The plane landed smoothly, it might have been the smoothest landing I have ever experienced.
Joanne and I wanted to exit the plane last, in hopes to get a glimpse of the flight captain.
We were so certain that it truly was Kim Namjoon. His voice from way back, the same as it is now, makes one fall deeply in love and feel like walking on clouds.
Our plan had failed when the flight attendant announced that passengers will exit by row, and sadly Joanne and I were on the 7th.
The moment we stood up to gather our belongings and take our things from the overhead bins, the door to the cockpit opened, revealing a tall man who loosened his first two buttons of his uniform and exited the plane ahead of everyone else.
It wasn't Namjoon.
"Were we too excited?" I thought to myself.
"Were we really expecting that specific person?"
We got off the plane and on our way to immigration, Joanne noticed that she had lost her entry form and thought it might have fallen in the plane.
"Are you sure? Check your passport. Maybe you inserted it and didn't notice." I reasurred her.
She skimmed through the pages of her passport and thankfully, she found it a few pages before the last.
"Ugh, I'm so glad it's here. It would be so embarrassing to go back, ask , and look for it." She sighed frustrated.
We continued walking when we heard someone yell.
"Ya!"
We looked back and it was one of the flight stewards approaching us.
We stepped back a bit at the sudden approach.
"Annyeonghasaeyo," he greeted us, "one of you left your notebook in the front pocket."
He handed us the purple notebook with the Bulletproof Boy Scouts logo.
I felt my face heat up from embarrassment, it was my notebook that I write my schedules in.
"The captain noticed it in your seat and quickly checked the security footage in the cockpit to see who it belonged to."
"Be careful with your things next time! And I hope you enjoyed the flight." He smiled brightly at us and bowed. "Enjoy your time here in Korea."
I thanked him in Korean with a bow, and Joanne and I went on our way.
"By captain, you don't think he meant-" she said with her eyes wide.
"I have no idea."
It could have been him.
It could have been the copilot that we saw leave, and it could have been Namjoon left behind inside.
"We will never know."
Joanne and I stopped by a coffee shop after claiming our baggage.
"Where will you be staying?" I asked Joanne.
"A Korean client of mine paid for my services with a house located in Hongdae. So now, I own a house here, and it was another reason I came. To sign the turnover of ownership, and pay the necessary fees. But at least I have a house."
"Did you say Hongdae?"
"Yeah."
"The apartment that the company rented for me is in Hongdae."
"Wow! It'll be easier for us to meet up then!"
"Things are really amazing lately. I can't wait for the others to arrive soon."
"Jane is arriving tomorrow, right? Where will she be staying?"
"That, I have no idea about. She didn't share too many details. By the way, since we are heading the same way, let's have dinner together, and do you want a ride? I can ask Mr. Yeon if you can."
"That would be nice, and I'd be spending less."
"Alright, let's go then, he may be waiting already."
We walked out the arrival area to see a sign with my name in bold held by a kind looking, middle aged man.
We approached him and greeted him with a bow.
"Mr. Yeon?"
"Yes. It is a pleasure to meet you Miss Gon." He bowed formally. "Shall we go eat dinner?"
"Alright. Oh yes, Mr. Yeon, this is my friend who flew on the same flight with me and will be staying in Hongdae area as well. Would you mind if we ate dinner together and drive her home?"
"Sure. The more the merrier." He flashed a caring, fatherly smile.
Mr. Yeon brought us to a Samgyupsal restaurant within the Incheon are, and did we stuff ourselves full that night. We had an amusing conversation with Mr. Yeon, as he has easy to talk to, and could speak in English really well.
This is a good start.
Before crossing the bridge to Hongdae, we noticed a three-story building that served different purposes on each floor. The first looked like a waiting area, since it looked packed with customers. The second was a convenience store that only sold banana milk and varieties of noodles. The third floor only served dumplings.
"That's weird," Joanne commented, "a restaurant that only serves dumplings?"
"It's unique. Maybe we should visit it when we're all together."
We arrived at Hongdae thirty minutes past 8 in the evening, the traffic was bearable compared to the Philippines.
We dropped off Joanne in front of this two-story villa that looked way beyond our salaries put together.
The client must have asked a big favor from her.
Mr. Yeon parked the car and carried my luggage even though I told him several times that I could carry it myself.
He brought me to a penthouse apartment, but I honestly just wanted a regular apartment.
"Because you will be staying with us for a while, Korp Estates felt it is best that you feel comfortable and at home while you work and as you rest."
"This is amazing, Mr. Yeon. Thank you so much!"
"I will be going now. Remember you have several meetings to attend tomorrow. Good night Miss Gon, and I hope you enjoy your stay and work with us."
"Good night, Mr Yeon."
I did a house tour on my own and I could not believe how well they are treating me already.
I found a staircase that led to the rooftop. A rooftop equipped with a barbeque grill, an outdoor furniture set, and a greenhouse.
Then I turned to the view.
Seoul.
What a sight.
YOU ARE READING
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Hayran KurguA simple interior designer reminisces moments from the past when a famous company in South Korea requests aid for a creative design project. Taking her through an experience that will forever change her life after encountering familiar figures from...