LAST 24 HOURS in SEOUL

Part 02 | Airin - 07 AM

"Ah yes, you're right, it's Airin!"

With the brightest smile, I extend my hand for a handshake-something we usually do when introducing ourselves, right? It's friendly, familiar, and, well, it's just how we do things.

In front of me sits a man dressed in a gray coat, navy knit sweater, and black jeans. He has a decent build, probably a couple of inches taller than me, with that neat-messy hairstyle I've seen on about seven out of ten Korean men since this morning. Geez, I guess that's what they call "trend." His face is angular-or maybe oval or I dont know-I am bad at this, with thick eyebrows, and sharp nose that make his expression seem more intense-quite attractive.

In front of me also sits the man whose coffee I "managed" to spill about half an hour ago. I can already imagine what I'll write as the first sentence in my Seoul Journal:

[ 6 AM - Dropped luggage at the concierge. Bumped into a random guy and spilled his coffee. Thankfully, he's Indonesian. ]

Gosh, if only Vina were here-she wouldn't stop laughing and teasing me about it and the next thing I know she will ask for his number. Typical.

He takes my hand for a brief handshake but frowns slightly, his eyebrows pulling together. "Sorry, Ahrin?" he asks, confused.

"No, it's Ai-rin. My friends call me Rin, but my family calls me Air, which is kind of weird, you know, since 'air' means something in Indonesian." I laugh lightly. "But yes, it's Airin."

"Ah, I thought it was Ahrin. Some names here sound like that," he says, relaxing a bit. "I'm Rei."

"Rei... Just Rei? Not Reinaldo, Reifan?" I tease, hoping to break the ice further.

"Let's stick with Rei," he replies, taking another sip of his coffee and crossing his legs in a relaxed, composed manner.

"Alright, Rei. So, are you here on holiday too? Work? Study?"

"Work," he says, his tone straightforward. "I've been here for a couple of years. What about you? Holiday?"

My eyebrows shoot up. "Couple years? And you work here? Do you work at Lotte? Samsung? Or maybe... are you part of a boy band? Famous? Which one?"

My questions tumble out in rapid succession, my excitement and curiosity taking over. A puzzled frown crosses his face as if he's trying to keep up with my pace, but then he chuckles softly.

"Ah, I see. You're a trainee, right? Let me guess-JYP?".

His chuckle turns into a small laugh. "No, none of those. I have a few jobs, let's say."

"Ah, arasseo." I nod, trying to act as if that vague answer was enough.

"Yes, I'm on holiday... kind of." The last part comes out a bit heavier than I intended.

His eyes narrow slightly, sensing the change in my tone. "Kind of a holiday?" He tilts his head, clearly intrigued. "What do you mean? Is it part of work?"

Great, why does he have to ask now? I sip my flat white slowly, trying to delay my response. "Well, in short, I only have 24 hours in Seoul before I head back to Jakarta. I arrived this morning, and I'll be back at the airport tomorrow at 6 AM."

He narrows his eyes further, as if analyzing my words. "Wow. Interesting."

"But I'll tell you now," I continue, my excitement returning, "I'm going to enjoy every minute of my time in Seoul. It's been a dream for years"

RRR... His phone buzzes on the table. He glances at it quickly, irritation flashing across his face as he rejects the call without hesitation. Whoever it was, they're out of luck.

Rei places the phone back on the table and looks at me again. "Of course you will. So, how do you plan to spend today?"

My grin widens as I lean forward. "I have a list. A magical list! I'm so excited! I want to visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, walk around Bukchon Hanok Village, and take some photos in Hongdae. I'm also planning to go to Namsan tower. Oh, and I absolutely have to try the street food in Myeongdong! I've been dreaming about tteokbokki and hotteok for years!"

I'm practically bouncing in my seat, the anticipation making my heart race. This day is going to be packed with everything I love, and I can't wait. I notice Rei watching me with an unreadable expression, but his eyes have softened a bit. He seems more relaxed, more interested. He even slips off his coat and drapes it over the empty chair behind him. Good sign, right?

For the next 20 minutes, we talked about technical things-the time I should spend at each destination, how to navigate the confusing train system, and which foods I absolutely must try. He even suggests a few beauty stores popular with Indonesians. I mentally note everything to tell Vina later. She's going to be so envious.

I'm amazed at how much Rei knows. "Wow, Rei, you really know your stuff. You're like a walking Google!" I say, genuinely impressed.

He smiles, taking another sip of his coffee. "Well, I live here, you know. And maybe I'm better than Google. Google doesn't really work in Seoul."

"Daebak. Now I don't know if I should regret bumping into your coffee or be thankful for it," I joke, grinning.

Rei chuckles, more genuinely this time. "Its perspective, yes."

I pause for a second as something clicks in my mind. "Wait, don't tell me... You were a tour guide, weren't you? For Indonesians?"

He tilts his head slightly, his gaze shifting briefly. "Well, kinda, I was, but not anymore."

"What do you mean, not anymore? Do you own a travel agency now? That's fantastic!" I replied

"No, I used to do that during my first year here," he explains. "But not anymore."

"Ah, that's why you know so much," I say, nodding.

Before I can say more, an urgency to pee hits me-too cold to handle. I excuse myself quickly, but after a few steps, I turn back.

"Rei, I'll only be gone for a couple of minutes. Please, please... don't leave! I still have so many questions," I say, almost begging.

He laughs lightly and gives me an okay sign with his fingers. Perfect.

Pee business finished, I find myself in front of a huge mirror in the restroom. When I say huge, I mean huge-and fancy. As I approach, the mirror lights up automatically. Koreans really know what women want. The restroom is amazing, a combination of marble and wood, with touches of sage green and gold. It's pure luxury.

As I wash my hands, I glance at my reflection-no sweat, makeup intact, and my blush still perfect. Time for a selfie to send to Lucie-let's see what her comment is.

I fix my yellow scarf and spot the coffee stain on the corner of it. No prizes for guessing how that got there. I don't know if I can fix it, but I choose to see it as my lucky charm.
After all, I booked this flight yesterday morning and flew out that same night with zero prep-well, almost zero. Now I've met Rei, who knows everything, speaks Indonesian, and used to be a tour guide...

Suddenly, a fantastic idea hits my brain. Why just ask him questions when I can bring him along?

I walk quickly back to the table, a solid plan forming in my mind. When I reach Rei, he's doing something on his phone. Maybe he's the type who snaps pictures of his food? He doesn't seem like it.

I sit down, cross my arms, and give him a playful smile. "Rei, I have a fantastic idea."

He looks up, surprised-confused even. "Okay... you just got back from the restroom, and now you have a fantastic idea?"

I nod enthusiastically. "Yes! You're going to join me today!" I pause for dramatic effect. "You'll be my private guide for the day!"

His eyes widen in surprise. "What??"

***