NCT DOYOUNG FANFIC // Love was the Language I Didn't Know

02: Cafe

C H A P T E R  2

Re: Translator Opportunity!!

Hello Minlee! My name is Sumin, the head stylist at SM Entertainment. We were filtering through students to become the next generation of translators, and we noticed your exceptional work. This talent at such a young age is remarkable, and for that we would like to offer you a two year internship as an English translator at SM! This is a very rare and very amazing opportunity, and we really hope you would be able to join us in Seoul. I was born in California so with me, I am sure you will find it easy to transition, learn, and adjust into the Korean culture and lifestyle. We will cover your costs, all you need to do is come and showcase your abilities! If you are interested, please respond within the next two weeks. I look forward to your reply!

Regards,

Sumin Yoo

I could not believe my eyes. A part of me was feeling stunned, as if someone had just punched me in the gut with a happiness glove. A mix of exhilaration, euphoria and sheer panic rapidly infiltrated my whole body, and I sprinted to the phone to call Leiyah. Of course, you can suggest that my reaction paled hers in comparison. She was insanely ecstatic, but her tone became slightly more depressed as we continued to squeal.

"Minmin...you know that even if you go, I can't...I must stay in Canada for one more year so that I can become a citizen. And my grades aren't as top notch as yours, you know my strict parents would never approve--I hope yours do, though. Minmin, you have to go, okay!?!? Your talent and the true surrealness of this offer is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so go and enjoy it for the both of us. As your best friend, I will happily stay here, root for you, and continue to show you off to my friends, hehe. And anyways, what's the point of me bothering if it's not my JYP Jackson?? Have fun with your channie loverboy, kekekeke"

Fast forward to today, where I am still laying on this snug bed. After a few minutes of scrolling through social media feeds, my cell phone starts to ring; It's Sumin. I rush down the flights to meet her outside and carry my luggage to my dorm. I only have 3 suitcases(Sumin said that I'll be provided with everything except for clothing), so it was manageable for both of us to lug them into my room without any additional assistance. After we complete the hoisting, we both jerk ourselves onto the bed to catch our breaths.

"Liking Korea so far?"

"Uh-huh. It looks a bit different from the city architecture in Toronto, but everything is pretty much the same. I think I'll adapt quickly."

"That's good! Did you get a chance to eat anything yet after your flight?"

"Well...not exactly." I laugh faintly.

"Not on my watch. Lets go for cafe food. My treat! We need this time together so I can disclose your activities for your stay here. We have so much to talk about, I think I'll have to take you out for the entire week! Let's go."

Sumin takes my hand and leads me to her car.

I sit in the backseat of her sleek, clearly elite matte black Mercedes. So this is the reality of SM staff workers, huh. The ride was, to my surprise, not awkward at all. Sumin the radio and we started to sing along to the hit songs. We both blasted our lungs to I Need U, laughing out of the sheer out-of-tune notes screeching from our voices. Although I've interacted with Sumin only a few times, we had such an immediate intimacy that almost makes her the older unnie I always yearned for. It's times like these when I become reminiscent of Leiyah and I's karaoke sessions and close friendship back in Toronto, but I don't feel sorry. I know that I will always be in contact with her even with our time difference. I observed a convenience store walking distance from the apartment, which I find very advantageous. Back in Toronto I hunted for stores that sell cheap Korean snacks to no favorable outcome. Perhaps kimbap and tteokbokki won't be as overpriced as it was back home now that I'm in the *mother country* itself.

We arrive at Croissant Corner Cafe after a few minutes. Sumin and I happily enter to find a fully packed shop. We manage to find a two-seat spot, although we had to bring a few tissues to wipe off the leftover crumbs and spills from the previous seaters. She gives me her credit card and asks me to order while she saves our seats. I stand in line, in awe of how expensive the prices are!! Why are pastries here so expensive?? Why is coffee so expensive?? Why is white food so expensive!!!!?!? The sight of seeing $4 iced coffee and $4 fries stunned me, considering that I could buy those for a little over a dollar at any store back in Toronto. Maybe transitioning here will be harder than I originally thought. I settle on buying a small iced lemonade for myself, one of the cheaper drinks on the menu. I figure that I would be much happier to ask Sumin buy me a hoard of convenience store food than spend the equivalent for a few small snacks at this cafe. It's my turn to order:

"Hi! I'll have a small iced lemonade, small green tea latte and a strawberry cheesecake slice please."

The mood becomes awkward. The workers behind the cashier freeze up a bit before they get to work, and I notice as a few people exchange glances with me. Oh yeah, I don't look Korean, even though I speak Korean just as well as they do. After I come to my senses on why people must be staring, I ease myself a bit. After I recieve the food, I carefully make my way back to our seat. I find Sumin playing a tetris game on her phone, with earphones in her ears. Once she sees me coming, she takes the earphones off and puts her phone back in her purse.

"Aww, what took so long? I missed you."

"Sorry!! The line was long. I missed you too!" We both smile at our chummy remarks to each other.

"Ok, lets get to business then, shall we?" I nod my head excidetly, thrilled to see what these two years awaits me.

"For the next two weeks, we'll allow you to adjust. Touring SM, meeting the staff and those who you might interact with in the two years. You can start making a list of items you need in your apartment and the amount of money you think you will need each month. Take this time to grasp the life of Korea. Call me anytime and I'll take you to cool places that you can go alone later. Your apartment is one room, so you'll be pretty independent, see how you'll need to adjust. Luckily languages aren't a problem for you, so you should have no trouble if you need immediate assistance.

After those weeks end, we'll start listing you with an agenda of work you need to finish for the month. It'll get hectic because you'll also be taken when idols have interviews, even overseas when its needed for the translations and subtitles. Sleep while you can! Eat well while you can too! And always try to look your best, so start pursuing a skin-care routine. Although you're pretty enough just with your bare face and sweats, so really, there's no pressure. You won't be projected on TV ever anyway, the only reason to stay hygienic is to improve yourself and look good in front of our idols. After all, you will be very close to them very quickly with how much your schedules overlap. Have you heard of NCT 127?"

Well, maybe one or two songs. But that's really it. I nod my head, as my mind races to recall the names of the NCT members.

"Their dorm is right next to yours, so it might get a bit rowdy and noisy, but I guess that's good! Ask them for any help or entertainment at anytime, although at times their schedules won't allow you to see them for a brief period once in a while. I'll tell them to be on their best behavior, but they really shouldn't bite at all! I really believe you'll have a blast in these two years, so I wish you the best of luck!"

As Sumin speaks, I realize she has this charisma that I wish I had. She's beautiful and smart..and rich.. And someone I can envision being my saviour and best friend during this internship. I smile and thank her for the descriptive information and remark how she had lifted some stress off my shoulders. Thanks to her, I really do believe I'll have a great time...as long as I don't exert my clumsiness and become a hot mess in front of these SM stars.

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