Inked Hearts, A sign from the Universe

Chapter Seven

The chirping of birds outside stirred me from my slumber. I stretched, letting out a yawn as I rubbed my eyes and glanced at the clock on the wall—it was already 6:30 a.m. With a groggy but determined move, I pushed back the covers and headed for the shower, the water invigorating and cool.

Dressed in my sports attire, I quietly peeked into Lexi's room. True to form, she was still nestled under the blankets, snoring softly—a sound that seemed to resonate with the gentle hum of the early morning. I wrapped the covers around her more snugly before quietly closing the door and heading out. Grandma Kang had already gone to the park, and despite being 30 minutes behind my usual schedule, I was determined to join her.

The weather in Ilsan was as beautiful as ever, with the air crisp and filled with the scent of blooming flowers. I felt a sense of tranquillity as I jogged downhill, the soft sunlight filtering through the trees and casting dappled patterns on the pavement. Lee Hyori's "10 Minutes" pumped through my earphones, its upbeat rhythm perfectly matching my stride.

As I rounded a corner, my peaceful run was interrupted by the sound of a woman's frantic cries: "Hajimaa, Hajimaa!" The urgency in her voice cut through the music, and I instinctively pulled out my earphones, my heart racing.

"Ajumeonim, what happened?" I asked, bewildered by the sight of her red face. That's when I noticed a masked man in front of me.

"Sh*bal, you bastard," I exclaimed angrily, grabbing his arm and swiftly twisting it while kicking his legs to bring him down to the ground. He screamed in pain.

"Apologize right now!" I demanded, my voice firm.

"Jinjja mianhaeyo," the man yelled, his voice filled with regret. 

I then removed his mask, only to discover he was one of the neighbourhood men who checked people early in the morning. Realizing my mistake, I helped him up, feeling embarrassed and apologetic. The ajumeoni thanked me, explaining how the man had startled her unintentionally. I nodded, feeling relieved that no harm was done. The man cursed under his breath, and I felt the weight of embarrassment settle heavily on my shoulders. I wished the earth would swallow me up at that moment.

"Where are you heading, dear?" the woman asked me kindly.

"To the park," I whispered, feeling sheepish.

"Let's go together," she offered, patting my hand with a firm yet gentle grip. Her eyes seemed oddly familiar, sparking a sense of recognition.

As we walked side by side, we began to chat and gradually familiarize ourselves with each other. "Ajumeonim," I began hesitantly. She looked at me curiously.

"I'm really sorry for what just happened," I said earnestly, bowing my head in apology.

She smiled slightly, her demeanour understanding. "No worries, you're a strong girl," she reassured me. 

With her comforting words, we continued our walk to the park together, the awkwardness of the earlier incident easing away in the warmth of her understanding. I found her intriguing, but I was too nervous to ask for her name. Eventually, I discovered she hailed from Ilsan and was a friend of Grandma Kang's. This connection piqued my interest further, adding a layer of familiarity and warmth to our unexpected encounter.

"Do you live in Korea?" she asked again.

"I spent my childhood here but later moved somewhere else," I replied.

"What do you do in life?" she inquired, genuinely curious.

"I work in human resources, and I just completed my PhD," I said.

"Congratulations," she said with a warm smile.

As we walked, the ajumeonim's foot suddenly hit a rock, causing her to lose balance. She grabbed my hand, and thankfully, I noticed just in time to catch her.