The Idol and The Manager

Coffee

Carmela's POV

"So I have two days to familiarize myself in this neighborhood," Carmela muttered to herself as she glanced at the clock beside her bed. The ticking sound seemed to echo in the quiet room, marking the slow passage of time.

She squinted at the time, her eyes narrowing as she saw it was already 3:30 in the afternoon. She sighed, feeling the weight of everything that still needed to be done.

"So, it's still 3:30 in the afternoon. I should get ready and buy something to eat," she decided aloud, rolling off the bed and walking over to her suitcase.

As her hands rifled through her clothes, she thought about how different the atmosphere was here in South Korea, compared to back home in the Philippines. She had been meaning to explore more of the neighborhood, but today seemed like a good day to start.

"Good thing it's spring here. I still don't have a winter outfit," she said with a chuckle, recalling how she hadn't packed for the colder months. In the back of her mind, she knew she'd need to shop for more clothes soon, but for now, spring weather would do.

She settled on a baby blue-colored sweater that was soft to the touch. It was cozy yet light enough for a stroll around the neighborhood. Pairing it with white pants and white Converse shoes seemed like a good choice—casual yet fresh. As she reached for her dark blue sling bag, she grinned at the thought of how the outfit came together.

"I look not so Korean, but it's okay," she murmured to herself as she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror. Her hair, still long and natural, was left down. She didn't bother with the typical Korean bangs, knowing that wasn't her style. "I still don't have bangs, which is a distinct feature of a Korean woman, but I am not trying to be Korean, so it's okay," she reassured herself.

"I'll just put my hair down, put on lighter makeup, and hmm, I think I look a little Korean now."

She adjusted the strap of her sling bag and took one final look at her outfit. It was simple but it worked.

"Alright, time to go outside," Carmela said, stepping out the door. The feeling of stepping into a new world, a world that was foreign but exciting, made her heart race with a mix of anticipation and nerves.

She grabbed her black bucket hat and slipped it on, feeling a little more stylish as she adjusted it, making sure it sat just right on her head.

"I should buy a Korean coat, make-up, food, of course. First, I have to know where to go," Carmela thought, pulling out a map and checking the directions she had written earlier.

"Can I do it? Even if I get lost in the Philippines," she muttered with a sigh. But her resolve quickly set in.

"Yeah, I'll do it! I can do it."

With a newfound sense of determination, she left her apartment and stepped out onto the street. The air was crisp, and the streets of Daechi-dong were bustling with people. She felt like a small part of a much bigger world, but there was comfort in knowing she was here, navigating this new life on her own.

"It's far, ha!" she muttered under her breath as she walked towards the bus stop. She had a long way to go, but she was determined to make it. "Oh! I should go to my workplace first. I don’t want to get lost on my first day," she added, feeling a bit of anxiety about the upcoming challenges.

She boarded the bus heading from Daechi-dong to Samseongdong, Gangnam-gu, her eyes wandering around the bus as the city rolled by. The journey seemed longer than expected, but she didn’t mind too much. After about 20 minutes, she arrived at Samseongdong.

Stepping off the bus, she took a deep breath, looking at the skyline of Gangnam. The tall, sleek buildings of the area reminded her of the skyscrapers in Makati back home, and she couldn't help but feel a little nostalgic.

Gangnam was alive, vibrant, and full of activity. People hurried down the sidewalks, their movements purposeful. Carmela smiled at the sight. It was exactly how she imagined it—busy, energetic, and full of possibilities.

She continued walking, her eyes darting from one building to the next, trying to orient herself. As she walked, she spotted familiar chains like Domino's and KFC, which made her feel a little more at home. But it wasn’t until she saw a Starbucks that her heart skipped a beat.

"Starbucks is nearer than Domino's and KFC, so I’ll go to Starbucks," she decided, her feet carrying her toward the entrance.

"Because I am the star in Starbucks," she said with a small grin, then quickly added, "That’s so corny."

Laughing at herself, she walked the remaining 100 meters to Starbucks, noticing how everything seemed so new and exciting. As she reached the door, she saw a familiar “push” sign.

In the Philippines, pushed doors are tough to open, so I think even Korea's glass doors are like that, she thought, preparing herself for the usual resistance. With a deep breath, she pushed the door with all her might.

But to her surprise, it was light, much lighter than she anticipated.

"Oh! Their glass door is very light, huh," she muttered, a little taken aback. She paused for a moment, thinking about how there were so many things to compare. Everything felt different, and yet, it was kind of exciting.

After entering, she was met with an unexpected sound. A thud echoed across the quiet space, followed by a small scream.

Her eyes widened in surprise, her heart skipping a beat. "Oh my gosh! What happened?" she thought frantically, looking around to find the source of the noise.

And then she saw him.

A man in a white shirt with a baby blue polo over it, his clothes splattered with coffee from his chest to his stomach, down to his thighs. Even his white shoes had stains.

Her heart sank. "Goooosh! What do I do!" she panicked in her mind, feeling a wave of embarrassment sweep over her.

She immediately stepped forward, her cheeks flushing with guilt.

"Oh! Mianhamnida!" she exclaimed, apologizing profusely as she bowed her head slightly. "I didn’t see you. I thought the door was heavy, that’s why I put pressure on opening it. I didn’t mean this to happen." She spoke quickly, her voice a mixture of concern and embarrassment.

Her hands fumbled for her bag as she checked for something to help.

Finally, she found one and hurriedly extended it toward him, hoping it would help.