Traumatic past

Di-Hee was getting a check-up every day and was on regular medication with IVs. Her body had become much healthier and she gained some weight in the past few days. She was under observation all day. And news of her having nightmares was frequent but they couldn't talk to her about that for a while.

Her mental condition was already weak and if it was triggered then she could slip into depression it's the best-case scenario or the worst-case scenario was to slip into a coma and die.

After about fifteen or something days police came to take her statement and others already had given theirs. And according to them she suffered the most, it was their guess as they could only hear voices.

She promised to tell Bong-Soon first so she refused to talk to anyone else about it till then. As Bong-Soon was busy with the new team's work, she couldn't come and see her. And Di-Hee during this time was preparing herself mentally to tell her about the incident that even her father refused to believe.

"Di-Hee at least let Guk-Du stay, he will stay still and silent as if he's not even there. Right?" Bong-Soon has been trying to coax Di-Hee for a few minutes and said this statement ending with a question for Guk-Du, the end to solve the matter in a short time.

Hearing the question Guk-Du nodded and looked at Di-Hee who was stealing glances at him. At last, she agreed but the condition was to not record until she asked to.

Guk-Du to encourage her cheered her up, "You can overcome this hard time Di-Hee. Just relax and start telling." After that, he took a seat beside Bong-Soon and handed over the recording device to Di-Hee as she asked before.

"I-I. It was when I was eleven or twelve." She started but stopped in between to recollect her thoughts and started again.

"It is the memory which I shared with no one except my father but... That kidnapper did something that triggered that memory again. The memory I had successfully suppressed with so much difficulty over years." Her voice cracked in the end and Bong-Soon gave her a glass of water.

"It was when was nearly 12. That night I, eomma and appa went to a party thrown by one of the high-positioned people in appa's office. It was summer and I was wearing a black gown. Eomma was drunk with some ladies playing cards and appa was with some of the uncles from the office. I needed to go to the washroom and that was after crossing a big garden.

The whole place was filled with drunk men in their late thirties. Some lay on the ground speaking nonsense and some continued to drink from bottles. I reached there and four of them were standing there near the female washroom entry. At that time I ignored them and entered the restroom. While washing my hands I heard the drunk aunties yelling 'Let go of me' and all. As the restroom was designed as a corridor then the section so I was not able to see or understand anything.

I came outside and hid behind the wall and watched as three aunties were taken away by those three men forcefully. I stepped out and asked them, "Why are you dragging her?" But little did I know that it was the worst mistake I could do at that time. The fourth man also came near and laughed while keeping his hand on my shoulder. And then all of them stopped but didn't let go of those ladies.

"Looks like I got one for me also," he said and then slowly his hand slipped down to my fingers. I stepped back but he then harshly grabbed my arm-" Di-Hee's eyes filled with tears as she remembered the memory. Whereas Bong-Soon had no idea what was going on but still she kept mum and let her speak. And Guk-Du was having a difficult time thinking if what he was thinking was right or not.

"You don't need to tell if it hurts," Guk-Du stated out of concern.

"No, I can't keep it all inside me now. It's killing me from the inside. Let me continue."

"Okay but you are not forced to tell. You can stop when you want." Guk-Du told her but deep down he was also curious and on the edge of his seat to know what happened to her. Especially when he figured out his feelings for her.

"Then the man started dragging me also. I resisted but he was strong. They dragged us all to the men's restroom section. There was silence and the ladies also stopped yelling. As everyone was in the party area no one heard us before.

I looked around and the man released my hand. I was so foolish to notice my surrounding that I didn't run away. After looking around everyone was gone and the gate of the cabins which were opened before, closed. I was oblivious to the situation and then after some time as I was going towards the exit. A cabin's door opened and the man from before pulled me in.

I was looking towards the door's direction as he held me in place. Then he made me the drink and soon I was partially drunk. He raped me. After his hunger was satisfied he left me there in the cabin bleeding. After much hardship, I got out of the Restroom and went to the ladies' one. Afraid to tell anyone I cleaned myself and acted fool as if nothing happened.

I was hard to understand at that time but by doing some research I got to know what happened to me. I told my father right after I got to know but he refused to believe me. He trusted that bastard more than his daughter. I have hated men since then but coming back here from the States, my opinion started to change.

But when he tried to do the same, I don't think that I-I can trust anyone." During this story, Di-Hee broke down many times. Guk-Du and Bong-Soon were doubting their friendship for why she didn't tell them before.

"Yo-you got raped and you never told us. Are we, not friends?" Bong-Soon inquired while crying.

"I tried so hard to suppress the memory, by telling you or anyone I didn't want to bring back those nightmares. And scenes from that darned night."

"Wh-what happened to that man?"