“ chapter one. kind stranger ”

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danbi hates train stations.

there are so many people, so many stops, such confusing railways— what happens when you accidentally get off the wrong stop? she despised it.

and today's incident? it only added gasoline to her raging hatred for train stations.

after almost getting on the wrong train twice, she was starting to panic. she was stressed alright.

she didn't know what to do, she wanted to ask for help but she doesn't know who to ask. she wanted to call anyone, but she didn't have any connection or balance.

could this day get any worse?

danbi, in her 17 years of living, had never had the courage to go out by herself. she'd always go with a friend, or with a cousin or her sister. the fear of talking to people would frequently paralyze her and send her mind into a panic.

and this being her first time, makes her not want to step out of her house anymore.

she stood there, trying to listen in to people's conversations to guess where they were going, and if they were taking the same train as hers.

danbi knew she had to ask someone, it was getting late, and she was still at the train station when she was supposed to be home around this time.

and just as she was ready to turn and ask for help, she is startled by a tap on the shoulder, prompting her to turn around and face a friendly-looking boy.

"are you ok?" he inquired, his voice soft, as he adjusted the backpack on his left shoulder.

"what?" danbi asked startled and perplexed, "yeah, why?" she said nodding.

slowly, the boy points at her face. although confused, danbi brings her hands up to touch her face, only to discover that tears were flowing down her cheeks and she was crying.

and that's when she just breaks.

tears which she didn't know she was holding, fell like the waterfalls from her eyes, and she started sobbing. sending the poor boy into a panic,

"wait no i'm so sorry!" he panics and reaches into his pocket for a handkerchief, which he then hands over to her.

but she didn't take it, instead, she started crying even more.

the boy looked around him in a panic, watching as people glance over the both of them, more looking at him weirdly for making a girl cry.

"ok" he lets out, his hands trembling before he gently clutches onto a part of her blazer. "i'm so sorry" he apologized before telling her to follow him.

and she does follow him.

slowly he drags her along with him, the two walking past people to go over to the train station's store.

"wait here," the boy says, patting her shoulder, "don't go anywhere".

and with that, he went into the store, leaving danbi standing there on her own.

the whole time, she just stood there, hands both rubbing her eyes as she tries to calm herself down from what just happened,

that was embarrassing what was that danbi thought, frowning and whining at her own actions. she's for sure not about to leave the house on her own anytime soon, not after that, no.

the boy was quick, he came out of the store with a plastic bag filled with stuff in his hand, eyes looking for her. letting out a relieved sigh once he saw she was still standing there.

he approaches her, before guiding her over to the nearest bench where they both sat down. he gave her the bread and drink he brought,

"are you ok?" he inquires once she finishes drinking,

"yeah" she trails off, sniffing and wiping her nose with the tissue he gave her. "i'm so sorry for bothering you," she said, her lips compressing into a straight line.

"no no, it's alright!" he said, "you're not bothering me, in fact, i'm sorry for making you cry".

"you didn't" she chuckled, "i was just panicked".

the two sat there, nodding along to each other's words. the announcement of the next train approaching rang throughout the station as they carefully listened.

that's the train i'm supposed to take, got it danbi mentally noted, smiling at herself with relief.

"oh, i'm jaeyun, by the way," the boy says as he turns to look at her.

"i'm danbi" she sniffed, "thank you for earlier," she said smiling briefly at him.

jaeyun shakes his head and smiles back at her, "it's nothing, don't thank me" he says.

"which station are you headed to?" he asks, handing her a strawberry milk as he opens a chocolate milk for himself.

danbi quickly thanks him before opening the straw and drinking the strawberry milk her gave her, "i'm heading to seoul" she says,

"wait, me too!" he beams, smiling brightly at her, "do you want me to go with you?" he inquires,

danbi sat there, her brain going you don't even know him and you're letting him follow you? and but what's the harm? plus you could use a friend.

"i mean" danbi hesitates, "if you're ok, then sure" the girl smiled awkwardly, which caused laughter to fall out of jaeyun's lips.

the two sat as they watched people get ready for the train's arrival. they turned towards each other, silently asking if they too should get ready or not.

so they did, the two got up from their seat, bags slung over their shoulders. standing next to each other while waiting for the train.

"if you don't mind me asking, is this your first time taking the train?" as he sips his chocolate milk, jaeyun asks, his head tilted slightly.

"well, my first time alone" danbi chuckles, "it's obvious isn't it?" the girl asks, embarrassed at how he was able to find out just from that.

"yeah" he trails off with an apologetic smile, "i'm sorry if i've offended you".

"oh no it's alright" danbi laughs, "you're right either way".

the girl looked down at her shoes, and fidgeted with the hem of her blazer before she continues to speak, "i have trouble talking to people, which is why i tend to feel safer going with a friend or a family member" she said.

"you have trouble talking to people?" he repeats, moving closer to her as the place was starting to get crowded,

"yeah" danbi lets out, noticing the proximity between them but didn't think much of it. "i don't know, my parents never really let me go anywhere alone, which is why i kinda struggle when i'm on my own".

the two continued talking, even when the train got there, they went in and sat side by side before telling stories to each other the whole train ride.

danbi was dumbfounded; train rides that were usually excruciatingly long suddenly felt... short.

with jaeyun every second felt fun. how if she goes silent one, he'd brought up a random fact about himself or ask her about anything he was curious about,

she felt safe, even though she was with a stranger she met barely an hour ago. she felt safe and happy.

with the exams ongoing, she had been so stressed and didn't have the motivation to do anything. but suddenly with jaeyun, she's laughing and joking around like there isn't a tomorrow. like she isn't filled with stress and worries.

it felt nice.

stepping out of the train station, jake watches as danbi lets out a loud relieved sigh.

he laughs and says, "you've made it".

"thanks to you," danbi said, "if it weren't for you, i'd probably still be at the same station, crying"

jake chuckles as he pulls out his phone and hands it to danbi. who just stares at him in total confusion.

"you said you didn't have any balance" he recalled, "use my phone to call one of your cousins to pick you up," jaeyun smiled.

"what?" danbi panics, hands brought up to reject his offer, "no it's alright, i can just—"

"i insist," jaeyun nods, "i'm not leaving until i know you're ok".

hesitantly, she took his phone before taking out her own phone to type in her cousin's phone number.

"is that your dog?" danbi asks once she sees a photo of a dog used as his phone screen,

"yeah" jaeyun smiles oh so largely with a fond look in his eyes, "her name's layla," he said.

"she's so cute" danbi beamed, briefly looking at him to see how he was already staring back at her, sending him a smile before typing in her cousin's phone number.

"yeah, she's cute" jaeyun smiles, looking away to scratch the back of his neck.

after danbi successfully got in contact with her cousin and had to explain the entire situation ( with her cousin nagging at her for not being careful ), she was told to stand in place and wait while her cousin rushes over to the train station.

"is it ok if i leave?" jaeyun asks, snapping danbi out of her trance,

"oh?" the girl lets out, not quite hearing what he said earlier,

"is it ok if i leave you here?" he repeats, "i've got a family dinner soon, and i have to get going," he says,

with sudden guilt, danbi nodded, "oh go ahead!" she told, before bowing to him, taking him by surprise. "thank you so much for helping me," the girl says,

jaeyun, although startled, bowed back to her while shaking his head, "it's nothing" he smiled.

"i've got to get going," he says, "make sure you get home safely" he then added before fixing his blazer and bag.

"once again thank you so much," danbi said,

"don't mention it" jaeyun beams before rushing back into the train station. "take care!" he says looking back at her and waving, whilst he ran.

"thank you again!" danbi said, waving her arms and smiling broadly.

at that moment, she felt so thankful towards him. seeing as how he rushed back in, she was only able to assume how he lied about his own stop in order to make sure she was safe. and when he knew she was, he went back in, because he needed to get back home.

with the relief of knowing she's ok now.

she was grateful for how he led her to safety, how he made her feel at ease and was able to joke around with her during the time she was with him, how he was not judgemental in any way when she told him about her situation.

with a huge smile, danbi exited the train station, thankful for the stranger she met at the train station who was oh so kind enough to help her.

she had no idea at the time how jaeyun would go on to become such a significant figure in her life.