To Love And To Hold

Ch3. My New home

Jae Hwa's POV

I opened my eyes to a bright blue sky above. I covered my face with my palms and looked around. Me and ajhussi were sitting in a boat which was swaying slightly. He was sitting opposite me looking towards the sea, his back facing me.

There were some brown packets in the boat. But all I could notice was the blue water all around. And it seemed like it stretched forever. Is this what we call a sea?

Yeppuda

"Ajhussi, where are we?" My hoarse voice cracked slightly.

He turned his face to look at me, squinting his eyes. "I am taking you to somewhere far little one."

"How far?"

"You will see."

My eyes widened slightly, "Are you going to kill me? Are you taking me to God?"

"No pabo-ya, I am taking you to a better place." He said chuckling. "Rest up a bit, it might take another hour to reach."

"Ne." I saw a few rags besides me, I picked it up and covered my body to use it as a blanket from the scorching sun rays. How weird that yesterday only I was trembling in cold and now it's so hot.  Oh well.

Wait, I should give one to ajusshi also.

Picking another rag I crawled over to him and placed it over his shoulders. "Ajhussi sunburn eopseoyo"

"Khamsa-hamida aegi." He replied ruffling my hair slightly.

I crawled back behind to my place and lied down.

Where am I going?
What will my new life bring?
Is it safe out there?
How will I survive on my own?
Will I have to hunt for food alone? I don't want to kill animals.

My head started hurting from so much thinking, so I closed my eyes and breathe in the fresh air of the sea. Ahh

--- After some time ---

"Little one get up and hide in behind one of barrels palli!" I got up keeping my balance and ran behind one of the brown box.

What's going on?

"Where are you coming from?" Asked a deep voice.

I peeked from behind the box and saw that we were at some kind of boat parking. A man in soldier uniform was standing on the platform with a gun slinged over his shoulder.

He looks so scary.

"I am one of the certified retailers from North Korea came to export some exotic vegetables." Ajhussi replied

Aren't we still in North Korea?

"Show me your ID." The soldier asked putting his hands out.

"Here" Ajhussi said handing him something like a card.

Soldier looked at it for a long time before speaking.

"Okay you can proceed." He turned around and gave a thumbs up to a cabin a bit far away.

Suddenly the boat lurched forward, and I almost stumbled into the soldier's view. Holding onto the barrel quite firmly I kept standing upright.

The boat moved forwards and kept on sliding to hide from the soldier. My heart was beating so fast in my chest as if I was doing something bad. Almost as fast as when I used to get hit by unnie.

Unnie.

Shaking my head I reprihended myself

Don't even think about that unnie Jae Hwa, she is not worth it..arasso?

I interweaved my pinkies as a promise to my self that I will try not to get upset on someone who abandoned me.

As I was deep in my thoughts, the boat had travelled quite far away from the soldier.

"Ajhussi, where are we going?" I whispered.

"It's okay little one you can come out." He spoke normally making me jump.

I went forward to stand beside ajhussi. He had sweat dripping off his forehead. He looked tired ans had a deep furrow in his eyebrows.

"I need you to listen to me carefully . 10 mins from here we are going to reach a area where a boat will be waiting for you. There is an old lady onboard. You will have to get into that boat as fast as you can without being seen. They will explain everything to you and get you to an orphanage soon. Arasso?"

I felt my eyes tickle. But sucking my breathe in I nodded. "Arasso Ajhussi."

"Where are we exactly?" I asked.

"We are crossing the border between north korea and entering South Korea."

"What!" I became as pale as a ghost not believing what I heard.

" Yes. . Don't worry though, it's a beautiful place. And you will like it. Much better than where you lived previously."

Holly molly eggs and bakey.

"It was nice knowing you little one. Ik what we do is wrong, but you were like a fresh change in the air." He said continuing.

Hearing this my heart warmed a bit. "Khamsa-hamida.. for not killing me" I chuckled in return.

The boat started slowing down a bit, "See the white boat up there?" He asked pointing frontwards. I nodded. "We need to go there."

The boat came more and more closer, and eventually ours stopped just besides it.

An old women came into picture. "Good morning Harmoni." Ajhussi greeted and bowed to her. She waved in return.

"Annyeohassayo, janeun Jae Hwa imida." I bowed to her.

Smiling brightly she replied "Hi tyke, climb over here, come on hold my hand." And extended her hand to me.

I gripped her hand tightly and gave long jump with the help of ajhussi. She steadied me a bit when I stumbled onto her boat.

"Okay Harmoni, I need to leave before the soldier's suspect anything." I turned around to face ajhussi who kept looking back nervous.

Looking at me briefly he said, "I will have to go. Harmoni will explain you everything. Be safe ! I am sorry we met you like that.. "

Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't cry.

Sucking my breathe, I waved at him. "All the best to you too."

He paddled and turned his boat and drove away in the direction we came from. 

My mind started started going crazy. Yesterday morning I was getting hit by my unnie, then I she sold me away and now I am south korea!

Looking at the kind eyes and wrinkled smile of the stranger old lady beside me I fainted.

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