This story was honoured as a feature story on LU back in 2010, and was one of my favourite ones to write, partially because some of it was from a real experience of mine ;) I hope you enjoy as the story unfolds.

-R xx

October 2012

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, but I do own the story! :P

...

Chapter 1: Not Looking For Love

The one thing Chu Ga Eul didn't like about working life was how she never had enough vacations. Relinquishing her student status also meant having to give up (to a certain extent) the liberty she once could freely enjoy. No longer could she sleep in on Tuesdays and Fridays when she had late classes, nor could she cut class when she didn't feel like going for them. Especially when she now was a teacher herself. (It wasn't a good idea to inculcate such values into her impressionable kindergarteners.)

So when the kindergarten she worked at suddenly announced a week's closure one Monday, due to some urgent renovations that had to be done on the premises, Ga Eul jumped at the opportunity to take a short holiday. She just had to go somewhere. Even if it she couldn't go very far.

Between all the choices that she had around the country, she eventually decided on taking a three-hour train ride to…

"Busan?!"

Ga Eul looked up from the maps strewn all over her bed and eyed her best friend, who had just arrived at her apartment. Geum Jandi was, at present, standing at the doorway of her room, her face contorted in exaggerated shock.

"Jandi-yah, what's wrong with Busan?" Ga Eul asked, calmly picking up a map of Busan and fronting the cover for her. "I heard it's quite nice at this time of year. And it's not too cold, not like here in Seoul. The minus temperatures are really getting to me."

Jandi tottered into Ga Eul's bedroom, and plonked herself on her bed, slinking gently into the peach comforter. She picked up the nearest collateral to her, a thin guidebook of Busan.

"I mean, there's nothing wrong with Busan..." she trailed, idly flipping through pages of recommendations and write-ups, "It's just… well… ah! You can't even go to the beach at this time, since it's so cold! So, so much for going to the famous Haeundae beach! Lee Min Ki won't be around to save you if there was a tsunami…"

Ga Eul sputtered at the mention of the actor's name. "Please. That was in the movie. And I'm not going away to 'find' someone or for someone to 'save me'. I just need a break, that's all."

"Sure, sure," Jandi teased, "It has completely nothing to do with Valentine's Day coming up next Sunday." She was quiet for a moment after that. "But… it also doesn't have anything to do with the fact that I'm… not free that day, right?"

Ga Eul narrowed her eyes at her best friend since kindergarten, who suddenly looked slightly scared.

"It's not my fault that my mom set me up with some family friend's son I don't know! I'm innocent, Ga Eul-ah," Jandi wailed, grabbing Ga Eul's arm and shaking it semi-violently. "He sounds like a strange guy. I hear he's into astronomy. And omma tells me he's got a parma!"

Jandi released Ga Eul's arm, folded her own, and sulked. "Goo Jun Pyo," she muttered, "I don't even like his name already."

Ga Eul shook her head at Jandi and smiled. She reached over and put her arms around her.

"You'll never know what will happen, Jandi. Just keep an open mind. You might actually like the guy. Just try to have fun, araso? We can have our own little date when I come back."

Jandi stuck her tongue out at Ga Eul, but pulled her into a side hug.

"You keep your heart open too," Jandi said, giving her best friend a mischievous wink, "You'll never know who you'll meet in Busan. It could even be Lee Min Ki."

The best friends laughed out loud and Ga Eul nudged Jandi with her shoulder.

"Yah!" she said with a smile, "I just need a vacation. I'm not looking for love."