Chapter Text
Istanbul, 20 September 2018
The plane is still moving, finding its route to the connecting gate.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we've now landed at Istanbul Airport. The local time now is 2.30 AM. Temperature outside is 24°C. Once again, thank you for choosing Turkish Airline. We hope you have a pleasant flight. Thank you"
Gyeoul sighed at the sight of the dark sky outside.
What a great choice of flight, she mumbles.
She honestly hate landing in early morning. It makes her feel lethargic for no reason and although it's easy to find taxi outside of the airport, she won't be able to enjoy the view from the airport to her lodging. She want and must be able to see it ALL— everything from arriving at the airport until she come back to the airport for departure.
She has been travelling since a week ago. After a year of becoming the only resident standing in General Surgery department, she was able to get her leave approved for quite a long time. Her professors must've feel bad, seeing her juggling between 13 demanding professors.
For her solo travel, she chose Cairo as her first destination. After spending a week exploring and get the taste of Nile River, she decided to fly to Turkey which isn't part of her plan. The charm of backpacking, maybe.
It's Gyeoul's third time in Turkey. She herself didn't know what's so special about Turkey that she keeps coming back. The third time's a charm, they said. But Turkey, for her, becoming more charming everytime she come back. There's something intriguing that made her came back.
"Miss? Do you need help?" A stewardess came to check Gyeoul.
She turned her head around just to see the cabin is now empty. She lost in her thoughts quite long this time.
"No, teşekkur ederım" Gyeoul flashed a light smile.
As she walked out of the plane, going down the stairs with her backpack, she halted for a while. Feeling the cold night wind on her face, she stares at the signboard-
"Istanbul havalimanı"
"Let's go, Gyeoul-ah. Let's see what Turkey has to offer this time." She exhales softly.
————
20 September 2018, 3.15 AM
Gyeoul walking briskly out of the arrival gate, as she only have to carry her backpack— just like how a solo traveler should be. She's walking past a cafe when she heard someone speaking Korean.
"Bichigennae jinjja!"
It's not her first time meeting a Korean or hearing someone speaks her mother tongue in a foreign country but everytime she did, it gives her a sense of belonging. Like some sort of comfort and a constant reminder that there's always someone who shares the same sentiment with you wherever you are.
Gyeoul managed to see just his back, but she can sense that he's miserable. A miserable back. He's searching for his phone in his big black pouch. Thinking that he might need some help, she took a step slowly towards him, not to appear too nosy, and not to appear too indifferent either. He looks like he really needed help, Gyeoul can't help it.
"What's no sugar in Turkish?" He mumbles, loud enough for Gyeoul who's behind him to hear it. His fingers scratching his non itchy temple while browsing on his phone.
"NO SUGAR NOOOO SUGAAAAAR!" Giving up browsing his phone, the man makes a cross with his hand with his voice a little bit raised, trying his best for the cafe worker to understand. Which— to no avail, of course.
Gyeoul chuckles. "What a funny man"
She decided to help as the man let out a heavy sigh.
"Şeker yok lüften", she stepped up to the counter.
She can sense his shocked expression by her peripheral vision.
"Iced latte, right?" Gyeoul turned her head to look at him, straight in the eyes. It's a gaze of reassurance, never intimidating.
"Ah.. ye.........Thank you...", the man shyly answers. His cheek became instantly red.
"Şekersiz bir buzlu latte lütfen", Gyeoul with confidence repeated his order.
Going to Turkey twice indeed helped her picked up some basic phrases.
The cafe worker nodded.
After making sure that his order successfully went in, Gyeoul excuses herself and went out of the cafe. Her duty as a Korean is done. Mansae!
"Wait.."
Gyeoul stopped in her way.
"Do you mind for a coffee with me? I believe I owe you one, miss......."
"Gyeoul. Jang GyeoUl.", Gyeoul instinctively reaching out her hands, asking for a handshake.
"Ahn Jeongwon." He reached out his hands, his big palm is fully covering her small slender hand.
As if time stopped for a while, here they are— standing in front of one another, smiling like an idiot.
Jeongwon suddenly laughs,—maybe he's embarrassed with what happened earlier.
Weird, Gyeoul thought.
There's warmth seeping in Gyeoul's heart.
Is this the beginning of a new friendship?
Well, she had no idea either.