August 14, 2019

Over the course of the week, I got accustomed to my surroundings and the time zone. Classes had started and I was trying my best to stay on top of things and have some free time. They weren't the most complicated of classes since I had chosen a lot of electives, but I still had to dedicate them some time and effort. My suitcase finally arrived in Seoul and was waiting for me at the airport my plans were to pick it up on the weekend. The airline had so kindly given me some credit for the mishap which meant I got a free flight.

I had yet to properly meet my roommate and was, honestly close to giving up on trying. If she didn't want to talk to me then be it. I was done worrying if I had done something wrong because quite frankly, I had done nothing! She was the one leaving early or when I wasn't at the dorm and sneaking in and locking herself on her room. All I was looking for was a friend and if she didn't want to be friends then at least she could be a responsible roommate. Fortunately, she wasn't messy and cleaned after herself, she probably did it at night while I was asleep though.

When it comes to my other classmates there isn't much to say, I've talked to some of them in class but was far from calling them friends. I found it so hard to approach them and make conversation. What if they thought I was weird for doing so? A random girl walking up to them and talking off their ear, no thanks. My mentor has been nice though, and has helped me through some other issues that have arisen, I made sure to apologize for the first day and she assured me it was fine and that she understood.

When it comes to Taehyung we have kept communicating as always, texting, calls, and Facetime. We haven't had the time to see each other again since I started classes and he went to visit his family while he was on break. I didn't mind though, because I was still planning our date it had to be fun and dynamic enough for us to talk and interact.

I don't know what came over me that night. We had been so close when we fell that throughout the night all I could think about were his lips. The fact that he didn't pull or push me away was the confirmation I needed to know that maybe he wanted it too. If it weren't for Yeontan I'm a 100% sure the kiss would have happened, and it would have been glorious. When he walked me down to the car the thought that he might make a move crossed my mind, but he did nothing leaving me no choice but to make the move myself. I know it was a big risk that could make things awkward, but thankfully that didn't happen instead he asked for another! If I had no restraint, I would have gladly given him as many as he liked, but I had to control myself play a little hard to get, so I did what I thought was right, ask him on a date. His awestruck face was still ingrained in my head playing on repeat the way his ears turned read and how the corner of his lips quirked up the slightest bit. When I got to the dorm the smile on my face would not go away and my heart would not settle down to the point where I could barely sleep out of giddiness. My cheeks had a perpetual blush to them as I replayed that vivid scenario in my head. I had to talk to the girls soon to tell her all about it or I would implode.

With nothing to do for the evening I was on the couch catching up on twitter. The way I saw it was not exactly the same as a few months ago because staring back at me was no longer V, but the boy I kissed a few days ago. There wasn't anything particularly new except the endless gifs and screenshots of the Lotte Family Concert specifically BTS's performance. Everyone was raving about Jungkook's growing hair, Jimin's smoothness on stage, Taehyung's piercing looks at the camera, the usual. I retweeted the ones that were cool and liked others because while I had prohibited myself from using TikTok no one could take Twitter away from me. I could spend hours getting lost in threads and theories only to come back to reality obsessing over these boys even more solidifying my dedication to them. There were some pages and users that tend to be a bit toxic, but I try to keep away from them. Nonetheless, as much as I wanted to dive in today was not the day since I was planning on visiting my maternal grandparents.

It's been around two weeks since I have arrived and have yet to go visit them something my grandmother made sure to point out in our call yesterday. That woman was amazing, hardworking, beautiful, and sassy to the point of no return, while my grandfather was one of the funniest people you could meet and so dedicated to the family, he just like my father was a lawyer. I missed having them around back home, but a few years ago, they had decided it was time to go back to their home, South Korea.

Standing in front of the familiar big wooden door, I knocked softly and was greeted a few seconds later with a big hug from my grandmother.

"Oh, my little girl is here," she cooed in my ear, hugging the life out of me.

"Halmeoni*, how are you?"

"I'm as good as can be, come on in the food is ready," she ushered me into the cooler house, leaving behind the heat of the afternoon.

Walking in I heard a shout from the living area, "Who is there?"

"Me!" I yelled, making my way over to the familiar voice.

"Nari-ah!" My grandfather's gruff voice exclaimed in greeting.

After all the pleasantries were done with, we sat on the table where my grandmother served a delicious homemade dinner. I ate to my heart's content and finished with a full belly and a feeling that I might explode. Grandmother was ecstatic that I ate so much saying I was too skinny and needed to gain a few pounds. A while later, we relocated back to the living area where I lay with my head in her lap while my grandfather sat in his recliner watching TV.

"How are classes going?" she asked me, brushing her fingers through my hair lulling me to sleep.

"So far so good," I yawned.

"Not too hard?"

"Not really, but they require a lot of work."

"Friends?" She asked curiously.

"I haven't made any yet," I mumbled sadly.

"Why not? You have to get yourself out there wasn't that the whole point of coming here?" Grandfather pitched in from his seat.

Of course, he was listening in he might have the TV on, but he was as much as a gossip as my grandmother that's why they got along so well.

"Yes, but I'm afraid of making a fool out of myself," I reasoned, even though it was just a lame excuse.

"Who cares if you do! You won't ever see these people again," he exclaimed, making hand gestures.

"You're right hal-abeoji*," I sighed, sinking even more into halmeoni's lap.

"I'm always right," he chuckled.

"Whatever lets you sleep at night, dear," halmeoni teased, "I guess we don't have to worry about any boyfriends then," she then added.

"...yeah," I said after a moment.

"She hesitated," hal-abeoji pointed out.

Curse him and his lawyer tendencies.

"There's a boy?"

"Maybe? I don't know we aren't a thing yet," I insecurely answered.

"You have to get on it Nari before he slips from your grasp. Boys are like that you see," Grandma wisely told me, "One moment they are here and the next, poof they're gone that's why I quickly tied your grandfather in."

"So, you admit you have me hostage?" he gasped.

"Don't say as if you don't like it," she laughed with a shake of her head.

"Wait, so you made a move on hal-abeoji," I questioned, raising my head from her lap.

"That's right, he was taking too long, so I made a move myself."

"You're awesome!"

"Yes, I am," She agreed, "Remember dear, you always come first don't let him get between you and your goals and don't ever let him treat you like you're less because you deserve the world."

"I will halmeoni, although I don't think I have to worry about that," I responded thinking about Taehyung.

"Good, even more reason to have him close," she winked.

When the sun went down my grandparents sent me back to the dorms because they didn't want me roaming around too late at night. I sluggishly made my way down the hallway of the building when a guy I'd seen in class walked by me in a rush bumping into me making me drop my phone.

"Hey, watch where you're going!" I angrily called out.

"Sorry," he threw the apology across his shoulder without looking back.

This made me think staying alone and without friends might be better, yet I can't let the actions of one person affect my opinion on others. Entering the apartment there was silence, I guess Eun Jae was not in the apartment. Not like it mattered since she doesn't have the decency of speaking to me. Man, what is wrong with people, so disrespectful and unkind. Hopefully, the rest of the people in the program are nicer since tomorrow I plan on approaching someone try to make one friend just say a hello or start a conversation. Wish me luck. 

A/N:

*Halmeoni- grandmother 

*Hal-abeoji- grandfather

A little filler to get to know more about her family and her thoughts on the whole situation. 

Sorry for any mistakes I'll fix them later!

Next chapter will be interesting ;) 

Nari takes after her grandmother, without even knowing it, it's in the genes. 

As always, please, remember to vote, comment, and share with a friend.

-Nikki Marie 💜