The rumbling of the train jostles Suok up and down where she sits as the train pulls into Pyongyang station. “We’re not stopping at Pyongyang,” Jungok explains over the rattling of the tracks below. “We’ll be going all the way up to Manjuguk.” “Oh, huh. Uh- me too,” Injae stutters, gaze flitting between the other three. “Really?” Jungok’s eyebrows are raised, with an unconvinced tone Suok knows well. “It was lucky we met, then.” “Sure. Luck.” Haeok’s tone is flat, small lips pressed into a thin line. Jungok shoots him a glare, pushing back the stray hairs from her forehead. “Yes, luck.” She sighs. “We should find somewhere to eat before the next train, though.” When the train screeches to a halt, the four trail the meager group of passengers out of the train. Suok flinches as the cold air hits her, shivering beneath her thin work clothes as she follows Haeok into Pyongyang station. The northern cold really was no joke. Sighing at the relative warmth of the station, she wraps Jungok’s arm around herself as her sister follows Haeok to a group of black metal benches close to the exit, Injae trailing at the rear. Suok moves to sit down, frowning when Jungok resists her pull. “Unnie,” Suok whines, looking up with a pout as her sister tries to shake off the grip on her arm. “I have to go outside to cook, Suok-ah,” She says, peeling the younger off. Suok can hear the smile in her voice. “Fine,” She relents, plopping down next to Haeok on the bench. He’s already unstrapped the ba jige, and it leans against the bench on his other side. “I think that’s a drinking fountain in the corner, though-” Jungok points to the far wall, where a white marble bowl stands. “You should go drink, all of you.” Suok doesn’t need any more encouragement to leave their small group, walking through the waiting lounge past several more rows of benches to reach the fountain. She’s been thirsty since they had arrived in Kyongsong, and now one station later she hastily bends to drink the water, uncaring when some trickles down her chin. She hears footsteps behind her, and after splashing some water onto her face she turns to find Injae standing there, gaze skirting across the tiled floor. “Sorry,” Suok says, sleeve wiping her chin dry. “I’m done, you can have some.” She steps away from the fountain. Shaking his head quickly, Injae’s eyes meet the floor again as he steps towards the fountain. “No, it’s okay,” he mumbles. Standing to the side of the fountain, Suok looks around the high-ceilinged room as the trickles of the fountain resumes. Busier than Daegu, though not as hectic as Kyongsong, passengers sit on the clusters of black benches. They’re probably laborers, she thinks, taking in the worn clothing of the man closest to them from where he sits alone on a bench. Further down the hall, where the seating is padded, she spots some men in more expensive attire. The sound of water stops as Injae stands up, stopping in place when he notices Suok’s gaze. “You should wash your face too,” She says, eyeing the dust smudged against his cheeks. Nodding, Injae obliges, pushing the faucet on again to cup some water, and run it across his face. Still bending over, he shakes his head to dry it before standing up again. “Better?” He mumbles, cheeks flushing as Suok scans his face critically. The dirt now gone, she nods in approval. “Better. Come on, let’s go back.” Returning to the benches, Suok sits next to her brother while Injae seats himself at the bench which faces them. As soon as they’ve sat, Haeok’s narrow eyes meet Suok’s. “Watch the stuff. M’gonna get a drink,” he states, standing up to walk towards the fountain. Suok nods in affirmation, waiting until her brother is out of earshot before she turns to address the younger. “Hey,” She starts watching as Injae’s head snaps to face hers, gaze still averted. “You weren’t planning on traveling, were you?” Her factual tone makes the question more of a statement, but Injae shakes his head regardless. “Why’d you come, then?” That’s the real question, to Suok- Nobody would have gone so far on a whim. Injae’s voice is slow when he responds. “I didn’t plan on coming, but I…” When he pauses, Suok can see him swallow. “I needed to leave Kyongsong.” Suok nods, accepting the answer. “Okay.” The boy was running from something, that much was clear to her. “You can stay with us, if you want- Haeok wants to get us a farm in Manjuguk.” She watches his eyes widen, his mouth open for a moment before he responds. “Really?” His voice is hushed, awed. “I could go with you?” She nods, assured. “Yeah, if you want to.” She hurries to continue before he can respond. “You can think about it if you want, but you should decide before we get too far north.” Quickly, Injae shakes his head. “No, that’s okay, I-” he stops, the hand fiddling with his fingers stills. “I-If you’d be okay with that, if all of you would, I… I would really want to.” He ends with a nod, resolute. Suok smiles. “Okay, I’ll talk to them.” Of the samulyangsim, the four immeasurable minds, the four ways to lift the suffering of others, the first is jamulyang- to work for the benefit of others out of one’s compassion. If the Buddha nature is one’s natural state, Suok thinks, then she’s determined to take any opportunity to reveal it. The two sit together for a few minutes before Suok’s eyes catch the movement of the door through which they arrived. It’s Jungok, clutching a pot as she walks towards the benches, steam emanating from it apparent against a gust of cold air which slips through the open door. Jungok shivers as she walks, before sitting next to Suok and setting the pot on the ground. “Aish, it’s so cold outside,” She mutters. Wrapping her arms around the older, Suok squeezes her sister into a hug. “I’ll warm you up Unnie,” She says, playfully resting her head on her sister’s neck. “You just want a pillow,” Jungok scoffs, “I know your intentions.” As Jungok leans forwards to reach for a bag, Suok laughs as she slides even more onto her sister’s back. “Get off, brat,” Jungok scolds, pinching the younger’s arm. “I’m trying to get the bowls out. So unhelpful, kkoma.” Reluctantly, Suok slides off her sister’s back, unclasping her arms. She sits back, watching as Jungok sets out four bowls, taking the lid off the pot to scoop some millet into each of them. She adds jeotgal fermented fish and kimchi, and is reaching into the bag again for chopsticks when Haeok walks back to the benches. Haeok sits next to Injae, accepting a bowl when Jungok hands it to him first, tucking in and nodding his approval. When Jungok reaches to hand one to Injae, he ducks his head, avoiding the warm steam wafting up from the bowl. “You didn’t need to make me any,” He protests, shaking his head. Jungok scoffs. “What, and have you sit there watching us eat?” Injae shrugs. “I know you’re hungry, just have some,” She insists, exasperated. “No, it’s okay,” He resists, shaking his head. “I’m not hungry, I don’t need any.” Jungok’s voice is firm when she continues. "Just eat it, I already made you some. It would be a waste to not have any now.” Injae opens his mouth for a moment, before pursing it in a slight grimace. He nods to Jungok, letting out a mumbled “Thank you” when he accepts the bowl. The corner of Jungok’s mouth is quirked satisfaction when she nods, beginning to eat from her own. The meal is finished quickly, the bowls practically clean when they’re tucked away into Jungok’s wicker bag. Suok stands, swinging her bags over her shoulders. Once all the bags have been collected, she spots a small line at the end of the departure lounge- likely the ticket booth. It is, she confirms as they approach the small queue, leather seating partitioned across from them with red velvet rope. She spots a timetable propped against the ticket booth- beckoning, she leads their small group to stand before it. “The Kyongui line- That’s the one we’ve been on- it’s next stop is in Sinuiju,” Suok reads, “But it wont be here for a few hours or so.” She scrunches her nose in annoyance. Behind her, Jungok sighs. Squinting, Suok looks again the timetable. “The line to Manpo is here, though- we can take that one instead?” She suggests, looking up to her siblings. Haeok shrugs, face impassive. “Sure,” Jungok nods. “I don’t really want to wait longer than we have to.” “Let’s get tickets for Manpo,” Haeok decides. From where he stands to the side, Injae clears his throat, gaze fixed on the floor. “Uh, I-I’ll meet you there, okay?” He says, not waiting for a response before he’s leaving the timetable and heading for the platform. Jungok’s brow is furrowed when she looks to Suok. “He’ll meet us there? What does that even mean,” Jungok complains, letting out a breath of air. I guess that means he’s coming with us to Manpo?” She looks to Haeok, quizzical. They walk to join the line for tickets, standing at the end behind a group of laborers. “I asked Injae if he wanted to come with us to Manjuguk," Suok reveals. When silence follows her statement, her head cocks to the side as she looks between her siblings. “Kkoma, that’s more money," Jungok says, sounding tired. "More money we don’t have.” “He would be helpful, I can tell. With the way he knows how to get into places?" Seeing the objection on her sister's face, she hurries to continue. "And we need more people if we want a farm anyways, three people aren’t enough to work one.” “Two. You’re going to finish school.” Suok glares at her sister. “Either way, we need more.” She takes a breath before continuing. “Also, I don’t think he has any family, cause I asked him why he came with us in the first place, and all he said was he needed to leave Kyongsong.” “He’s not our family though, Suok-ah. He’s not our responsibility.” But her voice is uncertain. They take a few steps forward in the line. “Unnie, he won’t be a problem.” And it's true- Suok doesn't think anyone could argue that the skittish kid would cause trouble. Suok watches her brother's expression, gaze distant and thin lips pursed as they reach the front of the line. Maybe it wasn't fair to add that last bit about family, but Suok knows her brother has a soft heart when it comes to stray children- and from the expression on Jungok's face, she knows it too. Finally, Haeok sighs. “Suok-ah, get four tickets.” She beams up at him. “Thank you so much Oppa! You won’t regret it!” This time, Suok is sure to ask for directions when she purchases the tickets, and when the man behind the counter points towards the correct terminal, she thanks him and leads her siblings in that direction. Now, walking onto the platform, she looks around- but between the light emanating from the station behind them and the platform’s empty stretch of concrete, she doesn’t see any sign of Injae. She turns her head to look to her siblings, wide-set eyes squinted, when movement from one of the train’s windows catches her gaze- a hand, rapid waving, a face pressed against the glass. A laugh escapes Suok when she turns to her siblings. “He’s already inside,” She says through her smile. Jungok snorts. “Could’ve saved the money for a ticket,” she laments, though her tone is playful. “Should’ve remembered.” Haeok is silent, though a small smile plays on his lips even as they enter the train, handing three of their tickets to the attendant by the door. He nods to Injae, taking a seat next to the boy when they arrive to where he sits. Suok slides into the window seat across from them, Jungok sitting beside her. They’ve been seated for a few minutes as the only passengers in the compartment when an attendant walks through the center aisle to let them know the train will depart soon. A few moments after, the doors are still open for boarding when a figure stumbles through. With bare feet and worn clothes tracking water onto the compartment floor, they slip and nearly fall through the doorway in their haste to enter. A girl, Suok thinks, catching a glimpse of the face underneath the mess of hair as the figure moves to an empty seat two rows from the door, pulling her knees up to her chest and folding over them. It’s then that the door is closed, as a figure outside walks alongside the train. A girl maybe her sister’s age, looking like that and traveling alone to Manchukuo? Jamulyang, Souk reminds herself. Compassion for all. Her brow is furrowed as she looks over her siblings. Jungok is blinking tiredly beside her, Haeok staring vacantly out the glass. Beneath them, the rumbling of the train has already begun. Only Injae meets Suok’s gaze, albeit fleetingly, nodding uncertainly in acknowledgment when she gestures towards the last arrival. “Oppa,” Suok mouths, hoping to catch Haeok’s attention. It doesn’t, but his gaze snaps away from the window after Injae taps him, looking at the youngest in question. “Look,” she hisses, breath raised to a soft whisper as he finally finds her imploring stare. She tilts her head slightly in the direction of the girl. Haeok’s eyes narrow as his gaze finds her, thin lips pressed into a line as he takes in the huddled form. The train screeches as it lurches forward, steam stacks announcing its departure. Suok watches how his hand moves to the edge of the seat, to push himself into a standing position- Just as the two female train staff make their way back up the aisle, returning to the front of the train. She watches how the attendant closest to them leans in to whisper to the other, eyes flitting over the newest arrival before they step forward. “Excuse me, Miss?” The shorter of the two calls, standing directly between their aisles. Noticing the commotion, Jungok’s head snaps to Suok, eyes wide as she meets her gaze. The younger shrugs. “If you don’t have a ticket, you need to leave.” The girl remains seated, motionless. “Hey!” the staff nudges her shoulder. “Don’t make us call the guards.” “Wait,” a voice interrupts, Japanese broken- Haeok, now fully risen from his seat. “Family.” He gestures to the five of them, making a circular motion with his hand to encompass their group as well as the girl. “Sorry,” Suok interjects, rising from her seat to stand beside Haeok. “What my brother means to say, is that she’s our sister. She has some…” She gestures meaningfully towards her head. “…issues, but we’re really thankful that you’ve found her.” She bends at the waist, thanking the staff. Jungok’s sigh is exasperated, if quiet from where she remains seated. The woman’s expression is one of disbelief when Suok rises, beaming up at her. “Okay. You have her ticket, then?” She asks, eyebrows raised. Nodding assuredly, Suok turns to the bag on her seat, and reaches inside to retrieve Injae’s unused ticket. Extending her right arm, she presents it to the woman with a smile. Pinching the bridge of her nose, the staffer holds the ticket up to read it- with a grimace, she rips the stub off and hands it back to Suok. Injae’s eyes are wide, lips slightly parted when Suok returns to her seat. “Sorry for the trouble ma’am,” Suok says. The woman nods tersely, before following her coworker to continue down the aisle. With the staff gone, the girl’s hunched posture unfurls into something poised, imposing. Her gaze is steel as she looks up, greeting them with a glare. Now facing them, Suok can see her face. The girl’s nose is slender, skin pale beneath the layers of dirt coating her slim face. Her eyes are large, single lidded and angular, fox-like. By any metric she’s beautiful, though smelling of sweat. “Don’t expect me to be fucking grateful,” She spits, lips curled. “I don’t owe you shit.” Her face is hard, as if daring them to object. Next to Suok, Jungok sister looks to the side, shocked embarrassment flushing her features. “Do what you want.” It’s Haeok who speaks, tone indifferent in the face of her unwavering glare. “But it would be smart to sit with us, unless you want to be kicked off the train.” Her scowl deepens, if possible. After a moment, she stands, walking across the aisle to sit beside Jungok. Suok feels her sister press closer to her, feeling increasingly squished against the cold metal wall. Shifting, she looks out the window- Now out of the city, the only thing visible is her shaky reflection on the windowpane against the pitch black of night in the countryside.