2

2: I AM ON A SHIP AT SEA ?!

I felt a cool breeze, but warmth on my body. I sat up when I came face to face with someone. "Who are you ?", I asked as I had yet to realize where I was. "박성화입니다. 탑승을 환영합니다." (I am Park Seonghwa. Welcome aboard.) Aboard ?! I screamed as I realized I was on a ship. At sea. "How did I get here ? Why am I here ?" Seonghwa simply handed me what I assumed was food made on the ship. "You're a Drifter, right ? You aren't the first to be lead on this ship."

He knew what I was ? I sat the bowl I was given down as I stood up. The ship was eerily quiet. Was everyone asleep still ? "다른 사람들은 어디 있어요? 왜 이렇게 조용해요?" (Where is everyone else ? Why is everything so quiet ?) Seonghwa simply had an aura about him. I assume he probably was one of the few who held authority after the captain. "The rest of the crew don't wake up for another hour. Captain' orders."

This brought me back to my initial thoughts. "You've met other Drifters ? How do Drifters get to this trip ?" Seonghwa smirked as he looked out at the calm sea that surrounded the ship. "That doesn't matter, Narae. What matters is what do you want ?" Want ? Isn't it a bit selfish to only think about what I want ? Is this ship' crew only after what they want ? It took me a minute, but I choked it out. "I want to feel... I am sick of mimicking the emotions I desperately want to feel."

"Good. At least you can admit that to yourself, Narae." I sat once again & Seonghwa joined me. "Have I seen you before somewhere ?" Seonghwa instantly refused, but I could tell he was mimicking emotion like me. Was this crew like me ? "나래는 배를 타본 적이 없는 사람치고는 아주 침착하네요." (You are very calm for someone who seems to never have been on a ship before, Narae.)

He wasn't wrong. I never have set foot on a ship before. Especially not one already at sea. "You can't avoid my questions forever. How did I get on this ship ?" Seonghwa sighed as he gestured me to continue to eat. "We were docked when a crowd had formed. You were unconscious, but people didn't help you. They said it was because you were a Drifter that they avoided helping. So our captain tasked our crew with bringing you with us."

How did I end up at the docks ? The last thing I remember was my mom yelling & getting into bed. Had my ritual worked ? "What's your role around here then ?" Seonghwa sat a pistol between us. "I am First Mate on this ship. I assist our captain & I am very skilled with my pistol." I giggled as I pointed at the gun, "하하하! 100% 정확하다고요?" (Hahaha ! You have 100% accuracy ?) I was joking, of course.

Seonghwa skillfully shot a bullet into the center of a target on the other end of the ship from where we sat. "Precisely. My shots are always accurate." For the next hour Seonghwa showed me around the ship & gave me some light training with a spare pistol. I assume the one he carries has a deep sentimental connection to him. Had the captain gifted Seonghwa his pistol ?

Now for the rest of the crew...