Lost In Seoul (Chaebol Series #1)

1. South Korea

#MMCLIS

"Ladies and gentlemen, we've just arrived at Incheon International Airport. The weather is 22.5 degrees celsius and the local time is two fifty-five in the afternoon. Please be advised not to remove your seatbelts until the plane makes a complete stop and the captain has finally switched off the seatbelt sign. We hope you had a pleasant flight with us here at Korean Air, and a pleasure to see you again."

South Korea, huh?

The land where I got exiled, joke!

I switched my cellphone on and started fixing my luggage. A lot of people are also getting their stuffs on the overhead bin.

"Mom, I'm in Seoul already," I texted.

When almost everyone are getting off the plane, kinuha ko na rin ang mga gamit ko at lumabas na.

I'll be staying in Seoul for three months, 'yon ang regalo sa akin ni Mommy pagkatapos ng graduation ko. Gusto ko talaga sa South Korea. I also want to go to Japan, but South Korea really made an impact on me. I love South Korea more than Japan.

Alright! First things first. I need to buy a pocket Wi-Fi that would be very helpful for my three months of stay here. Kapag hindi ako nakabili, baka tumaas ang bill ko. Baka sumunod pa sina Mommy rito.

I searched for the booth kung saan kami lagi nag-re-rent ng Wi-Fi. I preferred the Olleh Wi-Fi more, most of the stores and area here are using Olleh so the signal would be faster.

"Hi, I'm going to avail the Wi-Fi," I said, smiling at the lady on the counter.

"Sure. Can I have your passport and ID please? And for how many days?" the lady on the counter asked with a hint of Korean accent.

"Three months," I replied. I handed her my passport and ID.

She typed something for a few seconds. She also asked for my credit card. Once the payment is settled, she gave me the pocket Wi-Fi and I started using it. Ngayon naman ay kailangan ko nang malaman kung anong bus ang sasakyan ko para makapunta sa Airbnb na tutuluyan ko.

"Excuse me," I asked the man standing beside the bus post. He's wearing an orange uniform; he's probably a staff here assigned to help tourists.

"What bus number do I have to ride for Namdaemun?" I asked.

"Namdaemun eyo? Yogi." He pointed to the post his holding and pointed the bus number I should be riding.

"Kamsahamnida," I said, gesturing how Koreans bow as they say thank you.

"Are you a tourist?" he asked.

I nod. "Wae?"

"You know Korean?" he asked again.

I shook my head. "I only know a little Korean language. I love Korean culture so I'm trying to learn more but I'm a Chinese." I gave him a big smile.

Tumango-tango siya at saka ako iniwan para tumulong din sa ibang tourist. Sanay na sanay na akong mapagkamalang Koreana. Actually, Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans really look alike. My almond round eyes, semi-pointed nose, and small lips, even my face's shape really make me look more Korean than a Filipino.

Pumunta ako sa booth kung saan nakakabili ng bus ticket. Bumalik din agad ako kung saan itinuro sa akin kanina ang bus na dapat sasakyan ko papuntang Namdaemun at naghintay sa pila hanggang sa makasakay ako.

Nang dumating na ang bus, nauna na akong pumasok sa loob. I sat near the driver's seat para madali na lang akong makakababa mamaya. After a few minutes, napuno na rin ang bus. Sumilip ako sa likod at nakita kong mostly ng nakasakay ay mga turista na galing sa America at Europa. Halos bilang lang ang mga kapwa Asian tourist na naririto sa loob ng bus. May possibility rin na sa ibang bus sila nakasakay since magkaiba ang ruta ng Namdaemun at Myeongdong.