As I stepped off the plane at Jeju airport, memories of my past visits flooded my mind. The familiar scent of the island's air, the warm sun shining down on my face, and the sound of the ocean waves crashing against the shore all welcomed me back as if I never left.
The last time I came to Jeju, Halmoni was there to pick me up. I remembered the way she greeted me with open arms, her eyes filled with love and joy. I was only five years old then, and my Hal-abeoji accompanied me on the trip.
Looking around me, I couldn't help but feel that Jeju was just as beautiful as it was all those years ago. The island had a way of embracing me with its warm energy, and I felt at peace there.
Although many years had passed, I couldn't help but feel that Jeju had remained the same while the people had changed. Even so, the memories I held close to my heart remained unchanged. I longed to relive those precious moments of my childhood, but time had taken its course, and I knew I could only cherish those memories.
As I walked through the streets of Jeju, I couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia. The seasons had come and gone, but my memories remained vivid and strong. I knew that no matter how much time had passed, Jeju would always hold a special place in my heart.
As I got into the taxi and directed the driver to take me to my old home, I didn't begin to feel a sense of anticipation. It had been years since I had set foot inside those walls, and I knew things were changing. As soon as we got to the house, I took a deep breath and got out of the taxi, ready to face whatever came my way.
While turning on the lights, I met an unexpected sight. Everything was covered with a layer of white cloth as if the whole house was frozen in time. I put the bag down, "It's time to clean up." I said to myself.
As I began to work the magic, I turned on my phone to set the mood. A song started playing from my playlist – "Monster" by EXO. Beating beats and rich lyrics filled the room to the point where I couldn't stand still. Before I knew it, I was swaying to the music, my body perfectly in tune with the rhythm.
During my cleaning, I grabbed a broom and used it as a makeshift dance partner. I hummed along to the lyrics, and we sang along enthusiastically. For a moment, it felt like time stood still and I was transported back to a carefree time in my life.
As I continue to dance and cleanse, I can't help but feel happy and liberated. All the worries and stresses of everyday life are washed away by the music, leaving me with nothing but the present moment. And for that brief moment, everything felt right in the world.
After cleaning the old house, I heaved a big sigh and wiped the sweat from my forehead. "Shit, that's a tough one," I muttered to myself.
Taking the garbage bag, I went out and put on the earphones. The soothing sounds of K-pop filled my ears, and I began to shake my head from side to side. "Ah, this is what I wanted," I thought to myself.
There was something magical about K-pop music that always managed to lift my spirits. It's been a constant in my life since high school, and it never fails to help me escape reality and live in my own world.
My stomach growled and protested as I drove home. "Oh, there's nothing to eat," I whined. But then an idea popped into my head and I jumped up in excitement. "Hey, time to go again!" I didn't yell at anyone in particular.
I walked down the street, my earbuds still blasting K-pop tunes in my ears. The world around me seemed to fade away, and I was lost in my own thoughts. But as I approached the shop, reality came crashing back in, forcing me to snap out of my reverie.
Walking in, I surveyed the selection of food available. "Hmm, what should I get?" I thought out loud.
"Give me 2 bottles of Kimchi Fried Rice, Spicy Tteokbokki, and Soju" I
"Ah, this is Ayoung's child..come in child here..sit down."
It's jook halmeoni..halmoni's best friend.I greeted her and sat down
.
"I haven't seen Kimiko in a while," she asked. then I felt sad.
"jook halmeoni, my halmeoni is gone."
"What's wrong Kimiko . don't get sad. We always you Ayoung" she cried and wiped her tears from the clothes she was wearing.
"Child, why did you come here..." she asked.
"Halmoni I came with a for change."
"Ayoung, do you want to do a job?" jook halmeoni asked.
"Mr. Kwon's coffee shop is closed.. because of his age, he can't do it.. you ask him,"
"Thank you halmeoni, I will come tomorrow," I said smiling.. I greeted her and came..
I thought of watching a drama while eating at home. I took a look at Min's spring story. I ate and drank and watched until morning. There is strange fun in watching drama. I looked at the time and said, "Mmm, this is a fan. I'll see you tomorrow." It was almost 4 am.
I sat on my couch, my dinner on the coffee table in front of me. I picked up the remote control and turned on the TV. "Let's see what play we want to see tonight," I said to myself.
I scrolled through the options and settled on "The Spring Story." As soon as the show started, I dug into the meal and had a cold drink. Before I knew it, I was completely engrossed in the story.
Lost in the world of drama, I spent hours watching episode after episode. "This is so addicting. I remember you watching this," I muttered to myself.
As the night wore on, I looked at the clock and realized that it was nearly 4 am. "Ah, time flies when you're having fun," I smiled.
But even though it was late, I couldn't stop looking. "Just one more episode," I told myself, picking up the remote once again.
I stretched out my arms and legs with the sound of sending. "Well, it's definitely time for bed," I stated.
I turned off the TV and went to the bedroom. When I fall into bed, I don't feel satisfied. There was something really special about getting lost in a good play, and I knew I'd be doing it again very soon.
I woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside my window. As I stretched my arms and legs, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. It was a new day, full of endless possibilities.
As I reached for my tablet, I noticed the note that I had written to myself the night before. "Only I can give wings to dreams," I read aloud. "It takes some time to heal from a sore throat. Smile, come find me..I will shower you with love."
Tears welled up in my eyes as I realized the depth of my own words. I had been feeling so lost and alone lately, but somehow, writing those words had given me a sense of hope.
As I wiped away my tears, I checked my phone and saw that I had missed 50 calls from Minsu. My heart sank as I thought about him and how much I missed him.
"I'm fine..you stay happy. Fighting!!!" I quickly sent him a message, trying to put on a brave face.
But the truth was, I wasn't really okay. I felt like a lonely girl sitting under a Sakura tree, lost in my own thoughts and feelings.
Taking a deep breath, I put my tablet aside and closed my eyes. "Only I can give wings to my dreams," I whispered to myself. "And I will."
I sat at my desk, staring at the drawing in front of me. It was a depiction of the Jeju sky, painted in dark blue with swirls of white clouds. In the foreground, the autumn leaves had fallen, creating a colorful carpet on the ground. And in the center of the picture, two figures stood, their arms wrapped around each other in a warm embrace.
I had poured my heart and soul into this drawing, trying to capture the beauty and serenity of the Jeju sky. And now, I was contemplating sharing it with the world on social media.
As I looked at the drawing, I wondered what caption to write. After a few minutes of pondering, I finally settled on one.
"The dark blue Jeju sky enveloped me in love," I wrote. "The whole world had fallen yellow, autumn blue, red leaves. Warm wishes for new life. So I asked you to hug me in the beautiful."
I signed off with a simple "From🌙 A," and hit the share button. As the drawing was posted on Instagram, I felt a sense of satisfaction and pride.
I knew that not everyone would understand the meaning behind the drawing or the caption. But that was okay. For me, it was enough to see that I had created something beautiful and that I had shared it with the world.