2- Our Past

Past Tense

I found an exit and ran as fast as I could towards safety. "Stop right there!" There were crazy voices of furious gangsters following by their tapping footsteps.

My heart was pounding and almost stopped beating. I was exhausted but I refused to stop. I took a sharp turn into another path. Then someone caught on hold of me and covered my mouth before I could scream my lungs out.

"Shh shh, easy there." Then, there came his voice. So soft and soothing. I stopped struggling and looked up. What I saw was a  boy dressed in black and had his face hid behind a mask. I was so scared as I was only a fifteen-year-old girl, alone here in Korea.

I was lost. I can't find my family, and unfortunately, I was nearly kidnapped by some foreigners who did bad businesses. We hid behind the walls until the men passed with obscenities.

Then, he climbed up onto a heap of garbage and pulled away a filtering fan. "Come on." He gestured at me to follow. I nodded and climbed through the hole with him. There we were in the man's washroom of SuperStar K3.

"So this is a place, nah, a studio for trainees.." I put up my hoodie to cover my long hair as I followed him.

"It's okay. I..I will..te..tell.." That was how I know that his English was abit rusty.

"I'm fine. Quin ca na." Upon watching Korean dramas, I'd learnt how to speak a little of their language. He heard me, then he smiled kindly.

The boy stopped and waited for me, until I reached to his side. "We're almost there." We stopped in front of a white door, until he squeezed the doorknob.

There were people in there, practising their singing and dancing skills. All of them were boys. They spoke Korean, which I barely could understand. They looked at me with puzzled and curious eyes, then asked the boy what had happened.

They called his name. "Jungkook?" A small whisper slipped out through my parted mouth.

"Yes? That's my name." He smiled at me and I looked into his big brown eyes. As if I could see his soul, his past, his encounters. My action came to a pause, until he waved his hand at me. "Hey..."

"Oh! Sorry...Thanks for saving me. I..I have to leave now." I faltered my words out and didn't dare to look at his again. He looked so handsome..

"You're hurt. Come with me..first.." struggling with his English, he said.

My lips parted and speechless. Everybody did. I'd strained my ankle and wrist during the escape. Why didn't I notice?! Then, I feel the pain as he grabbed my hand.

We headed towards the corner of the training room and there stood a first-aid-kit. I watched him bandaged my wounds with his flexible hands and his delicate fingers. Then, I looked away, to look at the other trainees.

Some of them were still busybodying while the others had gone back training. They danced and sang, ignoring my presence entirely. Maybe that's because I looked ordinary and I never do makeups.

My true face was exposed. I was so embarrassed and I covered my face with my bandaged hands.

"I'm so sorry, Jungkook."

I was sent back to my family after hours of sitting in the police station. Jungkook was with me. I persuaded him to return to the studio, but he wanted to ensure my safety, first. That was what he said and I shut up again.

We were so awkward until he asked, "Hey, what is your name?"

I swallowed while our eyes met. "Jaykee." That was the best way to pronounce my Chinese name, JiaQi.

"Nice to meet you, Jaykee." We shook hands. Then, that was our  first and last meet. As I was back in Malaysia, he had been casted by the BigHit Entertainment Studio and joined a Boy Group called, Bangtan Boys (BTS).