Trouble with the Curve

Chapter Two | From One Hell to Another

I sob, the tears streaming freely down my face, and the inevitable snot dribbling from my nose making me feel even worse. I rest my head on my knees and close my eyes, thinking about the young boy who was so vibrant and full of life, now gone and diminished forever.

A click of a door alerts me to someone walking into my emotional breakdown and I try to compose myself before anyone can see my messy face. I shield my face and hope that the stranger will ignore me as they pass by, but the hesitation in the steps alerts me that they have stopped to stand right beside me on the stair landing. I look over and see a slightly familiar profile handing me a package of tissues. He doesn't look at me, instead opting to stare down at his feet as though they're the most interesting thing in the world.

I accept the tissues and go to thank him, but he simply walks away without another word, simply focusing on taking the steps one at a time as he goes down.

Thank goodness for kind strangers.

I wipe up my face, using my phone as a mirror, and go back to work, thinking of a sweet little boy named Bu Taeyang and an equally sweet little girl named San Mirae.

May her fate turn out different than his, please.

***

"Miss Lee, why are you not here yet?" Secretary Jin hisses.

"Give the phone to my father."

"But—"

"Now."

A click and a rustle alerts me to my father's arrival and I let out a sigh, "Abeoji, I won't be coming today."

"Lee Soojin, you know—"

"Bu Taeyang died this morning. I am in no shape to be in the public eye."

The line fills with silence and I know that he's being overwhelmed with emotions, primarily, fear.

"Bu Taeyang was the boy with leukemia?"

"Yes. They found out incredibly late and there weren't any additional treatment options. I was the one on the case so I handled it."

"And you're okay?"

Are you asking about my mental state or my physical state?

"I'm healthy, but my heart is hurting."

Knowing that the answer will appease him, the words slip from my lips, but the coldness behind them and the intention in them feel like darts to my soul.

As long as I'm safe and healthy, nothing else matters, right Abeoji?

"Take the day and relax. I'll schedule something further out for you to meet your husband-to-be in person."

"Thank you," the relief in my voice is palpable as I excuse myself from the call.

Deciding that being alone sounds like the best remedy for the pain in my heart, I head towards the parking garage.

***

Thump thump. Thump thump. Thump thump.

Today's run wasn't about training for my next half marathon. It was about enjoying the silence of the park and the breeze flowing through the trees. I needed space to breathe and the one place, ironic to some, where I could breathe without feeling like I was dying was when I was outside and running. Inside on a treadmill in a pinch.

My watch alerts me to my need to stop and I slow to a walk as I come upon a bench in the park. I take in some deep breaths and start to stretch out, careful not to overextend. A beep comes from my phone, and I pull it out from my pocket and see a new message request on my app. Shortly after, a text comes in from Secretary Jin.