Serendipity

Chapter 1: Bad at Directions

"Finally! I'm having my 1 month vacation!" I said to myself while boarding a plane to South Korea.

I'm not going alone, my two close friends will accompany me on this trip. As much as I would love to go alone, sadly I can't because I'm bad at directions. I might get lost there or worse, board the wrong plane! Who knows what my idiotic mind would scheme.

When we landed at Incheon International Airport, my friends and I were ecstatic. We were jumping around like a couple of 5 year olds tasting our very first chocolate.

After putting all our stuff in the airbnb at Seoul, it was already night time. My friends decided to go drinking as a celebration of our first night here. My friends, Judy and Ruth know Korean fluently. Thank God! I only know a few simple phrases from watching kdramas.

When we got to the bar, it was packed. The bar is well lit, loud and has unusually lots of male customers. Fortunately, there is a table waiting for us by the grace of gods!

It is our 4th glass each when suddenly Judy starts to feel queasy. Judy signals us that she'll get some fresh air and quickly ran out of the bar. This definitely was not the first time it happened. Judy has a weak stomach but she insisted on having more. We tried to stop her but oh boy, she is persuasive and aggressive when she's drunk. And, I forgot to tell you she is 5"8, the tallest in our group and does boxing! So calmly, I told Ruth to accompany her to a nearby and hospital.

"Are you sure you're okay to be here alone? You are aware that you barely know Korean and you are bad at directions." Ruth said, concerned but at the same time sarcastic.

Ruth looks mean and sounds mean but we love her. She is the mom of the group. She graduated with honors in business school. All three of us just graduated college a month ago and decided to have this vacation as a reward. Judy graduated in accountancy but the rebel that she is, opted not to continue going that road and planned to be a fitness instructor. Her parents were dismayed at first but ultimately accepted her decision. I, on the other hand, will still be studying. Yep, I am going to grow old and alone. Somehow, I convinced myself that becoming a doctor is my life's purpose. No really, I have always chosen the "doctor field" even when I was little. Don't get me wrong, I am no Albert Einstein but I am trying.

"No and yes. Once you admit Judy to the hospital, come back for me. It might be a simple stomach ache but to be sure, let's get her checked up. Can I stay? I still want to drink beer and order some fried chicken. Please." I said to Ruth in the most humble and cutest way possible so that she will be persuaded.

"Alright alright but make sure not to get yourself drunk okay? I know you can handle your alcohol but be careful. It might take an hour for me to come back, so behave yourself!" Ruth said, sternly.

"Yes MOM!" I said, with an emphasis on the mom part.

Ruth hurriedly went out of the bar to accompany Judy at the hospital.

So here I am sitting alone in a bar, drinking my beer and mustering up the courage to order. Somehow the waiter understood me with the help of google translate. While waiting for my chicken to arrive, I didn't notice that I had already finished 7 glasses of beer, my limit. I am feeling drowsy and my eyelids are starting to be heavy. So I put my left arm on the table and placed my head on that arm.

I slept, shoot!

I was deep in my sleep when I smelled fried chicken. I also heard crackling sounds across me. It was like someone was eating my fried chicken.

As much as I want to sleep in, I slowly open my eyelids because my stomach was growling and I knew it was because of the beer. As I opened my eyes, I saw a blurred vision of a man. "Is he staring at me?" I said to myself. Confused, I rubbed my eyes so I could see clearly. My heart starts to beat fast, a hundred thoughts circling inside my head. "What if I got kidnapped?"

After rubbing my eyes a few times, I can see now! Thank god!

I am still at the bar, thank god!

I still have my clothes on and my bag is still here, thank god!

I checked my watch and I only took a 15-minute nap, thank god again for my alcohol tolerance. I am so relieved!

I was so focused on myself, I didn't even bother checking the blurred man across me. When I look up, a man is eating my chicken and drinking my supposed eighth beer.

"Why are you eating my chicken?" I said angrily.

"I pretended to be your friend and sat at your table." He said coolly .

"Friend?" I said. I am still loopy from my nap.

"Do you know that this is a bar? Lots of guys? And you are alone and asleep? Get the picture?" He said then laughed cheekily. When he laughed, his face turned like a puppy. Cute!

"Oh! Okay, thank you! I said the proceeds to laugh in a light manner. "So... may I know my friend' name?" I said playfully. "Wow! there are still cute and decent guys in this world." I said to myself.

"My name is Ju-" He stopped because he heard my phone ring.

"I'm sorry, I need to take this, can you wait for me?" I said quickly.

"I might finish your chicken and beer." He said, then smiled at me again cheekily.

I laugh then said, "That will be my thank you gift for your friendship."

I hurriedly went out of the bar to get some silence.

"Hello Ruth?" I said.

"Elle, bad news." Ruth replied sadly.

"What happened? Is Judy okay?"

"Judy got gastroenteritis. Judy was already feeling ill the day before the flight but she pretended that she was fine so that our vacation will not be cancelled."

"So what do we do now?" I said panicking.

"She needs to stay in the hospital for 5 days. Are you going to be okay? Do you want me to come pick you up, Judy's fine with it."

I felt my whole world crashing down on me. What a way to celebrate our first day of vacation. I can be overdramatic sometimes.

I feel my insides twisting just thinking of being alone with my capability of getting lost effortlessly in this foreign country.

The guy I just met went out of the bar and looked at me concerned. "Are you okay? You've been gone for quite some time and judging from your expression, it's not going so well."

"I... ummmm.... can you wait for a little bit more?" I whispered embarrassedly.

He gestures an okay sign then smiles. He didn't leave. He stayed beside me but not very close.

"Ruth, can you text me the hospital address? Stay with Judy, I'll come to you." I said nervously.

How can I go to the hospital?! I don't even know, but Judy shouldn't be alone at a time like this. I have google maps and google translate on my phone so I'll probably manage. I think.

"Are you sure? You know your-" I interrupted Ruth. She can be naggy at times.

"Bad at directions?" I said humourly then Ruth laughs on the other line.

"I am just worried Elle,I can't have you lost."

"Don't worry, you know you have your phone application to locate me." I said smartly.

"Oh yeah! I forgot about that. Okay, see you soon and be careful!" Ruth said and the call ended.