** Episode 13 **
"What?" she asked, her interest pique.
He nodded slowly. "I woke up one day alone on a train, with just a bag and a letter in my pocket. I couldn't even recognize the handwriting." He stopped, a moment of silent as the memory of Ha-ri giving him that letter flashed back, but the bag was gone, and he couldn't even get the chance to read it. He felt even sad.
"What did the letter say?" she asked, leaning in.
"'Don't you dare come back to Seoul. You'll die if you do,'" he added reping his second profession, 'An actor,' and the sudden reminder of Ha-Ri's was helping with his expression a lot.
Min-Jun completely got her off guard by his acting and she fell for it. With sympathy in her eyes, she said, "I'm sure whoever put you on that train was trying to protect you. So, what's next for you?" she asked, her tone softening.
"I honestly don't know," he admitted. "I was going back to Seoul no matter what, but I lost my ticket and then my bag."
She sighed, glancing at him thoughtfully, wondering how much he must've suffered and still going to if she leave him. He's just a big sassy, clueless and dumbass rich kid.
"I'm taking the morning train back home tomorrow. I'll consider taking you with me if you want to come."
"Really?" Min Jun asked, his eyes lighting up as she nodded.
"You want me to come with you?" he asked again, a hint of disbelief in his voice.
"Of course," she said, feeling a swell of pride but his next action washes the feelings away.
"Judging by your accent and your appearance, it's clear you're from a village in the wildest part of China, and you want me to go with you? That very impossible," he said, an annoying smile creeping onto his face.
Her mood shifted suddenly, and she looked defeated. "Get lost," she mumbled, jumping onto the bed trying not to admitted being defeated and embarrassed.
"This feels so good—laying on a bed after days to roaming about."
He followed suit, flopping onto the bed beside her and letting out a contented sigh. "This is a little better," he agreed.
"What are you doing?" she asked, raising an eyebrow and shifting bit away from him.
"Sleeping," he answered and yawned, clearly unbothered.
"You can't expect me to let you sleep on the same bed with me. You're sleeping in that chair," she insisted pointing at the wooden stool.
Min-Jun state back at the wooden stool, it almost impossible to sit on it through the night and still be alive at dawn.
"Why not? You seem fearless minutes ago." He returned his gaze to her and went further, "Don't worry, I won't do anything to you. You're not really my type," he said, turning away from her and closing his eyes.
Few moment, Min-Jun was already fast asleep but she was still very much awake. She just couldn't stop wondering how he could sleep comfortably with a woman beside him.
Or Is he really gay? she wondered. Gay guys don't like girls, right? He definitely won't do anything to me. Thoughts swirled in her mind as she pulled the blanket around herself, trying her best not to drift off to sleep.
****
"Run, Min-Jun, run! Don't let them got to you! You have to hide!" A voice echoed in his head as he sprinted away from a group of anti-fans, armed with dangerous weapons. Just when he thought they were closing in, he found a place to hide panting heavily in furry for minutes and then he jolted awake, realizing it had all been a dream.
He was breathing heavily, sweat glistening on his forehead. Could that been his fate if he tried to return back to Seoul. He actually planned on going back to Seoul and prove his innocent but now that he'd such revelation, it's definitely the worst and the most dangerous idea. Maybe it's time he forget about it all, and consider music, Seoul and all as his pass life.
Turning to her, she was fast asleep, peacefully.
He couldn't help but smile to her beavering. How could she sleep so comfortable with a strange guy laying next to her.
He sat up, his gaze lingering on her peaceful sweating face. Gently, he brushed a few strands of hair away from her eyes, noticing her long lashes that seemed to frame her delicate features. Her pointed nose and soft, pink lips were striking, making her look even more beautiful in the morning light.
He stood up and moved to the wooden chair, pouring himself a glass of wine. He raised it after a long exhale, saying softly, "This is to say goodbye to my past." He took a sip, savoring the moment, then poured another glass. "And this is for a new life." He drank again, feeling a sense of hope wash over him.
A little while later, she stirred awake and found Min Jun sitting in the chair, arms folded and eyes closed. The dawn light was filtering through the window.
"I think we're going to miss our train," he said, breaking the silence.
"We?" she asked, blinking in surprise to make sure she heard him correctly.
"Okay, I heard your wish while you were asleep, you wanted me to go with you, so I decided to make your wish come true by joining you," he lied with a playful grin.
"When did I do that?" she asked, sitting up and glancing at the clock, which read just a few minutes to seven. The first train would leave at nine o'clock.
She jumped up, grabbed her jacket, and headed for the door. Min Jun quickly followed her.
"Where do you think you're going?" she asked, a hint of confusion in her voice.
"Going with you! Don't get me wrong; I'm just trying to make your wish come true," he replied.
"I don't know what your problem is, but I bet it's hard to pronounce," she said, shaking her head as she stepped outside.
Min Jun trailed behind her, trying to keep up as she led the way to the train station in a hast. They bought two tickets and, within a few minutes, the train departed.
The journey took about seven hours, and when they finally arrived in Meigul-hemi, they hopped on a bus heading to Qingfeng, her village. The bus ride was only an hour drive, but then, Min Jun began to feel drowsy. Before he knew it, he dozed off, his head bobbing uncomfortably.
Noticing his awkward position, she felt a pang of sympathy just staring at him. He most really have hold it in this long. He barely sleep last night, recalling the dream Min Jun had last night. Definitely, she had witnessed it all and only pretended to be asleep when he woke up.
Gently, she leaned over and offered him her shoulder to rest on. As she did, she overheard some whispers from the other passengers.
"Why's he leaning on her shoulder when it should be the other way around?" a woman in her thirties murmured to her companion.
"Aw, they're so cute! I think they're a couple. The guy is so handsome; I wish he was leaning on my shoulder instead!" another voice murmured from behind.
She smiled to herself, she felt his weight against her shoulder, she couldn't help but feel a warmth in her heart leaning him her shoulder.
The bus finally rolled into Qingfeng, and by this time, Min Jun was wide awake. As soon as the doors opened, she jumped off with an infectious energy, her voice ringing out cheerfully, "Wahoo! I'm finally back home! It feels so good to be here!"
Min Jun stood back, hands on his waist, watching her with a smile. But sooner, her excitement began to fade, he noticed her expression shift to one of calmness mixed with disappointment. She slowly made her way to a nearby bench and sat down with a long heavy breath, looking troubled.