Love Across The 38th Parallel

sly, clutching my bouquet of flowers. The t

ll be partnered with the whole year of their exchange. Yo

hen he passed me the student ID card, I glanced down, expecting to see a female name

t my professor. "Lee Youngchul? I thought I

g man with an athletic build and short cropped ha

young, but we had a last minute change once the

artnering with a visiting student for their whole exchange te

embarking passengers, wondering which one I would be the

man approaching possessed an undeniable handsome elegance that momentarily stunned me. He moved with grace

lpted angles of his lips. His clear skin and artfully coiffed hair completed the picture of refined style and breeding. Though dressed in casual traveling clothes, he exud

duce you to M

female peer, drawing on my own experiences to empathize and make her comfortable adjusting to Seoul life an

rooked smile, I checked my assumptions. He seemed humble and e

much from each other," I said, offering

s his smile dissapeared with the

osun?" Youngchul, said

a" out of habit, momentarily forgetting that to our northern neighbors, there was no "South Ko

meant South Chosun, of course. Please forgive my thoughtless greeting." I bowed m

uld he be offended? Angry at my accidental political sligh

this situation is still...strange for both sides.

ly with admiration at his quick grace. I hoped desperately that my fluttering nerve

to sit at the window seat, in hopes he could take a look outside the window, and look at the scenery of South Korea. However, our

he could glimpse at Korea's sprawling cityscape en route to campus. But before he could scan

of the penninsula," he began warmly. "We at Korean University hope this exchange

arms just barely grazed on the shared rest. My skin prickled at the proximity and I snu

his every minor movement? Get it together Heesoo! This s

the distracting awareness of Youngchul’s firm shoulder o

orative discovery between North and South, I realized with chagrin I

hrise buildings, and people moving freely. The lights, and people of all walks of life drinking coffee, and getting on the buses. I understood fr

everyday bustle of Paju's crowded streets. Even this small city on Seoul's outskirt

modern landscape was as foreign to him as his isolated homeland was to me. I imagined

th so many high-rise apartment buildings housing smaller units. Pe

l struggling to grasp the scal

one street than live in my neig

e they al

ine is likely bustling at any given time here. I suppose tha

creeping into his shoulders. This was likely culture shock beyond what any briefing could h

is a bit quieter. We'

hul gently but firmly removed my hand

, embarrassed by my

ontact just now. I should be mo

d. "It's alright. This is a le

way he angled his body away kept

istraction from my discomfort, I followed his gaze back out the window where he observed the

Taegeukgi so ubiquitously exce

ional pride more casua

nded critical rather than mat

eeling. Maybe we could use some more visible patri

eyebrow, a wry smile

g to sound like one of ou

rs of the North. It took my brain a moment to register he was gently joking to lighten the tensio

aged after my initial startled confusion.

direction," I acknowledged, smiling and ducking my head se

es glinting playfully now. "Indeed, striking that balan

re were many layers to unravel with this fascinating young man. My faux pas with physical touch had built an awkw

nderstandings could resolve this quickly, perhaps bigger reconciliation was possible