While walking into the forest in group, I keep looking back and realised that we're getting further and further away form the cafe. Then I start questioning about the fact that the cafe is literally in the middle of a forest.
What happen to the place where the cafe was supposed to be before its moved? Was there something on the ground that the cafe is currently at right now? Because it couldn't be a coincidence that the cafe is located exactly in the middle of nowhere like that.
Or could it be that the ground swapped place with each other?
As I was thinking about that, Andy, Martin, and Shresta suddenly started talking:
"Can't believe that we're actually in the middle of a forest"
"I know right..."
"More like I can't believe we got moved like that. Magic does exist huh"
"That's true"
"..."
And the conversation ended just like that. I can't help but feel very awkward at the situation right now. I then asked Kim Jaesuk:
"Jaesuk, let me borrow the knife"
"???"
Despite having confusion written on this face, He still lend me the knife. I then started marking the nearby tree with an arrow pointing where we passed, just in case we forgot the way to go back. After that, I gave the knife back to Kim Jaesuk.
"There you go. You mark the next one after every turn we do"
"Ohh.. That was a good thinking. I totally forgot about that, great job"
"So what're we looking for?"
"Well, first of is to try to find an exit out of the forest. We need to know where we are before deciding what to do next. Going by theory, I sure hope that we're still on earth"
"Hey don't scare me like that. We're still on earth for sure"
I responded after he said jokingly.
After walking for tens of minutes, it doesn't feel like we're anywhere near the forest's exit, so we decided to take a break sitting and leaning on nearby trees.
While resting, Kim Jaesuk asked me:
"Come to think of it, are you able to use your phone Alex?"
"Nah, I can't turn it on for some reason since the earthquake. Probably has something to do with electromagnetic kind of stuff that I've no idea about. I'm dumb after all"
"Hahahah... What about you guys one?"
Kim Jaesuk asked the other.
"My phone is off as well..."
"Mine either..."
"Same here... It's been like this since the earthquake as well"
"Can we drink some water now? I'm so thirsty"
"Ah sure..."
After that Kim Jaesuk took out the water he brought in his backpack and we started taking turn drinking the water. Of course we didn't drink too much as we're aware that water is precious right now. Just enough to satisfy our thirst.
"Come to think of it, what time is it right now?"
I asked Kim Jaesuk, as he's wearing a watch on his wrist.
"Um... the watch is not working as well. Probably the same happened to all our stuff"
"Then we can only tell time by looking at the sky huh... I've absolutely no idea how to do that"
"It's around 3.30 PM right now"
Shresta suddenly said.
"What? You can tell?"
I asked.
"Yeah, I can tell on normal weather like this. But if it's raining or cloudy, I might not be able to tell the time"
"That's fine at least we can roughly know"
After resting for about five more minutes, Kim Jaesuk got up and got ready to walk again.
"Alright that's 10 minutes, let's continue to look around. Shresta, let me know when it's already 5 PM, we'll start to turn around and go back to the cafe"
"Okay..."
We then started walking once again. As we dove deeper into the forest, we still haven't found any traces of life forms, which is quite strange for a forest. There should be a bug at least, but there aren't any at all.
Looking around, only bunch of trees can be seen surrounding us, with Kim Jaesuk keep marking the trees for each turn we make.
After walking for about an hour, Shresta suddenly said:
"Umm Jaesuk, I think its roughly 5 PM right now"
"Okay, let's turn back then. Let's follow the marking that I made on the trees"
"Whoa I didn't even realise that it's already 5 PM, you're amazing Shresta"
Andy started praising him
I actually thought that it's interesting how he's able to tell the time, but I don't really want to praise him or whatsoever because I'm actually quite a racist, which I'm not really proud of.
After walking for quite an hour or so, we reached the cafe quite fast because we didn't have any break within.
Going inside the cafe, there are some people that are sleeping, some are heating up food, and some are talking to each other. However, just after we were about to sit down, the group of people who were talking to each other suddenly started fighting.
(thud)
"The fuck did you say?"
A young man suddenly pushed an older man, which makes the latter fall down.
"I dare you to repeat it again!"
"Ugh... I said nothing wrong! We're all gonna die! Face reality and give up!!!"
"You bastard..."
The young man then cracked his knuckle and walked to the older man, getting ready to hit him. I thought that the surrounding people will try to stop him, but they're just glaring at the older man.
"Re.. repent for your sins and start praying! We will all die and go to hell if you don't repent! It's punishment for human, God is punishing us!!!"
The old man start spouting nonsense like it's a trial or whatever, that I started to wonder if he actually went crazy.
"Yo... you..."
"What did I say wrong? Can't you see we got suddenly got moved here? Along with the whole building? It's God's power, he's punishing us human for not believing in him!"
"You crazy bastard!"
He then started moving his arm to hit the old man. Just a moment before the hit landed, Kim Jaesuk suddenly block his arm from behind.
"Wha..."
"What are you doing?"
"I'm teaching this old bastard a lesson can't you see?"
Maybe because the blood went up to his head, he started shouting at Kim Jaesuk.
"He's crazy! We need to wake him up with a beating before he goes completely crazy"
"Stop. That's not going to do us any better..."
"Stop my ass... Who the heck are you to tell me what to do??"
The young man then pulled his arm and turned around to punch Kim Jaesuk. But Kim Jaesuk easily block his punch with his hand, and uses his leg to kick the young man's leg from the side, which makes him fall hard to the ground.
(thud)
"Aghh... My butt"
He then started groaning in pain.
Ah, I forgot to mention something about my bestie Kim Jaesuk. Before He came to Sydney, He was a black belt member of Korean Taekwondo Association. Combined with his build and spec, going against him in a hand to hand fight is basically asking for a beating.
"I said it's not gonna do anything better if you hit him, understand?"
He said while looking down at the young man.
He looks so cool while doing that, that I almost became a fan boy.
"Ohh young man, I see you've realised the situation like me... Let's pray together and repent to ask for forgiveness from God"
The old man started walking to Kim Jaesuk trying to hold his hand. But before He's able to hold his hand, Kim Jaesuk suddenly pulled the old man's collar and started threatening him:
"Hey old man, I don't care what the heck you've realised or whatever god you're praying too, do it yourself and stop bothering other people. If I see you do it one more time, You'll be the one on the floor instead of him"
He said while pointing down to the young man who's massaging his butt, before pushing the old man lightly.
"..."
The old man looks too scared to talk anymore, so he started backing down and sitting in a corner murmuring something.
Kim Jaesuk then looked around and explained about our walk.
"We walk down deep into the forest, but we found nothing at all. It's just trees without any signs of life forms. We'll look more depth into the forest tomorrow after waking up early so that we have more time to search around. For now, don't get into trouble and if you have anything to say, keep it to yourself and if you can't come to me and I'll listen to whatever you have to say, as long as it's not something ridiculous. Do you all understand?"
After he said all that, everyone just nodded their head as if too scared to speak. Even the lady and the kid who were sleeping got woken up thanks to the fight and now they're shivering.
I guess it's mental exhaustion as everything just happened so suddenly and they haven't the time to properly digest what happen.
Kim Jaesuk then started walking to me, which prompt me to ask:
"You alright man?"
"Yeah, just gotta rest a bit"
"Here, use my jacket to lay down..."
I then took off my jacket and spread it down to the floor, which then Jaesuk uses to lay his upper body there because there's not enough chair for everyone to use as a bed.
I then leaned on the chair while staring at the ceiling pondering about the fact that's too hard to accept, while wishing that its all just a dream.
At this situation, instead of working together to figure out a way to solve our current predicament, they all went and start trouble among themselves. No wonder Jaesuk's stressed. But then just as I was thinking about that, I suddenly realised,
"Wait... everyone?"
I looked around and realised that.
The other group who went into the forest hasn't returned yet.