It was my second month in Bupyeong, Incheon. Summer heat seriously not a joke this year, I heard it was a record high in S.Korea.
Clock ticking, it's almost 1 am. I couldn't sleep so I having a video call with my girlfriend. Although we have always been texting each other all day all night, still, we can be chatty anyway.
As the conversation went on, we begin to laugh harder and talk louder without a care in the world.
Then, someone just knocked on my door. There is this guy, who always sleeps just right outside my room, on a bench, in the kitchen.
I have no idea why, why the house owner allows tenants to rent and sleep on the kitchen bench.
He was sweating, a lot, I can see sweat stains on his t-shirt.
"I'm sorry to disturb you but I really can't sleep because it was too loud for me? And I literally can hear every single word of what you guys were talking about. Can you try to lower down your voice and speak softly? "
He was furious and impatient, but try to suppress it.
I apologized. And I lower down my voice and video call volume. And I was furious as well, there is an empty room in this house, why the hell he not renting it, instead of sleeping outside my room, on a bench, in the kitchen? Then he got angry when I making a noise in my room.
A few days later, around 8 PM, I was going to prepare my dinner. I saw him when I stepped out of my room, face to face. I gave him greet and a smile, he replied with a nod.
When I busy preparing my dinner, out of a sudden,
"I'm sorry for the other day, I was so rude to you"
I turn my head behind, 180cm tall with 200 pounds at least, apologizing to me.
I was stunned.
"Hey all good, it was my bad by talking too loud at 2 am-midnight"
"Nah, you rented here, you have the right to do whatever in the room. I'm sorry for interrupting and my bad manner. It was really hot outside and I do not get enough sleep lately, I have no choice but to knock on your door and ask to lower down the volume."
"It's okay. we are on good terms now"
"Do you mind I ask, why you sleeping on the bench here? There's empty room available for rent here"
"I was studying university in China, but I dropped out and came back to Korea. I was looking for jobs in Seoul but no luck and I running out of money.
"David ( house owner ) allowed me to stay here for the time being, until I found my job then I will move out.
I did not ask what is the reason he dropped out of university and why he chooses not to stay with his parents. I just listen to his story.
"So what you gonna do next? Any plan? "
"I got myself a job in Lotte Park, it gonna start next week. And I will move out from here."
Lucky he was fluent in English as he studied abroad for quite some time.
We both shared our life experience a little. I told him I gonna backpack travel in Korea after the summer end, so he suggests a few places to me like Jeonju, Suncheon, and Gwangju. And he highlighted Gwangju as the City of Democratic, a historical city that structured the democracy of S.Korea today. Jeonju, cultural ancient Joseon Dynasty city. Suncheon, a super laid-back large town down south, with spectacular scenery.
It was a great conversation and that night I did a self-reflection for myself.
He swallowed his ego and pride, admit his wrongdoing, and make apologies for it.
I'm ashamed of myself, I judged him based on my understanding, a book by its cover. Yet, I thought I was standing on a moral high ground, without realizing I was ignorant and self-centered.
Thank you for giving me a great lesson
And I wish you all the blessings and happiness in life. Hope all your hustles bring you success.