Out of Time
Towers of heavy, grey nimbus clouds obscured the early morning sunlight in Seoul's Dongdaemun-gu. Flashes of lightning adorned the grey canvas of the sky as it struck simultaneously. The deafening boom of thunder reverberated through the district. At seven in the morning, students dotted the campus of Kyung Hee University.
A private university located in the northwest of Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, Kyung Hee University is among the three most prestigious universities in South Korea prominently known as SKY. The university emblem shown as a Chinese character for "university" with the background of the world map symbolises KHU's vision for globalisation as well as an open mind and humanism for the world. The university mascot is visualised through the mane of the Laughing Lion as the torch which sheds light on the truth and the dove as the international symbol of peace.
Velcro stood up from his study desk in the left side of the room he shares with his best friend in Sewha Hall. He spent most of his childhood in Taiwan so it was among his dream to be able to study in a university in Seoul.
His soft brown locks drift across his forehead as he reached for the latch on the window. One thing which fascinates him is how the window is opaque during daytime yet turns transparent night. It was one of those insignificant questions that strayed in his mind every now and then.
The cold, morning draft entered through the opening and gently blew against his face. Velcro stands at six feet, with a muscular built suitable for sports – the varsity team, in particular. Along with his godly built is a godly face – a thin nose, moulded eyebrows, deep brown eyes, plump lips, and a queerly large pair of ears. Being a Park, it was expected that he will take over their family business one day in Taiwan. His interest is far from business, albeit he is taking his second year in Business Administration in KHU. In turn, they agreed to let him finish his studies in Seoul.
His dishevelled hair danced to the blow of the wind. In spite of the weather, the number of students roaming the campus grounds before class hours overwhelmed him. High school students mostly filled the sports field behind the Sewha Hall. He hears the door of their room opening and a short man enters with a laundry basket.
"Hey, have they posted anything about class suspension?" Hyunki shook his head sideways and didn't even bother to glance at his roommate who went to sit back on his desk.
Each room on Sewha Hall comprises of two identical halves. Velcro owns the left side while Hyunki owns the right. Two single beds lie parallel to each other, each with a shelf connected above which runs beyond the headboard and widens at the space lent for the desk. At the footboard of both beds are individual closets and shoe racks. The aisle from the door leads to the complementing latched window. To the right of the room is the bathroom.
Hyunki's side has always been neater compared to the other. Velcro often noticed how he becomes a neat freak especially when it comes to his side of the room.
"They should suspend classes, don't you think?" Velcro asks, hoping his roommate will agree. Hyunki kneeled by his bed, neatly organising his newly dried clothes from the laundry basket to the drawer underneath the bed. The latter lets out a sigh and craned his neck to meet Velcro's visage. Velcro was in his soft, puppy mode again.
Hyunki was short and frail with his short, black hair, larger than normal eyes, and heart-shaped lips. He was quiet, simple, and would rarely talk to anyone aside from is close friends unless the topic includes geology. Velcr would often refer to him as a penguin or an owl – which Hyunki thinks is just childish – whichever of the two fits the situation the former could laugh about. The two have been classmates since grade school and formed a queer friendship mostly filled with bickering, bullying, and a tad of violence. Hyunki is a sophomore, a Bachelor of Science in Earth Science. Even when they were young, Hyunki had always shown interest in geology and his intellectual capacity rendered him capable of doing so.
"That'll just be another excuse for you not to attend classes," Hyunki replied sternly and threw Velcro a disappointed look. Hyunki knows his best friend is not entirely interested in the course he is taking up. He was compelled to take up Business Administration for the sake of his parents' company.
"I have plans."
"And that includes not going to school?"
"Touché, Hyunki! You are so smart!"
"Whatever." Dejection crossed Velcro's face and Hyunki groaned. "Don't give me that face. I'm heading out. I don't want to be late." Velcro took Hyunki's bag from his study table and tossed it to him. Before Hyunki could close the door completely, he stuck his head inside the room.
"Take a bath. You already stink," Hyunki stated in a mocking tone. Velcro looked at him unbelievably before mumbling complaints beneath his breath. Of course, he always takes a bath.
The bathroom inside their dorm is limited. The storage cabinet greeted him as he opened the door. Beyond the small room designed for the sink, mirror, and cabinet, another door inside leads to the toilet and shower. It wasn't spacious, but it was a good use of space. He was massaging his head with the lather from the shampoo when he felt the ground move. Panic surged through him. It wasn't really strong but he felt it. He hurried to wash off the bubbles from his body and got himself dressed. The last thing he wants is to get trapped inside the bathroom with nothing but bubbles.
He glanced at his watch which read 7:49, 11 minutes left before his first class for the day begins. Magnolia flowers are in full bloom all over the campus, the embodiment of the qualities KHU stands for – resilience, beauty, generosity, and unity. He was walking past the Crown Concert Hall when he felt the ground shake for the second time.