Breathing the cold, clean air around you, you pulled your bag behind you and let your eyes wander to the sight in front of you. It had been three years since you last stepped into this place... this country. You were awed at how beautiful it was now. Not that it wasn't before. But now, it's breathtaking.
Happy memories began to fill your mind as you let Korea mesmerize you once again. The times when you wandered happily here, taking pictures, excitedly buying the foods and tasting them. How you toured like a kid around, wishing you had a friend with you so you could share the happiness.
You smiled a little at those fond memories. You were still smiling when your eyes saw an ad placed on a billboard. A group of seven handsome guys, looking straight at you while promoting their clothes.
A small but bitter laugh escaped your lips as you stared at him, your memories together assailing you.
That encounter might be really brief, but it sure as hell left a big impact on you. So much so that even after all these years, you're still finding it hard to move on. Yes, you're not in love with him, but somehow, you couldn't help but feel the pain of his rejection.
Sighing heavily, you finally spotted the company car that will bring you to your apartment. Riding it with a heavy heart, you decided you had enough sightseeing for the day and just closed your eyes the whole time you were in the car.
As soon as you reached your house, you immediately went in to fix it to your liking. The house was spacious enough for you, but it's nothing classy. Plain white walls covered it, with some furniture like sofa, coffee table, kitchen chairs and table, a bed in your room and a bedside table. You also found a TV set, a refrigerator, heater, a fax machine and a phone.
Heading straight to your bedroom to put your clothes in the cabinet, you couldn't help but feel lonely. Your thoughts were already filled with Yejoon, thinking of how the kid will react to this house. He would surely love the huge TV in the living room. And that Queen sized bed; he would surely love to jump up and down on it.
You reached for your phone and called your mom. You missed them already, and it had only been a few hours. How would you survive three months here?
Your mom picked up after the third ring and her voice was a welcome distraction for you.
"Y/N! Are you in Korea now?" She sounded so worried that it made you smile a little.
"Yes, mom. I'm already in my apartment. How is Yejoon? Is he looking for me?" you asked, already craving the sound of your baby's voice.
"A little, Y/N. But nothing I can't handle. Do you want to talk to him?"You heard your mom calling Yejoon without waiting for your answer and you eagerly waited for him. When you heard the sound of the phone being transferred, you knew Yejoon finally got to your mom.
"Mommy!" Little Yejoon's voice was so happy and filled with longing that it brought tears to your eyes. God, you're homesick already.
"Yejoon. How are you?" you asked him and you loved how cute he sounded when he thought of his response.
"Mmmm..." he said, and you could just imagine how he'll put his index finger under his chin, tapping it a little to give you an impression that he's in deep thought. You knew he only did this because he can see you doing it and he's just mimicking you. When Yejoon was seriously thinking, he always put his fingers on his forehead while rubbing it. You really think it was cute how matured he look when he did that. "I'm sad."
"Oh, why baby?" You were suddenly worried because he did sound sad.
"Because grandma said you won't come home tonight." His response made your eyes water and you tried to hold back your sob. Clearing your throat, you tried to sound jolly and not in the verge of tears.
"Yes, baby. But don't worry. I'll come home soon. I just need to do something for work." You heard him sigh. Sometimes, it amazed you how your son acts. He often does things a three-year-old kid wouldn't do. He acts matured enough for his age. Sometimes, it made you wonder if he got his father's brain.
Yeah. He pretty much did.
"Come home soon, mommy. I miss you already," he whined, breaking your heart further.
"I will, Yejoon. But while I'm away, be a good guy and don't make grandma angry, okay?" you reminded him.
"Okay, mommy," he replied.
"Yejoon, I have to end the call now. Remember what I told you okay. Bye. I love you." Yejoon replied with an "I love you, too" before you ended the call.
You slumped on your bed and finally let your tears fall. You missed your family so much already. This would be a very long three months for you.
Your phone suddenly buzzed and you picked it up without checking the caller ID.
"Yes?" you said.
"Ms. Y/L/N. Are you in Korea by now?" the speaker asked, and that's when you bothered to check the caller ID. And, what do you know? It's your head here in Korea.
"Oh, Ma'am Park! Yes, I just got here," you replied while sitting up straight.
"That's good. Can you come by to the office now? I need to brief you on your first assignment. It would be tomorrow so I need you here pronto." She sounded so authoritative that even if you would much rather stay here and rest, you felt like you had no option but to obey her.
"Yes, ma'am. I'll be there in a few." She ended the call with a simple 'see you' and you hurriedly tried to freshen up. Picking out your purse from your handbag and putting some money and your phone in it, you rushed to the office where you were being summoned.
***
"Here," Mrs. Park said, giving you a sheet of paper folded in half.
Looking at her, confused, you took the paper and looked at what's written.
"That would be your first job here. You need to interview them for our Entertainment section and Fashion section. If you still don't know them, some basic info about them is written in that paper. The main office told me you're already fluent in Korean so I'm sure interviewing them would be a hassle for you. Would it?" You nodded instinctively. Mrs. Park looked so strict and she exudes this no-non-sense aura in her that made her appear intimidating.
"Okay, then. You may go now. I won't require you to report for today, but I expect you to be present for tomorrow's interview with those people. And I need an article for that before this month ends. We'll use it for next month's issue." She wasn't looking at you while spoke. She was so absorbed with the papers in front of her that you weren't sure if you should still bow before you leave her office.
Thinking it best still give respect, you bowed and left.
Your hands were still shaking as you reached the lobby of the building, the paper in your hand all torn up from you holding it too tight.
When you first saw what's written inside, you were sure Mrs. Park was just pulling up a prank on you. But when you saw how straightforward she was, you knew this was serious business.
You really were going to conduct an interview tomorrow and write an article about it as your first job here in Korea. If you were in a normal situation, you'd be elated. But you weren't and you were still shaking from shock.
Looking at the paper again, you read - for the nth time - the name of the group you'd be interviewing.
And the name Bangtan Sonyeondan was written big and clear on top of the paper.
