"Swap stories?"

"Yes"

I was confused at first but maybe she just wants to get to know me better.  I normally don't like opening up to people but I am curious about that bracelet...

"Here how about this.  You tell me about your fear, and I'll let you pick what you want to know about me.  Sound good?"  She said sitting upright. 

I hesitated for a second before agreeing.  Why not? What's the worse that can happen?

"Okay...well...I've always been scared of sudden loud noises but thunder storms have a worse effect..."

When I was 10 I played outside a lot and in the woods near my home.  Although I would mostly play on my own since I didn't have friends.  I lived with my grandmother since I was 5 and some of the kids thought that was weird.  So I played alone, but one day I ran into a group of kids playing hide and seek in the woods. 

"Can I play with you guys?"

"Hmmm okay,  quick let's hide Soma is IT!"

A boy turned his face into a tree covering his eyes and counting out loud.  The other 8 kids all ran to hide including me. I ran past the moss covered trees and found a small cave like opening that roots of a nearby tree created. Feeling proud of the spot I found I noticed the sky looked quite gray. I wasn't paying attention to the sky since it was mostly covered by the leaves of the trees. Lightly, rain drops began falling. Such a light drizzle didn't worry me but soon 30 minutes had past by and I couldn't hear the other children anymore. The rain became more intense and it was becoming dark. Because of the rains intensity I didn't want to move.

Before I realized it, it was night.  The rain never let up, in fact it actually got worse.  The soil beneath me had turned into mud from the amount of water.  It was so dark I couldn't see very far until flashes of light began to streak along the clouds above the tree tops, loud booms rang through the forest as the loud wind blew the leaves around like crazy.  I sat covering my ears scared and cold.

A few seconds later a streak of lightning hit the earth striking a tree that was only 30 feet away.  I could feel the sudden heat of the strike.  The brightness of the tree going up in flames and the deathly sounds of the tree crackling and eventually falling over. 

That whole moment even though I was so young...it felt so terrifying...I didn't feel frightened because of the loud noises or the darkness or being alone...i felt the fear of death.  I thought at that very moment

I was going to die.

Word got out there was a forest fire from the lightning and firefighters came out to control the fire.  When they were searching around the area for any possible victims, a firefighter found me shivering in the small opening. 

"...ever since that day, I'm not scared of the lightning itself...it just reminds me of that fear of death.  It's kind of ironic that I wish to work in a field where death is almost as common as success but...I want to help people get over that fear."  I finished my story and looked at her in the eyes.

"I'm sorry you had to experience that at such a young age...but it's made you stronger.  Most people after witnessing such a traumatic event want to close themselves off from the world, but you want to use those memories to tell people it will be okay..." Yongsun set her hand gently on my hand and gave me a warm smile.  I'm not sure if it was because I was embarrassed or nervous but I felt a blush on my cheeks.

"Well...now it's your turn.  Ask me what you wish to know."

"Hmmm...." I really wanted to know more about that bracelet but Hyejin's words replayed through my head not to talk about the bracelet.

"Okay...I want to know...." I began.

"Hm?" She waited patiently for my question.

"How.....How did you afford such a house!"

A laugh escaped her mouth. 

"What?  That's what you want to know?"

"Well, yea.  You said I could ask anything?!?"

"Okay okay, well my dad used to Co-own the hospital and in general is a pretty wealthy man.  My mom is overseas now in a hospital in America on a medical council.  Since both are always away for work and rarely even stay here in Korea, they bought this house and gave it to me.  Plus the money from being a surgeon previously has some effect too."  She laughed a bit at first and smiled as she finished her story.

"Wow I can't wait to finish these exams and hopefully pass so I can get rich as well, oh how nice it must be."  I said sighing trying to be slightly funny.

"Well it's not all that fun.  Especially when you have nothing to spend money on....". Yongsun's face had a distant lonely feeling to it.

"It must be so lonely in such a large home.  I'm used to small houses so being in such an open space for the first time, it's kind of making me feel lonely too."  If this were a cartoon I'd have an animated sweatdrop running down my head.

"To be honest...you're the first person, besides Hyejin, that's ever visited me like this in two years."

I felt the sadness and happiness in her voice as she spoke.

"Well I'm honored and you're an amazing host." I said hoping to raise her spirits which seemed to work since a smile formed on her face again.

It was hard to talk to her earlier because of my conservative feelings towards strangers but, for some reason it became easier to talk to her and I felt more comfortable around her. 

We talked back and forth about medical school, her job, and what I had planned for about an hour before my stomach interrupted our conversation.

"Ah-sorry...I haven't had anything since lunch except for your hot chocolate, which was absolutely amazing."  I said making sure she knew just how good her drink was.

"You should have told me, I could've made something if you wanted.  It is about dinner time... let me make something for us."  She stood up from the couch and grabbed both mine and her cups.

"Do you need any help?"  I asked turning my body hoping I could do something and not just sit here and do nothing.

"Sure, let's make fried rice."

I helped her prep some vegetables and watched her work the pan as she continuously shifted the rice and ingredients around in the pan without letting a single grain fallout. If I didn't know she was a first responder, I would have guessed she was a professional chef. The finished dish definitely backed up that claim.

It was absolutely delicious.

"This is amazing, are you sure you aren't a secret chef?" I asked sure she had some special background in cooking.

"You think so? I only cook for myself nowadays, I guess I'm used to my cooking."

Nowadays... so she cooked for someone else before, I wonder who? Her father maybe?

"Well you can cook for me anytime, I'd love to be your taste tester." I smiled and continued eating.

After we ate I looked at my phone and noticed it was already 9:00pm. I had been at her house for 4 hours.

"Oh my god it's already 9? I should head back and study... I'm sorry for taking up all your time-"

"It's okay, I really enjoyed having you here. Do you need a ride home?" She said calming me down and picking up keys on a rack in the kitchen.

"You don't have too I can get an Uber."

"No, come with me."

"Okay." I was surprised at how fast I agreed with her comment. But I could feel something else, a feeling of relief that she could take me home. Was it because I wouldn't have to spend money? Or was it because I wanted to spend more time with her...

We headed through a door that entered into a garage that could fit 2 cars but there was only one. She entered the car on the drivers side and me on the passenger side. She pressed a button in the car that opened the garage door. She started the car and and we pulled out the driveway.

I gave her directions, and we continued some small talk.

"You know, I really did enjoy having you over."  She said as she pulled to a stop in front of my apartment building. 

"Well, if you don't mind I'd like to come over again sometime, I saw a nice looking pool I want to try."  I said mentioning the pool she had that was out side her bedroom.

"I'll be sure to have it cleaned then." She said unlocking the car so I could exit.

"Thank you again for everything."  I got out of the car and stuck my head through the open car window to say a final goodbye.

"I'll see you soon." She smiled and put the car in drive giving me one last look before driving off on the dark wet street.

Both women felt a tug when separated, the older felt like she was leaving the house and watching her puppy in the window look out at her and the younger felt like the little dog being left behind by the owner.  But both also were excited and could feel the happiness of the new found relationship.

Both fell a sleep with a peaceful mind.

But Yongsun would need the peaceful rest for the next day filled with despair.

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