Inside, she smacked her own forehead.
"I just woke up… and suddenly I'm in Korea! Is this a dream or reality?!"
The restaurant owner oppa nodded, then started giving her friendly local-style suggestions in that effortlessly charming tone:
"You should try Gyeongbokgung Palace—perfect for hanbok photos. And Bukchon Hanok Village for traditional vibes. Don't miss Myeongdong if you like shopping, and of course, Namsan Tower for the night view. Food? Tteokbokki, Korean fried chicken, and maybe some soju-free cocktails if you prefer safe drinks."
Naima listened, eyes sparkling.
"Okay… bibimbap here, tteokbokki there, Namsan Tower at night… I'm basically an absurd tourist in a real K-drama world!" she thought.
She looked at the restaurant owner oppa, trying to appear calm.
"Thank you… uh… for the suggestions. I… uh… will try," she said, half nervous, half in awe.
The man gave a small smile, twirling the spoon in his hand.
"If you want, I can guide you around… after you enjoy your meal," he said, voice warm yet casual.
"Okay, this oppa's vibe is totally different from K-drama types. Is he flirting? Nah, don't flatter yourself, Naima! No one in Jakarta even looked your way—why would a Seoul oppa?"
He served her food with a smile.
"I'm Park Hyunbin, by the way. Like the actor Hyun Bin."
"Yeah, I know…" Naima blurted.
She almost continued, "I also know you just broke up with your girlfriend—the main lead's best friend. You're the second lead who lost because of heartbreak."
The oppa frowned slightly.
Naima panicked. "Your apron!" she said quickly. "I can read the Hangul on it—with a translation app! Your name, right?"
Before Hyunbin could reply, a group of four young doctors entered the restaurant—energetic and full of confidence.
Kang Jaeho, the male lead—handsome, mysterious, with second-lead energy.
Han Sooah, the main female lead—beautiful, expressive, strangely familiar to Naima.
Lee Minji, the bubbly friend who always sticks to Sooah.
Park Sungho, the laid-back but sharp observer.
Naima instantly opened her translator app, mentally switching on her "Indonesian subtitles" to keep up with their conversation.
"Oppa, let's order bibimbap, tteokbokki, japchae, okay? And four bottles of soju!" she murmured, trying to sound confident.
"Alright," Hyunbin replied with a faint smile, setting their order on the counter.
Kang Jaeho leaned closer to Hyunbin and whispered,
"Since when do you accept solo customers? You usually refuse them."
Hyunbin chuckled quietly but said nothing, letting the strange atmosphere hang in the air.
Back at their table, Lee Minji tilted her head.
"What's up?" she asked.
Jaeho shrugged, a faint smile on his lips.
"Dunno… but Hyunbin's been smiling to himself and actually accepted a solo customer."
All three of them turned to look at Naima, their eyes filled with curiosity.
"That girl…?" Sooah asked softly.
Naima swallowed hard, her cheeks heating up.
"Why are they staring at me like I'm some rare zoo animal?!" she thought, panicking.
She looked down at her bibimbap, pretending to be chill while her heart was thundering.
Meanwhile, Hyunbin kept preparing dishes, sneaking glances at her.
He couldn't explain why—but something about this girl felt different.
From the corner of their eyes, Jaeho and his friends were whispering.
"Hyunbin's totally acting weird… he keeps looking at that girl," said Jaeho, voice low and raspy.
"Maybe he likes her," Minji teased.
"But she looks like a high-schooler," Sungho commented, suppressing a laugh.
"No way. A high-schooler hanging out here without a uniform at this hour?" Sooah replied, half teasing, half intrigued.
"Look—she's not even drinking alcohol. Definitely a minor!" Minji added, grinning.
Naima heard bits and pieces through her half-glitched translation app—and immediately fumed.
"Great! Whether in Jakarta or Seoul, people still think I look like a high-schooler! I'm almost 25! Twenty-five!"
Finally, Hyunbin brought over the steaming bowls of food, the aroma instantly filling the air.
"Enjoy your meal—and please, don't be too curious about others," he said with a sweet but firm smile, the kind that screamed mysterious K-drama male lead.
Minji frowned, half annoyed, half amused.
"Curious about others? Excuse me? We've been friends since high school!"
Sooah rolled her eyes, teasing him.
"When you were heartbroken, who sat with you drinking all night, huh? We did!"
Hyunbin chuckled softly, glancing briefly at Naima before turning back.
"This meal's 50% off—but please… no more gossip," he said lightly, as if nothing unusual was happening.
The group exchanged glances, half confused, half entertained.
"Oh, it's official," Jaeho muttered, smirking.
"Something's going on," Sungho added, barely holding in laughter as he eyed Naima, who was still trying to act natural.
Naima took another bite of bibimbap, eyes darting around.
"Weird… I don't remember this scene. They usually eat together, but never like this. No discounts, no Hyunbin telling them not to gossip."
She tapped her chopsticks, grinning slightly.
"Whatever. I'm just a guest in this drama world. I already know the ending. Might as well enjoy the ride—free trip to Korea, real bibimbap, and a gorgeous oppa chef. Just… stop overthinking, Naima."
She looked at her nearly empty bowl, amused.
"Korean food tastes weird to me. Not spicy enough, but… oddly addictive. I'm only finishing it out of respect for the handsome chef."
Without thinking, she snapped a photo of the empty bowl with her foldable SSG phone.
Hyunbin raised an eyebrow, stepping closer.
"Why are you taking a picture of an empty bowl?" he asked, tone half curious, half playful.
Naima quickly showed him the screen.
"Before-after," she said simply, like explaining a science project.
Hyunbin nodded slowly, smiling.
"Did you like it?"
"Sure," Naima said confidently. "Four point five out of five."
"Why?" he asked, brow raised.
"Not spicy enough," she said with a casual shrug.
Jaeho, overhearing from the next table, turned his head, shocked.
"Not spicy?!"
Hyunbin blinked, intrigued.
"Yes. My mom cooks way spicier food," Naima said, cheeks pink.
Hyunbin laughed softly, then tapped the table.
"Alright then… free meal for you," he said, in the tone of a teasing yet kind-hearted chef straight out of a K-drama.
Naima nearly choked. Her eyes went wide.
"F-free? I-I didn't come here for free meals!"