The Subway

It was one of those days where everyone seemed really lucky but me. I had to go home on the subway today for the first time because my mom’s car had broken down and she still hadn’t gotten it fixed. “It’ll be good to walk in Korea for a change,” declared my mom. Korean subways are old, very fast, and unpredictable. You never know when it will stop and make you crash against on an unsuspecting stranger.

On the other hand, my friend Ji-Won had been elected to participate in the National Archery Competition which the city of Seoul hosted. The winner was showered in special prizes and privileges. To add on, my sister, Yoon Jin, had qualified to go to the Architectural and Biologic Institute of Learning which housed the best learning opportunities in all of Korea. The institute was located smack in the middle of Gangnam, the richest district of Korea. She would go in the summer to start her first semester. After graduating she could go into basically any career she desired. Currently, the only positive in my life was being able to carpool to school with Ji-Won, unfortunately, his mother couldn’t drive me home because she was a doctor in the city hospital.

Knock! Knock! I jumped up in surprise at the sudden noise. Ji-Won’s mother
had arrived at my apartment. As I looked through the eyepiece in the heavy door, I saw Ji-Won’s huge face smiling at me through the glass. Ji-Won had onyx black hair that he swept to the side and hazel brown eyes.

“What’s up, Won-Suk”  Ji-Won muttered.
“Not much.”

I put on my Starcraft II collector’s cap, swept my light brown hair to the side, and heaved on my backpack. We hopped in her blue Kia.

As Ji-Won’s mom dropped us off at school a cool breeze swept past my face. The tall building loomed over us as if it was reminding us that we needed to get through an entire day of school before we could go home.

I sat down in my usual spot in the first row of the desks. I had this theory that if I sat in the front, the teacher would see me in a different light even if I failed half my quizzes.

“Good morning, class” said Mrs. Park as she entered the room. “Today we will learn about Yi Sun Shin and his courageous naval warfare strategies.” I droned out after the next sentence, until the bell rang. and I went to my next class which was the only class that I was remotely successful at, Gym. Coach Lee was a tall, rough, and loud person who never took things lightly. When the class started Coach Lee roared like usual at us.
“ WE HAVE A NEW STUDENT TODAY! HER NAME IS Ha-Young” A shy girl walked forward and smiled timidly. She had pale skin like pearls and eyes that looked like melted gold. Before I knew it school had ended.

I treaded off campus and started strolling to the subway station. I was nervous for my first time on the subway because my parents kept telling me that there were weird people in the subway. As I crossed the street I could see the stairs leading down to the underground station.There was a massive sign that said “SEJONG STATION”. I could hear the crowd chatting and buying from the vendors who sold variety of food.

As I walked down, I felt like I was in a different world. There were people milling around in every inch of the station and the vendors were yelling out their sales.

“2,000 Won (approximately 2 dollars) for a roll of kimbap!” There was even a wall of barcodes where people could buy anything with their phones, grocery products to books. Lines and lines of ticket machines lined the walls. I walked towards to the nearest one and selected the Jung District and bought one ticket. The machine printed out the ticket and I walked over to the subway platform.
The speakers announced in a pleasing voice, “The subway going from Sejong Station to the Jung District is now boarding.” As I stepped on to my train the automatic doors closed behind me.

I walked to the back which seemed to have less people. In Korea the young are NEVER supposed to sit down unless there are no elderly on board. So I hung on to the railing and hoped I didn’t fall. Then I saw her. The new girl from my gym class. She was alone about 6 seats down from me wearing a blue yarn scarf and purple sweater leaning on a railing. Ha-Young looked at me with a smile that looked like it could make even the ugliest flower blossom. I walked forward and said “Hi! Are you new to Kor--”BANG!

The light flash off and engulf me in complete darkness. My heart feels like its trying to squeeze itself into a tiny ball of skin. I start to worry because the lights won’t turn on. I start to imagine what will happen when I begin to get hungry and starve. After what seems to be hours and hours I simultaneously realize two things. One, I can still feel the train moving through the tunnels but, I don’t know if its going to the Jung District. Two, if the lights turned off somebody would have spoken up by now and I haven’t heard a squeak since the lights blew. WIIIIING!

The brightness of the sudden light blinds me momentarily. Then I look around and realize there is only one person on this subway: me. “Welcome to Jung District.” announces the intercom. The doors slide open with a hiss.

I walked out and see that the entire station is completely unpopulated. I looked around in disbelief at the bareness of my surroundings. When I step out into the street there are cars everywhere like usual but not one car is occupied. However, I hear the barking of dogs that were abandoned when their owners vanished. At this point, I knew I was alone on this planet.

“Hello?” asked a high pitched and scared voice behind me. I turned around and almost fainted in relief. It was Ha-Young.

“How are you still here?!”

“The lights in the subway turned off and when they came back on nobody was there.”

“Uh… Are you sure?”

“Ya why?”

“Well, the same thing happened to me.”

We sat there in silence and let the truth wash over us.

“BOO!” shrieked a unpleasant voice. What stood behind me was a marvel to the world.
It was a small gray mouse with a small wedge of cheese. It was wearing a top hat and a monocle. “Hello, my name is Mice.”

“Wait, you’re a mouse named Mice?” she questions.

“Yes!” rambled Mice as he took a bite of cheese.“Now, would you like instructions on how to bring back the population?”

“Yes!” we both exclaimed in unison.

“Go WALK not ride a train to your school.”

“Why can’t we ride the train?” I said.

“Because BAD BAD things happen when you do. Now no talking until I’m done. When you arrive at the academy, the gates will be opened. Walk in and go to the café. There should be a large container filled with grated cheese. Take the ENTIRE BAG and then get to the gym.”

“Why do we need the cheese?” Ha-Young inquired.

“Because mice like me need to keep eating! Now be quiet or you will never be reunited.” Mice exclaimed “When you get to the gym, the only other human should be there, Coach Lee. He is actually not a very good coach. He will ask you some questions. You need to find the answer to all of them. If you do, he will bring back everyone. Got it?”

“Just one thing. Why did the coach take away all the people but us?” I declare.

“You’ll have to find that out on your own. Why don't you ask him when you see him? Don't forget about the cheese!” he yelled behind him as he scampered off.

“Let’s get going then.” I whimpered shyly.

As we neared the complex of red-brick buildings, I began to worry that Mice was lying about everything.

“It will be okay.” Ha-Young said in a reassuring tone.

We trekked silently to the cafeteria and went into the kitchen. We poked around the cupboards and the cabinets but the cheese was nowhere to be found.

“Where is the cheese?” I whispered.

“I don't know!” Ha-Young responded.

“Whatever. We’ll look for it on the way back.” I said.

We sounded like the wind as we strode to the dreaded gym. The doors were wide open as if they were welcoming us into oblivion.

As we walked into the gym the first thing we saw was not-Coach Lee. The next thing was a huge bag of Kraft Shredded 5 cheese blend next to his foot.

“The cheese!” we both yelled.

“You can have it if you answer the questions correctly!”

“Wait. Why do we have to answer your questions?”

“Because if you don’t, you don't get the cheese! Oh yes and the entire world will never be returned.”

I begin to sweat of nervousness. I reached out and grabbed Ha-Young’s hand.

“I only have one question. How old was Yi Sun Shin when the fought the Battle of Myeongnyang and did he win?”

I gasped at the difficulty of the question. We learned about this in history today! I was thinking about Starcraft when Mrs. Park was lecturing. I remember about some part about his strategy between how to make a roach hydra army and the best Starcraft player in the world.

“Do you know?” I ask my companion.

“I only came here 2 days ago!” she exclaims.

“You guys know that cheese gets old right? Answer faster!” demanded the “Coach”.

“Ok! Uh, he was probably old when he went to war.” I guessed randomly.

I heard a faint squeak nearby in the vicinity of the gym. I made eye contact with Ha-Young and I knew that she heard it too.

“Well is that it? Because if it is you’re never going to see your family again.” Coach Lee explained.

In a sudden movement I saw a flicker of light and a flash of gray at the far side of the gym. Unfortunately, the floor of the gym was littered with balls and nets so the gray flash was obscured. Then I realized. Mice had come to check on us because we weren’t back with the cheese yet.

If I could stall so that Mice could get to where the coach was Mice could help. Mice’s words echoes in my mind “ ‘Why don't you ask him when you see him?’ ”

“Why are you doing this?” I echoed Mice.

“Well, I was tired of a low paying job, no family, and especially you ANNOYING LITTLE ANTS! ” he roared.

CRASH! The coach turns around to see Mice looking at him curiously.
The mouse suddenly pulled off his top hat and covers the coaches face with it. Mice pushed down on the hat until it was essentially stuck on his face covering his eyes.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING!” Coach Lee yelled, louder than ever.

He began to sprint towards the other side of the gym to escape. As he ran past Mice, Mice pulled Lee’s shoelaces. When the coach reached halfway across the gym, he tripped on his shoelace and steps on a basketball. He then falls over onto a set of starting blocks and his body hits the ground.

“Well then.” Mice stated.”Where is the cheese?”

“The coach took the bag from the café before we got there.” Ha-Young explained.

“No wonder, you were slower than a turtle walking backwards” Mice teased as he retrieved the bag from the other side of the gym.

Suddenly, my vision began to darken. I had time to yell “Ha-Young!” before I fell to the ground.

After what felt like days, I woke up in the same spot on the subway in front of Ha-Young.

“Hi! Are you new to Korea?” I burst out as if I had already said it and was repeating myself.

“Hey! And yes, I’ve only been in Korea for 2 days.” she replied.

“Welcome to Jung District.” announced the intercom in a pleasing voice.

The doors slid open and we walked out together, into the new day, into what the world had in store for me tomorrow and the future days. Ha-Young and I will never forget what happened in the subway.