The Miracle on the Han

If you find the Korean phrases awkward, my apologies. I am learning Korean little by little so any errors in the language used here in my blog is mine and mine alone. 

The Miracle on the Han

Shin Hye takes a deep breath as she closes her eyes for a moment, taking in the sweet scent of the warm evening air. Pedaling at a slow, leisurely pace, she lets the soft wind sweeps away the cobwebs in her mind brought about by the stress of the day. For now, she wants to purge her character in the movie from her psyche, erase all the lines she recited, cut herself off from the crazy world that she calls her calling, her passion, her vocation, and just be Shin Hye, the ordinary girl who craves solitary moments like this.

She parks her bike after a few meters, her eyes momentarily distracted by the water’s sparkling façade. The twinkling lights from the buildings across the river dance on the Han’s calm surface as she stares in wonderment at their reflection. She has always been fascinated by reflections since she was young.  She still remembers how she loved to stare at herself in the mirror endlessly, making faces, trying on her omma’s pearls and make-up, her appa’s hats, or her oppa’s baseball caps. She wanted to see different sides of her in the mirror so she would often be found acting in front of it, faking a laugh, shedding a tear, making crazy faces, or singing a song. Her affair with mirrors led to her love of the camera which of course, eventually brought her to show business.

She smiles at the thought of how far she has come from those childhood memories. She is now 21. She has come of age and she now acts in front of real cameras, takes directions from PDs and film directors, interacts with real actors, memorize real scripts and gets paid for shedding tears, impersonating a boy, and, she giggles to herself, kissing flower boys.

Shin Hye checks her watch. The fan meet should have been over by now, she muses. She misses him everyday, especially during moments like this when the world seems to be at a standstill, where the chaotic world of showbusiness seems lightyears away, when the only sounds she can hear is the beating of her own heart and that of the flowing river before her. She thinks of his boisterous laugh and feels goosebumps on her skin. She never told him this but his laugh always makes her feel secure that everything will be alright in her world and his. His laugh gives her confidence that she can face whatever the world has to offer, as long as he is by her side. She pouts at her last thought, finding it a little too dependent of him. Of course I can face the world’s challenges with or without him. It will just be a more fun and lovelier ride if he is in it.

She allows herself a little shriek of giddiness at the memory of him making fun of her every chance he gets, enjoying her annoyance at his petty jokes, his penchance for stroking her ears to tickle her, his acquired habit of absently stroking her hair every time she gets near him, and yes, his endearing inclination to buy something for her wherever he goes, here or abroad. Ah, she never thought it was possible to love someone like this, or to be loved like this. Especially not in the world they live in. She and Keun Suk have always been grounded about their relationship from day one. They knew it would be a relationship that would be tested again and again by circumstances and people close and dear to them. “But wouldn’t it be great to prove us wrong, Shin Hye?” he had asked her, daring her to take the plunge with him by offering only his hand for her to hold, an indirect promise that he would be with her throughout the ride.

The sudden sound of her phone ringing jolts her from her reverie. Her heart does its usual cartwheels when she sees the ID of the caller. “Oppa,” she answers, not bothering to conceal her excitement.

Keun Suk yawns on the other line, then laughs. “Mianhe, Shin Hye-ah. I can barely open my eyes now. I am so tired from the fan meet. But I just want to talk to you before we both retire for the night.”

“Did you enjoy yourself, oppa? What about your parents, were they mobbed by the fans as well?”

Keun Suk laughs. “My eels were great as usual. They prepared a lot for me. Omma is used to them by now. She can even practice a good wave now, right, omma?” he asks then proceed to laugh at his omma in the background.

“Shin Hye-ah,” he comes back on the line after a few seconds.

“Ne, oppa?”

“Where are you now? On your way home?”

“Ani, ani. I’m standing along the Han River right now, as we speak, with my bike.”

“Sinchia? Who’s with you? Isn’t it a little late now to go biking?” Concern is evident in his voice.

“I’m with my manager, oppa. And don’t worry, we will be going home in a while. I just wanted to bike and feel the wind on my face. It’s a beautiful night out here, you know. Perfect for biking.”

Keun Suk sighs. “Maybe when I get back, we can find time to bike together somewhere in the country. Or, no. We will definitely make the time to have that trip. Then we can go fishing after. What do you think?”

Shin Hye warms at the thought and she feels touched at Keun Suk’s gesture. She knows how frustrated he gets whenever he can not do the things she loves doing with him, like biking. He knows how the activity calms her nerves and soothes her tired soul. And he wants her to do it with him, as a couple.

“Sounds like a plan, oppa,” she says, feeling excited herself.

“You bet it is. We’re on the road right now to Osaka. Before long I will be home. And before you know it, you will be bickering non-stop with me again,” he jokes, obviously trying to mask the longing in his voice.

Shin Hye knows him well enough to pick it up, though. “Ya, oppa. You are missing me too soon,” she jokes, but a slight quiver in her voice belies her own feelings. They have not seen each other in two weeks and she is now feeling the void.

“Look who’s talking,” is the expected reply, “I can hear you crying even from a thousand miles away.”

“Of course not! My eyes are dry, oppa.”

“Noreul bogoshipo,” Keun Suk says, his tone changing. I miss you.

“Nado nomu bogo shipo, oppa,” Shin Hye replies back, her heart aching. I miss you so much, too.

“Go home now, Shin Hye. It’s getting late. And I will be more at ease knowing you are safely home.”

“Ahrasso, oppa. I’m going home now.”

“I will be home soon. I will see you then,” he says before hanging up.

Turning her bike towards the direction of her van, Shin Hye turns to look one more time at the Han River. The world regards the rise of South Korea from the ashes of the Korean War as the Miracle on the Han, a feat every Korean is proud of. But to ordinary residents of Seoul such as herself, the Han River offers simple miracles everyday. Miracles such as finding a momentary respite after a busy day, getting in touched with your inner self on solitary walks by the river banks, and, getting into intimate conversations with someone special from far away, creating a happiness you never thought you could find this early in your life.

Ah, but the Han River weaves miracles, right? And it just created one just for her tonight.