Escape

HYUNKI

First period Mathematics bore me. Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against Mathematics. Unlike most people who regard the subject as a mental strain their obtuse minds have difficulty in comprehending, the impediment and interest it poses on me is relatively inferior compared to the later subjects that succeeds it. In other words, Mathematics is basic. The complexity it presents is nothing but a series of simple equations threaded together by a number of factors. I don't see why most people can't understand it.

"Mr. Do, I know that my class is the least of your interest but please, spare us some peace." Thirty-three pairs of eyes are directed at me, including my professor's who seems like he was holding on to a thin thread of his remaining patience. Their gazes are scrutinizing me, some are mocking me, but that's none of my concern.

I straighten my sitting posture, clear my throat and slowly bow in respect. "I apologize, sir." My apology was returned with nothing but a nod. He returns to face the whiteboard and resumes the discussion. He talks more to himself as if he's the only person in the room.

I heave a soft sigh and prop my elbow on the tabletop. It may just be past eight in the morning, which means we still have an hour of banal Math discussion.

It didn't, much to my satisfaction - and panic. A tremor originating from below pervaded us. I thought I was dizzy, as a repercussion of skipping breakfast this morning, but it wasn't. I can see it in the eyes of my classmates. How their gazes flicker, how they cower in fear and panic, how trepidation blooms in their faces. It's fascinating.

To my annoyance, some of my classmates are already panic-striken. A wash of chaos grips the four corners of the classroom that confines us resulting to a cacophonous outburst. They pour out of the classroom into a fast-pacing current. I went with the flow. The earthquake is getting stronger by the minute.

In the midst of the chaos, I can hear a crackle. It catches my attention despite the noise and chaos surrounding me. It emanates from the roof that towered over us. A thought of someone creates a rippling worry that takes over my system.

VELCRO

The ground is shaking again.

It was stronger than the first one - twice as strong, in fact. I can hear my heart pounding aggresively against my chest. I think my eardrums may have been broken from the screams of the other students who ran in deviated routes.

Where should I go?

Panic was irrepressible. I can tell from their hastened gaits that they were frightened. So am I. Agitation seems to be taking over me. Air rushes through my body as I breathe through my mouth instead of my nostrils. Shoulders slam against mine, bodies collide with my own and I struggle to keep myself from falling down. It's not a good time to be clumsy unless I want to be trampled on by thousands of panicking students.

The sight around me flashed in blur. My brain can barely comprehend what my eyes see. The elements of the scenery all points to one conclusion: everyone is dreading the threat of danger.

I must get to safety. Like a mantra, it repeated unceasingly in my head. I have to keep myself safe.

I can see the Grand Stadium ahead of me. I think hurried too much that I almost tripped as I descended the flight of stairs towards the field. The constant pushing in the crowded ocean lands me almost at the middle of the field. Tumult surrounds me.

I casted my gaze at the bustling crowd. A few months ago, we were regarded as one of the most prepared campuses in Seoul after successfully completing the earthquake and fire drill. Looking at the sight surrounding me now, I am surprised at how it was easily neglected.

I happened to glace at my watch, the hour hand pointing at 8 and the minute hand just beyond 2. Euphoria drowns the rising tide of relief I'm feeling. Hyunki is nowhere is to be found. It completely slipped from my mind that I wasn't with him. Where could he be?

A tap on my shoulder startles me and I almost fell on my back from the surprise. "Hyunki," I manage to say in between breaths. My gaze shifted from him to his sister, Seoyeon, who was standing behind him.

"Are you guys alright?"

"We barely managed to get out of the building," Hyunki said. "It's a good thing that Seoyeon and I were in the same building in that moment."

Seoyeon is almost as tall as her brother, but they don't look alike. Aside from their interest in science, I find nothing similar in them. Maybe it has something to do with their parents. Seoyeon and Hyunki have different fathers but it didn't hinder the closeness they share.

My eyes lands on a purple spot on Seoyeon's skin. Hyunki follows my gaze and sees the same thing. He forcefully grabs her arm and looks at it closely. A purple bruise becomes more and more visible. "What happened?"

She retracts her arms, rubbing the sore spot with her free hand. "I tripped while trying to get out and my arm hit the counter top in the chemistry lab."

Hyunki shook his head sideways. "Panic is more dangerous than the earthquake itself. Make sure to keep yourself calm next time."

I repeated his statement inside my head. I could use some scolding right now. No one spoke between the three of us and our silence amplified the ascending noise and pandemonium surrounding us. I try to begin a conversation, hoping the two will join in. And maybe to contain my curiosity. "The earthquake was a bit long, don't you think?"

Seoyeon nodded. Hyunki did the same saying, "It was. I found it odd that it lasted for around 20 minutes."

"23 minutes," I corrected, giving a sideward glance at my watch.

He cleared his throat and resumed. "Okay, 23 minutes. On average, South Korean quakes last for 3 to 5 minutes and not more than that."

"I'm sure there's an explanation to this," Seoyeon said. I agree with her. Both of us stare at Hyunki. He may be savage, but he is indeniably smart.

"There is, I think," he replies in uncertain tone. "The Korean peninsula belongs to a stable seismic zone compared to our neighbouring countries.However, according to the earthquake data covering 2000 years of our seismic history, there was a time period in which seismicity was active and a few large earthquakes occured in the Southeast region of the peninsula."

"I've read about that," Seoyeon interjects. "It's the Yangsan fault line you're talking about."

"Precisely." My gaze goes from Seoyeon to Hyunki and I heave a sigh to myself.

A sudden flash of light comes from the sky. Rumbling thunder claps overhead. The sky had grown darker than this morning, nimbus clouds threaten to drown the noise in its downpour.

A droplet of liquid falls on my arm. I turn to face the bleak sky and another droplet falls on my face. "Shouldn't we head inside?" I asked, craning my neck towards the high school buildings to our right. Hyunki shook his head.

"While heading out earlier, I heard a few crackling noise emanating from the walls. I don't think it's safe." I can only sigh. He's probably right. There's still the possibility of aftershocks.

"Let's at least find somewhere dry and avoid confinements," Seoyeon suggests. I point to the ampitheater across the field.

"How about there?"

"That's better. Let's go."

In a hurried pace, we half-ran and half-walked to the ampitheater.