Roseanne's Summer Vacation- Chapter 12
Tae-jun kept smiling and shaking his head when the girls, time and time again, requested that he sit with them. He did so eventually.
“I can join you, but only for a little while,” he explained. “I begin my shift soon over at Oppa Spot.”
“Oppa Spot? What is it?” Roseanne raised her eyebrows. She had never heard of the name before.
“It’s a new restaurant. Though not a food chain. We have recently opened here.”
“Ah, so you are working at a restaurant and sleeping in a hostel,” Roseanne said.
“Helps keep the costs down.”
“Please have some.” Roseanne handed him a packet of fries from a tray.
“Oh, no, thank you,” he protested.
“Please, I insist.”
Tae-jun looked in confusion for a while, but then he smiled. “Okay! People in this country are very hospitable.”
“I am hospitable,” Roseanne emphasised.
“What do you do in the Land of Po anyway?” Natasha asked.
In between nabbing fries from a packet, Tae-jun said that he goes travelling abroad every summer. It isn’t his dream per se to visit all the countries in the world, but he particularly enjoys spending time in Europe. He’s been to the UK twice already and three times in France. One year he even toured around Scandinavia, but that’s his first visit to the Land of Po. Given his background as a cook, he supports himself on the road by working in restaurants.
“I wasn’t aware of that at first, but the Land of Po and Hanguk have a straightforward visa programme. I can stay here visa-free and work for up to 90 days.”
“Only 90 days?!” Roseanne exclaimed. “That’s very short.”
“It’s a matter of perspective.”
“I’m sorry, but what is Hanguk?” Natasha frowned in confusion.
“Literally, it’s the country of the Han. Or, to put it simply, Korea.”
“Ah, I get it. I wish the Land of Po could also have a single name.”
“You know, I have a slight connection with your homeland because my sister is from there,” Roseanne said.
“Really? You have a Korean sister?” Tae-jun seemed genuinely interested. “Which city?”
“She’s from Seoul.”
“Then I guess you must travel to Seoul pretty often.”
“No, she’s my twin sister and we’re living together.”
Tae-jun raised his eyebrows in surprise. Roseanne realised her confession sounded confusing to a stranger who doesn’t—and basically shouldn’t know—the details. “Please, forgive me. It’s a long and confusing story that might give you a headache. I don’t want to get into it right now,” she said shyly.
Tae-jun waved his hand in the air as if to shoo away the awkward atmosphere. “It’s fine, Rose-anne,” he said with difficulty. “I have plenty of long and confusing stories myself.” Tae-jun winked, which made Roseanne chuckle.
“Excuse me, Teaspoon, but do you have an Insta?” Natasha asked, reaching for her phone.
“His name is T a e - j u n,” Roseanne pronounced slowly.
Natasha carefully rewrote the handle name from Tae-jun’s phone and sent the invite. “rudqls2803… Hmm, what does it mean?
“It’s ridiculous,” he explained. “Because I am ridiculous.”
“Ah, okay. Got it.”
“And the numbers are my birthday.”
“Cool!”
Tae-jun checked his watch and kindly excused himself. His shift was starting in a few minutes at the Oppa Spot. The boy gave specific directions on where exactly the restaurant is on the first floor, should the girls be interested in visiting it. He then grabbed his military backpack and meandered through the crowd of customers to the exit. “See you at the hostel!” he said.
“See you!”
“Why the heck did you want his Insta account?” Roseanne asked Natasha now that they were alone.
“I did this for you, stupid.”
The friend poked Roseanne in the forehead as she copied Tae-jun’s handle to her app. “I have a feeling it’s the beginning of a passionate love, Rosie.”
Roseanne shook her head. “Hold your horses and don’t call 90 Day Fiancé yet.”
“But he’s a cutie, and I can see from a mile away you like him.”
“Maybe you’re right, but it’s better to be careful than hopeful.”
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