Ikjun probably bought the grill off the restaurant because that’s the type of shenanigans he’d be up to. Or maybe he’d go back to the restaurant and ask them which retailer they went to.
Your grandfather tells the most outrageous stories, of a time when people stayed outside after the sun set, cities of millions of souls existed without fear of being consumed and nobody had to sleep with a weapon in hand.
Sol was panicking.
It was half past 7 and the sun had already set but she was nowhere near her home. The dilapidated bridge that connected their block to the main city square had decided to crumble today and she was stuck, along with several others.
Each one was carrying a weapon. All of them. All but her. At least she was alone. If she had given in to Byeol’s cute eyes earlier, her panic would be double. Oh, why did she forget her knife at home? This is the third time this month and she didn’t know if she can even curse her luck. It was just her own despised forgetfulness now.
Her mental scolding of self was interrupted by a patrol officer.
“We should be able to repair the damage tonight. Till then, a care house has been prepared for you. Please follow me.”
Oh good. But what will she do without her weapon. Nothing, nothing can stop them. No walls, no buildings, no fences, nothing. If they decide to come for you, all you can do is defend.
She squared her shoulders though. It was just one night. If she is lucky, there won’t be any attack. She can survive this! Mind over matter. Mind over mind. Just like she has always done.
Sol scrunched her skirts in tight fists and mechanically followed the officer in a makeshift line. She knew she was slightly shaking but hoped that no one would notice. They would abandon her to her fate in the nearby wilderness because she would be a liability without a weapon otherwise.
The old lady walking in front of her turned back. “Are you alright? Is it too cold?”
She sounded motherly. But by her hip was a butcher’s knife. Sol gulped and answered.
“Ye-yes. I am just a little worried. Thank you.”
The lady narrowed her eyes and didn’t seem motherly and kind anymore. “Are you without a weapon?”, she questioned out loud, bringing attention of others to their surreal conversation.
“What? No, I am not!”
“Where is it? Show it to me then!”
Others started pitching in. “Yes, show us!”
“We don’t need people who cannot defend themselves!’
“It will be dangerous!”
“Leave if you don’t have anything to defend or fight!”
Her grandmother used to tell her that the biggest loss for their race wasn’t humans themselves but their humanity. She never knew she would experience if firsthand. The fickleness, the selfishness. Her mind began reeling, on hyperdrive to find a way out.
Suddenly, there was an arm around her shoulder.
“Jagi, where have you been?”
She swiveled to the side and had to look up. A tall, strange man was holding her. Why?
“What are you - who —”
His hand tightened on her arm and he smiled down at her. “I was looking for you everywhere.”
He turned to the old lady then, eyes crinkling even more but Sol could see the fakeness reflecting off of them.
“Thank you ma'am. I was looking for my wife everywhere.”
What? Could this night get more bizarre? She started to get away but he pressed her into his side even further, bending down to whisper, “Pretend.”
“She is your wife?”
He peered down at the lady again. “Yes.”
“And do you have a weapon?”
He didn’t answer but brought out a long sword to display it in front of the gathered circle.
They began murmuring and dispersing with mild curses, some for Sol, some for the old lady.
The old lady though, appeared even more suspicious. She made contact with Sol and held her gaze as she asked. “He is your husband?”
She didn’t like lying. It was counterintuitive. But she had no other choice but to pretend. She would think about getting away from the stranger once she is rid of the old lady.
Sol exhaled. “Yes, he is”, she answered by burrowing in his side embrace even further. The things she had to do to survive. Really, she absolutely hated her forgetful mind right now.
The lady let out a bitter, unconvinced grunt before moving along with the rest of them.
Sol immediately stepped away from the stranger and whisper yelled, relinquishing her hold on her skirts in order to ready them for a punch.
“What do you think you were doing?”
The stranger though, only chuckled and then settled into an amused smirk. This one more genuine than the one earlier.
