I fell into a Korean Drama Chapter 2

Seattle’s drizzle followed me all the way back. My apartment wasn’t far—a modest one-bedroom with a view of an alley. Inside, Max, my golden

Seattle’s drizzle followed me all the way back. My apartment wasn’t far—a modest one-bedroom with a view of an alley. Inside, Max, my golden retriever, greeted me like I’d been gone for weeks.

“Miss me, buddy?” I knelt, scratching behind his ears. His tail went into overdrive. “Yeah, yeah, I missed you too. At least you don’t make fun of me for liking dramas.”

Max tilted his head and gave a soft bark. I laughed, filling his food bowl.

Later, sprawled on my couch with my laptop, I logged into the chat app. A new message blinked.

Mirae: How dare you ignore my polite ribbing, stupid English pigdog.

Monty Python’s French knight echoed in my brain, and I chuckled. Mirae always knew how to set the tone.

Mirae: I am still waiting for your actress answer. And you should know you have no taste in dramas.

I grinned.

Me: Crash Landing on You is objectively great. Don’t make me fight you. Besides, you were the one who recommended it. Now go away, or I shall taunt you a second time.

Mirae: It’s fine. Fine. But if you want good, watch Mr. Sunshine. Or is that too mature for you?

Me: You’re lucky I’m too tired to argue. What’s your drama of the week?

The typing dots blinked. Paused. Blinked again.

Mirae: Secret. You wouldn’t understand it anyway.

“Cryptic as always,” I muttered. Max sighed at my feet like he agreed.

Still, I couldn’t help but smile. Mirae’s teasing had become a weird kind of comfort. I didn’t know much about them—hell, I wasn’t even sure if Mirae was a guy or a girl—but our back-and-forths made the evenings less lonely.

I leaned back against the couch, fingers hovering over the keys. Max shifted at my feet, sighing deeply, like he was urging me to just spit it out already.

Me: Sooo… after talking to the guys tonight, I think I have to go with Seo Yea-ji. She blew me away in It’s Okay to Not Be Okay. Even if that plot was all over the place.

Mirae: Has to be the voice. Totally hot, right?

I smirked.

Me: Among other things. Now stop asking embarrassing questions and let me ask you some stuff.

Mirae: ?

Me: We’ve been talking for what—ten months? You know way too much about me. What’s your story, Mirae?

The typing indicator blinked. Then disappeared. For a moment, I thought they’d gone offline. I was about to type again when the reply popped up.

Mirae: Not much to tell.

Me: Come on. Hobbies? Favorite food? Family? Something. I don’t even know if you’re a guy or a girl.

Mirae: Hobbies? Arguing with clueless Americans about dramas, apparently.

I shook my head, grinning. “You’re deflecting.”

Me: Seriously though. You know I’m an engineer. You know about Max. You know that I am not close with my family and I haven’t had a date in like 40 years. I’m basically an open book. You? Total mystery.

The typing dots flickered again. Then—

Mirae: Jason… it’s complicated.

I frowned, fingers pausing on the keys. Maybe I’d pushed too hard. Before I could backtrack, another message appeared.

Mirae: But… I am a girl. I live on the coast. I like books. And coffee. You?

I blinked. Then huffed a laugh.

Me: You already know all about me. I use my real name. But sure. Not a girl. Also like books. Swap coffee for tea. I’m not a coffee guy.

Mirae: Of course not. You’re already bland enough.

That one made me laugh out loud, startling Max.

“Rude,” I muttered, typing quickly. “The coast, huh? Maybe she’s in Port Orchard. That’s right on the water.”

Me: Fine, mystery girl. Keep your secrets. I’ll let it go—for now. But another question—what’s with all the ‘rich kids’ in these dramas? The heirs. The chaebols. Korea seems strangely obsessed with them. Are people really that dramatic over there? You watch way more of these than I do. That can’t really be how it is, right?

Her reply came almost instantly.

Mirae: I know what you did there. Trying to trick me into revealing stuff about myself. Nice try.

That surprised me—I hadn’t even thought about it that way.

Mirae: As for the chaebols, yes. And no, it’s not as wild as the dramas—but it gets pretty crazy. The power games, the attitudes, the constant pressure? That part is real.

Me: So fewer evil stepmothers and tragic accidents?

Mirae: Not as many as you’d think. But the idea that everyone’s watching everyone else? That’s true. Exhausting, but true.

Me: Sounds miserable.

Mirae: It is. Silly. Over the top. But also endlessly entertaining to everyone else. All cultures have their quirks. Japan loves giant robots and high school girls. In China, everyone’s a CEO—or at least wants to be one. Britain is obsessed with fictional versions of their kings and queens. In a way, that’s why dramas work—they take what’s real and make it ridiculous.

Me: Still. I wouldn’t mind a day in the life of one of those heirs. Just to see it.

Mirae: You’d hate it.

Me: You sound pretty sure about that. Are you sure you aren’t some gorgeous heir waiting to sweep me off my feet?

Mirae: I tried to sweep you off your feet, you’d land on me and kill me.

Me: Pretty sure you just called me fat.

Mirae: :)

The typing dots dance started again, they paused, stopped, then started again She went silent for a bit. I leaned back, wondering if she was about to log off. Instead, one more message appeared.

Mirae: Thanks.

I blinked at the screen.

Me: For what?

Mirae: For being my friend.

I smiled despite myself. “That was unexpectedly sweet,” I muttered. Max opened one eye at me, like he wasn’t buying it.

Me: Ahhh, how sweet. Are you dying? Should I be worried?

Mirae: Oh my gosh, I’m trying to be serious. Idiot.

I laughed, shaking my head.

Me: You’re pretty great too, Mirae. Weird as it is, I consider you one of my best friends—even though I barely know you. I don’t think I ever told you this, but last year was rough. Your friendship really got me through some hard times.

There was a pause. A long, heavy one. My stomach twisted while I waited. I wasn’t even sure why I was nervous. It’s not like I’d just confessed.

Finally, the reply came.

Mirae: Careful. I might start thinking you’re soft.

Me: I’ve got layers.

Mirae: Sure, onion boy. People like parfaits better. Anyway—you need to watch something new.

A link popped up. I clicked it, and a poster filled my screen: a brooding man in a sleek black suit, a mysterious woman in crimson shadows behind him.

Me: What’s this?

Mirae: Whispers in the Shadows. Espionage. Intrigue. And, bonus, Seo Yea-ji’s in it.

Me: You know how to sell it.

Mirae: It’s my gift. Watch it and report back.

I shook my head, smiling at the screen. “Alright, Max. Looks like we’ve got plans.”