Disaster (2)
Should I call this a blessing in disguise?
The crimson flames blazing so fiercely were unexpectedly extinguished in short order. It was almost anticlimactic—the fire died down with surprising ease.
A tattoo shop contained numerous flammable substances—inks, disinfectants, lubricants. This was why the flames had spread so quickly, but by the same token, the visible intensity of the fire was far greater than its actual scale.
Things would have gotten truly serious if not for the firefighters' rapid response.
Fortunately, a 119 station was nearby, and thanks to the first witness's prompt report, the fire was suppressed early on. The fire itself was an unfortunate disaster, but in many ways, it was nothing short of a stroke of luck.
"It's a relief the fire didn't spread to the other buildings."
"...Yeah."
Saebyeok Nuna nodded, her complexion still pale. I looked at her with concern, then shifted my gaze to someone who worried me even more. Her complexion was no less grim.
"My shop... my building... I still have loans left on it......."
The owner of Scarlet Ink.
Gahyeon Nuna looked completely shell-shocked.
A firefighter approached and spoke.
"We're going to begin the fire investigation now. Was there any equipment left running inside the building?"
"Ah, no. I checked everything before I left, there was nothing at all."
"According to your employee, it was business hours. Where were you?"
"I have a two-year-old child. I got a call saying she was sick, so I rushed to the hospital. But in the meantime......."
So that was why she was out during business hours—her child was ill. I couldn't tell if this was fortunate or unfortunate. Being outside had let her avoid the fire hazard, but conversely, maybe the fire had started precisely because she was outside.
It wasn't only firefighters who addressed Gahyeon Nuna. Police who had arrived almost simultaneously with the ambulance were controlling the scene. Questions from firefighters and police officers toward Gahyeon Nuna continued.
"First, once we conduct the preliminary cause investigation......."
"Do you have any CCTV installed......."
"For now, let's go and talk......."
Saebyeok Nuna and I stood awkwardly a few steps behind Gahyeon Nuna. Even if I wanted to say something to her, there was no opening. It seemed we would have to head to the police station for the time being.
*
I was merely a client with a reservation, but Saebyeok Nuna was an employee of Scarlet Ink, so she had to give a statement, however brief.
It didn't take long. Saebyeok Nuna had been with me, and we had taken public transit from school. In Korea, using public transit leaves a clear electronic record, which proved very useful in situations like this.
As I watched Gahyeon Nuna's conversation with the police, I thought.
'They're keeping the possibility of arson open from the start.'
The questions that followed didn't treat this as a fire caused by simple mistake or accident, but kept the door open to the possibility of a crime.
Then Gahyeon Nuna suddenly turned to look at us and spoke with an apologetic expression.
"Look at me, what a mess. You two must have been startled too."
"No. Don't worry about us."
There was no way she had the presence of mind to worry about others. With her own shop and building burned down, who could she possibly spare a thought for? She'd even said her child was sick—it was remarkable she was this composed at all.
Saebyeok Nuna asked, full of worry.
"Unni, what about Ha-yul? You said you took her to the hospital earlier......."
Ha-yul was Gahyeon Nuna's two-year-old daughter.
"They said it's a cold with body aches. She had a bit of a fever."
"Is she okay?"
"It doesn't seem serious. I left her with oppa for now. I'll have to go back later."
The 'oppa' she meant was her husband.
Gahyeon Nuna patted our shoulders and said.
"You two head home now. Thanks for staying with me until now."
"...I'll stay with you until it's over."
Gahyeon Nuna shook her head firmly.
"Nobody knows when this will end, and even when it does, I have to go right back. You must be shaken up too, so go home and rest."
"......."
"You're not feeling well, are you? Your face is so pale. Go to the restroom and at least wash your face."
"...Okay."
Saebyeok Nuna glanced my way and then headed to the restroom.
Watching her retreating figure, Gahyeon Nuna let out a sigh and spoke to me, now left alone.
"Cheol-jin, I'm sorry, but could you look after Saebyeok for me? I wish I could stay with her myself, but the situation just won't allow it."
"Ah, yes. Of course."
I nodded. Her complexion had been terrible anyway, so I'd already been thinking I should see her home.
Gahyeon Nuna looked toward the restroom and continued in a lowered voice.
"Saebyeok, that kid, she has some bad memories related to fires. I may not know the details, but she was probably even more shocked than I was. I'd appreciate it if you could take her home."
"Ah......."
At those words, a memory surfaced in my mind.
The thorn vine tattoo on Han Saebyeok's neck and collarbone.
When she'd first suggested I get a tattoo myself, Saebyeok Nuna had told me that she herself had gotten cover-up work done to conceal scars, and that her scars were probably worse than mine.
Perhaps those scars were related to a fire.
I nodded once more, with a slightly more solemn expression.
"Don't worry. We're headed the same way anyway. I live near the school, doing the whole self-boarding thing."
"Alright, thanks. Oh, right—I'll arrange the tattoo you're getting done at a different shop. I know someone, so Saebyeok can do the work there."
"Yes. Thank you for taking care of it."
As for the location, it didn't matter to me as long as Saebyeok Nuna was the one doing the work. Having decided to get a tattoo anyway, I simply wanted it done by someone I could trust.
Soon Saebyeok Nuna returned from the restroom.
We said our goodbyes to Gahyeon Nuna and boarded the train heading home.
*
The whole way home, Saebyeok Nuna didn't say much.
I didn't go out of my way to make conversation either. Her complexion was so poor that I almost felt guilty trying to talk to her. Regrettably, I didn't have the words to put someone at ease in a time like this.
Eventually we reached our destination: the officetel where Saebyeok Nuna lived.
I spoke to her, my worry evident, her face still ashen.
"Nuna, go inside and get some rest. Gahyeon Nuna didn't get hurt or anything, and the police investigation started right away, so everything will be sorted out."
"...Okay."
"You don't need to force yourself to come to the club meeting tomorrow. Get your bearings first, and contact me if anything comes up. I'll let the club members know."
"Alright. Thanks."
She nodded with a faint smile.
I looked at her, full of concern, then turned away. I'd seen her to her place; there was nothing more I could do.
But regardless of whether I could do anything or not, the worried feeling didn't go away. My feet simply refused to carry me off.
After walking a few steps, I looked back.
"...Nuna?"
My eyes met Saebyeok Nuna's. She hadn't gone inside the building; she was looking my way.
Her lips moved a few times before she called my name.
"Cheol-jin."
Saebyeok Nuna beckoned me with a hesitant gesture. I retraced those few steps back and stood in front of her.
She parted her bloodless lips and spoke.
"I'm sorry, but... could you stay with me, just for a little while?"
Standing before me, she looked terribly fragile. Her pale complexion was the least of it—her eyes weren't focused. Now that I looked closer, her hands were trembling faintly.
'Her state is worse than I thought.'
The symptoms were clear.
It was likely post-traumatic stress disorder, commonly shortened to PTSD. The shock of the Scarlet Ink fire must have dredged up memories of her own past experience.
It was a set of symptoms I'd experienced myself. After dropping out of school, for a while, whenever I saw the scars reflected in a mirror or caught sight of a cigarette's ember, I'd had severe aversion reactions.
Han Saebyeok apologized again, her face near tears.
"I'm sorry......."
"What's there to be sorry about. It's vacation, so I've got nothing but time."
I gave a deliberate shrug, feigning nonchalance.
"Shall we go to a café or something? Or a karaoke place?"
Based on my own experience, the act of singing alone seemed to help with finding psychological stability. Maybe it would help her too?
"You've never heard me sing, right, nuna? I'm actually pretty decent at it."
But what helped one person could actually make symptoms worse for another. People lumped everything under the label PTSD, but the underlying experiences that formed the trauma were different for each individual.
I didn't know exactly which category Saebyeok Nuna fell into, but it seemed the latter was true for her. She immediately shook her head.
"No, I'm uncomfortable with places that have loud noises."
"O-oh, really? Then, um. Should we go to a quiet room café...?"
She shook her head again and gestured.
"For now... I think I'll feel a bit better once I'm inside. Do you want to come in?"
"Huh? Ah, yeah......."
I hesitated for just a moment, then followed her inside.