Love in Seoul

Chapter 2 - A New World

Jessica sat by the window, watching the clouds drift beneath the plane. They had been flying for hours now, crossing countries and oceans she had never seen before. Most of the passengers were asleep. Some were watching movies. Others were reading books. But Jessica couldn't sleep. Her mind was too busy. She rested her head against the window and stared at the endless sea of white clouds below. Just a few hours ago, she had been standing outside her parents' apartment. Now she was flying to the other side of the world. She still couldn't believe it. Nervousness twisted in her stomach.

What if I can't do this? What if I get lost? What if I don't make any friends? What if I can't find a job?

The questions kept returning. Again and again. But then she remembered all the evenings she had spent studying, filling out applications, and dreaming about this day. She hadn't come this far just to give up now. Taking a deep breath, she looked out the window once more. Seoul was waiting for her. A few hours later, the flight attendant's voice echoed through the cabin.

"Please fasten your seatbelts. We are beginning our descent." Jessica's eyes snapped open. She pressed her face against the window. And then she saw it. Seoul. An endless ocean of lights. Skyscrapers. Highways. Bridges. Buildings stretching far beyond the horizon. The city looked as though it never slept. Jessica stared in awe. It was even more beautiful than she had imagined. When the plane touched the runway, her heart began to race. She was here. She was really here. After leaving the aircraft, she stopped for a moment. The airport was enormous. Modern. Bright. Everything felt incredibly organized. People moved calmly through the terminals. No one was shouting. No one was rushing around in panic. Even the immigration lines moved quickly. Jessica noticed every detail. The polished floors. The giant information screens. The flower displays. The soft music playing in the background. She had never experienced anything like it before. Everything was clean. Almost unbelievably clean. Not a single piece of litter on the ground. Not a single overflowing trash can. For a moment, she simply stood there and watched the people around her. Nobody paid attention to her. Nobody stared. Nobody judged her. And strangely enough… It felt liberating. After completing all the arrival procedures, she stepped outside the airport. Cool air brushed against her skin immediately. She took a deep breath. The air smelled different. She couldn't explain why. It felt fresh. New. As if it were whispering: Welcome home. The thought surprised her. Home. She had never felt that way before. After a few minutes, she found a taxi. The driver helped her load her suitcase into the trunk. She showed him the address of her dormitory. He smiled and nodded. The car pulled away. Jessica immediately glued herself to the window. She couldn't look away from the city. Skyscrapers gave way to smaller buildings. Colorful signs illuminated the streets. The roads were crowded with people. Cafés. Restaurants. Small shops. Street vendors. Everywhere she looked, there was something new. Something fascinating. Something completely different from the life she had always known. She was captivated. The city pulsed with life. And yet it didn't feel chaotic. Everything seemed to have its place. Its rhythm. Its purpose. After nearly an hour, the taxi stopped in front of the dormitory. Jessica stepped out. A tall modern building stood before her. Its glass walls reflected the lights of the city. For a moment, she simply stared. So this would be her new home. At least for the next few years. She paid the driver. Thanked him. And stepped inside. The lobby was quiet. At the reception desk, she received her room key card and a few basic instructions. After thanking the receptionist, she took the elevator upstairs. When she finally found the correct door number, she hesitated. Then she opened it. She expected a small student room. Maybe two beds. One desk. One wardrobe. Instead, she froze in surprise. A spacious modern apartment stretched out before her. At its center was a beautiful kitchen connected to a cozy living room. A large sofa. A television. A dining table. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. Bedrooms lined both sides of the hallway. Jessica slowly turned in a circle. She didn't know what to say. It was beautiful. One bedroom door stood open. Two others were closed. The final room was empty. Her room. Her new kingdom. She stepped inside. The room felt warm and welcoming. Modern. Bright. A desk stood by the window. A lamp rested on the tabletop.A large wardrobe stood beside the bed. Beyond the glass, the lights of Seoul glittered against the night sky. Jessica set her suitcase down on the floor. Then slowly sat on the edge of the bed. She looked out at the city. At the thousands of lights. At the new life waiting for her. And for the first time in a very long time, she smiled. She was alone. But this time, she didn't mind. Because this was the beginning. The real beginning.