New Beginnings

The shift was actually easier then I thought it would be but I was glad to see Ahjumma on her way back. There was a tall young man with her wearing the same school uniform as mine. Maybe this was her grandson she was telling me about?

‘Anneyeonghaseyo’ Ahjumma says with a cheerful voice, I can see the rest has helped a lot but my response is delayed, it feels like I’m frozen. I can’t believe my eyes. No way can that be a high school student in front of me. He looks like one of those oppa’s from a Korean drama that all the fan girls are mad about. I imagine him waking down the corridors in school and the girls in awe of him (well that’s what happened in the dramas, not sure about real life).

‘Gwaenchanhayo-Are you ok?’ Ahjumma says while she and the angle moved towards me. That’s the only word that can describe him, angel. He's a tall young man with dark black hair ruffled over his forward. He also has a strong jawline and cute little pointy nose. What really got me was this mysterious look he had, it made me want to know him.

‘Ah ye, gwenchansumnida-Oh yes, I’m fine’ I quickly reply coming back to my senses. As they both move closer I feel my heart beat faster and faster. What’s happening to me? I’ve never been like this back in England; I guess it’s the influence of the dramas I've been hooked on. I can’t help but stare at him, even the way he walks is so handsome its like he’s flying towards me. Ahjumma coughs and I’m back to my senses again. I see a grin on her face and start to blush.

‘Deabak’ the angel says and my head shoots in his direction. ‘You Korean is good’ he says, I can’t help but giggle to myself. His voice was perfect, not too deep or too high, just perfect.

‘Wae?’ he says with a cute expression. ‘Did I say it wrong?’ Just before I could speak Ahjumma groans.

‘Aigoo, of course you said it wrong! Your English is the worst!’ I don’t understand how she can talk to him like that. I know he’s her grandson but he’s too handsome to talk too like that. I can’t imagine myself raising my voice to such a person, ever. ‘This is my grandson’ Ahjumma continues ‘He’s a very handsome young man but stay away from him he’s a player’.

‘Halmeoni!-Grandma!’ The angle moaned. ‘I’m you’re grandson you of all people shouldn’t be saying that’. He then turned towards me. ‘I’m not a player, chincha-really, I just don’t like being around girls, especially the ones in my high school, you’ll understand once you start’. My eyes weaver, he said he doesn’t like being around girls, especially form his high school. ‘Great’ I think to myself, the one person I could be friends with and now that doesn’t seem likely.

‘Halmeoni told me you’re starting high school here’ he continues, ‘which one will you be attending?’ Still upset with what he said I’m unable to speak. Like a fool I point to the badge on his shirt. ‘Ahh’ he says leaning over the counter now. ‘So I guess we’ll be going to the same school? That means we’ll be seeing a lot of each other’ as he says this, a cheeky grin comes across his face and I’m sure my heart skipped a beat. ‘Who knows maybe you can be the first girl I’ve liked in my high school?’ If I wasn’t before I’m definitely confused now. Why is he so hard to understand? What exactly is he trying to say? Maybe this is a Korean way to flirt with a girl I think. Now I understand what Ahjumma means when she says he’s a player.

Whack! Ahjumma hits him on the head and tells him that I’ll be working in the shop from now on so we need to change the Rota she also tells him to take care of me in school and to make sure I settle in well. With him around I’m sure I’ll be just fine I think to myself still unconvinced that that’s entirely true.

‘Dangyonhajyo- Of course’, he says and winks at me then wonders of out the shop. Still in shock with what happened I exhale and speak.

‘Is he really your grandson? You look nothing alike and your personalities are so different’. No reply. I look over at Ahjumma and see her facial expression looks like someone who is ashamed. ‘Perfect’ I think to myself, have I offended her? I really need to keep my mouth shut.

‘It complicated’ she replies. Complicated? I think. What is? I wanted to ask but didn’t want to seem rude. Ahjumma just gave me a job; she's the only person who has truly accepted me. So I smile back and reply ‘Ahjumma I’ll be leaving now, I’ll come back tomorrow at the same time so you can have a rest’. Before I’m able to leave she grabs me by the arm and exclaims, ‘my grandson is a good person…but he’s lacking a lot, especially in English like you just seen. If you can teach him English I’ll be very grateful and I’ll tell him to teach you Korean. What do you say? It’s fair right?’ Ahjummas face is of desperation. I can see she really wants him to do well in his studies but I can’t say ‘no’ and I can’t say ‘yes’ either. I’ve never taught anyone in my life and being alone in a room with such a handsome guy I just couldn’t do it.

‘Jebal-Please’, Ahjumma pleads and in this moment in time she resembles a child asking a grown up for some candy. For some reason I don’t like seeing Ahjumma like this so can no longer resist but to agree to her request. Before I leave the shop Ahjumma insists I go shopping with her tomorrow instead of working. ‘I know this place well and I also know what stuff your school requires you to bring so I can help you, plus it’ll be good to shop with a women for a change’ again with the persuasion of Ahjummas tone I agree and am happy at the same time. It feels like I have my mum right here with me. I walk out the door secretly hoping she brings her handsome angelic grandson with her, that’s when it hits me. I didn’t even ask his name.

Notes