the second you open the door to your apartment, the second all of the days exhaustion sets in. the taxi driver had dropped you off at the apartment complex and you talked to the landlord before going to the university you were supposed to be doing your program at and signing in. you hadn't even stepped foot in the place the whole day.

there was boxes and your luggage already in thanks to the kind landlord. taking a look around you decided it would be best if you unpacked in the morning. you found a change of clothes and headed off to sleep for the night.

~

the mornings' responsibility was the thing that woke you up. you had today to unpack and get groceries before going to the first day of the program tomorrow. you get up from the small cot on the floor and shower before getting dressed and going out to the grocery store. it's around 11 according to your phone.

why did moving have to be so stressful?

you shake your head to get out of the stressful thoughts before smiling at the lady at the reception desk and going outside into the late summer morning air. you smile to yourself as thoughts of your semi new start fills your mind and go off in the direction where you saw the grocery store was.

as you enter, there is a bored looking man sitting at one of the cashiers with his feet up. you offer him a smile as you grab a basket and he gives you one of the scariest death glares you've ever seen in your life. you decide to stray clear of the scary man and you make your way down one of the aisles you recognize.

after thinking very deeply about which cereal to get, you hear a voice to your left.

"oh hey!"

you turn to look at the source and see it was the mask and hat guy from the airport. what a coincidence to see him here?

"you were from the airport right?"

he's not wearing a hat this time, just a mask but you can he was smiling by the familiar crescent eyes from yesterday as he comes over to you.

he takes one look at the cereal you had chosen and shakes his head, "wrong choice, miss."

you raise your eyebrows, "yeah? then what do you recommend, sir?"

he booms with laughter at your comment before grabbing the other cereal you were contemplating.

"cinnamon toast crunch is way better."

you scrunch up your nose at him before switching the cereals.

"so what're you doing here?" you ask as you down the aisle with him, grabbing things as you both go.

"i live in the area. my mom asked me to grab a few things for her."

"oh cool."

a silence fills the air as different foods fill your basket, and before you know it, you have finished your trip here.

"looks like i'm finished," you say with a small smile as you turn to him. you notice he hasn't grabbed anything. maybe out of respect?

you shake your head as he smiles and walks with you to the cashier where the grumpy man before was. you shiver at the thought of him staring daggers into your soul, but he looked to be the only one working. as you both walk up, he grabs a box of pasta and stands behind you as the man swipes your food and places them into plastic bags.

you refuse to look at him in the eyes but when you do look up he is looking at the man from the airport with a suspicious look in his eyes. you look back down until his voice makes you stand up straight.

"26.96."

you fumble with your cash as you hand him the correct amount and he scoffs at you. you ignore him, but what was up with this guy?

"thanks," you mumble in korean as you grab the bags and start to walk out the store.

"wait up!" you hear, and you turn around to see the airport guy jogging after you with a small bag in his hand already. how did that happen so quick?

"ill walk with you," he says and you both exit the store.

after a few moments of walking in complete silence, you turn to him.

"i never got your name."

he looks at you surprised, before relaxing with a smile.

"jimin. park jimin."