**At a hotpot restaurant in city Osama of country z**.

Aki was sitting at a table placed near a glass window. It was past noon, ,the spring blossom had just started to bloom, and the weather was just like the day she came to country z.

**Five years ago**.

It was just another normal day in March. And Aki had just graduated high school .

Spring had always been Aki's favorite season. And this time was extra special.

she was starting college away from her abusive  parents, who rarely let her leave the house.

Maybe that's  why the hefty luggage, which she would have found bothersome on normal days,didnt bother her.

"My dorm must be located here, according to the location sent by the university," she whispered as she gazed at the lovely  road covered with fallen cherry blossom.

 "I was told that I would have to share a dorm with  another  student; I wonder who she would be."she thought.

She stepped out of her thoughts and began strolling  down the  pink lane, looking at her phone for directions.

After a short journey, she arrived at her apartment.

It was a modest but still gorgeous flat with three bedrooms and was located just two blocks from the university where she had been accepted, and it was well beyond Aki's expectations

                     Suddenly, the door to one of those rooms cracked open, revealing a  tall man with dark brown hair and alluring hazel eyes.  "Who are you,miss?" he said in a deep yet soothing  voice.

 "I'll be living here starting today, but who are you?" she asked anxiously. "Wait, are you my flatmate? Wasn't it supposed to be a girl?" she wondered. "Well, I don't think I'm a girl," he said, "but my name is Park Dak-ho."" I live here and am a business major, and yes, I believe we are flatmates." He demonstrated. He showed Aki the room she was meant to take before returning to his room to continue his studies.

PRESENT DAY

Aki was staring endlessly at the scenic view of outside while being lost in her thoughts until She was interrupted by her best friend Himeko.

"I placed our orders! " Himeko said while pulling one chair out in order to sit.

"Thanks, Himeko. " Aki replied with a blank face.

Placing her hands on Aki's cheeks ,Himeko What's up with you today? You should be happy . . it's such a special day.

"I know right! I should be happy ... But.. " she said as her voice became a little heavy.

"You know.. I always thought I would have you and Dak -ho together to celebrate my first job.Its crazy right.. how you go from being so close to nearly strangers" she continued with a lowered gaze and sighed.

 Himeko looked at Aki with a gentle gaze and said "Aki ... I know you still miss him. But... it is better being strangers than getting hurt trying to make a broken relationship work.And why are being all sad when you have worked so hard for the past 5 years to get this job. Seeing you like this is making my heart ache.

Feeling better by Himeko's word, with a small smile on her face, Aki said "Actually! you are right. I am sorry for making you worry.. "

The order arrived after 15 minutes.

"Let's eat until our stomachs explode today".Himeko screamed out of excitement.

" My baby Aki has finally gotten a job today ".

"Ms secretary… . How are you feeling? ". Everything's in you today!"she said while raising the glass of beer to raise a toast, stretching her arm to its maximum limit.

Aki replied, having her mood cheered up by Himeko's excitement."sure! let's do that! . Let's get drunk tonight".

AT AKI'S PLACE:

Himeko dragged Aki to her apartment and gently made her sit on the couch.

"Why did you drink so much even after knowing you have bad alcohol tolerance? " Himeko said while patting on Aki's head who had fallen asleep because of the beer she drank." But it's your day today after all...maybe I shouldn't nag too much".

Himeko brought a blanket from Aki's room and put it over Aki. "She is too heavy for me to lift her into her room"Himeko sighed." This blanket should keep her warm.I should also go to sleep now"she thought.

The next day

Aki was sleeping peacefully on the couch and was dreaming about her first day at job.

In her dream

So you are my new secretary?" her boss asked. Though your work profile seems acceptable, why are  you so ugly?

Suddenly they both heard a sound.

It seemed a little annoying, like someone was playing the piano really quickly.

 "Do you know how to dance?"Her boss inquired." Even if you don't... still  dance  for me."He  ordered with a nasty sneer on his face.

The odd demand that he was making had puzzled Aki,  and the song that was being played was making her  even more irate. Aki was eventually awakened by it.

But the sound was still there as it was coming from her phone. She picked up her phone which was lying on the table placed next to the couch and turned off the alarm and let out a huge sigh.

"It was a weird dream".She said while taking a deep breath."

 Ah!my head is aching so badly. I shouldn't have drank so much last night".

" By the way what time is it? " she wondered while looking at her phone screen and learned that it was 7:00 in the morning.

She got up from the couch and looked around the apartment for Himeko only to find her in the kitchen making ramen for her.

"Did you wake up?" Himeko said with a bright smile on her face just like the one she had the day they first met.." I made ramen for you... it's good for hangover".

Looking at Himeko's face, Aki wondered what would have happened if she didn't go to that hotpot place that day.

The day Aki came to country z

It was 4 p.m., and Aki was exhausted because she had arrived in nation Z after a lengthy flight, but she couldn't sleep because she was so excited. She was exited from the thoughts of finally becoming free as it was the first time in her life that she felt she could breathe carelessly.

Aki was a very shy and introverted girl who had no close friends and appeared to be very mysterious to people. But she was not always like this, in fact, in her childhood she was a bubbly girl who loved to talk with people and even more enjoyed making friends. Although she was not exceptionally beautiful, but she had a golden heart and loved to help people, but circumstances made her a girl who despised all people including herself. But today the girl who hated the world was dreaming about her future as well as looking forward, it. But she came out of her thoughts because she heard a sound of rumbling that came from her stomach.

"Oh ,I am so hungry.I was so busy in my thoughts that I forgot to eat".I don't even have groceries , maybe I should just go out to eat. But first I should change my clothes".

She came out of her room after getting changed, wearing a peach-colored hoodie and pants and headed out in search of a restaurant.

After walking around 15 minutes in a random direction she finally noticed a hotpot place HBG.

Starving with hunger, she went inside and quickly placed her order and while waiting, she started reading a manhwa(Korean comic) to kill time.

And soon Aki was so immersed in the story that she forgot she was in a public place.

"Why the h*ck are you tormenting my Anasaya"she screamed. But she quickly snapped out of it due to the stares she was getting from people sitting nearby. However, among those people, a girl who looked similar in her age approached her.

"Are you perhaps reading 'JINXED WOMEN'?".she asked with a big yet soft smile on her face. Looking at her beautiful dark eyes and her even more pretty face which seemed almost unreal for a human, Aki was dazzled. She kept staring at her face for some time.

The girl being confused, said:"Excuse me! Can you hear me"?.

"I am talking to you.... ".she said while waving her hand in front of Aki's eyes.

"Oh!.. Y-ess it is… " Aki said after coming back to reality. "Do you also read it?".

" Yes... I do, in fact I have been following and reading it since last 2 years. So ... what chapter are you on? She asked inquisitively while looking at Akii with her shining and exited eyes.

Aki replied while displaying her phone screen"I am currently reading chapter 50. I am on the part when Anasaya's stepmom locked her up".

"Oh!... I have already read that chapter. By the way, I am Himeko Wong. What is your name" the girl said while extending her hand towards Aki for a handshake.

"My name is Akiko.... Akiko Kato.I have just shifted here, few hours ago." Aki said, feeling comfortable due to Himeko's warm voice…

"That's a pretty name…let's exchange numbers. You can call me if you face any problem here". Said Himeko while smiling warmly.

These kinds of words were not familiar for Aki as the only thing she was used to was being an outcast.

Throughout her high school she had zero friends because her parents prevented her from having them. And people showed zero interest in her because after all who would like to be friends with a boring girl who couldn't even contact them, let alone hang out. So this sudden warm gesture of Himeko felt surreal to her.

Himeko extended her phone towards Aki and they exchanged numbers.

At the hotpot place.

Himeko and Aki both sat down at a table

"So where are you from? You definitely are not from country z" asked Himeko, wanting to know more about Aki...

"Yes.. I am from Country J." Aki replied.

The waitress came with Aki and Himeko's orders and they both continued to chat while enjoying the delicious meal.

Maybe it was because of the company of her new friend, that the beef slice she was eating was even more sweet and tender today.

Throughout the meal, they continued to talk on various different topics.

Though it may seem to normal people that it was just a normal meal. But for Aki it was an accomplishment.

She had finally made a friend after such a long time.

Himeko may not have realized that, but her extroverted and warm nature along with all the care she had provided to Aki had restored a broken girl's faith on world.

Present day

" let's Eat quickly, or the noodles will get soggy"Himeko stated

while passing a pair of chopsticks to Aki.

"Sure! " Aki replied." By the way... do you know Jinxed Women is getting a movie adaptation? "." Let's go to watch it together when it is released.

"Let's do that" himeko agreed.

"But right now, quickly finish your ramen and get ready"." You don't want to be late on your first day at job .. do you ? .

"Oh right! ”Aki replied while looking at the wall clock.