Bounded by Fate

5

After doing a bit of grocery shopping, we decided to take walk throughout the busy streets of Seoul as we passed by shops and stalls, taking in the different styles of clothing and vibrant colors that caught our eyes. 

"Guys, look at those cute outfits in the window!", Caylynn said, tapping on our arms to get our attention.

I gasp and point in the direction of a convenience store located a few stores away. 

"Food!", grabbing onto Nicole and Caylynn, I pulled them into the convenience store and was instantly mesmerized by the different types of food dishes, ramen, drinks and even ice-cream.

The three of us looked at one another and immediately split up to explore different parts of the store.

Stopping in the ramen isle, I grabbed the ones that I wanted to try. My arms were now full of ramen and a few cold drinks that I had managed to grab, making me wish that I had taken a basket to carry everything in.

Walking down the isle for the alcohol, I stood in front of the fridge, staring at the different flavors of Soju. Feeling compelled to take a few, but since my arms were already full I sighed in disappointment and with a dejected look, I turned away before walking straight into another body, causing everything to fall out of my arms.

"I'm so sorry, it's my fault for not paying attention!", I stuttered out an apology as I immediately crouched down to start collecting all of my goods.

"It's alright", the person whom I had bumped into spoke up in English with a Korean accent.

I bit my lip in embarrassment, as they bend down to help me pick my things up off the ground. Scooping up more of my goodies, I glanced over at the mysterious stranger that was currently helping me.

He wore a black mask and a black baseball cap, tight black jeans and an oversized hoodie with the hoodie cap pulled up over his head.

I could not make out what he looked like since his cap was pulled a bit down in front making it difficult to see, as well as the mask which made the task even more impossible.

Why does he look so familiar?

Shaking those thoughts from my head, I had managed to collect most of my things while he carried the rest. Standing back up, he did the same and it was only then did I realize how small I was compared to him.

"Here, take this", he said, passing me his basket to put all my things in.

I slowly reached my hand out to take the basket from him, our hands brushing against one another, followed by a sharp prick sensation, causing me to jerk my hand away, him doing the same as I held the basket in my hand.

"..."

Before I could even get a word out, I heard my name being called, causing me to look away from the stranger in front of me.

"Yeah?", I called back, looking at her in confusion.

She urgently tapped the top of her wrist, motioning towards her watch. "Hurry, we need to get going, we wouldn't want to be late".

My eyes widened in realization and I turned towards the stranger in front of me and bowed once again in apology before turning and quickly making my way towards Nicole.

Not noticing the look of curiosity and longing being send my way by the stranger I had just ran away from.

.

.

.

The ride to the hotel was filled with Nicole and Caylynn talking about what they had gotten from the convenience store while I stayed silent and listened to it all, my mind drifting back to the mysterious stranger I had bumped into.

"Abby!", Caylynn's voice calling my name, snapped my out of my thoughts as I looked at both of them in confusion.

"I've been calling you for 2 minutes and you were not responding. What's on your mind?", she asked, sending me a curious look.

Smiling sheepishly I just brushed it off. "Oh, nothing. I was just thinking about something".

"Or someone...", Nicole then spoke up as I turned to face her. She had a wide smirk on her face as she gently bumped her elbow against mine, wiggling her eyebrows as me.

"Oh shut up, it's not like that...", I defended, playfully shoving her away as she laughed.

Caylynn looked at both of us in confusion.

"Did something happen?", she asked, looking between Nicole and I.

"No"

"Yes"

Nicole and I spoke at the same time, but before I could speak any further she beat me to it.

"Our dearest friend over here had her kdrama moment", Nicole said as she looked over at me with a teasing smile, causing my cheeks to warm up slightly.

Caylynn looked at me with her eyebrows raised, a smile gracing her lips, "Is that so?".

"No, it was an accident and he just helped me, that's all", I tried to explain, but Caylynn and Nicole kept making teasing remarks as they made jokes and poked at me, causing me to laugh at the antics as the car rides to the hotel was now filled with laughter.