A Thousand Miles And One Kilometer

Thousand Miles
a/n: Best listen to Taeyeon's Time Spent Walking Through Memories. Click this link for the song with English trans, on youtube I'm too lazy to include translations. This is short and quite rushed sorry for the typos and grammatical errors. Bold and italicized are spoken in English.

 

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The sun has started to set slowly, fading in the horizon and the streets are starting to change colors. It's quite fascinating being lost in the heart of Berlin. 

After what felt like forever since she last went on a vacation, Jessica Jung is finally in her much wanted and awaited Europe trip. She's always wanted to go tour Europe all by herself for her very much needed "me-time". To say she's happy is an understatement when talking about her fashion brand Blanc & Eclare, but admittedly, as much as she loves her fashion business it's been a very tiring non-stop run for her since the business started operating.

Jessica walks some more, she takes in her surrounding with a breath of fresh air- Berlin air, her first day in Berlin is a time well spent exploring the area nearby her hotel. Checking the time on her wrist watch, it shows the time is already a quarter past six, tomorrow is a new day and there's more to see in Berlin, but now seems like a good time for dinner and retire for the night.

-

Waking up on a Friday morning with no alarm interrupting your sleep, no schedule to follow, no work waiting, maybe Jessica is waking up to the best morning ever, indeed she thanks God it's Friday.

Jessica takes her time getting ready for today's adventures- no rush showers, no fancy make ups, and no leaving on an empty stomach. Clad in a white shirt and blue jeans from her own brand, paired with her favorite pair of nike shoes and a Chanel sling bag full of her essentials, Jessica is all set to start her second day exploring Berlin.

The first place she visits is the historical Berlin Wall and the colorful East Side Gallery. Jessica's eyes wander at the series of striking artworks that stretches for more than a kilometer long and it's definitely worth all the walking she did. The artworks varies in style and theme but it's mostly sending the message of love and peace, and some political themed. Jessica had a lot of fun walking and snapping pictures of the artworks, it feels therapeutic to simply be walking and appreciate arts in a foreign place.

The sun is still high up when she finished the long stretch of artworks on the wall. Jessica takes her time having her lunch at a local bistro around the area while she browse the internet searching for her next tourist spot to visit. After clearing her plate, Jessica takes a short vehicle ride going to Brandenburg Gate where she will again start her afternoon Berlin exploration by foot.

Armed with her smartphone snapping photos left and right, Jessica starts walking around the Brandenburg Gate. She leisurely walks with no rush in her steps and heavy load to carry, Jessica explores and admire Berlin. Strolling around with no worries, no definite direction to take, simply letting her feet take her to places.

It's been twenty or more minutes of walking and taking pictures when Jessica reaches the Berlin Cathedral and stumbles upon a small crowd gathering. There's sound coming from the crowd, and the closer she gets the better she hears it - there's a voice coming from a portable sound system.

 Jessica gets even closer and joins the small crowd. A few heads are blocking her view but she figures it's a busker performing for the crowd when the voice coming from the speaker announced its their last song for the day.

"This is my last song and I would like to thank you all for listening. The song is in my native language titled Time Spent Walking Through Memories. I hope you can enjoy the song even if it's not in your language."

Jessica can tell that the singer is also a foreign in this land and she decides to stay to listen. The singer clears and started singing.

 

아직도 너의 소리를 듣고

아직도 너의 손길을 느껴

오늘도 난 너의 흔적 안에 살았죠

 

아직도 너의 모습이 보여

아직도 너의 온기를 느껴

오늘도 난 너의 시간 안에 살았죠

 

And Jessica is in awe when it registered to her that the singer is singing in Korean - the singer is Korean. Jessica moves a little bit closer, her smaller frame working to her advantage as she squeezes in to get a better view of the busker.

 

길을 지나는 어떤 낯선 이의 모습 속에도

바람을 타고 쓸쓸히 춤추는 저 낙엽 위에도

뺨을 스치는 어느 저녁에 그 공기 속에도

내가 보고 듣고 느끼는 모든 것에

니가 있어 그래

 

어떤가요 그댄 어떤가요 그댄

당신도 나와 같나요

어떤가요 그댄

 

Magnetized, Jessica is eager to listen some more. The singing voice is like a sound of heaven to her ears. To hear home in a foreign land feels heavenly. Not to mention how good the singer sounds, calm yet emotional.

 

길가에 덩그러니 놓여진 저 의자 위에도

물을 마시려 무심코 집어든 유리잔 안에도

나를 바라보기 위해 마주한 그 거울 속에도

귓가에 살며시 내려앉은 음악 속에도

니가 있어

 

어떡하죠 이젠 어떡하죠 이젠

그대는 지웠을텐데

어떡하죠 이제 우린

 

Jessica is beyond captivated by the soulful singing, and when she finally made it in front to see the singer her breathing hitched.

Slim figure sitting on a stool with microphone in hand, the singer looks immersed to her singing. Blonde hair in a loose bun with some locks escaping to frame her small face with her eyes closed in concentration and appreciation.

 

랄라라라라라라라

랄라라라랄라라라

랄라라라랄라라라 라

어떡하죠 이젠

랄라라라라라라라

랄라라라랄라라라

랄라라라랄라라라 라

어떡하죠 이젠

 

그리움의 문을열고

너의 기억이 날찾아와

자꾸 눈시울이 붉어져

어떡하죠 이젠

그리움의 문을 열고

너의 기억이 날 찾아와

자꾸만 가슴이 미어져

어떡하죠 이젠

 

More than just the words sang in their shared language, Jessica can hear the emotion in every line sang and understands the message being conveyed.

 

그리움의 문을 열고

너의 기억이 날 찾아와

자꾸 눈시울이 붉어져

그리움의 문을 열고

너의 기억이 날 찾아와

자꾸만 가슴이 미어져

 

랄라라라라라라라

랄라라라랄라라라

랄라라라랄라라라 라

랄라라라라라라라

랄라라라랄라라라

랄라라라랄라라라 라

랄라라라라라라라

랄라라라랄라라라

랄라라라랄라라라 라

랄라라라라라라라

랄라라라랄라라라

랄라라라랄라라라 라

 

The song comes to an end, and Jessica almost forgetting how to breathe. She was holding her breath the very moment her eyes locked on the singer who was lost in her own little world while singing. The sight of her singing was as breathtaking as her voice. If it's possible to fall for a voice at first listen, maybe Jessica is now in love.

Jessica joined the crowd of cheers as they clapped for the singer who is now standing and giving everyone bows of gratitude. Some watchers went to the opened guitar case to leave some bills and coins, and the woman would give them smiles in return. The whole time, Jessica stands rooted watching until the small crowd starts dispersing and the busker started to clean up as well.

Jessica walks closer, she takes a few korean bills stashed in her purse and drops it on the guitar case before the busker can close it.

It took the other woman by surprise, to receive pieces of home - or reminder thereof in this foreign land while Jessica stood waiting. When she stands and they leveled Jessica's eyes found the most expressive pair of eyes she had ever locked in a stare with. Doe like eyes and button nose, Jessica can't help but stare. She is staring.

Jessica was then rewarded with a smile from the busker who thanked her. "Thank you miss." the woman says.

Figuring she's Korean too, Jessica responds in their native Korean language. "You're welcome, honestly it's a small value for your great performance." 

The busker didn't appear surprised anymore yet smiled in relief. "Thank god I don't have to answer you in my very limited English" She grins wider. "I hope you enjoyed my singing."

Jessica's smile grew bigger. "I certainly did! You were amazing and I can tell you're a seasoned singer with how good you sound. How I wish I came here earlier I could have heard more of your singing" She's nothing short of praises for the other girl who started blushing, still not accustomed to hearing praises.

"Well yeah, I've been singing for a while." The busker replies as she continues packing her things starting with collecting her earnings for the day from the opened guitar case.

Jessica is fast on her feet to help her. "Here let me help you." She takes the microphone and music sheets to hand it to the other woman who was putting her quitar back in its case. It didn't take long for them to clean up.

"You didn't have to but thanks for helping me" the busker says. "I'm Kim Taeyeon." She then introduces with a smile, holding her hand up.

Jessica takes the hand on her own firmly to shake, it's soft and warm. "I'm Jessica Jung, nice to meet you Taeyeon." A warm fuzzy feeling settles at the pit of her stomach as they exchange smiles.

"Likewise Jessica." The busker now with a name and is called Taeyeon replies. With one more shake they let go of each others hand. Taeyeon started walking with her guitar case on her back and the speakers bag on her other hand.

Jessica matches Taeyeon's steps until they reached an intersection. The sky has turned darker this time with a hue of orange on the horizon, for Jessica it feels like they're parting. She's a bit disappointed she wanted to know more about Taeyeon and how she came to be busking in Berlin.

In a country like Korea where the entertainment industry produces hundreds and thousands of idol singers, what are the odds of meeting a fellow Korean busking in the streets of Berlin? All the singers she heard fail in comparison to the woman in front of her.

"I hope to hear more of your singing in the future, Taeyeon. And maybe know of your busking journey, it's not an everyday thing to encounter a Korean busking in the streets of Germany." Jessica expresses her sincere thoughts to Taeyeon.

"Tomorrow's another day to have a good time busking here in Berlin." Taeyeon says with a smile as she starts walking.

"Where will you set up tomorrow?" Jessica asks, determined to be an audience of Taeyeon again.

Taeyeon stops on her track to look back and answer. "I'm not really sure, still haven't decided where. I can be anywhere here thousands of miles away from home. You found me earlier, I trust you can find me tomorrow." Taeyeon grins before waving bye. "You have a good time in Berlin. See you around Jessica."

"Alright, have a good night Taeyeon!" And Jessica believes in Taeyeon's words as she watches the retreating figure getting farther.

They are both Koreans who are thousands of miles away from Korea who met in a foreign country, what's a kilometer or two more of exploring Berlin to find Taeyeon? Jessica has a good feeling for tomorrow, and the coming days.

In a foreign land where she's meant to find and enjoy what the country has to offer, the best experience she's had is in the form of a Korean busking in the streets of Germany.

Kim Taeyeon is her best find so far, she can't wait for tomorrow to come.

 

 

 

 

 

 

*marking this complete, but maybe there's more to come. Comments are very much appreciated, they're good boost to my confidence hope you leave me some.

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Psp2Sv
#1
Chapter 1: No one can ever resist Taengoo's heavenly voice, Sica's already in love omoooooooo so cuteeeeee
Rpr363
#2
Chapter 1: I'm looking forward to their second meeting
jjae96
#3
Chapter 1: aw, i was hoping for a longer one. my taengsic heart.
yenthuong #4
Imagine Taeyeon and Jessica busking together...
mzlyod #5
Chapter 1: Of course we neeed from u nim
zero309
#6
Chapter 1: This is nice.. ^^
odioday
#7
Chapter 1: sounds like the busking variety show is giving author's inspiration for making this stories from that backgrounds, well I hope there's epilogue or more from this, thank u author-nim. I really enjoyed reading your story hehe.
Bumella #8
Chapter 1: Ahh that's itttt.. haha jkjk..
At least taengoo gets some korean notes from sica
choco-munchkin #9
Chapter 1: This is cute. Hoping to see more of this.
wqwqwq12
#10
Chapter 1: remind me of my favorite song when i was in highschool haha