lost in japan - p.jm

Chapter One.

Seoul, 24th of May, 7:30am

"Aish" I exclaimed to myself as the golden haze of sunlight battled through my blinds into my line of sight. I extended my arm in order to reach the 2 day-old bottle of Cheju water while thinking about the day ahead. The irritated mood I was currently in suddenly disappeared as I remembered where my life was taking me today. Before I share where my ventures will be taking me on this fine spring day, I will explain the circumstances surrounding it.

Yesterday, the 23rd of May, was the last of the dreaded Korean CSAT examinations. They are different to any other type of exam, for they determine where and if we will be attending university. The stress being piled on my year group was so immense I sometimes wonder what got me and my best friends, Yoona and Mirae through it. Then, I remember. Our trip to Tokyo, in which I single handedly learned Japanese for. We used every last penny to afford to go there as its so expensive. However, we know that it will be worth it as it is the place we dreamt of as kids, the place that awakened our minds when everything was dull, the place we'd think about with ambitious faces staring into the constellations reflecting off of the Han river.

I arose from my bed with a spring in my step as I rushed to gather my luggage, as our flight was in 3 hours and

I hadn't even made it to Incheon airport yet.

13 hours later

Tokyo, 8:35pm

"Ugh! Soojin, just admit it! That man was the best looking person to ever grace this planet with their presence." exclaimed Mirae extremely over-enthusiastically.

"Mirae why are you so man obsessed? We've been here for nearly two hours and you're already thirsting like a crazy person over mediocre looking Japanese men, I can't even begin to imagine what you'll be like when we go out later..." I said with a stern look creeping on my face. Yoona laughed at mine and Mirae's squabble as she made her way into the shower room of the hotel we paid an arm and a leg for.

"I'm going to find a convenience store, I need wine." said Mirae with a blunt look on her face. And with the sound of the door slamming she had left the room. She's cute.

I lay on the king size bed absent mindedly as my mind began to wander. It hadn't fully kicked in that me, an 18 year old girl was alone with her best friends in Tokyo. I stared out of the window which was an entire glass panel as I began to just watch life go by. All the high rise buildings, the taxi cabs, the colourful billboards flashing with cartoon characters made my heart begin to beat. A sensation I hadn't felt a long time. I was always taught at a young age by my very wise grandmother to "Do what makes your heart beat, Soojin" and since then that feeling was almost a stranger to me, until this very moment here. Then suddenly, interrupting my reminiscent slumber state was the sound of a large slam. That could only mean one thing. Mirae. I turn around to see Mirae with her arms full of various different alcoholic beverages.

"right then, lets go!"

I wanted to explore the city, and get to know the culture but clearly Mirae had some other ideas in mind. Yoona emerged from the bathroom wearing a sparkly blue dress with little sequins around the waist with a full face of makeup and her hair straightened with effortless curls cascading down her shoulders. I must admit, she looked beautiful but we weren't here to party, we're here to relax and visit our dream city, not get blackout drunk and forget it all.

Not wanting to ruin their expectations of the night I stupidly said "you guys go ahead, I'll stay here, I'm really tired and need to catchup on my sleep to be fresh for tomorrow".

Mirae and Yoona looked baffled but ultimately nodded in acceptance.

"Okay Soojin, just take care okay and whatever you do, please don't wonder off on out on your own."

"Noted, love you guys" I said as they waved at me.

With that, the door slammed once again. I was alone again in a high rise hotel room. After a very long hour of watching the hottest new k-drama, 'love alarm', I decided to take a shower as the boredom was getting to me very quickly. Once I was out of the shower, I got changed into a pair of waist high mom jeans, retro reebok shoes and a grunge band tee. A contrast to the styling choice of my friends, I'm aware but I want to be comfy and maybe look good for the room service concierge for the food that looks incredibly appetizing right now...

"Snap out of it!" I exclaimed to myself as I reminded myself of my ongoing diet.

I sat down beside the glass panel window once again slipping into a world of daydream about the picturesque scene of Tokyo at night that was laying before my eyes. 'That's it' I thought. We are only here for another three days and I don't want to waste my precious time sat in a hotel room. So, I got up, threw on my jacket, grabbed my bag and headed out of the door without a second thought.

As the oddly high tech elevator was descending to the ground floor I whispered to myself in a state of giddy excitement,

"What's the worst that could happen?"