Serendipity (Kaistal)

Chapter 1 - The Outsider

Soojung is sooo pretty in that hanbok!

Chapter 1

The Outsider

Soojung hates the Casino.

She hated every corner and all the people inside it. It is the most popular place in the kingdom and also the most dangerous one. But unfortunately for Soojung, the Casino is her best option especially that she wanted to have her house back.

Soojung checked her reflection at the mirror inside the staff room. She's wearing a simple purple-colored hanbok that goes all the way down her feet. The Casino doesn't require its employees any dress codes, the only thing that serves as their uniform is the black apron that Soojung had just put on. Her resentment for her situation is visible through her brown eyes. She sighed as she steps out of the staff room and into the main game room in the building. She went straight to the bar where her co-worker is waiting for her.

"Hi Soojungie! Cheer up! I heard big boss will have a game tonight, maybe you can get off early." her co-worker Hyeran, greeted her. She's also wearing the same bartender apron as Soojung's.

Soojung glared at her friend, Hyeran knew she hated it when she calls her 'Soojungie' but she still calls her by that. The cuteness of the surname irritates her. "There's nothing to be cheerful about his games, Hyeran." she went behind the bar and dropped her bag near the sink drawers.

"Yeah, you're right. Let's just hope it's not someone we know. Oh well, time to go. I'll leave everything to you now."

"You take care. And this time make sure you go straight home." says Soojung. She knows her friend too well but it didn't stop her from reminding her.

"Hahaha you bet cha! Sadly, I don't have plans for tonight."

"I don't believe you."

"Me neither! Hahaha well buh-bye! Try to have fun Soojungie!" then she rushed to the staff room to get dress, leaving Soojung at the Bar.

The usual night players and gamblers started coming, Soojung saw some of her boss' goons. That could only mean there's gonna be a big game later tonight. Soojung sighed again.

'I have a bad feeling about this.' she thought.

****

The game room is getting more crowded as the night passes by.

'Same old, same old. I wonder how many drinks do I still have to make before I can be free from this hell.' Soojung thought.

But her train of thoughts were cut when a new customer entered the game room.

A man roughly around Soojung's age walked into the room. Soojung stares at him as he lazily makes his way to the center of the room where the main game is being played by none other than Soojung's boss, Mr. S, a man with lots of influence at the Palace.

The man stopped at the side of the game table, his eyes are fixed at the game board. Soojung noticed that she's not the only one staring at the newcomer, almost half of the crowd is also curious about this stranger. His hair is short compared to the typical hairstyle of men in this kingdom. It is clear that he is not from here. His clothing were a give away. He's wearing a simple all-black hanbok but something's different about him.

No one wears this kind of clothing at the whole kingdom but the black round symbol on his wrist band is familiar to Soojung though she can't quite figure out where she saw that one before.

Soojung didn't noticed that she's been staring at him way too long then all of a sudden the outsider moved his eyes from the game and he caught her looking at him.