The station clock ticked as I waited anxiously, clutching my bouquet of flowers. The tracks rumbled faintly as my heart pounded. 

"Heesoo, I forgot to tell you. This is the student you will be partnered with the whole year of their exchange. Your job is to help them settle with everything they need."

I nodded in reply to my professor as he introduced my exchange partner assignment. When he passed me the student ID card, I glanced down, expecting to see a female name. But the characters spelled out a decidedly masculine name instead - Lee Youngchul.

I blinked in surprise as I looked back up at my professor. "Lee Youngchul? I thought I would be partnered with a female student?"

My professor nodded apologetically as a tall young man with an athletic build and short cropped hair approached us with his rolling suitcase in tow.

"Yes, originally you were matched with Ms. Eun-young, but we had a last minute change once the final list was set from Pyongyang University."

My palms grew sweaty around the cellophane-wrapped flowers. Partnering with a visiting student for their whole exchange term was an even bigger responsibility than I had prepared for.

As the train pulled up to the platform, I scanned the disembarking passengers, wondering which one I would be the man called 'Lee Youngchul' matched with for the year ahead.

 As my professor gestured towards my exchange partner, I felt an involuntary flutter in my chest. The young man approaching possessed an undeniable handsome elegance that momentarily stunned me. He moved with graceful confidence, though his piercing gaze held a pensiveness that hinted at deeper waters beneath the surface.

Thick, expressive brows added weight to his mesmerizing eyes, while his chiseled features seemed perfectly balanced, from the patrician slope of his nose to the finely sculpted angles of his lips. His clear skin and artfully coiffed hair completed the picture of refined style and breeding. Though dressed in casual traveling clothes, he exuded taste and an old world nobility in his bearing. I realized my mouth had dropped open slightly and snapped it shut, hoping no one had noticed as a flush rose on my cheeks.

"Let me introduce you to Mr. Lee here."

I tried not to let my hesitation show as we exchanged greetings. I had mentally prepared myself to welcome a female peer, drawing on my own experiences to empathize and make her comfortable adjusting to Seoul life and academia. Building rapport with a male student from the heavily patriarchal North felt entirely different.

But when Youngchul gave a polite bow and a dimpled, slightly crooked smile, I checked my assumptions. He seemed humble and even a bit shy - not the masculine bravado I might have expected.

"Welcome to Korea,  I hope we can learn much from each other," I said, offering the flowers from my slightly limp grip."

He looked at me, and I watched as his smile dissapeared with the words that came out of my mouth.

"Ah...You mean South Chosun?" Youngchul, said while he accepted them.

I felt my stomach drop at Youngchul's words. In my nervousness, I had blurted "Welcome to Korea" out of habit, momentarily forgetting that to our northern neighbors, there was no "South Korea" - only the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and us, the southerners of the peninsula.

My cheeks burned hotly as I scrambled to correct my faux pas. "I-I'm so sorry, I meant South Chosun, of course. Please forgive my thoughtless greeting." I bowed my head deeply, mentally kicking myself for already stumbling in our first meeting.

Glancing up hesitantly, I tried to read his expression. Would he be offended? Angry at my accidental political slight? To my surprise, a gentle smile played on his lips again.

"No need to apologize so earnestly, Heesoo. I know this situation is still...strange for both sides." His voice held no accusation, only understanding.

His warm reassurance only amplified my earlier attraction, which now mixed perilously with admiration at his quick grace. I hoped desperately that my fluttering nerves did not show as we continued the walk towards the coaches, to head back to campus.

As we stepped onto the bus, we were asked to sit to our North Korean counterpants. That meant me, and Youngchul. I jestured for him to sit at the window seat, in hopes he could take a look outside the window, and look at the scenery of South Korea. However, our attention was turned towards the front, as my porfessor held a mic, and started to introduce himself to the North Korean students. 

As Youngchul and I settled into our shared bus seat, I motioned for him to take the window so he could glimpse at Korea's sprawling cityscape en route to campus. But before he could scan the view, our chatter quieted as Professor Park tapped the microphone at the front of the bus.

"Students, I want to again welcome our friends from the north to the southern side of the penninsula," he began warmly. "We at Korean University hope this exchange kindles not just academic discovery, but human understanding between our peoples..."

As the professor's speech continued, I felt Youngchul subtly shift beside me until our arms just barely grazed on the shared rest. My skin prickled at the proximity and I snuck a sidelong glance at him, but his gaze remained studiously trained towards the front.

Had he edged closer on purpose, or was I hyper-focused on his every minor movement? Get it together Heesoo! This speech is important for setting the tone of reconciliation.

I redirected my attention to our teacher, pushing aside the distracting awareness of Youngchul’s firm shoulder occasionally brushing mine with the gentle sway of the bus.

By the time Professor Park wrapped up his address, encouraging collaborative discovery between North and South, I realized with chagrin I had missed most of the content, too attuned to my seatmate’s proximity.

I watched as Youngchul, turned his attention to outside looking at the cityscape infront of him. It must of been weird for him to see so many highrise buildings, and people moving freely. The lights, and people of all walks of life drinking coffee, and getting on the buses. I understood from the expressions on his face, that he was quite stunned by how many buses, and cars were on the street even more so, how many people their were.

 I couldn't help an affectionate smile at Youngchul's wide-eyed wonder taking in the everyday bustle of Paju's crowded streets. Even this small city on Seoul's outskirts clearly overwhelmed his senses, accustomed to the order and uniformity of Pyongyang.

His questions - spoken without judgement, only curiosity - reminded me this dizzying modern landscape was as foreign to him as his isolated homeland was to me. I imagined it must feel chaotic, even threatening, though to my eyes it seemed perfectly normal.

"It can be quite crowded, yes," I explained gently. "Especially with so many high-rise apartment buildings housing smaller units. People going about their business at all hours of the day and night."

Youngchul shook his head, still struggling to grasp the scale of activity and development.

"There are more people on this one street than live in my neighborhood back home," he murmured.

"Where are they all going?"

"Work, school, shopping, restaurants - anything you can imagine is likely bustling at any given time here. I suppose that's the nature of an open market economy and free movement."

I hoped my attempt at a light-hearted tone would help put him at ease when I noticed tension creeping into his shoulders. This was likely culture shock beyond what any briefing could have prepared him for. On impulse, I reached over and gave his forearm a sympathetic squeeze.

"Don't worry, campus is a bit quieter. We'll ease you in slowly."

I felt my cheeks flush hotly as Youngchul gently but firmly removed my hand from his arm after my sympathetic touch.

I cleared my throat, embarrassed by my thoughtless action.

"I apologize for the improper contact just now. I should be more considerate of your customs."

Youngchul's expression softened. "It's alright. This is a learning process for both of us."

His tone was kind, but the subtle way he angled his body away kept a clear distance between us now.

I nodded, folding my hands tightly in my lap as I scrambled to regain composure. Seeking a distraction from my discomfort, I followed his gaze back out the window where he observed the sparse national flags compared to the sea of banners constantly filling Pyongyang's skyline.

"We don't usually display the Taegeukgi so ubiquitously except for holidays," I explained.

"I suppose we take national pride more casually than in the North?"

I worried the observation sounded critical rather than matter-of-fact, and backpedalled.

"Then again, seeing the flag does stir a certain feeling. Maybe we could use some more visible patriotism in the South these days, bring us together."

Youngchul raised an eyebrow, a wry smile playing on his lips.

"Careful, you're beginning to sound like one of our state newspapers now..."

blinked in surprise at Youngchul's wry comment, comparing me to the bombastic propaganda newspapers of the North. It took my brain a moment to register he was gently joking to lighten the tension. When his eyes crinkled with faint amusement, I broke into an embarrassed giggle, cheeks flushed.

"Oh - I see, you're teasing me now!" I managed after my initial startled confusion. Humor sometimes came dryly from Northerners.

"I suppose overt patriotism can be taken to extremes either direction," I acknowledged, smiling and ducking my head self-consciously. "Maybe the truth lies somewhere in between."

Youngchul's grin broadened at my flustered reaction, eyes glinting playfully now. "Indeed, striking that balance is key for both our countries during this transition."

I marveled at his quick pivot from shock at the crowded streets to cracking jokes and philosophizing. Clearly there were many layers to unravel with this fascinating young man. My faux pas with physical touch had built an awkward wall between us momentarily, but his gentle humor helped bridge that discomfort, returning us to even footing.

I found myself leaning towards him again, drawn to discover more. If our little misunderstandings could resolve this quickly, perhaps bigger reconciliation was possible too. But I would need to mind this magnetic pull he seemed to innately exert on me!