Last Train to Seoul: 운명
A Night of Stories
The neon lights still flickered through the café’s foggy windows as Ha-eun and Ji-won stepped out into the rain-damp streets. The city was alive in a different rhythm now, more subdued but still pulsing with energy.
They wandered toward 청파로, where street vendors packed their stalls with warm 떡볶이, 오뎅, and steaming 순대. The smell of spicy sauce and grilled fish filled the air, mixing perfectly with the cool night breeze.
“Want to try?” Ji-won asked, a gentle smile playing on his lips as he pointed at a small stall.
Ha-eun nodded eagerly, her cheeks still tingling from the coffee and the night’s unpredictability. She watched as he ordered in quick, clipped Korean, the vendor handing over a tray of fiery skewers.
They found a makeshift seat by a flickering streetlamp, the city’s glow reflecting in their eyes. She bit into a spicy rice cake, eyes closing in delight.
“It’s like capturing Seoul’s soul,” she said softly, staring at the bustling street. “Every corner tells a story.”
Ji-won chuckled. “You see it in photos, but only here, in moments like these, do you really feel it.”
Their conversation drifted from Seoul’s hidden alleys to childhood memories behind old temple gates. Ha-eun told stories of her village, where her grandfather’s camera was treasure, waiting to reveal the beauty others overlooked. Ji-won shared his own dreams of travel and the emptiness of success built on deadlines.
“I think we’re both chasing something,” Ha-eun mused, twirling a skewer. “A feeling… maybe it’s lost or just waiting for us to find it again.”
Ji-won nodded, eyes thoughtful. “Sometimes, the city helps you remember what you forgot what matters most.”
They lingered as street musicians set up nearby, their melodies drifting over the hum of passing cars. One sang a ballad about 운명 fate and lovers missed on crowded platforms. The lyrics seemed to echo their night, a gentle reminder that some trains come only once.
“I used to come here as a kid,” Ji-won said quietly, looking at the distant skyline. “Never thought I’d find someone like you in this city’s chaos.”
Ha-eun smiled, a blush creeping onto her cheeks. “Maybe the city’s chaos brought us together, even if just for tonight.”
The hour grew late. Ji-won looked at his watch, reluctant. “Time to head back?”
She hesitated, then nodded. “Tomorrow’s a new day, but tonight, I’ll keep this moment with me.”
They stood up, the rain falling softly around them. As they parted ways at a quiet crossroad, Ji-won turned briefly, whispering, “Next time, I’ll take you to the Han River see the city under starry skies.”
Ha-eun watched him disappear into the mist, a feeling of longing settling deep. There was something about Seoul its chaos, its quiet corners that she knew now she wouldn’t forget soon.
And somewhere deep inside, she wondered if fate’s train might yet bring them back together.