Undisclosed Location

If I ever get out, I need to remember to buy that hummus mother asked me for. 22 hours to go.

Should I get a pay as you go SIM card or a contract? Can I commit to a contract with no job prospect in sight? I suppose if I did it online and provided valid card details with enough money for the first month, I could just figure out the rest later. 20 hours to go.

I wonder if they are actually misspelt my name and this is all for nothing. I would love to meet the person that has my exact name. 17 hours to go.

That clock is a bit crooked. I wonder if that noise I can hear is just a really old fan or if it's one of the police officers snoring. Why am I the only one here? Don’t they have any other criminals? 15 hours to go.

Jesus why are they so loud. I am exhausted, even this bench is starting to look appealing. If only they would just shut up. I hate drunks – it’s a Tuesday, what is there to celebrate? 13 hours to go.

My mother must be out of her mind, looking and worrying about me. She’s going to kill me when she finds out where I spent the night. 12 hours and 30 minutes to go.

I think I broke my back… and my neck. I’m so thirsty. 4 hours to go.

How does this feel so natural all of a sudden. I’m only mildly annoyed and almost amused by this. I know the test will come back negative. I certainly haven’t spent my year in Korea stealing somebody’s identity just to return to the UK and open a damn bank account. 2 hours to go.

Any minute now.

Any minute.

I’m starving. I am definitely buying breakfast before going home. I’ll need the energy to explain to my mother what the hell happened before being scolded for either making up lies or stealing people's identities. 2 hours late.

What I would do for some lunch and a coffee right now. 4 hours late.

Do they remember I am still in here? It’s nearly 5 PM. Where the hell is this damn test? 6 hours and 30 minutes late.

“Miss Choi?” Hearing my name being called from outside the cell, washed my body in a cold sweat. My heart leaped into my throat at the sight of detective Hussain approaching my cell.

“I hope you are here to open this cell, not to tell me that the results are even later, or worse – inconclusive.” I smiled, annoyed, starving, dehydrated and slightly optimistic.

“The test was conclusive, and I would like to deeply apologise.” Finally, the apology I had been waiting for that I can’t even enjoy because more people are coming…what the fuck?

Two more men in clean black suits followed after detective Hussain. I couldn’t tell what was really happening. Was I being handed over to somebody else? Is Hussain sorry because of the inconvenience or because he is handing me over to someone worse?

“Miss Choi. My name is Min Yejun. This here is my colleague Hwang Minjun. I would like to apologise on behalf of everyone for this misunderstanding and would like for you to come with us please.” The sound of the metal cage door opening made my ears ring. I was afraid to step out. Is this going to be worse or better? What if they're the FBI? The S.I.S.? I am definitely not a mastermind criminal. But they do look very official. Both men were Korean and had a Korean accent that I had gotten used to hearing in Korea as well as from my mother's boyfriend.

“Mwo? Waeyo?” I slowly stepped out of the cell. Detective Hussain had gone on his way, leaving me in the hands of the two Korean men. I was starting to seriously consider just confessing to the identity theft, because it was certainly less intimidating standing beside detective Hussain as opposed to the two, very official Korean men. I’ve seen many Kdrama’s. Two mysterious men in black suits requesting you to join them – on their way – have never ended in anything but a car chase and a shooting.

“Please, we will explain everything on our way. You are not in any trouble.” They never are. They just stupidly get into the black tinted window car and sit uncomfortably between two men in suits as a driver drives them all to an undisclosed location. Might need to lay off the Kdrama’s.

“Anywhere is better than here I suppose.” I felt my brain face palm itself, as I subjected myself to the same fate as most of the protagonists in my Kdrama’s. They guided my way – of course. One of them walked in front of me and one behind me.

The taste of freedom and fresh air made my head spin. I couldn’t imagine spending more than 24 hours in such solitude.

They walked me over to their black, tinted window car, before opening the door for me to the back seat. This is my chance to escape. I bowed lightly, sitting down in the back seat, anticipating the awkward slide to make space for the man to follow me in, but he simply shut the door behind me. They both took a seat in the front. This is going a little better than anticipated.

“Could you tell me where you are taking me?” I enquired timidly. I was intimidated. If this is my Kdrama scenario, they are about to turn into bad guys and tape my mouth shut.

“I’m sorry to say that the destination is completely confidential Miss Choi.” Oh fuck.

“I assure you, once we are at the location our head of department will explain everything that has happened so far and any other information to you in detail. I’m afraid we’ve been asked to provide you with as little detail as possible to make sure the information is presented to you in a respectful matter. I deeply apologise.” The man – Min Yejun – I think – turned around to explain, before bowing as low as he could as he apologised. His respectful approach made me feel a little more secure being in the car with them. The other man – Hwang Minjun – hadn’t said much, driving the car silently. He had dark black hair that came down the nape of his neck in a short kind of mullet with a full fringe over his forehead. His fingers were dainty and smooth, wrapped around the wheel. Yejun had bleached, light grey hair. He was attractive in a cute way. His cheeks were chubbier than the usual slim, athletic guy. He had a sweetness to his face, that only looked cuter with his rosy cheeks.

The two scary, suited men were somehow reduced to sweet looking, kind guys once approached in close proximity, that I no longer feared. My shoulders dropped in relaxation as I leaned more comfortably against the seat.

“Who do you work for?” I enquired. Yejun turned his head with a smile, before slowly opening his mouth, but he didn’t need to reply, I had already recognised it by his facial expression.

“You can’t tell me. Right. Of course.” I nodded along in agreement, as he smiled again, before turning back to look at the road ahead of us.

“Detective Hussain said the test results were conclusive. What does that mean? I assumed that it would be negative, because I didn’t steal anyone’s identity. Or are the test results read differently? Do you know?” I asked again, claiming a deep sigh from the driver seat.

“I assure you when we get to our location all of your questions will be answered.” Yejun smiled patiently again. I smiled in return, understanding the annoyed sigh from Minjun.

I had the right to ask questions. I was locked up for over 24 hours. I had no idea where I was being taken by two strangers. I had every right to ask any question under the sun and be as annoying as I wanted to be.

“Oh! My bag. I left it at the police station!” I looked back through the back window as though we hadn’t been driving for over 15 minutes and I was going to see the police station in the far view.

“We picked up your belongings, everything will be returned to you on location.” Minjun was completely mute, apart from a sigh or two, or three, as he listened to me speak. I slept on a bench inside a police station, and yet it seemed he was more annoyed and irritated than me.

“But I want to call my mother and let her know I’m okay.” I reiterated, before realising that there was no way I could with no SIM card in my phone.

“As my colleague already mentioned, any and all questions can wait until we get on location. Your phone, your bags, your mother, your brother, your father, your arrest, your name. Every single thing will be covered by our head of department. My colleague had mentioned this in an attempt to avoid any more questions from you.”

“Minjun ssi! I apologise Miss Choi. I know this is very inconvenient and confusing, but our chief will relay all information to you in a much better environment and manner.” Yejun bowed, before hitting Minjun’s shoulder on his turn back to the front window. Snap Minjun.

His temper had strangely suited the expressions on his face. His cute features somehow merged into the anger that he had been containing from my annoying questions – wait. My father? My real father? My brother? What brother?

“My brother?” I watched Yejun’s head snap so fast to look at Minjun; his head might have come loose if it wasn’t screwed on right. He didn’t even attempt to look over at me and explain. I heard him clear his throat as if he hadn’t heard me.

“I don’t have a brother.” I reiterated which was followed by more silence. They sat completely still as if if they attempted to move, everything was going to come spilling out. Do I have a brother? Am I in a Kdrama right now? What the hell is going on.

The dark clouds rolled in, and it began to rain. The sky turned darker and darker and evening was approaching. Time was flying at the speed of light with almost two days passing me by and I hadn’t managed so much as to open a bank account. My life is a failure.

I leaned my head back, questioning my choices as well as my parents. I hate my name right now. Why couldn’t I have an English name? I might have not wasted two whole days if I did. Ava is a nice name. Or Ivy. Olivia. Evelyn. I’m exhausted.