The warm June breeze brushed through the narrow streets of a quiet Korean town, carrying with it the sweet scent of fruit from a nearby market. You tugged your hoodie sleeves down and adjusted the strap of your tote bag as you wandered through the unfamiliar neighborhood. Your mom and stepdad were still back at the hotel, trying to wrangle your hyper twin sisters into unpacking. You had asked if you could go out for a walk, just to "get a feel for the place." Really, you just wanted a moment of calm before two weeks of forced family bonding.

You ducked into a small alley lined with shops and street vendors, eyes scanning everything with quiet curiosity. Books in Hangul you couldn’t read, but admired. Fruit carts stacked high with peaches and strawberries. A kid riding a skateboard zipped by—and then promptly wiped out right in front of you.

"Ow, seriously?" the boy groaned, half-laughing as he sat up and rubbed his elbow. You took a step back, unsure if you should help.

"You okay?" you asked softly.

He looked up, startled by your voice. "Oh—yeah, yeah. I’m fine. Just showing off for no one, apparently." He flashed a charming grin that crinkled the corners of his eyes. "Are you American?"

You hesitated. "Yeah… here for vacation. Just two weeks."

"Ah, that’s cool. I’m Jihun." He stood up and dusted himself off, then offered you a hand—not because you needed it, but because it seemed like the kind of thing he’d do.