➵ yoongi
i remained calm right up until the plane landed. it was only then that it really hit me – i had left home. i was on my own in a city that was a stranger to me, hundreds of miles away from my home.
i tried not to be rude as i pushed past the other passengers who were waiting to get off the plane. i just wanted to get my suitcase and get out of there. airports were a weird place to me: it was an in-between place where time and space seemed to slow and nothing felt real. when we were younger, yoonho and i used to joke that the airport was an alternate dimension and all the workers were aliens that had abducted us.
my suitcase looked like every other suitcase on the baggage belt: black and medium sized. the only distinguishing feature it bore was a bright yellow ribbon tied around the handle. i yanked it off the slowly turning conveyor belt and took off towards the doors. i needed to get a cab and find myself some hotel to stay in; i would have to stay there while i looked for an apartment.
i directed myself to a waiting taxi outside the arrivals door. the driver, a young-looking man with dark hair, took my suitcase and swiftly tucked it in the trunk. clapping my shoulder, he politely smiled at me. "where can i take you?"
i blinked. "um, the nearest hotel that isn't too expensive. please."
the man chortled. "we'll find you something. climb in. my name is jin-ki." he extended his hand towards me and i shook it quickly.
"yoongi," i mumbled as i put my seatbelt on. i fumbled with the latch, awkwardly shoving the belt around until it found its way into the lock.
jin-ki swiftly pulled away from the curb, guiding us out of the vast parking lot. "so, yoongi, what's your story? you seem a little out of it."
i blushed, ducking my head. "yeah... i'm a bit nervous? i don't know– i just left home and i came out here on my own, it's just so scary and new."
without looking at me, jin ki nodded and clicked his tongue. "i know exactly how you feel. a few years ago my brother and i moved out here. wanted to see the big city and live on our own. best decision i ever made. you'll get through it, yoongi. just find yourself a good friend you can really trust and you're set." he quickly shot me a earnest smile as we pulled out of the parking lot and turned onto the main road. "seoul's a big place that can seem a little daunting, but it's really just like any other city. it's a great place to stake out a life for yourself."
i sat in silence, letting his words sink in. taking a deep breath in, i allowed myself to smile. maybe he was right: maybe this would be exactly what i need. maybe i would be able to reinvent myself and begin anew, free of pain and guilt.
"how's this place sound?"
i tipped my head to look out the window, gazing up at a large hotel with gorgeous twinkling lights strung up around the entrance and gigantic trees on each side. it looked safe and welcoming. there were enough cars in the parking lot that it wasn't abandoned, but yet not full.
"it sounds perfect."
**
my room consisted of a small bathroom, a kitchenette, a double bed and a desk. it wasn't homey by any means, but it was all i had until i found an apartment. maybe i should get a roommate; rent would be cheaper.
i unpacked a few shirts and hung then up in the small coat closet, set up my bathroom items on the counter, and located my laptop. i took it over to the desk, sitting down on the slightly uncomfortable desk chair. nevertheless i opened up my laptop and powered it on; in the meantime i connected to the hotel wifi.
my fingers flew over the keyboard as i typed my search in the bar.
apartments available in seoul.
website after website came up, displaying countless real estate adverts for cheap apartments. i scrolled through, scanning for something worth checking out. just then, one caught my eye.
FOR RENT- two bedroom apartment in seoul
- roommate wanted!
- 750,000₩/month, utilities included.
call xxx-xxx-xxxx for inquiries
i furrowed my brow, thinking. it wasn't a bad deal. with utilities included, 750 thousand won a month was really cheap. the apartment was probably a dump if the rent was that low.
but what if i missed out on the best deal i'd encounter? every other listing was upwards of 800 or 900 thousand a month, not including utilities. plus, i needed a place soon. the hotel was expensive. taking a deep breath, i decided to contact the landlord.
me: hi, i saw your listing for the apartment? would you by any chance be the landlord? i'd love to see pictures
to my surprise, i received an answer within seconds.
unknown: hello! i'm afraid i'm not the landlord, but i am the person currently renting! i posted the ad :) you're interested? we could arrange to meet or something
me: i am! the rent is a great deal! i've been looking for a place for hours, and they're all so expensive!! & that sounds good! how does tomorrow sound? i just got into my hotel room and i'm exhausted 😩
unknown: tomorrow sounds great! why don't we meet for 1 pm at the cafe on the main street? my name's jimin by the way!
me: sounds like a plan! i'll see you then. i'm yoongi :)
