Yeonjun turned off the cassette tape he'd listened to a hundred times. He then stared blankly at his bustling roommate. Standing over eight feet tall, he was darting through the house. If he insisted on going to the protest, Yeonjun had no other option but to stop him. After all, Soobin was an adult, old enough to protect herself.
Soobin wrapped a towel around her face. The white towel covered the area from just below her eyes to her chin, making it look suffocating. Just as she was about to leave the house with a determined expression, Yeonjun emerged from the bathroom. Just like Soobin, he had his face covered with a towel.
“What is that?”
“Can’t you tell just by looking? Isn’t that how it’s done?”
“If you cover it up like that, tear gas will get in. But why are you doing that?”
Yeonjun rolled his eyes and looked up at Soobin.
“I’m going out too.”
“A protest?”
"yes."
Soobin touched her forehead. Yesterday, Yeonjun had been so insistent on not attending the protest that his eyes were red. Now, suddenly, he was going to attend? Soobin couldn't help but feel uneasy.
“Why, I’m not born to do things like this.”
“No, that’s not it……”
Soobin ran her hand through her hair. I didn't know what she was thinking, but I couldn't stop her. Right now, every single voice matters.
“…Are you really going to participate?”
Yeonjun shrugged. "I'm not going to act like I'm about to get shot, though. I have someone I need to meet." Soobin sighed faintly. Right now, Yeonjun looked like he was about to be caught by the airborne troops and beaten to death. "They don't teach you that kind of thing at Yonsei University." Soobin showed him the knot on her towel.
“Tie the towel like this.”
“Oh, I see.”
“And if the airborne troops are chasing you, you have to run really fast, but can you run wearing that?”
"Just tell him to change his clothes." Yeonjun frowned as Soobin continued to point out the little things.
“I can’t give in on this either.”
As someone who puts my life on the line here
“Because I can’t tolerate seeing protests as a joke.”
Yeonjun immediately ran to Grandma Jang's supermarket. Fortunately, the door was locked, and she wasn't out on the street. Yeonjun sighed in relief and sank to the ground. Hoping that Grandma was somewhere safe, he sat up. Glancing behind, he saw Subin at the very front of the protesters, shouting, "President Chun Doo-hwan, step down!" at the top of his lungs. As the protesters advanced, they drew closer to the airborne troops. The airborne troops knelt on one knee and aimed their guns. Yeonjun's pupils dilated.
“Everyone, avoid it!!”
As if that shout had been a signal, the airborne troops fired without a moment's hesitation. People immediately screamed and scattered. Some were shot and fell limply. Even among them, there were those still chanting, "President Chun Doo-hwan, step down!" Yeonjun ran to the very front of the protesters, pushing through the fleeing crowd and the airborne troops chasing them. He grabbed a familiar white wrist and ran without a second thought.
“What are you doing?!”
Soobin quickly lowered his towel and fired a shot. Panting, his face drenched in sweat, he glared at Yeonjun. He could faintly see the silhouettes of protesters and soldiers fleeing out of the narrow alley.
“The fuck, are you going to die there?”
Yeonjun roared. Contempt was clearly etched into Soobin's eyes. The horrific and brutal noise of Gwangju made the two flinch several times and squeeze their eyes shut. Soobin looked up at Yeonjun as if to question him.
“If I cared about my life, I wouldn’t have stayed in Gwangju.”
“So? Since you don’t mind, you’ll just get shot and die, right?”
“Why on earth are you doing this to me?! Why do you do everything…!”
“What the hell is going to make a difference if I do this?!”
What the hell changes? Will fewer people die? Or will the country give us anything for doing a good job? What difference does protesting make? More casualties, more bloodshed, more violence… That's what we're creating right now! Do you think we can defeat those airborne troops? If we wave the Taegeukgi a few times, scream for the world to go away, and die so much that we can't even open our eyes, what difference will it make? Knowing that nothing will change and continuing to do so is more selfish and foolish! Do you know that?
Yeonjun shouted at a rapid-fire rate. Soobin could feel his train of thought grinding to a halt. The rationality that had maintained his composure and generosity was suddenly cut off. Soobin grabbed Yeonjun by the collar.
“You ignored what I said.”
"Will it change? No, it won't. Even if so many people die like that, nothing will change. Because of people like you."
Yeonjun's face paled. But Soobin had no intention of letting him go.
“Because of cowardly people like you who hide, the people of Gwangju will have to shed blood and die unjustly again today.”
“……”
"That's hypocrisy, you know? Don't try to rationalize it by hiding out of fear."
“……”
“I know what will happen if I die here, I know!”
With each word, his emotions grew more intense. Soobin struggled to gather his wits. He shook his head nervously.
“But if you just hide like that, you won’t be able to do anything… You know that too.”
Their voices trembled. Finally, their heads bowed. In Gwangju, where the stench of blood filled the air, they had no choice but to crouch down. The screams of the people and the brutal sound of gunfire faded into the distance.