Keep the comments coming. I love it!
By the time Amina arrived home, she was utterly exhausted. Her entire body ached, and she wearily trudged into the apartment, tossing her bag aside without concern for where it landed.
The issue of where the bag ended up could wait until later, when she wasn't completely drained and struggling to move her limbs.
Glancing at the digital clock resting on the coffee table, she noted that it read 8:37 PM. Despite her work ending at 4:00 PM, she had to stay extra hours to complete the tasks assigned by Veronica; otherwise, she would never hear the end of it.
Already, she had received an earful due to the Hanbok incident. Not only did she return a little past two, but she encountered heavy traffic on her way back. Additionally, arranging the rental of twelve hanboks proved to be no easy task, and transporting them was even more challenging. Nevertheless, she managed.
Luckily, she didn't have to pay for the hanboks out of her own pocket since they were quite expensive, which came as a surprise. Amina admitted to herself that it felt amazing to see them in person after watching them in numerous historical dramas—she always found them adorable.
However, what made the whole situation even better, and why she wasn't bothered by Veronica's scolding, was her preoccupation with a particular olive-skinned, six-foot-tall man she had met at the Hanbok place.
He had been incredibly nice and kind, causing her to develop a crush on him, reminiscent of a teenage girl experiencing her first infatuation. How could she resist when he had been nothing but friendly, offering helpful suggestions for choosing appropriate hanboks and arranging their transportation?
"Gomap-seumnida; thank you," she uttered as they loaded the hanboks, after pondering for a moment. She didn't want to say anything wrong and embarrass herself.
The reason she decided to speak a few Korean phrases, despite her limited knowledge, was because he appeared fluent in the language. He had been the one to communicate with the hanbok transporters since they didn't understand English. In contrast, Amina stood there, unsure of how to interact with them.
Thankfully, he came to her rescue almost instantly, realizing from her failed attempts at English communication that she wasn't proficient. It didn't surprise him, given her obvious non-Korean appearance and behavior.
Imagining the surprise and amusement that masked his features upon hearing her speak Korean, she couldn't help but respond, "Hangugeo haseyo? You speak Korean?" His tone was tinged with unfiltered amusement.
Nervously fidgeting with her fingers behind her back, she shrugged with a slightly sheepish smile. "Hangugeo-leul jogeumhanda; I speak Korean a little bit," she corrected, clearly indicating that she was still learning. "I'm new around here and trying to get the hang of it."
She had no other choice. Without subtitles, she had to rely on learning what she could from the internet and constantly improving her language skills, knowing that she would be there for a while. The sooner she adapted, the easier life would become.
He nodded in understanding, without passing any judgment. If anything, his warm smile only grew slightly wider. "Well, in that case, cheonmaneyo, you're welcome."
Returning his smile, she briefly folded her lips to suppress a wider grin. Unfortunately, she couldn't stand there and chat with him as much as she wanted. Veronica's face intruded into her thoughts, shattering the bubble of budding affection.
To make matters worse, the transportation she had ordered arrived, indicating that there was no reason for her to stay. The hanboks were already on their way to Hallyu, as she had provided the address earlier. They had likely departed by now.
"I..." She cleared her throat, "I'll get going now; otherwise, I'll be late. Annyeonghi gyeseyo; goodbye."
He appeared slightly saddened by her sudden departure, but he didn't comment on it. "Jalgayo; take care. I hope to see you soon."
"Me too." With a small wave, she turned around and walked away, fighting the temptation to look back and see if he was still there, watching her like they do in movies.
Isn't that what usually happens? The main male characters refuse to leave until they see the female characters safely depart.
Although she wasn't in a K-drama, she couldn't help but imagine her encounter with the Dean-lookalike turning into one. He could be the main character, and she would be the female character.
Unfortunately, after she got into her car, she couldn't resist glancing in his direction, only to be slightly disappointed that he had disappeared. Her lips puckered slightly, and her shoulders slumped. She realized she hadn't even exchanged contact information with him, not even his SNS.
Dismissing the thought, she clung to the belief that their paths would cross again. If it happened, perhaps it would be a sign of destiny.
Wasn't it too early for her to be having such thoughts?
But she had always been a sucker for the kind, caring male leads in K-dramas who show affection from the beginning. She found the trope of being rude initially and then falling helplessly and deeply in love to be utterly frustrating.
She despised that cliché the most, making her prefer the type of characters who were good from the start.
So, she allowed herself to indulge in fantasies. Who knows what the future holds?
That was the day before, and due to her inability to finish even half of her assigned work, she had to stay overtime the following day.
Her body desperately needed a warm bath to wash away the stress. She had barely slept the night before, staying up late to complete some of her tasks.
Both mentally and physically drained, she quickly hopped into the bath, remaining there for nearly half an hour until the water began to lose its warmth. Afterward, she dried off and made her way to her room, slipping into a comfortable robe.
Picking up her phone, she casually attempted to order takeout, a routine she had developed since her arrival, before getting dressed.
However, she encountered an issue when the order button didn't work, furrowing her brows in confusion. Wanting to understand the source of the problem, she decided to check her account balance.
As the balance appeared on her phone screen, her eyes widened, her mouth agape like a fish. She stood frozen, as if time had come to a halt. She couldn't bring herself to react.
Finally, it all clicked.
A piercing scream escaped her lips. If not for the realization of the consequences and what would transpire, her phone would have slipped from her hands and fallen to the floor.
She had nothing. Absolutely no money to sustain herself.
Her mind instantly raced through the ways she had chosen to spend the money she promised herself she would save. She didn't even have to think hard; the multitude of designer brand bags and jackets strewn across the room spoke volumes.
That's right.
She had gone shopping the other day after work to purchase essentials, but ended up splurging on items from Louis Vuitton and Chanel stores she had stumbled upon. In her defense, she couldn't resist the limited edition bags and jackets—it was a bad habit of hers, accustomed to easily
obtaining whatever she desired.
Moreover, she had come across a pair of adorable Stuart Weitzman shoes and couldn't resist buying them. They were the last pair in the store, and she felt a personal connection, as if they were calling out to her.
In the morning, she had bought coffee for everyone in her department, totaling around fifteen people. Surprisingly, the cafeteria items at Hallyu were quite expensive, but she hadn't cared. She was simply trying to do a good deed. A good deed that her broke self couldn't afford.
Her knees gave way, and she found herself sitting on the floor, still wearing a horrified expression.
She was broke. Completely out of money.
This had never happened before.
She, with no money? Oh, hell no.
To compound her problems, her stomach growled, reminding her that she needed to nourish herself. She tried to ignore it, but hunger couldn't be ignored. It would persist until satisfied.
That's how she ended up in the kitchen, rummaging through the fridge in search of something to eat. However, all she found were water bottles and soda cans. That's when she knew she was in trouble.
She had already eaten the leftover pizza she ordered late the previous night because she couldn't cook breakfast for herself. The logic was simple: she couldn't cook to save her life.
The one time she attempted it, she nearly burned down the kitchen, leading her father to make her promise she would never go near the stove again unless she enrolled in a culinary school to learn how to cook.
That promise had never materialized as she continuously avoided it. Why bother when there were people at home who would prepare meals for her at the snap of her fingers? There was no need to learn.
Until now. Instantly, she regretted not even learning the most basic cooking skills.
She was doomed.
Her mind raced, searching for solutions to her predicament. However, every person who crossed her mind, she couldn't bring herself to ask for help. She had boasted about being independent and self-reliant, and her pride wouldn't allow her to call even her best friend, Inaya. Seeking assistance from her would only prove their assertions correct—that she was indeed pampered and spoiled by her parents, unable to handle the harshness of the outside world without their safety net.
Though it was true, she couldn't grow up on her own if she didn't learn now.
While contemplating a way out of her situation, she heard sounds in the lobby—the sound of a door closing—and an idea struck her.
Without hesitation, she sprang to her feet and hurried to her closet, searching for a decent outfit to wear outside. Yet, even then, she refused to appear anything less than fashionable. It wouldn't align with the image of a fashion enthusiast she had cultivated.
Since fashion was the one thing she excelled at, she might as well do it right. Her eyes landed on a desired outfit, which she swiftly selected and donned.
Embracing an urban street style, she exuded effortless coolness in a random yet fashion-forward ensemble centered around a cozy hoodie and joggers. The hoodie, made of soft and plush cotton blend fabric, draped casually over her figure, providing a relaxed and comfortable fit. Its oversized silhouette and relaxed hood exuded an air of nonchalant style.
Complementing the hoodie, she opted for matching joggers. These joggers featured a tapered leg and an elasticized waistband, striking the perfect balance between comfort and style. The soft and stretchy fabric allowed for easy movement, making them suitable for both casual outings and leisurely activities.
For footwear, she chose a pair of white leather sneakers with a chunky sole. These sneakers added a sporty touch to the outfit while ensuring comfort for all-day wear.
Selecting a random jersey veil, she wrapped it into a hijab, tucking it underneath the hoodie. Without any makeup, she considered herself ready.
Stepping out of her apartment, she turned and took a few steps to stand in front of the neighboring door. Extending her hand, she pressed the bell button and waited eagerly for the door to open.
She hadn't set foot in front of that door since the incident with the misplaced cardigan. But desperate times called for desperate measures. Besides, she hadn't seen him since the awkward encounter of him driving past her and ignoring her—a fact that still bothered her, although she tried to convince herself otherwise. However, she had been too preoccupied with early morning work and late-night returns to interact with the most annoying person in the world. Not that she cared.
Knowing how much of a jerk he could be, she wouldn't be surprised if he left her hanging. However, she hoped that wouldn't be the case. Call her heartless, but he was her last option. At least she hadn't boasted around him, so she could tolerate any animosity as long as he provided assistance. Fingers crossed.
As the door buzzed, signaling its imminent opening, she plastered a fake, wide smile on her face to hide her true intentions. She could control her words, but she hoped her face wouldn't give her away.
Then, the door swung open completely, revealing him. Upon recognizing her, his brow furrowed in boredom, followed by a slight narrowing of his eyes. It was clear he sensed trouble—she, of all people, wouldn't show up at his apartment that late, especially not while wearing that unsettling smile.
Is he safe?
Her grin widened, resembling that of a clown, accompanied by a wave of her hand. "Howdy, neighbor."
"Nope." He promptly closed the door, unwilling to stand there and get entangled in whatever troublesome situation she was brewing.
Amina's eyes widened, her mouth falling open as the door was slammed in her face for the third time by the same person.
Seriously?
"Oh, come on!" She couldn't summon any frustration; her stomach was still rumbling. Clenching her hand into a fist, she pounded on the door. "You owe me one! Help a soul out here now." When he didn't respond for the next few seconds, she genuinely believed he had abandoned her outside like that.
Then, the door swung open again, and she was met with his perpetually narrowed eyes. "What do you want?"
Her lips curled into that unsettling smile once more, one that didn't sit well with him. God help him from whatever he was about to be dragged into.
***
Broke Amina plus Aahil in the same equation equals disaster😂 Sis is out of money, what will happen now?
I love how their relationship is unfolding. Slowly, and surely, we'll get somewhere, right? That'd wishful thinking on my part, they are still not on good terms where I'm writing 🤭
Sighsssss. I feel as though this book might surpass 50 chapters. Keyword, MIGHT!! I don't want to rush their relationship and all and I've got plans in not sure will work but well, we'll see.
Perhaps I should kill one of them? You know, make it sad and all 🤔
before we get to that point sha, i loveeeee the comments. yall should keep it coming abeg, thank you very much.
Have a good night.
Love, Jannah Mia ❤️