UNKNOWN GUEST

#52 The Much Awaited 'Good Luck'

The next afternoon, Helen Cho sat across from Dr. Kim, the director of Capital Hospital in Korea, at a cozy café. The air was filled with the rich aroma of coffee and the soft murmur of conversations around them. Helen scanned the details of the hospital's facilities on her tablet, impressed by the range of medical advancements they offered. She could feel her pulse quickening with anticipation.

Dr. Kim leaned back in his chair, studying her thoughtfully before speaking, "But, Ms. Cho, we can't be certain that you would get a place here in New York City. You might have to move to Seoul."

Helen looked up from her tablet and met his gaze, a small smile forming on her lips. "It's fine, Dr. Kim. In fact, it's better in a way. To provide the best care in tissue engineering in my homeland would be an honor."

Dr. Kim's expression softened into a smile, clearly pleased with her response. "Excellent then. We'll contact you for the final details in a meeting."

Helen nodded, gratitude evident in her eyes. "Thank you so much, sir."

As their meeting concluded, Helen gathered her things and stepped outside. The cold air nipped at her face, but instead of discomfort, it brought a sense of clarity and relief. She took a deep breath, feeling the crispness fill her lungs. The meeting had gone well—better than she had hoped—and the thought of returning to Seoul to work on something she was passionate about filled her with a renewed sense of purpose.

For the first time in what felt like ages, Helen felt close to getting another opportunity to shine.

Just then, Helen heard a loud cheer rise from the crowd around her. She glanced around, trying to find the source, and her eyes landed on the massive billboards towering over Times Square. The vibrant images on the screens caught her attention, and for a moment, she felt as though the world had slowed down. The huge posters displayed the announcement: "12 Years a Slave" wins the Academy Award for Best Picture. The words seemed to shine, larger than life, and her breath caught in her throat.

She stood frozen, staring at the screens as the realization sank in. It wasn't just the movie winning that left her stunned—it was everything that had led to this moment. Her hand instinctively slipped into her coat pocket, and without thinking, she pulled out her phone and dialed a number she knew by heart. As the phone rang, she couldn't tear her eyes away from the billboard. Her thoughts raced, replaying the events of the past few days.

He was right. The thought echoed in her mind, almost like a mantra. EXO won the MAMA award, "12 Years a Slave" got the Oscar, and above all, I didn't have to quit my dream. I'm getting another chance for my future. He was right all along.

After what felt like an eternity, the call connected. "Hello?" Jason's voice was calm, a familiar sound that grounded her in the midst of her whirlwind of emotions.

Helen swallowed hard, trying to find her voice. Her eyes remained fixed on the digital billboards, but her mind was miles away, replaying every moment that had led her here. "Jason," she finally managed to say, her voice soft but steady, "You're right."

She blinked a few times, trying to clear the haze of disbelief. "You're right. I got the precious kind of good luck."

On the other end, she heard Jason chuckle, a sound that made her smile despite herself. "Well, good for you," he replied, his tone light and playful.

For a moment, there was silence between them, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was the kind of silence that comes when words aren't necessary, when the connection between two people says more than anything spoken aloud.

Then Jason's voice broke through, gentle yet teasing, "Remember you promised to take me to this movie if it wins the Oscar?"

Helen nodded, though he couldn't see it, a soft hum escaping her lips in response. It was a promise she hadn't thought about in a while, but now it felt like it meant everything.