4 Making Decisions

The next day in the morning.

"Good morning! Rise and shine sleeping beaut-nope-ugly!" I heard someone's deep voice that wasn't appa's.

'What? Why is Taehyung oppa here so early?'

I slowly opened my eyes blinded by the bright sunshine that was pouring through the glass windows.

'Wait. Glass windows? White rooms? Where am I?'

I sat up as fast as possible. "What the hell?" I cursed out loud, earning a disappointed look from everyone in the room, which included Uncle and Taehyung. Then, suddenly everything rushed back to me. No more good mornings from appa and no more North Korea. I was in Paju, South Korea in a hospital and was going to get discharged today.

"Ah, morning everyone." I greeted trying my best to look fine, but failing miserably I guess because Tae oppa responded, "You don't have to try so hard you know. No need to put up a front."

"Ha-ha. Whatever. What's for breakfast?" I asked trying not to dwell on appa and eyeing the bag in Tae oppa's hands.

"Hold on, you pig. Stop eyeing the bag as if you are going to eat the bag itself. It's breakfast for everyone so chill." Tae oppa teased me, again. Ugh.

"Go ahead get washed up and ready we are going to catch the first bus to Seoul, but before that, we have things to talk about." Uncle got up and started busying himself with getting his things packed and so did Tae so, I followed suit.

30 minutes later

"So Uncle what did you want to talk about?" I asked the minute I sat down after I finished packing and getting ready, not that I had much to pack nor to get ready. I was just stalling for time. I don't want to face reality, not yet. Just a couple more days, please, but life doesn't wait for anyone.

"Well, I am sorry to bring it up again, but do you remember the USB drive your father had handed it to you on, you know, that-um-night?" Uncle seemed to hate bringing that night back up again so I helped.

"The night that-" I sighed. "The night that appa died."

Uncle looked at me in surprise. I only gave him an 'it's okay' smile nodding my head for him to continue.

"Well, I am going to return it to you since it's yours so, decide on what you want to do with it." Uncle passed me the USB drive. It was simple looking, nothing special. Nothing fancy. Yet, appa had told me to take care of it and keep it safe. Why? I turned it round and round not understanding what amazing information it carried for appa to hand it to me at such a situation.

"That USB has very important information, my dear. If it goes into the wrong hands then we might as well be dead. Your father put his blood, sweat, and tears into it for the past 10 years, take care of it." Uncle explained, but I had more questions.

"Uncle, why is it so important? Do you know what's in it?"

"No. Your father never once let me look at it. I have no clue what type of information is inside it. Your father always told me, "The less you know, the better off you will be." and that was it, case closed."

"Appa didn't even tell you? Then what am I supposed to do with it?"

"He gave it to you so, now it's yours look at, throw away, bury or burn. It's up to you. You shouldn't tell us anything about it. If your father had wanted us to know what's inside it then he would have told us already." Uncle explained. I nodded my head in understanding and Uncle got up and left the room saying he was going to go and get the discharge papers ready.

I was left in the room with a silent Taehyung and a stupid USB drive that I had no clue about. I looked to him for help and he did...just a little. He handed me a dang laptop.

"Where in the world did you get a freaking laptop from?" I asked in surprise.

'What did he do this time? Did he, no way, steal it?'

I gave him a doubtful look, but he only gave me his boxed smile in return.

"I promise. I did not do anything of the sort you are thinking of at the moment. The doctor, who took care of you, let me borrow it because you know, I am too handsome to resist."

'I can't believe he just complimented himself. How shallow can he be?'

I only shook my head at him and grabbed the laptop from him.

"Well then, I'll be outside the door okay? Call me if you miss me."

"In your freaking dreams Taehyung-ssi."

"Alrighty then, meet you at midnight my darling." He blew me a flying kiss and closed the door.

I could only smile at his attempt to make me feel better. So stupid. I opened up the laptop and plugged in the USB into its slot. Appa had made sure to try to keep me updated on these new electronic things back in North Korea by having the agents sneak some of the things into our house for me to learn from. One of those things was a laptop. Thank god.

The USB finally finished formatting and a pop up appeared.

PASSWORD:_ _ _ _ _ _ _

"Oh shit. Welp, I am doomed. Seems like appa never wanted me to find out about the information either." I muttered to myself, a bit bitter over the fact that appa didn't trust me until the very end.

'Nice going appa. Still miss you though. Love you, but I'll stay strong just like you told me to. Watch over me, you promised.'

I put my head down and thought long and hard about what to do with this USB. 'It would be bad if the bad guys got it and appa didn't even show Uncle and neither the agents so that means no one can have access to this right? Guess I know what to do now. Time to get to work.'

Knock. Knock.

"Yes, come in." I closed the laptop and quickly pocketed the USB only to see Uncle and Taehyung oppa.

"Ah, you guys scared me for a second," I said running my hand through my hair.

"Sorry." Uncle apologized.

"Not sorry." Tae oppa replied.

"Ugh, Kim Taehyung," I said, annoyed by him as always.

"You know you love me." Tae oppa said while winking at me.

"As I had said, in your fuc-ahem-flipping dreams!" I said with as much sarcasm as possible.

"So what's the plan young lady?" Uncle stopped our bickering.

"I am going to visit my never before seen grandmother in Daegu." I declared.

"HUH?!" "WHAT!?" I heard two consecutive yells...which I had expected.

"Chill people, I am only going TEMPORARILY to see my grandmother and you know to tell her that-like-that appa is, um, gone?" It ended up coming out as a question, but everyone looked over it.

"Ah, okay. We'll go with you." Uncle said as Taehyung oppa agreed.

"NO! I mean no need for you guys to suffer along with me. Plus, Daegu is so far out, I'll be fine by myself."

"Not possible. I am not letting you go by yourself." Tae oppa immediately replied.

"Neither am I, young lady. Sorry." Uncle followed suit with Tae oppa.

"Can't you guys see I just want closure? I just want to do this alone. I also need some time alone." I said the last part quietly. I knew I was hurting their feelings, but it was for the best. They can't know about this USB and appa had made sure so now I have to make sure it stayed that way.

'Sorry Uncle and oppa.'

"Ah, ha-ha. I didn't think of that. Our bad, sorry. We are just guys what would we know. My bad." Uncle replied in a small voice, which just made me feel ten times more of a jerk.

"Have you lost your sense of manners?" It didn't seem to sit well with Taehyung oppa that I was deliberately pushing them away and being rude. I have to admit, I was pretty rude.

"I am sorry Uncle I didn't mean to sound so... bitchy, for a better lack of word. I just want to go alone. I am...sorry." I hung my head low in apology.

"It's fine, we understand right? You need some space and time to come to terms and we are okay with that. Just stay safe. Let's go then, the bus should be here in 15 minutes." Uncle got his stuff and mine and walked out with me trailing behind and Tae oppa behind me.

'Sorry oppa...don't be mad at me for too long.'

After getting to the bus terminal I sneakily bought a ticket to both Daegu and Busan, my secret stop. Busan, the place where I will take care of the damned USB drive.