The medication combined with the exhaustion of the news finally took its toll. Shortly after the meal service, Lara's head drifted onto Sean's shoulder, and she fell into a deep, dreamless sleep. She didn't feel the turbulence over the mountains or hear the captain's announcements; she was simply gone, her body using the rest to fight the silent battle inside her.
"Lara? Hey, Lara... we're here."""
She jolted awake, her glasses sliding down her nose. Sean was looking at her with a lopsided, tired smile, his own hair a bit messy from the long haul. "We just landed in Incheon," he whispered.
"""Ohhh oh my how long was I sleeping for
The whole flight Sean said """""
The moment Sean spoke those words, the cabin noise seemed to fade into a dull hum, leaving only the warmth of his voice ringing in her ears.
"You must have been really tired... make sure you rest well."
Lara gripped her luggage, her fingers sinking into handle . To anyone else, it was a standard polite remark from a colleague. But to Lara, who had spent years being ignored by everyone in the London office—treated more like a piece of software that produced sketches than a human being—it felt like a sudden burst of sunlight.
He noticed, she thought, a small, tremulous flutter starting in her chest. He didn't just see the work I finished; he saw me. He saw that I was tired.
A bittersweet pang followed the joy. She looked at him through her thick, fake glasses, her heart heavy with the secret of her diagnosis. He thought she was just "tired" from work or the stress of the move. He didn't know that her body was fighting a war, or that the sleep he'd watched her fall into was a side effect of the heavy medication keeping her functional.
If you knew the truth, Sean, would you still look at me with that much kindness? she wondered. Or would you look at me with pity?
She forced a small, shy smile, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "I guess I was more exhausted than I realized," she whispered.
Sean gave her a reassuring nod, his eyes lingering on hers for just a second too long for her heart to handle. In that moment, the fear of the 365-day countdown faded into the background. For the first time, the "ghost" of the London office felt like she was finally becoming visible—and it was Sean's concern that was pulling her out of the shadow
Maybe this will be my 365 to not only find myself but to find love .
The moment she stepped into the arrivals hall, her senses were overwhelmed. Everything was different—the clean, sharp scent of the air, the melodic announcements in a language she had spent years studying in secret, and the sea of faces that looked nothing like the crowds in London. She saw signs in Hangul, the beautiful, geometric script she had practiced in the margins of her fashion sketches.
Despite the cold stares she received from a few passersby who seemed puzzled by her size and her choice of clothing, a genuine, radiant bubble of happiness rose in her chest. I'm actually here, she thought. I'm actually in my dream country with my dream man .
You seem to be excited,do you like Korea ?___Sean asked
Yeah it's my dream country and my first ever travel out of London since we moved there that's why I accepted to go in the first place""" thought it would be nice to change location for a while __lara smiled and took a deep breath inhaling the air around her ""
What about you ?___lara asked ?
She turned the question back on him, curious to see behind his handsome, confident mask. "What about you, Sean? Do you like it?"
Sean let out a sharp, dry laugh, shaking his head as they walked toward the exit door "Honestly? Not really a fan of Asia. Everything is so different. The language is incredibly difficult to understand—it's like a wall I can't climb. I don't even know why they sent me here in the first place."
He sighed, his shoulders dropping just an inch. "I'm fluent in German and Spanish. I understand how things work in Europe. But here? I feel like I'm blind and deaf. I don't understand the people, the culture, or why everyone is in such a hurry. I'm starting to think Martha sent me here just to watch me struggle."
Lara watched him "" In the London office, Sean was the one who always knew what to say, the one everyone gravitated toward. But here, surrounded by the beautiful, fast-paced world of Seoul, he looked lost.
"You'll get used to it, she said softly, though she felt happier than ever ,""" though sean and i work together for three years this is the longest we've ever spent time with each other
"I hope so," Sean replied,
As they pushed their luggage through the sliding glass doors to the outside, the Incheon air hit her—crisp, real, and full of life. It felt like a fresh start.
Standing near the taxi rank was a middle-aged Korean man in a neat dark suit. He held a white sign that read: LARA & SEAN – MARTHA FASHIONS.
They approached him, and the man bowed low, a polite smile crinkling the corners of his eyes. "Hello," he said in heavily accented English. "Welcome. I am Mr. Park. I take you now." He followed up with a formal greeting in his native tongue: "Mannaseo bangapseumnida." (It is a pleasure to meet you.)
Lara didn't even hesitate. The years of watching dramas and studying late at night flooded back with the private classes She paid for just to learn Korea,""""" she had wished back then when she wae a teenager that she would one day travel to korea but life had other plans for her,and she had forgotten all about her dreams but now life was giving her a new opportunity to live again but just for 365 days and she would take it.
She bowed back, perfectly matching his angle. "Ne, bangapseumnida, Park-ssi. Mannaseo jeongmal bangawoyo,{Yes, nice to meet you, Mr. Park. It's a pleasure to meet you."}
she replied softly, her pronunciation surprisingly fluid.
Mr. Park's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't expected the tall, quiet girl in the oversized hoodie to speak his language so gracefully. Even Sean turned to her, his eyebrows shooting up in pure shock.
Lara caught Sean's look and felt a tiny prick of pride. She had listed "Fluent in Korean" on her resume years ago, thought it wasn't relevant but she still added it there and that no one at the London office had ever bothered to read that far down. Now, she wondered if Sean knew a single word, or if she was going to have to be his guide for the next six months.
"You speak Korean?" Sean asked as Mr. Park began loading their bags into a sleek black sedan.
"A little," she lied modestly,
Wow your full of surprises Lara """"" said Sean
Lara smiled """" I'm not really that good I can just speak little cause I often watch their movies and I have alot of interest in them .
They climbed into the back of the car, but instead of heading toward the bright lights of the luxury hotels in Gangnam, the car began weaving into a quieter, more residential neighborhood filled with stylish, modern buildings.
The drive from Incheon toward the heart of Seoul was a sensory explosion that Lara absorbed in total silence. Pressed against the cool glass of the car window, she watched as the gray industrial outskirts of the airport transformed into a high-tech wonderland.
Every neon sign flashing in Hangul felt like a personal greeting. She watched the sleek, silver delivery bikes weaving through traffic and the massive, sprawling bridges crossing the Han River—vast stretches of steel that looked like glowing ribs over the dark water. The sheer scale of the city was intimidating, but for Lara, it was exhilarating. For years, she had lived in a gray, muted version of London; here, everything felt high-definition.
I'm actually breathing this air, she thought, her hand instinctively touching the hidden bottle of pills in her pocket. The medicine had numbed the physical pain, but the sight of the city was what was truly keeping her awake. She felt a strange, electric hum in her veins—a mix of the adrenaline of being in her dream country and the quiet terror of knowing her time here was limited.
Beside her, the warmth Sean had shown at the airport seemed to have retracted into a professional shell. He was leaning back in the leather seat, the blue light of his smartphone illuminating his sharp features in the darkening car. His thumb swiped rhythmically, his eyes scanning emails and market reports, his brow furrowed in concentration.
He didn't look out the window once. To him, the soaring skyscrapers and the ancient city gates they passed were just background noise to the "mission."
Lara stole a glance at him. She felt a pinch of loneliness seeing him so detached, but she quickly pushed it away. He's focused on the work, she told herself. He's serious because he wants us to succeed. She admired that about him—his drive, his focus. She wondered if, in his silent staring at the screen, he was thinking about the "dream team" comment he'd made earlier, or if he was already miles ahead, planning their first meeting.
The silence in the car wasn't cold, but it was heavy. The only sound was the soft purr of the engine and the occasional rhythmic clicking of Sean's typing.
Lara wanted to talk to Mr park ,but seeing so focused on his driving ,she decided to not distract him """ I guess conversing with foreigners must be hard for him she thought his English wasn't so good and Lara already lied about not being fluent in Korea ,the poor man must be avoiding straining his brain trying to talk to her in English .
The drive was long ,but Lara felt it was too short cause she kept on looking out of the window and behaving like a child on an adventure,Mr park noticed how she behaved through the rare view mirror , whenever they came across a restaurant or a park how thrilled she looked he smiled at her and nodded his head side ways
After about an hour of navigating the dense,
glowing arteries of the city, the car slowed. They pulled into a quiet, upscale neighborhood in Mapo. The buildings here were modern masterpieces of glass and stone, with manicured trees lining the sidewalks.
Mr. Park turned the steering wheel with a practiced hand and pulled up in front of a towering, minimalist apartment complex.
"We are here," Mr. Park announced, his voice snapping Sean out of his digital world.
Sean locked his phone and looked up, finally noticing the environment.
"Wait," Sean muttered, checking his phone. "The itinerary said the Grand Hyatt."
Mr. Park looked back at Sean as he was bringing out the luggages "No hotel. Lady Martha say... you stay in company apartment. For 'long-term focus'."
Lara looked out the window as they pulled up to a stunning, minimalist apartment complex with floor-to-ceiling glass windows. It wasn't a hotel room; it was a home. For the next six months.
They both got out of the car and Mr park led them into the apartment.
****************************************
The door clicked shut behind Mr. Park, leaving a sudden, heavy silence in the room. The apartment was breathtaking—minimalist, high-end, and smelling faintly of cedar and expensive wax—but the tension between them made the air feel thin.
Sean stood in the center of the open-plan living room, his hands on his hips as his eyes scanned the space. "I can't believe this," he muttered, shaking his head. "I mean, the view is incredible, but Martha literally sat in her office and told us we'd be at the Hyatt. Then we land, and suddenly we're... here? Living together?"
Lara stood by her suitcase, her fingers nervously picking at a loose thread on her hoodie. She watched Sean as he paced. Mr. Park had just finished showing them around—explaining the smart-home system, showing them the two separate "wings" for their bedrooms, and informing them that a domestic assistant would be sent by the company tomorrow to help them settle in.
Sean stopped pacing and turned to her. His expression was a mix of frustration and genuine concern. "Lara, look," he said, stepping closer. "This is weird. Putting a man and a woman in one apartment for six months without even asking... it's unprofessional. It's awkward. Are you actually comfortable with this? Because if you're not—if you feel even a little bit uneasy—I will call Martha right now and tell her she's out of her mind. I'll demand we get separate suites at the hotel tonight."
As he spoke, slowly Lara's mind drifted off ,he saw him talking but could barely make up what he was saying ,the modern living room seemed to melt away in Lara's mind. The glow from the floor-to-ceiling windows behind him turned into a golden aura. In her imagination, the exhausted, jet-lagged Sean was replaced by a figure of breathtaking power. She saw a glimmering silver crown rest upon his brow, and for a second, the air around him seemed to sparkle with invisible dust and dancing fairies.
So cool she thought to herself """
Lara was smiling to herself as she thought about how cool Sean looked right now in her head ,he was always looking out for her and maybe just maybe he also likes her ,
Her mind drifted to her second day two years ago at work when he approached her smiling and introduced himself """
Lara right ?____Hi I'm Sean Anderson I saw your designs there really good,raw talents like yours are really hard to find these days I hope we get along just fine ,congratulations on being part of the team .
It was a simple welcome but it meant the world to Lara ,she had worked hard her whole life to work with this company and when she finally got the job due to her dress winning the The Verdant Hour fashion competition, she had expected a grand welcoming but most of the employees ignored her completely after they saw her in person due to her bad fashion sense
some made remarks like ______
""""Are you sure this Frumpy won the competition _____ you look scruffy
One went as far as asking her if she really designed that dress and if she didn't steal the designs just to work there ____
Lara was heartbroken about it ,they judged her just because of the way she dressed and appeared,They didn't even try to get to know her and avoided her at all cost ,she was the gossip for a whole two months and eventually everything died down and she became used to their judging eyes and cheap gossip
I had my reasons for always wearing baggy clothes and putting on jeweries that were off I just didn't want to look attractive in any way due to fear ,I never made any friends in my three years of working there only the cleaner Jack seemed to talk to me every other person went on like I didn't exist except when they needed something from me or send me on an errand or help then finish a design ,""" well every other person except Sean .
I fell for him the very first day I saw him, his perfect""" everyone has a crush on him I had given up the thought long ago about ever having any thing to do with him because he is a hot shot and a weird looking freak like me who's too afraid to dress up and look good could never have him, but here I am in an apartment about to spend six months with the man of my dreams .
I might be dying but I truly grateful for being here right now with him
Lara ___lara___lara!!
Are you okay have you been listening to me ?
Lara finally snapped back into reality,she blinked twice and looked up to Sean who now looked worried,he was standing too close staring intensely at her which made her step back .
Ummmmm yeah I am I have been listening
____Sorry I got distracted for a while
I...I...I'm...cool with the apartment after all we have out separate rooms and we only have to share the kitchen and most times we would still be in the office so it doesn't really bother me .
She explained briefly.
Lara looked up at him. She saw the exhaustion in the slight shadows under his eyes and the way his shoulders were slumped from the eleven-hour flight, yet he still looked good breath taken good"""
She looked for any sign of disgust or discomfort at the idea of being stuck with her, but he just looked tired, she wondered if he had gotten any sleep on the flight at all
"I'm okay, Sean," she said, her voice quiet but steady. """
Sean studied her for a moment, searching for any hint of a lie. Finally, he let out a long, weary sigh. "Well, you're a lot more patient than I am. If you're sure... then I guess we're roommates. But if it gets weird or you change your mind, you tell me immediately, okay?"
"I will," she lied softly.
Inside, Lara's heart was racing with a kind of joy she hadn't felt in years. She had been terrified that he would find the idea of living with her repulsive, or that he'd be so uncomfortable he'd refuse to stay. But he was staying. For the next six months, she wouldn't just be his "talented designer"—she would be a part of his daily life. She would see him in the mornings, share meals, and maybe, just maybe, the proximity would make him finally see her as more than a coworker.
He's not uncomfortable with me, she thought, a small glow of warmth spreading through her chest. He just wants me to be okay.
"I think I'll just... take my things in," Lara said, gesturing toward the room Mr. Park had designated as hers. "You should get some rest, too. It's been a long day."
"Yeah," Sean replied, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm going to crash. See you later Roomie."""
Lara gave him a small, shy nod and wheeled her suitcase toward her wing of the apartment, leaving Sean alone in the vast, glowing living room. As she shut her bedroom door, she leaned against it and closed her eyes. She had 364 days left, and for the first time, it felt like the universe was actually on her side.