“Merry Christmas, Jungeun.”

 

And for what had felt like eternity, Jungeun was brought back into her senses when the taxi has sped off away from her spot.

 

“That’s it?! Yah!”

 

She yelled in frustration, thinking that she just lost something she never even had in the first place. It’s weird, Jungeun thought. She had never felt like this before – not even with Jiwoo. It’s not like she doesn’t love her enough, or doesn’t reciprocate the same enthusiasm that Jiwoo has been giving in their relationship; it’s just that, she’s still nagged by this thought of ‘what ifs’ with the stranger she just met a while ago. It wasn’t something she could just let slip past her, there must be something that the universe wanted to tell to her.

 

As she pondered on her thoughts, she headed back on the café they went earlier, realizing that she should bring something for Jiwoo in exchange of giving the gift, aka the gloves, to a stranger instead of her. Besides, the chocolate cookie she ate earlier were so good, and she’s sure that her girlfriend would’ve liked it as well.

 

After paying at the cashier, she headed out and when she was near the exit, a blue scarf caught her eye. It was so damn familiar, not to mention that it was hanging on the same seat they were on earlier. She figured out that the stranger left her scarf so she picked it up and planned to go back to the mall so she can leave it at the customer service desk, leaving the job of finding its owner to the customer reps.

 

Jungeun was startled when someone has barged in the café dorm, making the chimes angrily bang each other. To her surprised, she was met with an equally shocked pair of eyes from the navy-blue haired girl she was pining on for. She blinked twice, as if her eyes were playing tricks on her.

 

The stranger stepped forward, reached in for the scarf Jungeun was unconsciously handing out and beamed a smiled. The blonde thought that if the stranger would keep doing it, she might pass out at any moment.

 

“Oh… hey.”, Jungeun managed to utter.

 

“Hey...”, the woman replied.

 

Thinking that this is fate taking its course, Jungeun took a leap of faith.

 

“Let’s go do something.”

 

“Alright.”

 

“What do you wanna do?”

 

“I don’t care.”, the woman teased, it was intimidating but Jungeun took it as a positive response.

 

“Alright, come on.”

 

Jungeun took the hand of the stranger, which made the other caught off guard but instead of resisting, she just laughed it off and followed the blonde.

 

They walked on the streets of Itaewon side by side, not minding the cold air seeping into their clothes, temporarily putting each of their own task at hand at a halt, just for tonight. It didn’t register to Jungeun that she was still holding the girls’ right hand, and her other stuff on the left, including Jiwoo’s cookies.  The other girl seemed not to be bothered as well but instead tightened the grip, and slipped both of their hands on the pocket of her coat to keep them warm. Jungeun didn’t mind though, it made her feel fuzzy and warm at the same time.

 

“Now, promise me you’re not just visiting here for a week…or marrying somebody to get a domestic residency, or a commie.”, the blonde asked.

 

“None of the above. You?”

 

“No, no, no. Proud citizen of the Cheongju. No criminal record.”

 

“So, you won’t tell me your name.”

 

The navy-blue haired girl just giggled. “Well, tell me. What do you miss right now?”

 

“I miss my mom terribly.”

 

“If I were her, I’d miss you too.”

 

Oh, good heavens, stop killing me, Jungeun thought.

 

“Okay, moving on. Your favorite movie.”

 

“Parasite.”

 

“I’ve never seen it.”, The stranger mocked, which earned a playful slap at the arm from the stranger.

 

“Oh my gosh, come on! Are you in a hole or something?”, Jungeun scoffed.

 

“Ha ha. Of course I'm joking! Um, favorite moment?”

 

“Mm-mmm… this one’s climbing the charts.”

 

The stranger’s cheeks were beet red right now, she took a deep breath to calm her nerves. Surely, Jungeun really knows how to get into her head.

 

“I’m flattered.”

 

“Is there anything else you need to know about me?”

 

“Uhuh, favorite position?”

 

“Yah! I almost fell for you but you’re a ert!”, Jungeun chided.

 

The duo continued filling up their imaginary slum book until they ended up on a skating rink near the Itaewon’s square. They both agreed to spend the remaining hours of the night with laughter and endless bantering through ice skating. The stranger was surprisingly good, no, astoundingly good at skating. Jungeun couldn’t catch up at the gliding woman. She has the perfect form, perfect , as if she were born to do it.

 

“Is that your best shot?”, the navy-blue haired girl yelled, backward skating and then strode to do an axel jump, which sent the blonde in awe.

 

Jungeun could only skate like normal people do, but she won’t go home without giving her a fight, “Try me!”

 

The blonde glided, slowly gaining speed, and when the stranger sensed that Jungeun could catch up with her at any second, she turned and scoot over to increase the gap between them. But while she’s so determined to get away as fast as she can from the blonde, she didn’t see pitted ice in front of her and it was already too late because she tripped and tumble down to the ground quite harshly. Luckily, there was no serious injury from it, some slight bruises and that…one bleeding gash.

 

“Woah, woah! Are you alright?

 

The woman tried to get up but she flinched, “Uhuh, yes.”

 

“Did you hurt yourself?”

 

“N-no. I mean, yes. A bit, I guess?”

 

“You did? Let’s take a look.”  Jungeun immediately went beside the girl and looked at the cut on her arm.

 

“Ouch.”

 

“Oh my– that’s a deep gash! Come on.”

 

Jungeun took the stranger’s arm around her shoulder and helped her stand up. Slowly, the stranger regained her footing but she felt imbalanced so she almost tripped again in the process, accidentally clutching tighter on the blonde’s other arm. Jungeun paused, eyes gazing towards the stranger, but was soon interrupted by the kids skating towards them.

 

"Let’s get you out of here.”

 

Both of them are now seated on one of the benches around the rink to rest. When they have settled, Jungeun picked up her handkerchief and carefully pat in on the navy-blue haired woman’s wound. The blonde took glances on the girl as she padded on it just to check if the pressure she was putting into it was not that hard. She tended the wound cautiously, trying not to hurt the other woman, and when it was free from traces of blood, she lifted it closer to her face and gently blew some air on it.

 

To be honest, the gash didn’t hurt as much as it should. But the stranger became fond of the attention that the blonde has been giving to her. Not that she minded being pampered by the hottest woman she had seen tonight – those blonde locks, her gummy smile, and that cutesy prominent eyebrows every time she pouts? Oh gosh, those were to die for, the stranger thought. Her musings were suddenly interrupted by the warm air hovering on her wound. It was then wrapped by the silk handkerchief from Jungeun’s pocket, and the navy-blue haired woman couldn’t help but feel something weird blooming in her chest – it stings – but in a good kind of way.

 

“There you go. Oh wait, I left something here.” Jungeun saw a smear and some spots near the improvised bandage that she probably missed

 

The stranger giggled, still amused at the furrowed brows by the blonde while keenly looking at her arm. “What? Oh, you’re looking at my freckles?”

 

“Ah! I thought it is a smear. Haha!”

 

“It’s the curse of my family, I'm afraid. Fair skin and bad teeth.”

 

“What? No! You have great teeth. And... those aren’t just freckles.” Jungeun picked her fountain pen from her pocket and softly grabbed the navy-blue haired girl’s arm and drew a , as if she’s connecting the dots on her arm.

 

“If you look closely, you can see Cassiopeia.”

 

“What?,” the stranger was curious but charmed with this another telltale from the blonde.

 

“Okay. All right, here's the story. A long time ago in Ethiopia, there was this queen named Cassiopeia, and there wasn't anybody in the kingdom who wasn't offended by this woman's relentless vanity.”

 

A .

 

“And then one day, she really screwed up and offended the gods. I don't remember what she did and I don't remember who she offended. But it was bad. She crossed the line. But anyway, Poseidon, the sea god, punished Cassiopeia...”

 

Another .

 

“...by placing her in the Heavens upside down on her throne, stuck for eternity with her skirt around her shoulders... and all the blood rushing to her head.”

 

Jungeun stopped drawing and then shifted her attention, all eyes to the woman in front of her. The blonde was mesmerized by her overall presence, and there was something in her eyes that draws her even closer to her. No matter how wrong it could be in so many ways she could think of.

 

And another .

 

“...And now she's just a constellation in the sky, a bunch of Korean freckles in the shape of a throne. So, she made one tragic mistake –“

 

The stranger, on the other hand, had released the breath she didn't know she was holding on throughout Jungeun’s short folktale.

 

“And paid for eternity.”

 

“Correct.”

 

Both of them looked at the work of art that Jungeun had just drawn on the navy blue haired girl’s arm and for a moment, they were wrapped on a comfortable silence. No one bothered to speak anything, because they’re confused as hell as to why their hearts were beating so fast. They asked themselves if it was  even right to feel this way?

 

- - -

 

“I can’t believe I’m doing this.”

 

The stranger leaned forward on the street post and wrote her name and phone number on a price tag she torn from the gloves. Apparently, Jungeun succeeded on convincing the navy blue haired girl on giving her info as a ‘Christmas gift’ while they are on their way back to the taxi cab station.

 

“Now, please, please, just write it and stop whining.”, Jungeun said while waiting for the stranger to hand it over.

 

“Fine, let fate take its proper course.”

 

However, when the stranger was about to give it to Jungeun, a strong gust of wind went by to them and it blew the paper away out of the stranger’s hand together with the leaves on the sidewalk, making it hard for the pair to retrieve it.

 

“Oh!”

 

“What the… oh come on!”

 

Jungeun groaned in frustration, brushed her hand through her hair, and faced the equally shocked blonde.

 

“Look, that was an accident. Write down again, please.”

 

“I-I…. I can’t.” The navy blue haired girl turned around and started to walk away from the blonde. Panic took over Jungeun so she ran towards the girl and held her on both of her arms to make her face her.

 

“No, no, no. Please, if I have to kneel then I’ll do it.”

 

“Can’t you see it? That was a sign. Fate’s telling us to back off.”, the navy blue haired girl slid Jungeun’s hand off her and turned around, but Jungeun was quick to step froward again and block her way.

 

“If faith didn’t want us to be together, then why did we meet tonight?”

 

The stranger paused for a moment and pondered on what Jungeun had said. The blonde has indeed a point.

 

“Gotcha.”

 

“Well, I don’t know.”

 

“It’s not an exact science. It’s a feeling.”

 

“Well, what if you’re wrong?”, the stranger challenged the blonde.

 

“Huh? What if it’s all in our hands an we just walk away? No names, no phone numbers, nothing. What do you think’s gonna happen? Do you think good ‘ol fate is just gonna deliver my information right to your doorstep?”, Jungeun rebutted.

 

It was like a light bulb has clicked on the stranger’s mind and her face immediately lit at the idea she had in mind.

 

“Do you know that’s the best idea you had all night?”, the stranger snickered as she rummaged through her bag and picked a 10,000 won-bill.

 

“What’s the best–“

 

“Here you go. Write your name and number down.” The navy blue haired girl handed over the money and a pen to a confused Jungeun.

 

“On a 10,000 won bill?”

 

“Mmh. Just do it. Hurry.”

 

“You are a strange and interesting woman.” Jungeun took it and shook her head but amidst that, a smile crept on her face while she writes her name on the paper bill. “Now what?”

 

“Wait there.”

 

The woman took the money and suddenly crossed the street without giving much time for Jungeun to resist. Jungeun just stared quizzically on the woman, who is now buying a fish cake on a mini stall across the street. On the other hand, the navy blue haired girl used the money with Jungeun’s name on it to pay for the fish cake, making Jungeun question the sanity of the stranger she might have a crush on. Jungeun mouthed profanities on the girl, but the stranger just continued chewing on the fish cake and winked at her. After getting her change, she went back to Jungeun.

 

“What the hell was that?!”

 

“When that paper bill makes it back into my hands, i’ll be able to call you. And when you hear my voice on the other end, then that’s the time we can call it our ‘fate’.”

 

“Wait, what about me?”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

Jungeun scoffed, heaved a sigh, but soon relaxes when she saw the confused look on the other woman. She can’t believe how this woman in front of her can act all crazy and then cute all of a sudden.

 

“Well, we have to send something out in the universe with your name on it, don’t we?”

 

The stranger frowned.

 

“Come on, isn’t that the only fair thing to do?”

 

“That is the only fair thing to do.”

 

They now resumed walking with Jungeun following the navy blue haired girl as she waited for her response. They walked past the mall they went earlier, and even the taxi cab waiting area, until they reach the Hotel Astoria just 2 blocks away from the other taxi station. Jungeun almost tripped on the stranger’s back when she suddenly stopped at a book stall.

 

“Ooh, I have a really good idea.”

 

“What?”

 

The navy blue haired girl bought from the stall and after that, she faced Jungeun back and showed the book, Gabriel García Márquez’s ‘Love in the Time of Cholera’.

 

“Okay, see this book?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“M’kay. So when I get home tonight, i’m gonna write my name and number inside this book. And then first thing tomorrow morning, i’ll sell it to a used bookstore.”

 

“Which one? You’re not gonna tell me?”

 

The navy blue haired girl just shook her head.

 

“Why not?”

 

“Well, now, every time you go past an old bookstore, you’re gonna go inside to see if it’s there.”

 

“This is just wrong.”, Jungeun sighed. “You don’t just have the most incredible night of your life with a perfect stranger and then leave it all to chance, do ‘ya?”

 

The stranger didn’t answer but instead took Jungeun’s hand and dragged her inside the hotel they just passed by.

 

“Come with me.”

 

“What, we’re gonna get a room?”

 

The stranger stopped and crossed her arms while facing Jungeun.

 

“Woah, i’m just kidding!”, Jungeun defended. “But I seriously wanna know you more.”

 

“Fine, come on.”

 

When they entered the hotel, the navy blue haired girl pulled Jungeun towards the corner, with a lift from the both wings facing each other. She then dragged Jungeun in front of the lift on the left wing. Then she headed out on the right wing. Jungeun tried to follow her but she stopped the blonde.

 

“You stay there.”

 

“Okay.”, Jungeun tried to dismiss it but…

 

“No, no! Stay there. Don’t make me come over there.”

 

Jungeun raised both of her hands, surrendering all at once.

 

“Alright, if we both randomly picked the same floor, then we’re meant to be together now.”

 

“You’re insane.”

 

“Come, on. Now, get in.”

 

Jungeun hesitated but when she sees the stranger took a step towards the lift, she did the same.

 

“Take a deep breath, and then when the door closes, hit a button.”

 

“I don’t understand this.”

 

“You don’t have to understand. You just have to have faith.”

 

The stranger threw the paper bag, which took Jungeun by surprise but still able to catch it. Jungeun peeked at it only to see the other pair of the gloves they bought earlier. The other pair was being waved by the navy blue haired girl on the other end.

 

“Faith in what?”, Jungeun shouted.

 

“Destiny!”

 

Jungeun then again heaved a deep sigh, not knowing if she would really bet on luck or just believe in fate, as the other girl mentioned. She’s not used to it – having such things beyond from her control – that’s why she’s really dubious about giving fate the benefit of the doubt on what should and what shouldn’t happen. When the lift’s doors close were about to close, she heard the other girl call her one more time.

 

“Hey!”

 

“Yes?!”

 

“It’s Jinsol. My name’s Jinsol.”

 

Jungeun cursed inwardly because for goodness’ sake, that name fits perfectly on the bearer. Jinsol…Jinsol…Jinsol… That name kept ringing on Jungeun’s mind and she would really hate herself if she wouldn’t choose the right floor on the elevator. So she stared for a moment at it, and decided to press the ‘23’ button.

 

Luckily for Jungeun, Jinsol picked the same number. Same as with the other girl, it gave Jinsol a different kind of rush when she saw how Jungeun’s defeated face lighted up when she told her her name. She must admit that meeting Jungeun tonight is something – she had never, ever felt that kind of rush and connection for so long, not to mention the wit and the humor that girl has, which felt like she haven’t laughed or smiled like that for years. Not even from her boyfriend.

 

When she reached the 23^rd floor, she breathed in first before stepping out, only to be met by disappointment for seeing no one in front of her. But she still stepped out of the lift and gave herself some convincing that maybe, Jungeun’s lift just got sidetracked for a bit. So she’s willing to wait a little more, just a little allowance for their fate to work. Besides, it’s not a complete perfect science as she has mentioned earlier.

 

“Okay, five minutes. That’s it Jinsol. Five minutes.”

 

On the other hand, Jungeun’s lift was steady going up and she couldn’t help but get giddy and anxious and hyper, all of them mixed up, at the thought of meeting Jinsol at the same floor. She really had a strong feeling that they both chose the same floor, not until it stopped at the 15^thfloor.

 

“Oh come on!”

 

A man with his son on a Superman uniform had their eyes bawl out of their sockets when they were met by a panicking Jungeun at the lift.

 

“Gosh, i’m sorry just…come in.” Jungeun signaled then inside. “This is going up, may I remind you.”

 

“Oh, that’s okay. Josh likes to ride either way. Right, son?”

 

“Yaaaaaaaah!”, the child growled but soon laughed together with her dad.

 

Jungeun facepalmed but decided not to talk anymore, she can’t afford to have anymore delays. She closed the door but suddenly, the kid went beside her and pushed random buttons on the panel.

 

“Yah! Don’t do that! Stop it, you fre-“

 

“Hey, calm down, he’s just a kid!”  The man butted in.

 

“Okay, okay, just… stay there.” Jungeun hissed and pressed ‘23’ again and the lift started moving up again.

 

17…18…19… *Ding*

 

“Are you kidding me?!”, Jungeun snarled, making the man and its kid took a step back.

 

“Looks like… we’ve stopped.”, the man carefully said.

 

Jungeun leaned her forehead on the panel in frustration and smacked it with her hand. Amazingly, the lift started to move  up again. It startled Jungeun and the other two but they cheered altogether. Jungeun then felt bad for snapping at them earlier, so she decided to tell the reason why she’s all worked up while the lift is going up.

 

20…21…*Ding*

 

“Nooooooo!!!” Jungeun growled. She’s losing her mind at this point.

 

An old woman with her crutches welcomed Jungeun, and as much as she wanted to lash out on her, she couldn’t because it was plain disrespectful. So she waited.

 

A step.

 

Another step.

 

And another step.

 

“Oh come on, Madam! Will you please hurry up? We’re trying to catch someone!”, the man suddenly yelled.

 

The woman, dumbfounded, just stood there in between the door and the lift, and Jungeun had to press the ‘Open’ button just to remain the door open.

 

“Ah, ma’am, over here.”, Jungeun bowed and scratch the back of her head, while she signaled the other man to keep his mouth shut to prevent anymore complications. The man then bowed at the woman, and assisted her at the corner of the lift.

 

“alright, let’s go let’s go let’s go!”, Jungeun quickly pressed the ‘23’ button again and prayed the gods that Jinsol is still there.

 

22…23…*Ding*

 

The man and his kid burst out from the lift to see if there’s any sign of the navy blue haired girl but…

 

“Where is she? Is she here?”, the kid asked.

 

“I think not.”

 

Jungeun had to peek from behind because the two were blocking the way, still not believing what they just had said. But then again, there was no trace of Jinsol in the area.

 

“No, no, I don’t think so. Let’s go back, buddy”

 

“Come on, Josh!”

 

Jungeun didn’t give up yet and decided to check on every floor as they go down. The man and his kid also got passionate on helping her out. And the lower they got on the lift, the more people are helping her out, thanks to Josh who repeated the reason why she’s rummaging every floor of Hotel Astoria at this point in time.

 

Meanwhile, Jinsol had went down already when Jungeun was still at the 20^th floor. Too close but not enough (that she didn’t know). She sighed in defeat as she waited for the lift to reach the ground floor. Was she wrong to solely rely on fate? She really didn’t know. What she’s sure of is that if they are meant to be, then they will be.

 

When she reached the hotel’s front door, she took one final glance at the lift longer than she meant to, and then decided to just let it go and headed out of the building, turned right and walked away. But just a few seconds after she went out, Jungeun burst out of the lift, rushing through the sea of people as she scanned thr the area, and when she cannot see Jinsol, she immediately headed out.

 

And then, she saw a navy blue haired girl with a blue scarf so she ran towards her and pulled her to face her.

 

“Jinsol?”

 

“What the hell?”

 

“Uh…I’m sorry.” Damn, not here.

 

And then she saw another woman who has the same built but almost looked liked her only to be disappointed again when she saw that it was not her.

 

“Hey! Watch out!”

 

“Sorry, miss! I really thought you were someone I know.”

 

“Back off!”, another girl’s boyfriend yelled at her so she just bowed, felt sorry for being stupid.

 

She looked around and turned left to at least try her luck to find wherever the girl might have gone. But her chances became smaller and smaller as she passed by these people whom she didn’t know and didn’t care.

 

When Jungeun reached the far end of the street, she pulled out the glove out of the paper bag and wore it. She stared at it and clenched her fist. And then after heaving a deep sigh, a lone tear fell on her cheek.

 

“Merry Christmas, indeed.”

 

 

 

..To be continued..
 

 

 

 

 

A/N:

yay! I decided to just put here the update instead of puttng up a new fic for the series. I apologize for that. Book 2 then will be the other half of the story soooo stay tuned for that. Again, thank you for reading my fic:) comments are all welcome. Xoxo