her way amidst the crowd. Ki-Tae sat on her seat, taking a breather. "Any updates?" he asked Yoongi.

"None," answered Yoongi, burying his face in his hands.

"Hope we'll get some news when Chan-Ri is done with the registration," said Ki-Tae, patting Yoongi's back.

Yoongi sat straight. Something was not right. He was puzzled to see Chan Ri and Ki Tae handling all the formality with the hospital registration, not her brother. Shouldn't that be managed by the patient's next of kin? He knew that Ki Tae and Chan Ri were not related to Jae. Jae said Chin Hwa was in Seoul and it seemed that they were in good terms. Didn't Chin Hwa care about Jae?

"Ki-Tae hyung, was Jae's brother informed about this?" inquired Yoongi.

Ki-Tae looked at Yoongi curiously, "No. He couldn't do anything even if we tell him."

"Why the heck not? Jae's his only sister," Yoongi stood, getting angry. "Where is he? Let me get that bastard here."

"Yoongi, he's already here," answered Ki-Tae, still flashing Yoongi a weird look.

"I don't see him anywhere," answered Yoongi as he looked at the people around them.

"Didn't Jae tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"Chin-Hwa has been in coma earlier this year after his accident. He is being cared for in this hospital ever since."

Yoongi's heart dropped and he sat heavily.

Jae, what other secrets are you hiding from me? He thought silently.