Five months later
Our home was turned upside down. Last-minute packing, arguing about what things I should take or leave, urging me to pack some ingredients in case I felt like eating the usual stuff. They were calmer than I thought they would be. Dad called all his relatives to share this news. He was very proud. Even now he's very chill. As for mom, she's so tensed and concerned about my health. I wouldn't blame her for worrying too much; I'm a picky eater and it takes a lot of time for me to get adjusted to a different habitat. The sudden change in climate would make me sick. But it's Korea we are talking about here, so the one thing it would affect me with will be love.
About my idiotic and lovely friends, Shreya got into an art school in France. She'll be going next month. Ritu has applied for a PG diploma in fashion design and boutique management in Milan, she's waiting for her call letter. We, the three of us got what we wanted, I'm grateful and happy about that. I'm so jealous because it's seven-hour travel from France to Milan, they can meet during holidays and I would be alone in Korea. I'm going to miss these idiots like crazy. Parting ways is vital in everyone's life, we can never avoid this, no matter how hard we try.
My flight is in five hours, we head over to the airport. My friends were already there, waiting for us. They didn't smile, shit they were crying, which automatically bought tears to my eyes. We hugged each other and cried for some time, scoring some pity glances from people.
"Can't you just take us with you in your trolley? I promise I wouldn't make a single sound", Ritu asks in between crying.
"I wish I could, but by the time we reach Incheon you'll be dead", I say as a matter of fact.
"Now, I really regret applying to France, I should've applied to some university in Korea", Shreya whines.
"Girls, girls, on the bright side you both can meet often and we can talk on video call", I try to cheer them up.
"Ooooh, is that jealousy I smell in the air right now", Ritu teases.
We laughed, cried, again laughed, again cried, and continued this. My parents were busy asking when should I board, they filled out all the necessary things, and bought us ice cream. But I felt like they tried their best to avoid my eyes. I know they are worried and if I say I'm not going they'll just say 'okay, let's go home' with the brightest smiles on their face, especially my dad.
The boarding announcement starts, I grab my things and get ready to leave. Dad is crying, as expected, "should you have to go?".
"Here we go again, stop it, don't jinx. Just bless her to have a happy journey, " Mom tries talking with him.
"Dad, I know it's difficult, it's just three months. I'll be fine, you and mom will be fine. I know we will miss each other like crazy, I might even cry and call you in the middle of the night. But, that's alright, we are going to be okay", I try hard not to cry, if I do, he'll surely not let me go.
"She's right, uncle. Just think of this as her future wedding send-off rehearsal", Ritu says to lighten the mood, making me cringe and everyone else laugh.
"Why should my daughter leave? Let that guy stay over at our place", he says sternly.
"Let's see that at that time, now, she should go before it's late", mom hurries us. I give them both a hug. I bid farewell to them and walk away without looking back because I'm scared if I look back, I might not want to go.
It's true that I'm crazy about going to Korea, not just for my idols, I also love the country. But this is my first time going on a trip alone, without my parents, not to mention I've never been alone anywhere. Not even to that convenience store near my home. I would be lying if I say I'm not scared, I'm shaking in fear. I made sure to learn basic conversations like how to ask for the route, how to ask for the total, and so on. Even without actual learning, I could understand Korean a bit after countless k-dramas, to the extent to watch those dramas without subtitles, that means I'm good right? The language is not going to be a problem, the real problem will be...
Who knows, I can only say what the real problem will be after experiencing it. Meanwhile, all I have to do is empty my mind of unnecessary worries and have just one and only thought. I'm going to South Korea!
It's good that I got a window seat, just imagine how beautiful it would be to see Korea from above. The flight takes off, I hear a scared little boy's scream from the back. It must be his first time, just like me. Once in the air, everyone gets comfortable.
The total duration time is fifteen hours, with two stops via Chennai and New Delhi. So, I'll be breathing Korean air tomorrow morning at ten. Woohooo, just imagining that makes me dizzy with happiness.
While confirming my internship, they called me to inform the prerequisites and details about my accommodation. I'll have to straight away go to university by taking bus. That's what they recommended, it's inexpensive and safe when compared to taking a cab. It'll take around one and a half hours to reach there. The university dorm will be allotted for interns (ahhhhhhhhhhh, SNU dorm! All the exciting dorm scenes from k-dramas start to play in my mind). I squeal like a dolphin, my adjacent seat passengers give me a weird look, I mouth a sorry awkwardly to them and turn towards the window. I would feel embarrassed in situations like this, but now, who cares? I'm going to Korea. I don't care even if there's a zombie apocalypse right now. Oops, no, if there is one then I can't go to Korea. What nonsense am I thinking? Brain, just rest for now. I can understand that you are having a dopamine rush, but don't bathe in it, save it for later.
The seat next to me is empty. Can my life get any better? I guess all the luck from heaven is pouring down. I listen to HAVEN's party mix and try hard not to dance; one embarrassing moment is enough for this time. I doze off without realizing when I wake up the flight has already landed at New Delhi airport. We are requested to board off for immigration clearance. I do the necessary things and walk to activate my limbs; they've become numb after six hours of travel.
Uh-oh, I'm lucky to get an empty seat next to me for half of the travel but I'm not that lucky to get an empty seat next to me for the rest of the travel. There's a guy in that seat, dressed in all black, a black long coat, black boots, a black mask a black cap, too much black. I couldn't see his face; his cap and mask are doing a perfect job of covering his face. I'm a bit alarmed by the amount of black. All those k-dramas showing psychopaths and serial killers, dressed in all-black are to be blamed. Is it possible to change seats? I remember seeing some empty seats when we started from Chennai. I scan through in the hope of finding an empty seat, unfortunately, it's packed. I'm scared to even ask him to move so that I can go inside. I can't stand here anymore blocking others' way.
"Umm, excuse me?", I say in a feeble voice to him. Shit! He has his air pods on (yeah, you guessed it right, it's black too). I try once again but he's not moving.
The flight attendant must have sensed my hesitation, she comes to my rescue. She politely calls him, but at first, he doesn't budge, when she called him the second time he responds. What the fuck? I'm damn sure, I was louder than her. He mumbles a sorry and makes way for me. I'm too stunned to respond with a thank you to the attendant, so I just go to my seat. Does he even know me? What a jerk! I'm not scared of him anymore, because he has perfectly inspired my inner serial killer. I'm so annoyed, that I don't even care to look at him when I feel him taking off his cap.
"Hi, I'm Park Jae Hee", I hear a deep voice from beside me. OH MY, he's Korean, that explains the all-black look. Is he hot? He must be. Everything I felt about this guy before I came to know he is Korean is gone. Let bygones be bygones, Jeeya. I mentally count from three to one before responding.
"Hi, I...", I turn to raise my hand making a hi gesture and stop mid-air. He wasn't talking with me; he is talking on his phone. Am I this foolish? I shouldn't have expected the guy who ignored me, to try and introduce himself to me. Way to go Jeeya. I quickly try to recover from the embarrassment but it's too late. He's looking at me right now. He's wearing a half-rimmed glass, which gives off a hot-nerd vibe. Those eyes, oh my poor heart, it's the deepest brown I've ever seen, they're so brownish to the point it could be mistaken as black. It reminds me of brownie sizzler. Enough!
He hangs up his call and looks at me with accusation. Is it a crime to misunderstand? "Excuse me?", he asks me with a lace of irritation in his voice.
Oh, shit I've to answer but I'm too involved in those eyes. My mouth couldn't interpret anything that my brain thinks, so I turn my head towards the window, put on my air pods, and ignore him. Ha! Let him taste his own medicine. I hear him sigh loudly in frustration. Take that. I've watched too many k-dramas to know how to deal with jerks (but, he's hot. Shut up, brain. My inner conflict will not come in my way of dealing with jerks)
We are asked to turn off the devices for the takeoff. I could feel his stare, at times, I'm not that stupid to not know what that stare means. That is a stare that says, 'I-hate-you-sitting-next-to-me-so-go-somewhere-else'. An amazing first encounter with a Korean guy. Will I really be able to survive this guy until I reach Korea? Not when my brain is imagining a whole k-drama where a Korean boy falls for an Indian girl.
I'm stupid.