1:08 AM
“Hello?”
“Hello, Mr. Kim?” a female voice ringed through the receiver. The man in a black suit and a dark red tie with his black leather suitcase in his other hand stepped into the train that he rode to work every day, bringing him 170 miles per hour from station to station across the city, along with thousands of other citizens bluntly walking by every step of their lives. They walk in what they call reality, thinking that this is their lives and this is what they were supposed to do; what they were born to do. Never had they thought of what they could do.
“Yes,” the male answered, his black hair, slightly tinted red slicked back with hair gel, his forehead flashing above his eyebrows, sharpening the look in his eyes as he walks to a space in the train, trying not to block the doorway.
“Mr. Kim, I would like to inform you that you still have a balance of twenty thousand United States dollars to pay for your credit card debt,” the voice said monotonously. No emotion can be found in that sentence, although Mr. Kim was already rubbing his temples, the suitcase in the same hand slapping his nose clumsily. “Please do so before this Friday or our people will be looking for you.”
“I’m sorry, but do you think you can postpone the date a little? I’m not really in the condition to pay for it right now.”
“This Friday, Mr. Kim,” the voice said sternly. At least she sounds human now, the male thought to himself. “Your assets can be taken away if you don’t do so.”
“Look, lady, I’m sure you have the heart in you to let me go this time,” Mr. Kim said in a soft voice. Time to change tactics. “I’m sure a pretty voice like yours have a name, yes?”
“Jung,” the voice said, careful to not show any signs of wavering.
“Jung, Ms. Jung, do you think you have some free time today? Maybe we can go for some coffee and I’ll explain to you why—“
A lady with red hair pushed against Mr. Kim’s shoulder, passing by him quick to not miss the door, her heels clicking loudly behind her. Too absorbed in trying to flirt his way out of his troubles, the male didn’t notice that two stations had passed and this was the third. He glanced outside to catch the station – it’s still a couple more stops till he reaches his destination – and went back to the phone.
“As I was saying,” the male continued.
“Listen Kim Himchan, by Friday you better have banked in the money or else you might not have a place to sleep these weekends. Thank you.” The receiver clicked. Himchan listened to the beeping for awhile, not surprised, but thinking. He chucked his phone into the right pocket of his blazer. How did he get himself into this?
He knew the answer. But he refused to acknowledge it.
---
He knew the answer. But he refused to acknowledge it.
---
It was the best train ride of his whole life.
The green meadows glowed beneath the sun, the hills high behind them, vast against the clear blue sky.Water, white with foam, burst from in between two hills, forming a small stream cracking at the edge of the green canvas.
He smiled looking out on the other side of the window, safe in the moving train, vibrating softly on its tracks. The train was empty - as peaceful as his state of min. it was perfect. no stations to keep track. no destination. no rush.
no phone calls reminding him of his debts. Debts? what are those? It doesn't matter. Things were perfect without it.
But something feels amiss. Things were quiet, exempting the birds chirping somewhere on the other side outside the train. Maybe slightly too quiet.
He started tapping on the window sill out of boredom. What now?
His feet took steps to the right. There was no end to the train. he couldn't see it. or maybe the end was too far away for him to see. is there an end? there were no doors. only chairs and windows and handles hanging from the ceiling, waving about in it's area. He wants to know if there's an end. so he continued walking. and he just kept walking; each step silent and light on his feet. when he felt like he was too slow, he sped up and later ran, but then he would feel lazy and tired so he would start walking again. the steps never stopped; until he had a thought. His feet shuffled and faced the scenery again. nothing changed. the angle might be slightly different - way too similar for the distance he had gone - but nothing budged. The stream ran the same water and the grass gleamed the same green. It was funny.
A clicking sound was heard, If he was a cat or a dog his ears would have perked as he turned his head towards the way he was heading. Nothing. But the sound continued. I was familiar. Clicking? Clicking. Clicking... heels?
He turned his head the other side. A glance of long red hair was seen flowing behind a body that pushed his shoulder; quick and swift. He turned again, trying to follow the shadow, but it disappeared. Instead. he found the end of the train.
Labels: drabble. ideas, fan-fiction, fantasy
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