Siren (on Hold)

Chapter 5. Back to you

2022

The flight was a bit late but thankfully you had a safe landing right in time. With a blue suitcase you walked out of the airport, inhaling the air after hours of being stuck into an confined aircraft.

Here you were, back to Korea...

Seoul

You came back after graduating from university. It was absolutely difficult to lie about travelling to Australia while the plane tickets were of Korea. Neither your mother knew about you stealing the keys of your old house near the ocean nor she knew that you planned on celebrating your one month vacation in Goseong district which was about 159 kilometer away from Seoul city.

Grabbing a cab you travelled the national highways that connected the two districts under welcoming moon.

You did wondered why they never let you go on a beach but something about water and vast blue waves attracted you like the lit lanterns did to Rupunzel. It felt like it belonged to you and it was your second home. However, it was not a fairytale.

The cab was passing through a suburban neighbourhood lined with white painted walls of houses with brightly lighted porches, long ranged driveways and a spacious front yard with fences otherwise marked by lines of shrubberies.

The vehicle pulled over and after taking out the luggage you checked the house. The lawn had grown grass and the exterior looked a little dull in absence of it's owner. You remember the calm days of childhood when you used to play here but the memories of seaweed grimace the past.

Twisting the key the door opened and you gagged upon the dust and smelly captivated air. Shaking the head in disbelief the first lunge were at windows to let the fresh breeze cross. The second lunge was definitely towards the bedroom on the first floor where you didn't entertained the idea of cleaning everything then and there, not to ignore the back pain and jet lag banging the head every second in need of proper rest.

So deciding on cleaning the room right now and cleaning the house the next day you buckled up the last few swirls of vigorous strength. Starting with the bed, wardrobe and floor, ending at the bathroom, you finally decided to call it a night.

Let's say you woke up late around eleven with wobbly legs and pounding mind. Brewing a coffee was required because in front of the eyes laid the disastrous view of living area with covered furniture.

Another groan erupted after putting the mug in the sink and taking off the covers to witness the aesthetic woods and cushions. The comfy couch was still relaxing but instead of resting the butt you sweeped the floor, mowed the lawn, cleaned the swimming pool at backyard with equal intervals of time filled with refreshments.

Overall, it took you to another evening before the mattress dried in sunlight and utensils shinned hygienically. Thankfully, all these had to be done for one month stay.

Finally another day ended with introduction to neighbors and some old faces meeting you with enthusiasm about the upcoming festival.

After coming back home with a bunch of gifts you placed them on dinning table and climbed the stairs up to the room.

The windows were open when you fell asleep on your stomach still not caring about the duvet pressed under you as the night grown old.

Two knocks

That's what got you up from slumber. Looking left and right you wondered what was it until the owl hopped onto the windowsill then a couch and on floor. "Dodo,what are you doing here?"

It's been years since it showed up and always came to protect you before a hazard hit. You wondered what danger was on its way this time.

It walked around the bed as you patted the mattress for it to come closer. The owl slid your phone and tapped on it with his beak. You frowned what was it doing but again it shift the device towards your hand. In utter confusion you opened the phone and it tapped the icons with the pad of his claw to not leave scratches. It played an audio from a online audiobook," I hope there are days when your coffee tastes like magic, your playlist makes you dance, a stranger makes you smile and the night sky touches your soul. I hope you fall in love with being alive again."