Surviving Korea

Alone

Jaehyun

"Thank you guys so much for coming out with me tonight...without you guys, I don't even want to think of what I'd be doing right now at home alone." Jisoo said.

"What do you mean? That's what friends are for." I said and raised my glass

"Cheers!!" Jimin said.

We all drank to our friendship. We didn't know that after this night, the world went to shit; just like Jimin wanted.

"Wait, wait, guys; the funny thing is," Jisoo started while taking another shot of soju. "He cheated on me with my best friend."

We all laughed together. At this point, we didn't comprehend what was being said anymore. We were so drunk. Time began to fly, soju bottles began to pile up, and money began to go as quickly as it came. It was almost 7 am. We sat at a tiny circle table that could barely fit the three of us. There was only one other table that was full of people. A long table filled with workers who were celebrating. Company dinner. Something that happens all too often.

This week was the worst at my job. It was the end of the year, and since I was an intern, I had to get my papers all in order and make sure everything was correct. Today was my last day. I planned to get drunk anyway before Jisoo invited me to drink with her. I decided to call it a night and call a cab for all of us. Jimin passed out and somehow managed to get an arm around me while Jisoo was in deep thought. I was getting really tired as well. I looked out the window. As every night owl in Hongdae starts to head home, my eyes slowly open and close. My brain is telling me to stay awake, but my body is wanting a break.

Before I could doze off I saw something, or I thought I did. A lady—or man? Walking like she was in some sort of trance; her neck broke before my eyes and she kept walking. No way.

"Did you guys see that?" I said in disbelief

I looked back at them. Jisoo was still asleep, and Jimin was slumped oversleeping. I got up to get closer to the window to see what was going on. Everyone is running down the streets of Hongdae. We gotta get out of here. I thought to myself. Just then a woman popped up banging on the window.

"Let me in! Help me! Please!" She cried.

I wanted to help her, but I didn't know how I could. I just sat there watching, looking at her, right into her eyes as a zombie tore her to shreds. Tears were falling down her face, snot out of her nose, and fear out of her eyes. The zombie pulled her towards it by her hair and took a big bite from her neck. Blood went everywhere. After the first bite, the zombie chewed on her flesh, and I watched as life was drained out of her body. It didn't stop there. She dropped to the ground, and the zombie started eating all of her body parts. It was something I'd never forget. At this point, I didn't know what to do. Everyone outside was getting eaten. The best thing for us at this point would've been to stay inside the taxi and starve to death. But that's no way to die. Before I wasn't awake, but I am now. I grabbed a cup of what I thought was water and splashed it on Jimin's face. He shot up.

"Hyung, what the hell?!" He yelled.

"We have to go now." I said urgently.

"What's going on?" Jisoo said, alarmed.

"I don't know." I told them.

I grabbed both of their arms and left the cab.

Jade

"You know, I can't wait to see you." I said to my long-distance boyfriend. We were FaceTiming each other.

In a few days, it will be our first anniversary. I decided to surprise him by flying to Korea and meeting him in person, for the first time. I've never done anything so spontaneous in my life. Going to Korea was always something I've always wanted to do, but never got to because life got in the way. This time I'm excited to spend that first-time experience with someone I love. I was going to stay there for 3 months, so I needed a lot of clothes. And since summers in Korea are the worst, I would need to bring lots of products too.