Chapter 2
I had devoured my meal,before i knew it fatigue caught up with me, I must have dozed off, because the next thing I knew it, I felt a gentle tap on my hand. I opened my eyes to find Mom smiling at me. "Sarah, wake up. We've arrived in South Korea," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
I rubbed my eyes, still disoriented from the long flight. "What? Already?" I asked, my voice groggy. Mom nodded, her eyes shining with excitement. "Yes, we're here. Let's get our belongings and disembark."
As I looked around, I saw that everyone was standing up, gathering their belongings and making their way to the exit. I quickly gathered my things and followed Mom, stretching my arms and yawning to shake off the sleepiness. As we made our way off the plane, the cool Korean air hit me.
As we stepped out of the airport's sliding glass doors, the biting South Korean wind enveloped us, and I shivered. It was colder than I expected, and my thin clothing offered little protection. My hands began to shake, and I rubbed them together, wishing I'd worn something warmer. Everyone around us seemed better prepared, bundled up in thick jackets as they hurried to their destinations.
My mom and I stood at the bus stop, and I was starting to feel anxious. But before we could figure out our next move, a man in his mid-to-late thirties approached us. He was waiting by a car and seemed to know us..He greeted my mom with a bow and suddenly turned to me,bowing slightly, greeting me in Korean.
"annyeong haseyo agasshi."
I stared, confused, having no idea what he'd said.
Despite my love for K-pop and K-dramas, I still didn't understand what the man said,the man's words were meaningless to me. I wasn't the type of person to retain a language in my head.I tend to forget.
"Unh?" I muttered.
"He's greeting you."Mom said
"oh" I said nodding my head, trying to seem polite.
"Ahnee yo hee sey oh!..." I stammered,trying to reply back,i wasn't even sure of what I was saying. The man gave a small, wry laugh, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
My mom intervened, smiling apologetically. "Sorry, she doesn't understand Korean language." The man chuckled softly, his expression warm and understanding.
As we settled into the car, the man efficiently loaded our luggage into the trunk. I watched,It wasn't until he mentioned something to my mom that I pieced together the connection – this man worked for my dad, somehow. The realization brought more questions than answers, but for now, I pushed them aside.
Mom and I slid into the back seat, the leather creaking softly beneath us. As the car door closed, the outside world receded, and we were enveloped in a comfortable silence. Mom pulled out her iPad, which she hadn't brought out since we started this journey, She began scrolling through it with a focused intensity, her eyes scanning the screen with a practiced air.
Meanwhile, I was free to explore the surroundings. The car's windows were wound up, but I lowered mine slightly, eager to take in the sights and sounds of Korea. My headset, which had been clamped tightly over my ears, now rested around my neck, and the cool breeze carried the scents of the city into the car. As we drove off, the roads unfolded before me like a canvas of steel and concrete, lined with towering buildings and bustling streets.
I must confess, Korea is really a beautiful place to be. Every aspect of the landscape screamed beauty – from the meticulously maintained roads to the vibrant street art that peeked out from between the skyscrapers. The language, the culture, the people – everything seemed to blend together in a harmonious symphony that captivated my senses.
As we glided through the city, I felt a sense of wonder creeping over me. What other surprises did this country hold? And what lay ahead for us, now that we'd arrived? The questions swirled in my mind, but for now, I was content to simply soak in the beauty of this new world unfolding before me.
"Is korea always this cold?" Mom asked, finally raising her head from the iPad and addressing the driver. The man glanced at her through the rearview mirror, his expression matter-of-fact. "Well, Korea is always this cold. We just have to deal with it," he replied, his voice calm and resigned.
My mom nodded thoughtfully, her eyes returning to the screen as she absorbed his words. I, on the other hand, had had enough of the chill. I wound up the glass, shutting out the cold air that had begun to seep in. The warmth of the car enveloped me once more, and I let out a small sigh of relief.
It had been a tough day, to say the least. The early morning wake-up call, the long flight, and now the biting cold – I was more than ready to settle in and unwind. As the car continued to glide through the city streets, I leaned back against the seat, feeling a sense of exhaustion wash over me. The thought of a warm bed and a cozy room was becoming increasingly appealing by the minutes.
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After hours of driving, we finally arrived at a house, although it was almost evening, the place looked stunning, exuding a sense of class and sophistication. "Mom, does dad own this house too?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me. However, Mom ignored my question and got out of the car without a word.
I followed suit, stepping out of the car and stretching my limbs. The man began unloading our luggage, and I stood still for a moment, reconnecting my music and fixing my headset back on my ears. As the man packed up the last of the luggage, I collected one of the bags from him, not wanting to appear inconvenient.
The man led the way, with Mom following closely behind him. I trailed behind, taking in the surroundings.
He opened the front door, and we stepped inside.
The interior was just as impressive as the exterior. The house was big, with sleek lines and tasteful decor. The man set down the luggage in the sitting room and gave a slight bow to Mom. "Ah, well done. Thank you" she said, smiling graciously as he made his way out.
As soon as the man left, I let out a sigh of relief and dropped onto the white couch, which was incredibly cool and comfortable. "Wow, this place is heaven," I muttered to myself, feeling my exhaustion melt away in the face of such luxury.