TWISTED ROOTS | LHS x MSK

1. SAKURA

It's been a long time coming..

I haven't stepped foot in South Korea in so long, I was only 14 when I left to go back to Japan and now at the age of 24, here I am.

When I was 5 years old, my parents moved to South Korea for their job, South Korea was practically my home, don't get me wrong, I love Japan but I lived in South Korea. I had a life there, many friends there. Oh my gosh is it good to be back.

Unfortunately ever since I left Seoul, I lost contact with a lot of the friends I made there, including a guy I was especially close to..

But at least I am still in contact with two of my friends, Chaewon and Yunjin! Chaewon is two years younger than me and Yunjin is three. As of now, I am in Incheon airport waiting for them to pick me up.

"Hey Saki!" A familiar American accent causes me to turn around and there they are. I see Chaewon and Yunjin running towards me, ending in a big group hug.

"I missed you guys so much, it's so good to be back" We're still hugging, it's been more than a decade since I have seen them in person.

"We both missed you too!" Chaewon beams, I could see a small tear rolling down her cheek as she said that.

"Come on! Let's get you moved in shall we." I look down to see Yunjin taking my luggage and we start making our way to the taxi stand.

It was my first breathe of South Korean air in so long, oh boy.. I really did miss this place a lot, more than I thought I did.

"Girl, we really need to catch up on everything that has happened with you since you left." Chaewon says as she looks for a taxi.

"Well.. nothing much that you didn't know. Besides finishing high school, getting into crochet and starting my fashion business."

The reason I came to South Korea anyways was to expand on my business since to my surprise, was doing really well so I decided, since I want to expand the business and move back to South Korea. Was to kill two birds with one stone.

"How is Kazuha doing?" Yunjin asks as her eyes widen slightly. "She is doing great! She's been auditioning for a few ballet companies in Japan, she also plans to fly over here to audition as well!"

Kazuha is the closest friend I made when I went back to Japan. Unfortunately, when I left Japan, I also left her behind but at least I'll see her when she comes to Seoul in a few months.

"Do you not talk to her much?" I tilted my head slightly. Yunjin and Kazuha were actually friends before I moved back to Japan. Both of them met in New York when she went to compete in a ballet competition, and when Yunjin went to study there.

"Well.. I mean we do text occasionally but we don't keep in contact much unfortunately."

"Ohhh.. well then when Kazuha comes over, you better spend a lot of time with her while you can" I said, it was unfortunate hearing that from Yunjin.

There was a moment of silence between us three. I could hear the bustling sounds of cars driving past us and dropping off people and picking up people. The sounds of suitcases moving past us.

It was the start of something new, but also a continuation of something I had left years ago. I can continue to strengthen my friendship with Chaewon and Yunjin, make more friends. And hopefully, my business here would be just as successful as it is back in Japan.

"I got a taxi! It'll arrive in about 5 minutes." Chaewon exclaimed when she managed to find a driver.

"Great! Then we can get you settled in your new place and rest." Yunjin smiles, still holding onto my suitcase.

"Enough about me, how are you both doing?" I asked both of them, if I remember correctly, Chaewon should be on summer break. She is a professor at Seoul National University, one of the most prestigious universities in Korea. And Yunjin on the other hand is a freelance actress. Recently she told me that she managed to snatch a gig in a lead role for a new movie.

"I've started filming already, a few months back actually! It's going really well so far. We are halfway done with filming, then it should be released in like a year if I'm not wrong." Yunjin says smiling from ear to ear.

"I'm just chilling, kind of. At least besides prepping for lectures and tests, I've not being doing much actually. I need to catch up on my rest anyways before the term starts." Chaewon doesn't look up from her phone as she says that.

Roughly a minute passed by, before Chaewon looks up and starts flagging down a car which we assume is our taxi. Yunjin drags my suitcase to the car as us three enter and sit inside. Yunjin in the passenger seat and Chaewon and I in the back. The ride to my apartment was quiet mostly, except for a few small talk here and there.

"Do you have any plans to talk with Heeseung again?" Yunjin asks me. "Oh.. well I'm not sure, it's been a long time since we last talked." I couldn't help but stutter. The question came as a surprise to me.

Heeseung is the guy I was really close before I moved. He is the same age as Yunjin, I actually met him through her. And from there on we got closer, nothing more though. Anything else and it would be considered inappropriate, all I saw him as was like a little brother.

After I moved back to Japan, we did text and call but as time passed, we just kept in contact less and less. I don't even remember if he still remembers me anymore.

"Haha, I'm not even sure if he still remembers me anymore. I'll think about it though.."

The rest of the ride back to my new apartment was quite peaceful. Chaewon and Yunjin helped me settle in and not long after they left to run their own errands and I was alone.

My apartment was already fully furnished, thanks to the help of both Chaewon and Yunjin checking in on the process before the move.

I flopped on my couch shortly after they left and turned on my phone. A notification from an unknown number caught my eye as I tap on it.

Unknown number: Hiiii, welcome back to Seoul!

Saku Chan: Hi! Do I know you?

Unknown number: Wow... forgot about me already? It's Heeseung :)