Erupt

Some people say that you will meet one singular person that will change your life forever. I met mine when I was five years old. At the age of five I became an orphan after my parents died in a plane crash on their way home from work overseas. I don’t really remember them all too well. They weren’t around very often because they were constantly working.

I wish I had good memories to rely on when I’m feeling lonely but I don’t. I remember the day I arrived at the orphanage, dropped off by my nanny that my deceased parents hired. I had no other family, no aunts, no uncles, no siblings. No one. My nanny wasn’t able to take care of me anymore because she had to travel back to her country to tend her ill husband. So she did the only thing she could think of.. Give me away.

It was a gloomy morning, no sunshine in sight. I was freezing cold even with all the layers I was wearing, I held on to my nanny’s hand tightly not wanting to let go.

“Why can’t I come with you, na na? I don’t want to be here,” I said, looking up at her gentle eyes, tears threatening to spill on my face.

“I’m sorry sweetie, I wish I could but I have to go alone,” She smiled softly at me.

I nod and let go of her hand, feeling a hint of anger rise in me. I couldn’t help but feel unwanted by everyone.. I didn’t have a choice to go anywhere else. I was going to be stuck here for who knows how long. I wanted to go home but I knew I would never be able to go back. Eomma and Appa were gone. I was now alone.

The previous day was their funeral.

I had gently placed flowers on their empty caskets and watched them be buried underground. They weren’t able to find their bodies due to the crash so all I had to say goodbye to was their spirits. Wherever they were. I wish I had gotten a proper farewell but this was all we could do. I felt a tear slip down my cheek as na na and I walked away, going home for the last time.

But I didn’t know that it would be the last time.

The last time that I slept in my small bed with my warm blankets.

The last time I would have a place of my own.

How unfortunate life could be, yeah?

I pull my little suitcase and hold my stuffed koala bear close to my chest, walking into this unfamiliar place that I now have to call home.

“Goodbye Yun Hee,” Na na said quietly behind me as I left everything I knew behind.

I open up the big glass doors and I’m met with an older lady who asks me a bunch of questions about why I’m here. I was honest with her. I didn’t really know. What else could I possibly say? I was only five after all. After what felt likes ages, she shows me around the small building, guiding me to my room.

It was rather tiny, white walls and a bunk bed. She lets me settle in and I set my suitcase down gently. I take a deep breath, taking in my surroundings when I suddenly realize I’m not alone in the room. A boy that looked my age sat quietly on the bottom bed, staring at me. I walk towards him and extend my hand.

“Hi, what’s your name?” I asked.

“Min Yoongi. What’s yours?” He replied, shaking my hand. His expression was hard to read. What could he be thinking? Maybe he was unhappy that he had to share a room.

“Cho Yun Hee. Sorry that you have to share a room with me,” I frowned as I let go of his hand.

“It’s okay. I think we’ll have fun together. Why are you here? What’s your story?” He asked, full of curiosity in his eyes.

“My parents died the other day from a plane crash. No one else can take care of me I guess. What about you?” I shrugged my shoulders.

“I don’t really know. I’ve been here for as long as I can remember. I don’t think anyone wanted me,” He looked down at his lap, pondering.

I nodded in understanding and move closer to him, giving him a hug. He freezes in surprise but hugged me back tightly.

I pulled away, a tiny smile on my face.

“Let’s be friends, Yoongi.”

“I’d like that, Yun Hee,” He grinned.

And just like that we became friends.

Inseparable since day one.

Min Yoongi.

My best friend in the whole entire world.

Present Day

“Yoongi! Get off that!” I yell as he walks on a rail, trying to balance himself out of boredom. He glances at me, sticking his tongue out as he jumps off it, landing perfectly on the ground.

“Aww, are you worried about me?” He asks playfully.

What a tease.

“Come on, we have to go back. It’s almost time for supper. If I don’t eat soon, I will literally eat YOU. I can easily take you down,” I grab his wrist and start to drag him away from our favorite little spot. It’s a little creek we found when we were ten, we had been bored out of our minds on a Saturday morning and decided to venture out of the orphanage. We ended up finding the spot as we took a random turn down the road. It’s been our place for years now.

“Is that so? Try me. Try to take me down right now!” He smirks as I roll my eyes. He laughs at my response and holds my hand. A habit we formed as little kids. It kept us from ever being apart for a long time as cheesy as that sounds. It was simply a sign of our devotion to each other. An unbreakable bond.

We reach the orphanage three minutes later, our home for the past twelve years.

We were now seventeen.

Lately, we were planning what we would once we turned eighteen. Our birthday happened to be on the same day , it’s like our friendship was meant to be. We would get out of this place together. We had so many things in mine, Yoongi had written a list of all the things we wanted to see. We were ready for the ultimate adventure.

“You two are late, as per usual,” Our favorite person, Ahnjong says to us, shaking her head in disapproval.

We bow, apologizing and give her an innocent smile.

Yoongi pulls me inside and we run to the cafeteria, ready to feast. Our plates are handed to us and we begin to gobble down the food.

“Trade?” Yoongi offers his cookie for my roll of bread. I nod and take his cookie happily.

“Our birthday is coming up,” I say, taking a sip of water.

“We’ll finally be free. After so long. I can’t believe it,” He replies, ripping a piece off the roll.

“What should we do first?” I ask, finishing up the last of my plate.

“I think it’s time we go to the place you’ve been dreading,” He looks at me, waiting for an answer as I turn silent.

The cemetery. My parent’s graves. The last time I was there was when I was five, the day of the funeral. Ever since then I had refused to visit their graves but Yoongi had finally convinced me to go once we turn eighteen. He wanted me to come to terms with their deaths now that I’ve gotten older. I can’t say that I have, every time I thought of what happened I got numb.

I didn’t want to dwell on it. If I did, I knew it would turn into a shit show in my head. But I knew Yoongi would be there to help me out, he was my rock after all. I don’t know what I would do without him. He’s all I have.

“I know, Yoongs. We’ll go. It’s time,” I sigh.

“I’ll be with you, you won’t be going through this alone. We have to start this new chapter of our lives but we can’t do that until you visit them,” He places his hand over mine and gives it a squeeze.

I squeeze it back and attempt to give him a reassuring smile.

“Let’s go,” He says abruptly.

“Go where?”

“To the cemetery,” He says.

“What? No. Yoongi, you said we would do it after our birthday. Not now.”

“I just have this feeling that we need to go now. Come on, I got you,” He stands up and takes my hand, dragging me out of the cafeteria.

“Yoongi! Let me go. I don’t want to do this yet,” I complain, trying to get out of his tight grasp.

“Yun Hee. Please. Trust me, okay?” He looks at me with a gentle expression on his face.

He was right. I trust him, I had to let him follow his instincts. It was time to confront my past.

We go in a local bus, heading to Sokcho, my hometown. It wasn’t as big as the other cities that everyone knows but it was where I was born. It was where I was for the short five years of my life. Weird, right? It wasn’t that far away from the orphanage, I knew that for a fact. Eomma and Appa weren’t so far.. Yet I could never bring myself to see them until now.

I’m coming. I silently say to them, hoping that they’re listening.

I lay my head on Yoongi’s shoulder and he wraps his arms around me, giving me a tight hug. He could sense the sadness that was beginning to creep on me. This wasn’t going to be easy for me. This was everything that I’ve been trying to avoid for twelve years. But sooner or later I had to face reality. I’m the worst at accepting the realistic side of things. I only wanted to see the idealism in all.

“I love you, Yun Hee. I’m here for you,” Yoongi whispers in my ear and I return his hug that he’s been holding the entire ride so far.

“I love you too,” I close my eyes, trying to focus on my breathing that was threatening to quicken by the minute.

My brain was starting to freak out. I have to calm it down.

Along my weak attempt at controlling myself, I end up falling asleep.

It is only until I feel a poke on my nose that I flutter my eyes open.

“We’re here.”

Here.

“Welcome home, Yun Hee,” Yoongi says, leading us out of the bus.

And I feel my knees grow weak at the sight of what used to be home.