"I can't believe I got myself lost." I spin my head around, trying to rapidly figure out my location. I knew I was in the heart of Seoul, and the loud, bustling street pounding against my ears was causing my heart to race—or maybe I'm scared because I'm lost.
My fingers hit the glass screen of my phone and frantically scroll while my eyes bounce from one side to another. Okay if that sign is there...and that fire hydrant is placed right there....then that means.
I'm totally lost.
I feel the twinge of panic settling in my bone marrow; sparking up and down my arms. Tears like bullets welt in my eyes—one accidentally rolling off onto my cheek. Earlier, before I moved to Korea, I told myself I could do this by myself. But never living in the city—I knew I was living on a slim chance before I even booked my flight ticket. No one had moved with me—-I had no friends in Korea—and now I was truly—alone.
Deciding I'm a person of a little more couth than crying on the street, I sloppily wipe my tears with the back of my hands and speed walk down the street; appearing semi-irritated as I slide through the crowds of people.
A man, wearing a black beret stalks towards me, politely and carefully holding his phone in both of his hands. With his build and frame, he could be anywhere from 19-22 years old-–probably on the younger side though. His mouth widens a bit, but before he can even ask me his pressing question—I speed up to walk past him.
But this man doesn't take no for an answer, "e-excuse me?" He cautions from behind me, halting my rush to the nearest bathroom.
Pivoting on my heels I turn to see the man, standing lower in level of me because of the hill incline. The man not only is wearing a black beret, but a pair of sunglasses tinted a shade between black and blue.
I snap at him, hoping my irritation will get him to ask someone else, "What?"
"I was hoping you could take my photo for me?' He asks, gesturing his phone towards me with both hands, his eyes peering through those sunglasses to reveal his great, big—-dazzling eyeballs. Pitch black in color.
"Fine. Be quick about it."
The guy smiles a smile similar to a movie star, and slowly walks up the hill—passing me by when he does so and facing backward when he's finally placed the way he wants for the photo. Gripping the phone with two hands, I raise it to eye-level, look through the screen to verify the correct angle, then snap a couple photos of him—better few than one.
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"Here," I lower the phone, pushing it outwards so he can take it from my hands. The man bounces into a cute little run, and takes the phone from my fingers.
I had no intention of staying with him, or holding a conversation. My purpose was fulfilled—I took his photo and I was done. A look towards the top of the hill—the original direction I was walking in, sends my legs hiking upwards. Intentions still the same, I swerve my head to the left and right praying there's a bathroom to hide myself in, and cry until I feel better—or until my eyes dried out.
Footsteps. There were footsteps walking behind me—following behind me. With each step whoever it was took behind me—my heart rate grew; grew until I thought I was going to pass out. Not afraid of a fight I bring my hands up in fists and spin around, ready to strike whoever is near.
But it's the man again.
"H-h-hey..." he stumbles over his words, stepping back a bit when he witnesses my raised fists.
"What do you need?"
"My name is Kino and....I want to be your friend."
Up and down my eyes search him of anything that should keep me on guard, but he's clean, and it seems his intentions are as well. Something in me unwinds, and releases my tensions, "I'm Coni, what do you need?"
A brief, muffled laugh is sound from behind his surgeon mask. "It's not what I need, it's what you need."
"So what, you're a prophet? I roll my eyes, wanting an easy way out of this situation. Suddenly, the man comes to my side, not too close to where I'm uncomfortable, but close enough to where i can hear him if he speaks lowly—which he does.
"You seem like you need a friend," he whispers, eyes shifting to his hands restlessly picking at his nails.
Shocked, and a bit offended that he read through my facade that quickly—I'm left unable to reply—or to even think of one. Kino was right, I needed someone, I needed someone bad—but I don't want anyone.
"No, no I don't—"
"Look, I know we don't know each other well, but I'm still worried about you. No one deserves to be alone." He professes, taking my sleeve between his heavily knuckled fingers. Those dark eyes I peered in earlier, seemed to be laced with concern, and a heartfelt love for others. The way I acted must've set him off, and I feel worse for being caught than treating him the way I did.
Again, I'm at a loss for words. Too many things have happened today for my mind to be working as clearly as it needs to be. Each one of the gears that runs my thoughts are rusted together, and refuse to budge when a force is applied.
"Call me."
"What?" I finally manage to get out, furrowing my eyebrows downwards. As much as I probably needed to speak with someone, having to take a stranger's number on the street seemed off—very off.
"I'm busy, I really am, I have to go," Kino says, scrambling to pull out a pen and a balled up piece of paper from his pocket. Kino clicks the pen once and scribbles down something on the paper—before returning it back to his back pocket.
"Why?' I ask, swallowing the growing muck in my throat.
"Why what?"
"Why are you nice to me? You don't even know me." I cross my arms, pulling one arm out from underneath to grab the small slip of wrinkled paper from in between his two fingers. The piece of paper is beyond ragged—and was probably balled up in his pocket for a couple days seeing as though how awfully crinkled the paper was.
Kino smirks at me, stuffing his hands in his jean pockets and loosely walking away slowly—not a care in the world."One, everyone needs a friend." He explains, still walking away before he rapidly pivots towards me and raises his shoulders—and then dropping them.
"Plus you're cute."
And that was the last thing I heard from him before he ran off down the hill, dodging and weaving between people to make a fast getaway. I didn't go to the bathroom afterwards. That sole conversation alone was enough to tell me I was never alone, there was someone for everyone.
Even in a country where you know no one.
—————-
Sigh welp, there it is that's the chapter. Hope you enjoyed!
Also, this story is based off the photo she took!!
