I'm standing outside the hotel with Grace nestled snugly in her carrier. I quickly scrutinize my reflection, noting the extra effort I put into my appearance today - a little touch of mascara. That's about the extent of what I can manage, leaving my hair in its signature messy bun. I find myself second-guessing my decision for the umpteenth time.  I've looked up the kidnapping rates in Jeju; they're practically non-existent. South Korea, in general, is incredibly safe. Nevertheless, I texted my BFF in the states about my whereabouts and plans, sharing my live location with her. Her reply was that I was crazy and she would be praying for my safety. Am I crazy? This whole situation feels surreal.

Before I can change my mind, I spot Min Jun's sleek black Audi Q5 approaching. A reassuring thought pops into my mind: kidnappers don't drive Audis, right? This should be safe, I'm not losing my mind. Trying to shake off my apprehension, I notice Min Jun pulling up in front of the hotel, greeting me with a friendly wave from his window. I reciprocate with an awkward wave of my own and approach the car with Grace in tow.

"Hello!" I chirp, opting to open the door behind the driver's seat to stay within arm's reach of Grace. Min Jun promptly exits the car, taking the diaper bag from my grip and busying himself with loading all the things that come with traveling with a baby as I secure Grace in her car seat. Admittedly, I haven't had much practice with car seat adjustments, which is evident as Min Jun finishes up before I do.

With a sigh of relief, I mutter, "Finally," giving Grace a comforting pat before shutting the door. Min Jun climbs into driver's seat. I move to the front passenger seat, appreciating the sense of normalcy it brings; it feels nice to be seated like an adult again, considering I am forced to take taxis where I usually sit in the back with Grace.

"So, where are we headed?" I ask genuinely curious. Our prior text exchanges hadn't included any itinerary details. It is very much a conscious effort to let go of my controlling tendencies.

"We're starting at 'Hello Kitty Island'," he begins, his eyes fixed on the road. "Though Grace might be too young to enjoy it it should make for a great photo backdrop."

I can't contain my excitement at his words. "Seriously?" I blurt out, my eyes widening in pleasant surprise.

He looks a tad concerned, "Did I make a bad choice?"

"No, it's absolutely perfect!" I exclaim, unable to hide my enthusiasm. "I'm a huge Sanrio fan. In fact, I planned to visit tomorrow on my own. When I was a kid, a friend gave me a Hello Kitty pen, and I still have it, even though it ran out of ink decades ago. It reminds me that there is good in people.”. My smile fades as I recall the circumstances surrounding that gift. During a particularly tough time in foster care, that pen became a beacon of hope, a ray of goodness in a house that seemed void of any love. I was that dirty kid in class, that wore the same two outfits.  Fortunately, a girl in my class, Annie, befriended me, seemingly unbothered by the taunts from the others. Needless to say my foster parents more interested in the paycheck than me. They managed hide it by making sure that I was cleaned up and properly threatend with a beating if I said anything for my social worker visits. I owe so much to my compassionate teacher, who, after months of persistent and gentle questioning, persuaded the school to step in. Eventually, the school reported my hygiene issues to the social worker, a move that finally led me to a different foster home.

Intrigued, Min Jun probes further, "What makes you say it 'reminds you of the good in people?'" His voice carries a casual yet genuinely interested tone.

Here we go; I shouldn't have blurted that out so casually. Well, we aren't very far from the hotel, and it's still early enough that if he decides to turn back, I can salvage this day. "Where to start," I say with a small laugh, attempting to lighten the mood. I glance back at Grace, noticing that she's fallen asleep.

"So, how long is it to Hello Kitty Island?" I ask, giving my best attempt to change the topic.

Catching the subtle hint, he asks, "It's about 30 minutes. What would you like to listen to?" as he reaches for what appears to be the radio controls

"Got any BTS?" I ask with a smirk.

"I'm more into old-school stuff like H.O.T or Seo Taiji," he replies, tuning the radio to what I assume is an "oldies" channel. We spend the rest of the journey in comfortable silence.

I text my BFF: "Still alive, still crazy".