Safeway Pyongyang // Reader x Countryhumans

Running Out

    In another two days, Y/N was given clearance to leave the infirmary and start sleeping in her own bed again. Per SH's order, she had to take it easy, and always have one of the provinces to support her, not just her guards.

     Currently Chagang was supporting her with his arm as they walked to the dining hall for breakfast.

      "No pork?" Hae was sighing.

     "We're the ones with the most farms," Ryanggang sighed back. "You know that the pork yield ain't good this year."

     "So you're allowed to complain, but ah'm not?" Hae complained. "Ah know that- ah've been dealin' with the numbers to make sure everyone gets enough to eat, just like you. Let me have my moment."

     Her tone changed. "Ah'm worried, too. We don't have enough-" She was cut off by North Hamgyong slapping a hand over her mouth. He had noticed Y/N and Chagang coming in.

       "Um, hi," Y/N said sheepishly.

     "Oh come on, North Hamgyong." South Pyongan rolled her eyes. "She took a bullet for Korea- she's not a spy."

      "It could have been a set-up," he said stubbornly. "And even if she's not, we don't talk about this stuff near our people. What makes her any different?"

     "She took a bullet for Korea, for one," Hwang politely reiterated, not looking up from his book. "Your Korean is coming along great, by the way."

      "Thank you." Y/N nodded, taking a seat as far away from North Hamgyong (who was still glaring at her) as possible. The days of doing nothing but reading in the infirmary had helped, as well as not being able to run away from Hwang's lectures on nomenclature.

     She had learned that, while South and North shared the same language, the Northerners refused to use 'loan words'- words taken from the Americans, like 'ice cream' and 'soda.' Instead, they used the Korean words for 'ice' and 'cream' separately, and called pop 'sweet water.'

       She had also started translating a play called 'Sea of Blood,' which was about a girl joining the Communist Revolution to overthrow Imperial Japan. After she was done that, she had another play, called 'The Flower Girl,' also set during the Revolution. Apparently, both were also written by Kim Il-sung. At this point in her life, she had read more works by the former Supreme Leaders than by Shakespeare.

       'The true North Korean experience,' she mused. Ironically enough, she could understand Choson'gul better by now than whatever language Shakespeare wrote in.

      Once everyone was gathered at the table, North showed up. He was dressed formally, as always, in a high-necked black button-up, but his clothes seemed especially ironed today, and his shoes were practically blinding. Not to mention that he was wearing his boots inside.

      "I'm going out," he announced. "To a conference."

      "Korea-" Hae leaped up excitedly.

      "No," he interrupted the province. "This is serious business." He sounded especially grim today. "Y/N."

       The girl jumped. "Y-Yes?"

      "Do you want to come?"

     "What?" North Hamgyong exclaimed, shooting to his feet. "Korea, you can't seriously-"

     "Shut it," North growled. "I wouldn't be offering if it weren't serious." He looked at her. "It's about the man who shot you."

      "W-What kind of conference is it?"