For the Love of Kimchee (Book 1)

10

Chloe

It was Saturday and Chloe was attempting to start her day off right.. Today's breakfast of choice was cereal. She sat down on her couch with the cereal box and almond milk close by for refills, her bowl brimming to the top with her first round ready and waiting.

She pulled a throw blanket across her lap as she ate and watched Youtube videos. The first one being a hair product review videos. Sometimes she wondered why she even tortured herself with these videos. There was no way she would be getting these products in Korea, so why even watch the reviews? She spooned a large amount of knock-off frosted flakes into her mouth. Gosh, she missed home sometimes.

She missed being with her dad and hanging out with Simone. Going to the familiar ratchet movie theater and yelling at the screen with the crowd. Everyone was so quiet here at the movies. If she wanted to go down this road, there were a lot of things she could complain about living in Korea. She needed some foreigner friends that lived here to complain to.

For example she would complain about the lack of clothing options or even the way old Korean men stared at her in public. Or even her lack of Korean friends. In fact, she would love to make some Korean friends, but all the Korean people she has met so far have become a big flop.

Well, except for one, a small voice in the back of her head chimed in. Chloe perked up a bit. That inner voice was right! She had met Daniel, an attractive, seemingly normal Korean man, who agreed to tutor her in Korean.

Tonight was supposed to be their first language exchange and Chloe refused to let it be anything but perfect. Daniel also could probably introduce her to other Korean people and she could make friends with them and actually start socializing with Korean people and get good at the language. Her thoughts ran wild as she planned her year.

She smiled to herself just thinking about her plans. Her sour morning beginning to turn sweet. She didn't even know what she was going to wear. Should she wear some a little revealing just so he gets a taste of what could be a possibility? Or should she dress as conservative as possible so that he takes her seriously.

While she did like him, she also wasn't about to be taken advantage of by him. From what her co-worker said, Daniel probably didn't even view her some to date. She glanced at her phone as is lit up with the time. 9:00 AM starring boldly back at her. Chloe dug into her cereal for another bite.

What was she going to do to fill up the time? Her excitement for the night was getting the best of her.

Maybe she could go into Seoul and go shopping? It would be nice to bust out a new outfit tonight. Or maybe she could go to some of the dessert cafes that she's been trying to get to.

It had been a while since she was so excited about her life in Korea. In fact, this might of been the most excited she's been while living here. Usually she just focused on finishing up her 1 year.

She glanced out her large floor length window and smiled. It was a beautiful day out and she felt good.

. . .

8 hours later.

"Arghhh, come onnn!! He could've went to her and still took over the company. Why are these people so frustrating."

Chloe rolled her eyes, completely engrossed in the new k-drama she started that morning. Her empty bowl of cereal haphazardly strewn on the floor with the spoon dangerous leaning to the side. Her body was now completely laid out across the couch, with her laptop balancing on top of her chest. One leg was laying nicely on the couch, while the other was thrown over the top of the couch, the covers just barely covering it, allowing for the perfect amount of air to come through.

A pack of LAYS chips sat to the left of her for easy reach-ability purposes and a bottle of water laid over the top of the couch between the couch and the wall, right next to her leg.

Chloe squealed as the main protagonist leaned in close to the woman he loved. Clearly looking for a kiss to sait his needs for the moment. Since they were star crossed lovers, with her being poor and him being rich, this was the best he could do for the moment. His family was at odds with their relationship.

As their lips touched, a ballad started to blare out from her laptop. 'LOOOOOOVVVEEEEEEEE, we all need itttttt'. Chloe sang along, having memorized the song since it had played almost 50 times before this.The camera whooshed around and did 360's around the couple. They even replayed the kiss a couple times just before they couple was frozen in time signaling the end of the episode.

Chloe sighed, this was exactly what she needed today. To get out all that romantic energy. She picked up her cylinder can of LAYS and plucked out a couple chips. Returning to her laptop, she clicked for the next episode. Who needs to go out and explore South Korea, when it's right here in her laptop?

The next episode began to open up to the last scene she just saw. The kiss unfolding right before eyes for the second time. She turned the volume up as her favorite song, that she named 'LOVE' blared over her speakers for the 51st time.

BERRRRRM. BEERRRRMM.

Her eye phone's alarm started going off. She reached over to the coffee table and tapped the 'STOP' button that appeared.

Was it really time already to start getting ready? 'Nooo, she needed to know what happened to her new favorite 'ship,'

Chloe closed her laptop with a thud, and sat up from the couch, briefly contemplating calling Daniel and asking him if they could move back the time. This drama was just too good.

She sighed and got up from the couch, stretching out her limbs. Chloe picked up her phone and headed towards her closet. It was 5:30. Daniel and her said they would meet up at 7pm. She needed to get a move on.

She slid the sliding doors of her closet hoping that the perfect outfit would just pop out at her. Chloe picked out random shirts and bottoms, taking them from the closet and placing them on her couch. Her couch turned into a sea of colors as she began piling up her possible outfits. At around 5:45 she was ready to throw in the towel. All her clothing looked so bland and boring. She had nothing to wear that was impressive.

She laid on top of her possible outfits and began kicking her legs in the air. Her involuntarily doing the worm as she threw her tantrum. She wished she had gone shopping instead of watching that damn drama.

She sighed and looked at the ceiling. Her body stilling as she thought about her options. Maybe she could just reschedule for tomorrow? She bit her bottom lip, pulling it into her mouth. Nope, that couldn't work. He's a doctor who knows what his schedule was like. She sighed and sat up from her spot. This wasn't even a date why did she care so much?

She went back over to her closet and began ripping through clothing again. Some articles falling to the ground from her aggressive shuffling. She stopped and once again thought about canceling when she glanced to the very back of her closet and saw it. The perfect outfit.

Yup, this is the one.

Her earlier excitement for the language exchange started to build again. She just hoped she didn't make a fool of herself tonight.