Another week had passed and I was still alive. What a miracle. My mum and dad basically did not talk to me. I wish I had siblings, seriously. School task was never as difficult as this. If Ye Eun and Minho were not here, I surely would have done something terrible.

Minho always texted me and he really helped me with Korean. I was aware that he had all this practice which kept him busy, yet he still had time to message me in two languages, English and Korean. I knew basic Korean now. Since he was older than me, he told me to call him “Minho Oppa”. He said that oppa meant brother.

I went home from school without Ye Eun. She said her mom was being awfully annoying these days and she forced her to eat lunch together in a classy restaurant. Ye Eun didn’t stop complaining about it for the whole day.

I saw dad’s driver coming, but I was feeling too bored to go home now. Should I escape? Should I try going home by myself? I can get lost during the journey but well, let’s do this… Seoul is calling me right now.

I managed to go out of school without the driver looking and went to the nearest mart I saw. Minho said I should practice my Korean so this could be an opportunity for me to try it here.

I approached the vending machine and took out a Cola can. “It should be easy,” I told myself. Before I went to the cashier and tested my Korean skill, I saw this suspicious man standing near to the ice cream booth. He looked to left and right, left and right. He wore hoodie, shawl and a hat. I couldn’t see his face. Completely suspicious. Who would wear thick hoodie in a warm weather like now? Unless… Unless this man planned to steal something and put it under his hoodie… WHOOA, HE MUST BE STOPPED!

I slowly, quietly walked towards him. I put my hand on his shoulder and he suddenly jumped. He shouted something in Korean, which sounded pretty much like swearing. I attacked him, “What are you doing? You stealer!” He blankly stared at me. His eyes were the only things I could see since half of his face was covered by shawl. I didn’t think he got what I said so I repeated, “YOU! STEALER!”

He recovered from his shock then he glared. “STEALER?!” Ouch, he got accent…

I called the shop assistant, “Miss? Miss? Can you help me, this guy over here is trying…~” before I could finish my line, the shop assistant was already standing beside me and she, a fat woman in her fifties, examined looked angrily at the suspicious man. They talked in Korean, which was totally complicated I could not catch up with them. I guessed the woman was scolding that man, but I didn’t know for sure. The man looked upset, as if he was caught doing a crime. Well, he really was. I decided to put my Cola back and left the mart. I just caught a stealer. So proud of myself. I should tell this to Ye Eun later.

For now, let me call Minho. I took my phone out of my school bag and called him. Peep, peep. He didn’t answer it. As I tried to dial him again, somebody ran my way and took my bag away. What. Stealer again? Crap! Crap! I got my wallet there! My precious pocket money for a week! I ran after him (he looked like a he), but he was fast. Everyone here in the street, can’t you see that that person just took my bag? Why are you acting like there’s nothing wrong?! HALLO! Anyone, can you help me?! Ugh, I shouted “Stealer! Stealer!” but no one seemed to understand. I ran till I saw him no more. When I took a breath and looked at my surroundings, I realized… Where on Earth am I now? I wasn’t familiar with this place. Okay, easy. Call the driver. But… if he was already back to dad’s office, dad would have known I escaped from the driver, and now my bag was gone and I did not know where I was, he would be very mad at me.

Chill, ______, chill. Just call Ye Eun. She answered, “Call me later okay, I’m super busy right now.” Then she hung up. WHAT.

I called her again only to hear the operator girl said that my phone run out of credit.

Cool. Very cool. What I gotta do now. I was lost in my first attempt to explore the awesomeness of Seoul City alone. I, a weird foreigner who still wore her school uniform, stood alone in the sidewalk. Totally lost. I felt hungry, why didn’t I buy the Cola back then. Tears started forming.

Just when I was about to break down, my phone rang.

Minho...