I'm finally here, in Korea, the place I've always wanted to visit ever since I decided I would learn languages and travel around the world to teach.
- Mom, how long did you say I'd have to be locked up before I can go out?
- Uhm, I think it was approximately 10 days you'll have to spend in quarantine - said, mom
You couldn't believe what you were seeing. Sitting at the back seat of the uber that's taking you to the place where you will have to spend the next 10 days without being able to see Korea.
After talking for a bit with your mom on the phone, you decide to hang up and admire the wonderful city view of Seoul. You were desperate to get out and explore, but as Covid exists everywhere, there are rules. Once you arrive at the apartment where you'll be quarantined, you enter and leave your luggage next to the entrance, and just as you get in, you throw your mask to the floor and lay on your bed facing upwards while you finally breathe air after long hours of traveling:
- Now what? - you asked yourself looking at the ceiling - I'm in Korea finally, but it just doesn't seem like it, I'll just have to wait until I can go out.
You get up to sit at the border of your bed and open your suitcase to get your laptop. Since you'll be staying there for a while, it's better if you start making plans for when you can go out.
- Oh! Lotte World sounds fun, but if I have no one to go with there then I'll have to miss out
After long hours of looking at the most famous places in Korea where you can either enjoy an iced Americano to a delicious Korean BBQ, you close your laptop and look out the window. You have wonderful views of Seoul. You can't help but constantly think of the amazing things you'll be doing around Seoul: meeting new people, enjoying wonderful meals, learning Korean, etc.
- 10 days past quarantine -
You're finally called and told you're able to get out and go to your apartment after getting a Covid test done. After that, you finally get outside and start breathing the air. You've never been so excited to breathe air in your life. You get your phone and call an uber to take you to the shared apartment where you'll be staying. You haven't met your roommates yet, but you're sure they'll be welcoming. Once you get your luggage out of the trunk you're finally on the way to your door. You enter.
- Closed under revision -
The elevator was closed, so you had to take the stair or you wouldn't be able to get home and unpack. While you're struggling while getting up the stairs, you get a phone call. Your mom.
- Hi, mom! What's up? - you ask while you can barely breathe - Sorry I haven't called earlier, I've been very busy with all this paperwork...
- Oh it's alright sweetie, how have you been doing?
- Well, mom, I've been doing great, actually, but let me call you in 10 mins, I'm trying to get my things to my room
- I'm sorry! I won't distract you anymore, go ahead!
You finally hang up the phone and keep going up the stairs. Suddenly, you hear a door closing very loudly and you wonder who it is. You're desperately hoping it's one of your roommates. But, as you're able to see that person's face, you find out it's a girl, perhaps, a gorgeous girl. In fact, a girl very similar to Lee Ho-jung, your favorite Nevertheless's actress.
- Oh, annyeonghaseyo! - you try to say as best as you can
- 도움 좀 필요해요 ? - says the girl politely
- Um, excuse me, I don't speak Korean... - you shyly try to explain in the nicest way possible
- Oh! It's fine, I study English in college! Let me help you with your luggage.
- Thank you!
You both walk up the stairs, each one holding one end of the suitcase. You wonder if she's one of your roommates.
- What's your room number? - asks the girl
- I think it's 429
- Oh! We're basically next to each other! I'm 430. That's great, now that you know me, you can knock on my door anytime! - adds the girl
- Thank you for your help! I'm Y/N
- No problem, I'm Solar! It was a pleasure to meet you, Y/N. Let's make sure to see each other any other time soon. If you need me I'm next door. You'll probably do, your roommates are the loudest in this whole building, but they're the funniest. Good luck!
- Again, thanks for your help. I'll keep in mind what you said - you let out a small giggle
When Solar is finally walking down the stairs after helping you with your suitcase, you get your keys out of your pockets and try to look for the correct key. You start looking for the right key. After 4 times of trying 4 different types of keys, you finally manage to hear a click sound, meaning the door is unlocked and you're able to walk in straight away. But your hands start sweating from nervousness. The door creaks and you start hearing footsteps getting closer to you. You're getting your shoes off and bringing your luggage in when suddenly, you hear a very warm voice:
- Ooh, annyeonghaseyo! You're y/n, right?
- Hello.. yes! I'm y/n, and you are..? - you ask politely
- Chihiro! - responds happily your new roommate
- Oh, Chihiro! Nice to meet you. By any chance, are you Japanese?
- I sure am! I had lived in Chiba, Japan all my life before coming here. Now, I've been living here for 2 years by myself because of my studies! - kindly introduces herself
- That is awesome! Japan is my favorite country in the whole world, I got to live there for almost 3 years before coming here - you introduce yourself back - I'm here to follow my dream of traveling the world
- すごい！(amazing!) - says Chihiro
- Oh, I actually know Japanese! I just have to study Korean - I basically know nothing.. - you state
- It's fine! I would consider myself fluent in Korean, so I could help you now that we're going to be living together
You couldn't thank her enough. After smiling at each other and Chihiro helping you out with your luggage, she brings you to your room. A white, big, and aired room. It has big windows with white curtains for privacy. Your single bed, with white sheets and comfortable pillows, looked very appealing. The closet, located inside the wall, with rolling doors and a huge amount of space for storage. You were shocked by how amazing and comfortable everything looked. Again, you thank Chihiro and she gets back to what she was doing.
After opening your suitcases and organizing your clothes and other necessities you decide to go shopping so you get to see the streets near you and catch a bit of breath. Chihiro lets you go alone on your own but gives you the number since you'll be needing it for now and the future. It's around 8 pm, a common hour for you to have dinner. While you're on your way you get a lot of stares for the fact you're a foreigner, but that doesn't bother you, it's pretty normal anyway. You realize how beautiful Seoul is: the trees, flowers, nature, lights, and the people themselves.
You arrive at the supermarket and start grabbing things you usually eat in your country or that seem appealing to you since you don't know much about Korean brands or foods in general.
After getting: bread, fruit, eggs, etc. you get your three heavy bags, two on one hand, and the other bag on your other hand. It's around 9 pm, kinda late and dark, but you're fine since you're around people. While seeing everybody so happy knowing their place there in that big city, you start remembering how much you miss your family and other countries you've visited. This time was different, you felt like you'd made the right decision, but you had a feeling you somehow didn't belong there. On the way home, you decide to stop and take a break on an empty street. While you're sitting at the border of the pavement, a tall and firm guy wearing all black sports clothes along with a hat that you can barely see his face and with a smell of strong cologne comes up to you. He suddenly starts asking you in Korean if you need help, but, of course, you don't understand a word he's saying:
- I'm sorry, I don't speak Korean - you nervously explain- English...maybe?
- Ah, yes! Do you need help with your bags, you seem exhausted - says the guy in an Australian accent
- Oh, thank god you understand - you sigh relieving nervousness
Even though you were offered help you were still feeling kind of down. You were debating whether to let the guy help you out or not. No one knows what kind of people you can encounter in the streets. But you were very melancholic and not in the mood for thinking. So you kindly accept his offer.
- Yes, please. If it doesn't bother you though.
- Of course not! Just guide me to your street and I'll let you go alone from there - he adds nicely
That makes a guy very attractive. Even though you weren't able to see his face properly, you knew right away he was a mature man. That's the type of men you usually find attractive: the ones who are mature, manly, warm, nice, who care about others, and know how to be good leaders. Normally, personality is what attracts you the most, so you knew right away you felt the spark between that mysterious boy and you.
- Here we are. I'll have to pay you back, thanks for the help, um..? - you end your phrase confused
- Chan! - he adds right away - My name's Chan
- Oh, Chan. My name's y/n, nice to meet you!
- I live quite close, maybe we'll see each other another time.
- Alright! Thanks again. I owe you!
- No problem! I'll remember that - he says while smiling and walking away
You were mesmerized by his perfect smile and his wonderful personality. You were hoping to find him again someday. But you were too shy to ask for his number... What if he was much older or younger than you? Anyways, if there is another encounter, you're sure you will ask him for his number next time.
So far, this was your favorite coincidence... <3