Chapter 4: Hello Strangers

すべり台-森翼

A slim figure was standing there. Her bright red amber hair swaying with the breeze. It was a she. I took another step forward. The sunlight glistering in my eye. Where in the world am I? I don’t recall the room being this brightly lit up. Am I outside? I tried using my right hand to shield some of the blinding ray. Who is she and why am I here? My legs walked on their own towards her. It was like some magnetic force was pulling me towards her. 

The closer I got to her, the more concrete she became. She was dressed in a simple pink flora dress. Her dress swaying freely in the wind. She seemed so carefree. Then my eyes widen, she was barely standing on the ledge. Refusing to hold the safety rails. Somehow being able to be in a total state of relaxation while standing on the fine line of life. Who is she and what has stupidity done to her? 

‘Jessi!’ My back froze up. Why is she here? Why.... my breathing became shallow. ‘Steph get down!’ It was pure reflex reaction. This times the tears just flowed endlessly. ‘Steph please.’ I’m panicking. My tone was shaky and desperate. ‘Jessi love is in the air!’ She twirled along the edge. My heart sank with every degree of her body moves. ‘Bye bye!’ Then there it was that sick smile of yours. Next you leaped. I desperately ran towards you but this time I was more pathetic. I grabbed nothing but air. ‘STEPH!’ 

I opened my eye. The room dark. However there two orbs reflecting the dim moonlight that trickles into the room. Another set of eyes were looking straight into mine. ‘Hello there.’ I blinked once. Those eyes were still looking at me. What the...I pushed her away. ‘Ouch.’ She rubbed her sore bottom. I was nearly completely drenched. My breathing still raged from the nightmare. ‘You alright there?’ Her eyes searched for some answer. But all my mind could handle was fear and how much I wanted to escape. 

Closing my eyes, I tried my hardest to steady my breath. ‘Hey...’ She slowly made her way in front of me. Then embracing me into her arms. I know I should be beating the crap of this creep but I needed someone. Hence I gave in. Allowing and accepting my weakness to be soaking in the stranger’s warmth. Hoping that whoever this was could take away the pain. Could erase my uselessness. Could rid me of my blood stained hands. I cried in her arms while she tried to calm me down. Her hands my back, trying to ease the discomforts away. ‘Everything will be fine.’ That was what she would occasionally say. 

Once settled down, I gently peeled off her. Nodded in appreciation of her... ...efforts. ‘You sure you alright now?’ I nodded my head a second time. My gaze transferred from her face to the floor. The prickling feeling of needles still surrounds my heart but at least this was the default state ever since you were gone. ‘Hi I’m Taeyeon...I live in Jeonju...’ As she spoked, I watched her. She looks young like a little over fifteen. 

She had continued rambling on about her other personal details. Like how she was in the vocal department and majoring in theatrical. My heartbeat had steadied immensely as she spoked. Her voice brings about a calming effect. Throughout all these time, she spoke. Her words forming sentences. Her sentences forming a dialogue. Her dialogue creating her monologue. 

Watching her, I knew that she was trying her best to comfort me. Her little fidgets at the corner of signal that she isn’t used to be the one talking. I stretched out my hand. This must have startled her as her body flinched a little. She looked upon my outstretched arm in puzzlement. Then searching for some answers from her raised gaze to meet mine. My face should have been rather indifferent. She couldn’t decide what to do. So I grabbed her hand and headed out.

While pulling her behind me, I heard all her initial pronunciation for a word but never a full sentence from her. When Juhyun said that she is two rooms down, why didn’t she mention the distance. Azalea.... Azalea where is it? Finally. Without knocking, I lead myself in. After all she did say that I was always welcome to find her. 

Barging in I find her sitting at her desk, turning around in shock at the random guest. I caught a glimpse of the clock. It was 5 am. Who studies this early in the morning? Her roommate aka the GPS voice was providing the background music of snoring. ‘Jessica Unnie?’ I pulled Taeyeon in front. Exchanged glances with Juhyun hoping that she gets what I’m doing. 

‘Hi Taeyeon Unnie...nice to see you again.’ Taeyeon was baffled and seriously lost. ‘This here is Jessica Unnie and she will be your roommate.’ The awkward silence rises beyond the humor of GPS’s snoring. I had decided to sit on her bed and enjoy the comforts of a cushion under my instead of the hard wooden floor. If Juhyun was going to conclude the conversation at that, I am positive that I would have a very confused kid for a roommate. ‘And I think you two need to see Sunny Unnie for more information...’

Who is Sunny?I peeked at the two of them. ‘You know where her office is right?’ Juhyun paused for a moment. Waiting for Taeyeon to reply I presume. ‘Taeyeon Unnie.’ Taeyeon may have nodded but she was clearly thinking about something else which is normal I guess. I mean who can blame her for being lost, she is stuck with me. I know I’m suppose to stop being an and start talking. Start being normal. However you made speaking seem so useless and I had resigned in defeat to my inefficiency. 

This time she took my hand and guided me out. Her hand felt warm. Small and compact but warm. Significantly warm. I miss your warmth. I observed her tiny fingers that had wrapped around my wrist. The force exerted was firm but not as significant to be considered as a rude gesture or a forceful action. There was a certain thing about her that makes her seem so... balanced. 

Through the thoughts of deciphering more about this lady known as Taeyeon we had arrived in front of a room. Hermera. This Sunny that Juhyun talked about...how is she linked to the Goddess of Daylight? Through her mere name? ‘I don’t know what you did but if we have to come to her for answers I’m going to say you are in some deep deep issues.’ Taeyeon didn’t turn to me but only looked at the door. If only she knows how messed up of an issue you made me to be.

The door opens and the walls are base color was white. While the rest of it was splattered with random color. This is the room of Hermera? ‘TAENGOO~!’ And this is Hermera? My head naturally tilted to the side. She casually grabs Taeyeon’s hand and started to twirl. Taeyeon’s face reflected one of absolute reluctance. After about three minutes of dragging an unhappy Taeyeon around, Hermera finally stopped. ‘Omo. Hello there Jessica shi.’ She smiled. Her eyes becoming a single crescent shape. Just like yours. I am beginning not to like her.

‘I’m am shorty’s best mate and the resident psychologist here.’ Ah...I’m so not going to like her. I may have a bad opinions about her however my face was at default. ‘You are not my best mate. You are the biggest pain in my that exist.’ Interesting way to describe her. I see a bond between me and Taeyeon shi already.  ‘Say what you like Taengoo.’ 

This became an approximately odd childish squabble about Hermera’s status in Taeyeon’s life. All this while, I became the perfect wallflower. Being around but regarded as just a mere thing that was hanging around. Suddenly Hermera picks up an injection and then says, ‘Taeng, hold Jessica shi for me will you?’ My heart skipped a beat. Things don’t seemed to be right. 

I quickly turn to Taeyeon. She looked at me then back at Hermera in doubt. ‘Taeng boxes needs to be ticked before she...’ I quickly got up and attempted to make a wild dash out of the door. Just as I was about to reach the knob of safety, Hermera managed to lock my left arm behind me. 

Taeyeon was just stunned. ‘As I was saying she would run. Anyway pass me the blue injection there.’ I glared in fear at Taeyeon while I was desperately trying to struggle out of her grip on me. ‘You know if you keep up the struggles you may have a fracture at your clavicle.’ I couldn’t care less if I lost one of the useless pair. I kept trying but somehow my efforts are approximately zero. 

I started to trash even more widely when Taeyeon had handed her the injection.  She took over from Hermes and placed me in a way more uncomfortable hold. Her face barely an inch apart. I pleaded with her through my eyes. ‘I’ll be here...’ was all that she said. Whatever was that suppose to mean? I stared in greater intensity at her. My face contorted as I felt the needle hit my spine. A tear threatened to flow due to the excruciating pain. Who... That was all I could managed before she became fuzzy and everything turned black.