Whether you've met a stranger who slips a leaf into your book or you've found a new purpose in life through a stroll on a beach, I swear you won't be disappointed when you land yourself at Jeju Island, a must visit to anticipating tourists like you.
Chapter 4: Surprises
"And...done!" Haley lightly pressed the full stop key, "Oh geez, I can't believe I've stayed up for the past 10 hours just to finish all the editing!"
She clicked on the print window and printed a copy for all of the documents she had edited. As she stood up to stretch her legs, she saw a cockroach jumped onto her keyboard. She screeched like a banshee and hid behind the wall of her cubicle.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" a roar of laughter echoed in the office.
Haley stared at Melvin who fell off his chair and clutched his stomach as he kept on laughing.
"You son of a b****!" she barked.
"You're always the easy target." he finally collected himself and snatched the cockroach.
"Ah, chincha..." Haley murmured.
"It's just plastic, Squidward!"
"Stop calling me that!"
"Why? It suits you! Can't believe you still didn't get used to your nickname after one month." he said as he went back to his cubicle.
Haley took one deep breath and made her way to the printer which was near the shelves of magazines.
"Miss Kang, Mr. Hwang wants you in his office right now." Ming said as she hung up the phone.
"Okay!" Haley replied.
Haley gathered the papers and marched to the doors when she immediately sensed Melvin's muscular arm stretched at her direction.
"Don't you dare!" she snared. Her sharp eyes glared at Melvin who shrunk at his chair.
Melvin watched in horror as she strutted out the office, her heels stomped like a giant.
"Fiesty." he said and tossed his fake insect on his table.
At the seventh floor, Haley entered the headquarters and handed her materials to the boss.
"Have a seat, please. I want to talk to you," he ordered.
A chill crawled down her spine. "Did I do something wrong?"
"Oh! No, not at all! It's about a new project." he replied, "Please."
Haley set her butt onto the chair. It creaked as soon as she rested her back on it.
"Miss Kang," he took off his reading glasses, "You've done so well in editing our writers' articles for the past month and we've sold out a good number of copies. Now it's time to change that."
"That is?"
"Your own story."
"Pardon?"
The manager hunched forward with his hands clasped on his desk, "I want you to write your own article for the upcoming issue."
Haley swore she could see confetti raining on her, "Are you serious, Mr. Hwang?"
"Of course! I tested your writing skills back in your first day but I haven't used your talents seriously. Well, now's the time to shine."
Haley wore a ten-foot smile. Every inch of her body urged her to dance even in front of her boss. An energetic Super Junior song instantly played in her head. She really wanted to groove to the tune.
"So is that a yes?" he asked.
Haley cleared her throat and nodded, "I would be honoured."
"Excellent!" he beamed and presented her first assignment. She couldn't focus everything he said because 80 percent of her brain was cursed by the motivational song that was on repeat in her imaginary stereo.
"Um, Mr. Hwang. Do you mind e-mailing me the details later?"
"Of course!"
"I won't let you down!" she said as she made her way to the door.
* * *
Her foot tapped nervously on the wooden floor. She peeked at her phone minute by minute, impatiently eyeing for Jamie who was to meet her for dinner that evening. It was only five minutes after 7pm, so she decided to replay the conversation with Mr,Hwang that afternoon. She also reread the instructions in the email.
"I'm...so...sorry, dongsaeng!" Jamie huffed and puffed. He dashed through the entrance of the Korean restaurant and made a quick beeline to where Haley had seated.
"Where have you been?"
"We had a last minute filming. Luckily we had our latest episode done and ready to be aired."
"Ah I see."
Jamie plopped his backpack under the round table and collapsed onto the chair opposite her.
"So what's up?"
Haley leaned forward and whispered, "Something big."
"What?"
"I got promoted as a writer!"
"No way!"
"I'll be contributing with the other writers for Seoultizen!"
"Daebak!" he grinned, "That's fantastic, dongsaeng!"
"I knoooowwww!" she sang.
"Guess I'm not the only one who has big news."
Haley cocked her head to one side, "What do you mean?"
"Well I just told you that we've finished filming our new episode right?" he explained, "Turns out that our drama is currently placed third in the rankings. And we got nominated for Best Drama Award in the upcoming award show."
"Shut up!"
"Yeap! If we continuously delight the viewers in our new episodes, we'll be ranked first."
"Oh my gosh! Oppa, that's awesome!"
They gave each other high fives.
"Okay! Let's make a deal." he suggested, "If you got your first story accepted for the next issue, and my drama ranked first in the online charts, we'll celebrate with a fancy dinner at Namsan Tower."
"Oh! I'm so in!"
They ordered big plates of jajangmyun and coutless saucers of kimchi and pickled radish.
"Jahmuggetsumnida!" they chanted.
"Haley took one big slurp of her favourite dish and chewed happily.
"This is one of the best days of my life!"
"So am I," Jamie said, "let's do our best together. Fighting!"
"Fighting!" Haley smiled.
"Oh! Who's gonna pay later?"
"Hmm...I've lost count on the number of times we've paid for our meals."
"Rock paper scissors?"
"Sure!"
They played a brief game of Mook Jji Bba. Haley squealed with joy when Jamie failed to switch from rock to paper. Haley balled her fingers into a fist to show the "rock" form.
"Okay! You won! But I'm not gonna get away with this the next time we have a meal." Jamie sighed.
"Try me!" Haley stuck out her tongue.
Jamie laughed and continued to eat.
* * *
"Thanks for the meal just now." Haley chuckled as Jamie helped her with the passenger door.
"No problem. Now, let's head home, shall we?"
"Ah, yes! I have to get some inspiration for my article once I get back home."
"Speaking of article," he said as he sat behind the wheel and started the engine, "what's your article gonna be about?"
"Uh...it has to be about a unique place to recommend to tourists who visit Korea. It can either fiction or non-fiction."
"Sounds interesting. Does it ring a bell? Somehow?"
"Huh?"
"You know, when we first met?" he said, "That would be great for recommendation."
"Wow, spoiler alert."
"Oh! You've thought about it?"
"You shouldn't have mentioned because that's gonna be a surprise."
"Well, my bad, but I'm just giving you an idea."
"I know. I know." she giggled and leaned to kiss him on the cheek, "Thanks anyway."
Jamie was like the only person she felt comfortable talking to. Unlike Melvin who may be a fun friend but hatched secret plans of pranking her every single day at work, Jamie was the light to her world, the human jacket of her life.
They arrived at the porch of Haley's house.
"Wow, it's seven minutes to 10." Haley looked at the time on her phone.
"Time flies, huh?"
"Well, I guess I better be going."
She unbuckled the seat belt. Jamie did the same and immediately grabbed her by the wrist.
"Hang on. Can you stay till the clock strikes 10?"
"Why?"
"What do you mean "why"? We will have another hectic day at work tomorrow. I don't wanna see my beautiful girl go."
"Aww, Jamie. Hopeless romantic."
Jamie turned on the stereo and played a familiar tune. Super Junior's "Stars Appear" instantly put a smile on her face.
"I love this song."
With you and an unforgettable melody
Now you're my dazzling melody.
Now I will make some unbelievable moments
I am with you, we are walking together
Remember, we will achieve all the moments we couldn't before
Stars appear in your eyes.
Haley loved the chorus. She hummed to the music while Jamie gazed lovingly at her.
"When Super Junior released their 10th anniversary album, this song struck me the most." he said, "This song, in fact, reminds me of our first date."
Haley looked back at him, "Is it because of the stars?"
"Exactly." he smiled.
He reached one hand to the back of her head and pulled her close. He closed his eyes and locked his lips with hers. Haley realized that she had closed her eyes as well and was under the kissing spell. This was it. Her first kiss, and it was a perfect moment. The song ended and the stereo went silent. Maybe it was because the night stopped and stared to watch the lucky couple shared their true feelings about each other through their first kiss.
* * *
"Gahhhhhhhh! What is wrong with my heaaaaaaaaaadddddd?" she groaned.
Haley paced around the living room and collapsed on the couch. Her Macbook was still on and the screen was a blank page with not a single word.
"What's with you?" Layla called from her bedroom door.
"What's with me?" Haley raised her voice. She flipped her hair back and massaged her forehead, "I can't think of anything for my article, that's what!"
Layla came out with a pink towel wrapped around her head. "I thought you're gonna write about your first encounter with your boyfriend."
"Yeah, but I need an eye-catching opening!"she whined.
"Did you write anything in your notebook that day?"Layla suggested.
"That's the problem! I can't find that freaking notebook anywhere!"
"Really? You rarely lose your things."
"Otoke..." she buried her face with a pillow.
"Chill out, girl. Your article isn't due till Friday."
"Yeah, which is in three days. How am I suppose to finish it plus editing before Friday?"
"Girl, you're a writer. You can figure something out."
Layla stepped into Haley's room, "Hey! Mind if I borrow your hair dryer? Mine's like a piece of s***."
"Go ahead..." Haley's voice muffled from the pillow.
Haley sat up and stared at her computer for longer than two minutes. She was about to call Jamie when suddenly she was interrupted by a "whoa whoa whoa whoa WHOA" sound.
"What now?" Haley groaned.
Layla went out of the room with a long-lost belonging, "Guess who have found it?"
Haley jumped on her feet and scampered to Layla.
"Where the hell did you find it?"
"In your closet. It was hidden in your sock drawer."
"Oh dear, why would I ever put in there?"
"How should I know?" Layla laughed and shoved the notebook to Haley's hands.
"Thanks, by the way."
"Don't mention it." Layla replied and walked back to her room with her semi-dry hair rested on her towel scarfed around her shoulders.
Haley flipped through the notebook and found the leaf bookmark.
Jamie: Your notebook seems really thick and you'll probably have a hard time finding a blank page, so maybe this will help.
A small thing like this can be used as a tab to help you keep track. You know, like a bookmark. A supporter.
Jamie:We thought of the same thing to our dreams.
Haley: I guess I was thinking about what you've told me that night once I slipped in the yellow leaf to your script book.
Jamie: Yeah, that's why I thought we were...well destined to be together.
"Can't believe it's been a month already." Haley said to herself. The leaf was still in good condition, with it's fragile dry surface and rustic brown colour. She immediately had an idea and started writing.
* * *
"Whether you've met a stranger who slips a leaf into your book or you've found a new purpose in life through a stroll on a beach, I swear you won't be disappointed when you land yourself at Jeju Island, a must visit to anticipating tourists like you." the manager read the final sentence of her final product out loud.
It was a good thing there was no one else in the office. Haley admitted that she got a little nervous when her writing was read aloud. She folded her hands on her lap as she sat on the chair opposite her boss's desk. She had memorized every single word she had revised on that article. Her first article for Seoultizen. She had done tons of writing for the Vancouver newspaper, but at that moment, she fidgeted at her uncertainty of correct grammar or even spelling.
Mr.Hwang put the paper down and looked at Haley. His glasses slowly slid down from the bridge of his nose.
"Miss Kang," he began, "I must say, this is by far one of the most well-written pieces I've ever read."
Haley's shoulders felt lighter. Much lighter that rocks that strapped on her automatically fell off.
"Thank you, Mr. Hwang." she smiled.
"This is even your first article. A lot of writers got my acceptance after several attempts." he praised, "You're someone special, I have to say. You have indescribable skills that can be applied in your writing, and Seoultizen is thankful to have that kind of writer."
Haley bowed and thanked him once again. Another upbeat Super Junior song played as a mini version of herself danced in her head.
"We'll put this on print by the end of today." he said, "Again, well done, Miss Kang."
"YEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSS!" she screamed.
Everyone jumped and stared in surprise as Haley walked through the glass doors. Her face was glowing.
"What's going on?" Melvin asked.
Haley paused and twirled, she almost tripped over.
"Guess who's gonna have her first article published in the new issue!"
"Yours?" Melvin raised his eyebrow.
Haley nodded vigorously.
"Wow! Congrats!" Ming clapped.
"Looks like Squidward has won the lottery." Melvin said.
Everyone joined the clapping. Haley bowed gratefully and rushed to her desk to grab her phone. She knew exactly who to text to.
Haley: Oppa! I did it! My article will b on print!
One minute later...
Jamie: I'm so proud of u, dongsaeng!
Haley: Any news about your drama?
Jamie: Let's just say we just got 1st place in the rankings chart!
Haley: Omo! At the same time?
Jamie: Yeap! ;) I'll pick u up 2nite?
Haley: Ready 4 boarding! :D <3
* * *
6:30pm flashed on her iPhone. Haley yanked her pair of fur gloves from her coat pocket and put them on. She gritted her teeth, wanting to escape the bitter cold, yet she couldn't contain her excitement for going to the one and only Namsan Tower with her one true love.
HONK!
Haley looked up and waved at Jamie who smoothly parked his car at the porch.
"Milady." he bowed as he opened the passenger door.
"Thank you." she giggled and went into the car, "This is going to be a great night!"
Jamie smiled, "Couldn't agree more."
Haley held Jamie's left hand and watched Jamie's sexy jawline as he steered the wheel down the busy streets. Traffic came alive since it was a Friday evening.
"This time, I'll win the rock paper scissors game!"Jamie said.
"It not!"Haley squawked.
"It too!"
"It not!"
"It too!"
"Shut up! We'll see when the time comes!" Haley laughed.
SCREECH!
"Look out!" Haley suddenly screamed.
Jamie looked to his right. A red car skid towards his car in uncontrollable speed. Jamie quickly spun the wheel to the left, but the approaching car slammed against the front in just mere seconds. Haley was knocked out. Everything was pitch black.
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