Live by intuition and inspiration and let your whole life be Revelation.

Eileen Caddy

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Jieun’s POV

            I held my passport in my left hand as I waited in the seating area of the airport. My visit back to Seoul was short and frustrating in more ways than one. I was actually a little overly excited to return back to Canada, where my family’s influence would be an utmost minimal. As I thought back to the dinner a few nights ago, I couldn’t help but feel extremely agitated. I wanted to slap myself for being dazzled for even a second when Daehyun entered. We both knew the place he held in my heart, and I never wanted it to change. Seeing him all well dressed with his child-like smile made my heart waver, but it wasn’t enough to change my mind about him. My mom always expressed her worry for me being in Canada, that I’d fall in love with a Caucasian man and run off to somewhere like Hawaii never to be heard from again. It was an unlikely possibility that I never considered further than a joke.

            My flight was called two hours after my arrival, and I gladly followed the ushers and stewardess until I entered the airplane. My parents insisted on me flying first class, but I had no interest in unnecessary things such as that. I scanned the aisle until I found my seat and squished in right by the window, my shoulder brushing against it as I sat. I caught a morning flight, so there was no way I’d be falling asleep in the duration of my ride. I’d arrive in Canada at nighttime, but I’d be too jetlagged to sleep. Considering the amount of times I’ve ridden of an airplane, it was amazing that I hadn’t become immune to jetlag. Sighing, I decided to organize my work schedule.

            Our hotel branches existed in various America cities, all around South Korea, and even parts of Australia. As international relations advisor, my parents put me in charge of the foreign branches, so I had the opportunity to travel to and from these countries excessively. My English improved quite a bit, and I’d get compliments about how fluent I was. Of course, travelling between different English-speaking countries often caused me to mix up accents; I still maintained a level of decency in communication. A few months from now would be my bi-annual trip to the Australian branch to collect a report from the manager in charge. Until then, I’d be maintaining my own hotel in Vancouver.

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    When I reach my office shortly after my flight, I decided to check my e-mail and catch up on the stuff I’d neglected during my short ‘vacation’. If need be, I was willing to pull an all-nighter to get back on track, but it turned out that not much had really happened while I was gone. I clicked on my inbox, surprised to see a message from my father’s secretary sent not long after I ascended my flight. It mentioned that a new employee would be arriving tomorrow, specially chosen by my grandfather and that I would be responsible for allocating whatever job seemed fit. My grandfather was in a medical home, yet he wanted to nominate someone to work under me? The email mentioned that he’d be living in the hotel as he worked. Noting this, I made special preparations for a room in the first floor where he would be able to stay, quite close to other employees who’d taken residence here.

Yongguk’s POV

            Jieun’s grandfather had written the address of the hotel in Vancouver on a piece of paper for me. Despite how his hands shook when he grasped the pen, his printing was quite commendable, never forgetting to dot his i’s or cross his t’s. A taxi picked me up from the airport, the driver had held up a sign with my name written in Hangul for identification. It seemed that the address was only for my reference, because the driver knew exactly where to take me. When I got out of his car, he told me that the fair had already been paid by the company. There wasn’t much luggage I had with me, just a small suitcase and a backpack. I gladly carried them myself and entered the hotel, first noting the meticulous design of the building. It was beige in color, like many other hotels, but had its own way of charming the eyes. Rows of trees created a parking lot isolated by greenery, giving one a sense of security and refreshment.

            During my flight here, I carefully wondered about what Jieun’s grandfather’s purpose for placing me here was as well as how to possibly succeed in fulfilling such a huge role. To be honest, the amount of trust he bestowed unto me after such a short period of time was a little overwhelming, but no part of me was willing to deny a man of his dying wish. There were many things that could go wrong with his intentions that I needed to be aware about. Jieun and I were practically no more than strangers, so it was likely that she may never come to acknowledge me. My curiosities at Freeview led to me seek out her grandfather. My first visit led to many more following, and somehow I’d ended up in Canada. The only name I knew here would be Song Jieun.

            “Please follow me,” A secretary working at the lobby desk waved once to catch my attention and then urged me to trail after her. She brought me into a large office with bookshelves filled on both walls. It was impression, as if it belonged to an 18^th century historian. I glanced around for a while as the secretary left without another word, shutting the door quietly behind her. The desk by the window had a globe resting on the surface, and wind chimes hung from the window’s overhang, though it looked like wind could never be allowed in. I was alone here in the office, so I assumed someone would be meeting me soon enough. Looking closer at the desk, I read the name tag with letters engraved in glass; Song Jieun. Her name was written in English, and then with Hangul in a smaller font. So this was her office. It was quite different from how I’d imagine her to be in my mind. Stereotypically, I pictured that her office would smell like strawberries, a giant mirror placed by her desk with a cup of Hello Kitty writing utensils on top. Instead, on her desk under the globe was a beautiful fountain pen. She probably fancied antique looking objects. I scanned her left bookshelf slowly, reading a few titles. One thick book in particular stuck out from the rest, leaning diagonally in its spot on the shelf—The Holy Bible. So she was religious too.

            My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the heavy door creaking open. In stepped Jieun; her face was unmistakably familiar to me though I had only seen her once.

            “Nice to meet you, my name is Song Jieun.” She introduced, extending her hand for a handshake. I too was familiar with these western customs, and returned her gesture with a firm handshake.

            “Bang Yongguk,” I introduced, smiling politely as she passed me to get to her desk. Even the way she walked showed much professionalism, quite different from when she was exiting the medical centre with her arms carelessly crossed. She sat down on her spinning black leather chair and then motioned with her hands to the chair on the other side of her desk. After bowing once, I took a seat and she gave me a clipboard with a form attached.

            “Please take your time filling this out. It’s just a personality survey we give all our new staff to familiarize and accommodate for whatever needs they may have. Everything else seems to already be done for you, Bang Yongguk-sshi,” She spoke in fluent Korean to me, eyeing me with a kind of suspicion that I couldn’t fully comprehend. Seeing her now, she seemed a lot colder in person than the first time, but perhaps it was just a persona most women had in their work environment. I decided to overlook it and fill out the quick survey, handing it back to her.

            “My father’s secretary tells me that you were personally selected by my grandfather, Song Jihoon. Is this true?” She shifted her sitting position at her desk but kept her dark gaze on me.

            “Yes, that’s true.” I replied confidently, not allowing her boldness to intimidate me in the least.

            “I won’t ask for details of how my grandfather came to know you. However, for him to send you here must mean that he has a considerable amount of trust in you. You can start off as a hospitality coordinator, and if you exceed my expectations then you can be promoted to hotel manager.” She explained in a strict voice, her eyebrows furrowing as if there was something she still wanted to figure out.

Jieun’s POV

            From the moment I walked into my office and greeted him, there was something strangely familiar in his presence. Whether it was his face or the strange confidence he had in his voice; I couldn’t help but feel like I’d seen him somewhere before. He had unique qualities that set him apart from the typical Korean male, and perhaps that too played a part in my inquisitiveness. I tried my best not to make it too obvious, but the odd stares he’d returned me were implications that I wasn’t as slick as I should be.

            “Do you by any chance, remember me?” He finally asked, his expression reading confusion, probably in response to my visible frustration.

            “We’ve met before?”

            “Quite briefly, when you were visiting your grandfather a few days ago,”

            I thought back to that unfavorable day, recalling the chills I’d have every passing moment I was trapped in the white room. I remembered the goose bumps that covered my arms and the odd waves of heat mixing with the air. In my mind, I replayed every aspect of my visit from my initial entrance, to meeting my grandfather, to the reception desk as I was about to leave. After signing out, I remembered turning in a rush and stumbling! With another, more informed glance at Yongguk’s face, I remembered that the man I had bumped into at Freeview was him.

A/N: I promised I'd update today so here it is! I actually found this chapter to be really frustrating to write... because I haven't planned this section of the plot as thoroughly as the later parts. The next chapter or two may feel the same way... I usually have a lot more to write after the two main characters become familiar, but the familiarizing part is sometimes the hardest. I have a lot of good ideas for the ending too--sadly I'm still stuck writing the beginning haha. And that's extremely frustrating.