Why Must My Heart Ache?

Chapter 1: Arrival

    "Have fun, Flora! I'm going to miss you so much!" Beth, Flora's best friend of nearly fifteen years, yelled as she squeezed the breath out of Flora's lungs. "How long do you think you'll stay?" she asked, pouting as she released her.

    Flora smiled at her. "I don't know, it depends on how much I enjoy it over there. But I'll miss you, too. Don't forget, I have to leave the country once a year to renew my visa, so I'll visit then, and you should fly over to visit me sometime!" she exclaimed as she pulled up the handle on her carry-on.

    They hugged again while Flora's brother picked up the bags she needed to check. The girls pulled apart and he led Flora to the line she needed. "I'll send the rest of your stuff before the end of the week," he told her as he prepared to leave. She nodded and wrapped her arms around him, trying not to cry.

    "Come on, sis," he soothed her. "You've been waiting for this for years. It's going to be fine, because I know that you're ready," he declared. He patted her back, gave her her things, and said goodbye.

    Alright, Flora, she thought to herself. He's right. I'll be fine. Let's do this! Fighting! She took care of her bags, went through security, and spent her wait for boarding time listening to her mp3. She relaxed as she listened to all her favorite bands. Time flew by and then she was on the plane, heading first for Japan, and then to the Incheon International Airport. Tomorrow, I'll be in Seoul! she thought as the plane took off.

    When she arrived in South Korea, there was a co-teacher from her new school there waiting for her. She introduced herself as Lee Kyung Mi, and took her immediately to her new apartment. Kyung Mi also gave her a temporary cell phone and some important contacts, including Kyung Mi's own number. Flora was eager to begin unpacking her things. The apartment was small, but comfortable and conveniently close to the high school she now worked at.

    She had already adjusted herself to Korean time to avoid jet-lag and she had time to set up the Internet at her new place and have Kyung Mi take her to get a new cell phone. Kyung Mi also showed her around the area a little bit. Flora was able to purchase some groceries, as well as a phone case (sapphire blue, of course) and a cute little cartoony bird phone charm.

    Kyung Mi took her to the school to meet some of the staff. The principal was very welcoming and Flora had a feeling that she was going to enjoy her new job. She said goodbye to Kyung Mi after insisting that she could make it back home by herself. She decided to take a cab since they weren't too expensive in Seoul and the building wasn't far off. She would have walked except for the fact that the traffic scared her and she didn't want to have to cross it. She quickly changed her mind once she got home, though. She would take her chances walking. Taxi drivers were apparently as crazy as some of the blogs had said.

    She ordered take-out with her new cell, using her fluent Korean for the first time since entering the country. It came in no time, and she relished the food, realizing it was her first real meal since she had landed. She put the dishes outside her door and prepared for bed. She put on her nighttime playlist and fell asleep easily to the first song that played, Super Junior's Sorry Sorry Answer.