14.1

“Do you see it?”

As Chaeyoon held her phone close to the airplane window, the land of England began to appear as the altitude decreased.

“I’ll be arriving in London soon. Time to wrap up this luxurious flight.”

She switched her phone back to selfie mode and recorded herself.

“Thanks to you, it’s been an incredibly comfortable and happy flight. Long-distance travel usually wrecks my condition, but I’ve eaten delicious meals almost like they were specially made for me, stretched my legs out, and slept well, so I feel great. It’s all thanks to you. Thanks again. Now it’s time to say goodbye, bye!”

Chaeyoon waved and then turned off her phone camera. That was the last video she intended to send to Seonho.

Is this really the end?

A sigh escaped her lips unintentionally. Once she sent this video with the first-class review, there would be no more ties with Seonho.

Get a grip. What’s the point of having a connection with Seonho anyway?

She had always been careful not to have any point of contact with Seonho, but at some point, she had forgotten that.

She had put up a huge wall between them, but now, coming to her senses, it felt as if that wall had quietly crumbled, bringing her face-to-face with Seonho.

She couldn’t make sense of it all.

As the plane descended, Chaeyoon looked at the rapidly approaching land of England, calculating how far she was from Seonho.

Thank God, I got away before my feelings got too deep. It’s okay for now.

The time and memories she had built with Seonho over the past few weeks far exceeded the 15 years they had known each other. Yet, it wasn’t enough to break her resolution not to get entangled with a wealthy family.

As memories of happy times spent together sporadically surfaced, bringing smiles and a hint of wistfulness, Chaeyoon reassured herself that these moments could be preserved as bright bookmarks of her youth. 

“No, it has to be that way only. Definitely.”

Chaeyoon muttered to herself, as if making a vow.

The plane landed safely. Chaeyoon took photos with the kind first-class cabin crew and said her goodbyes before disembarking. 

As she gathered her luggage, she noticed a group of Korean tourists, easily identifiable by their attire—a common stereotype that Koreans abroad can be spotted wearing hiking clothes, and many in the group wore lightweight down jackets from popular hiking brands, with a few clad in long padded coats.

Looking down at her own long coat, Chaeyoon reflected on the typical chilly British weather. 

Although warmer than New York or Seoul, the UK had a distinctive coldness. Winds often brought sharp chills, and blue skies with fluffy clouds could suddenly turn grey and drop rain, making the temperature feel significantly colder after the rain. 

This long padded coat would surely be useful throughout the winter.

And every time she wore this coat, gifted by Seonho, she would inevitably think of him—a fact she couldn’t change. 

However, as warmer days approached and she’d stored the coat away, busy with life, the memories of their time together would fade like dying embers. Eventually, thoughts of Seonho would diminish as well.

Thus, Chaeyoon decided not to suppress thoughts that naturally arose, nor actively try to forget them. 

After collecting her luggage, she headed to her accommodation for the duration of her studies.

Rent in London was notoriously high even for locals, prompting Chaeyoon to find a place in Kingston, a suburb within a reasonable commuting distance of London. While the travel cost was not negligible, it was cheaper than the rent in the city center.

Kingston was close to a Korean town and had a substantial population of Korean students and residents. It wasn’t rare to run into fellow Koreans at the discount mart. 

The area was well-equipped with restaurants, shopping malls, and department stores, all generally more affordable than those in central London.

The beautiful scenery along the River Thames was an added bonus. Kingston was so comfortably livable that unless there was a specific reason to venture into central London, one hardly needed to leave.

Chaeyoon’s rented house was a converted outbuilding of an old house with a garden. It was a studio, convenient for living alone. 

It had been used by an international student until recently, so it was old, but it had a bed, a table, and all the appliances.

The best part was the large window. Chaeyoon opened the window to ventilate the room. When looking for a room in London, one must never overlook the importance of windows.

Frequent rain and insufficient sunlight made windows essential. This was a tip that came from having lived in London for a year as an exchange student.

“Shall I do some shopping for survival?”

Having looked around the space she would be living in, Chaeyoon spoke. She needed sheets and blankets to lay down and cover up starting today, and groceries as well. 

Orientation was in three days. She needed to get settled in before then. Chaeyoon left the house as it was, with her luggage untouched.

***

Chaeyoon walked with a light step to the jewelry school where she would be studying Jewelry Art and Practical Metalworking.

Walking in London was enjoyable. The old buildings have always fascinated Chaeyoon, as have the cultural sites that have preserved the heritage of the past, despite the inconvenience. Maybe that’s why she’s drawn to antique jewelry.

It was only a year she had lived here, but thanks to that experience, everything felt familiar and friendly. Perhaps it was because of her age now, or the fact it was her second time, but she felt relaxed in every aspect.

Having had so much fun in the appraisal and design courses at GIA, Chaeyoon was excited about the classes she would take and the new friends she would make at the new school.

Today’s class was practical metalworking. Upon entering the classroom, Chaeyoon stopped dead in her tracks at the grim scene. The classroom, closer to a workshop, had an atmosphere akin to that of workers being exploited in a developing country.

Hesitantly, Chaeyoon looked around and then sat down at an empty, shabby workbench.

Soon the professor entered, took attendance, and distributed large boxes with handles to everyone. The boxes contained various tools.

Chaeyoon picked up and then set down the jeweler’s saw and sandpaper inside her toolbox, glancing at her well-manicured nails. She realized she needed to cut them short immediately before they were forcibly broken.

Despite leaving her home in the best condition and full of motivation, a sudden wave of fatigue seemed to hit her.

***

Chaeyoon’s small room was filled with the smell of roasting beef from the morning.

Once the beef was somewhat cooked, she generously added precious kimchi, finely chopped. The aroma of the savory beef and tangy kimchi cooking together filled the air. When the kimchi seasoning was just right, she tossed in cold rice and stirred vigorously. She topped it off with a sunny-side-up fried egg to complete her kimchi fried rice.

Chaeyoon swallowed her saliva and captured a photo of her masterpiece, completing the sacred ritual of posting it on social media before finally scooping it up with her spoon and taking a bite.

“Mmm, yes, this is the taste.”

She moaned with delight, trembling with joy as the flavors exploded on her tongue, seeming to wash away the stress accumulated over the week.

The practical metalworking class was almost like hard labor. After sawing for four straight hours the day before, her arms, shoulders, and back were seriously sore.

Her nails, cut short, had cracked within days, and the unfamiliar handling of the saw often led to slipping and cutting her fingers instead of the metal, making her bleed frequently. Even now, her fingers were plastered with bandages.

“Ah…”

A sigh escaped her lips.

Studying abroad frequently presented challenges. While she didn’t know what difficulties lay ahead, this sigh today might be the deepest she had experienced so far.

Though she wasn’t planning to become a craftsperson, she wondered if enrolling in the practical metalworking class had been a mistake. However, she recognized that design involved not just conceiving or planning images but also expressing them in sketches and blueprints, and ultimately bringing them to life.

Designs that haven’t been physically created sometimes turn into unmakeable designs, so understanding the manufacturing process is essential. Therefore, despite the difficulty, the metalworking course was a necessary step.

“You can’t whine from the beginning.”

Chaeyoon scooped up another spoonful of rice and shoveled it into her mouth determinedly.

“Just as my aunt says, everything starts with the energy from food.”

She needed a change of pace, so today she would spend time doing something she loved to cheer herself up. She needed a full stomach to roam around London all day like crazy.

She had been running back and forth between home and school all week like a squirrel in a wheel. Despite being physically fit, she had no energy to explore London after classes. Maybe because of the adjustment period.

After a hearty early lunch, Chaeyoon grabbed her backpack and left the house.