I’m not the friendliest of people. Like, I’m not the type to go out of my way to strike up conversations and be chummy with complete strangers, or people I have never met before in my life. But when the situation calls for it – and my curiosity rears its pretty head – I go for it. So that’s what I did on one of our boat tours on my recent jaunt in beautiful Coron (these two words are now inseparable).
On the first day of our island-hopping tour, my company of 4 hooked up with other joiners in our boat. So there was us, a newly-wed couple from Cebu, an older couple from Germany with their younger lady-friend, and a family of 4 from South Korea. As expected, it was the six of us Filipinos who kept a constant stream of chatter, while the two foreigner groups basically kept to themselves.
Around lunchtime, while we were waiting for our boatmen to finish our lunch, we were just sitting around in one of the cottages over the water. Korean wife was beside me, and so I started talking to her. She and her family have been living in Taytay, Rizal for several years now, and they are set to go back to South Korea. Before they do, they decided to go on this trip to Coron.
The convo went on, and I made mention of visiting South Korea back in 2013, and how I’m going back to Seoul for another visit this coming August. Her husband, Angelo (the only name I can remember, sorry) piped up that his hometown, which is an hour away from Seoul, has this beautiful castle called Hwaseong Castle.
Hmmm. Looks like I’d have to revisit my drafted itinerary.
AND THEN. Somehow the conversation was steered towards Korean dramas and the hallyu wave.
Angelo asked me which actor I like at the moment, and I went “Ji Chang-wook!” (I’ve just been on a major Healer high, so. Sue me.)
Angelo laughed, then his pre-teen son started piping out names. Like, Kim Woo-bin!
Angelo turned to me and said, “You know Kim Soo-hyun?”
And I just kept going, “yes yes yes~!! Moon Embracing the Sun! You Who Came From the Stars!” The fangirl in me was totally and shamelessly being unleashed.
Me: I also liked Im Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul and the whole cast of Misaeng~!
Angelo (with wide eyes): You know Misaeng???
Wife also went, “Won Bin! Hyun Bin!”
Me: YES! I LOVE WON BIN!
Angelo: There’s this popular and very good actor. Jang Dong-gun.
Me: B…b…but… he’s already old!
Then the wife started wringing her hands.
Wife: This… this popular handsome actor…. popular here in Philippines….
Me: Lee Min-ho?
By this time, the new bride from Cebu jumped in, gushing about how hot Lee Min-ho is.
It turns out, Korean Wife is a huuuuuuge Lee Min-ho fan, and there was a momentary admiration society going on between the two wives, while I sat there, goofily nodding and agreeing because, ok, I’m not a Lee Min-ho fan, but I’ve seen Heirs, and damn he’s a looker.
Angelo struck out of nowhere.
Angelo: You know, Lee Min-ho… his whole face… plastic surgery.
Cebu Wife: …. Nooooooo~ …Really?
Angelo (nodding): His eyes, his nose, his mouth… all surgery.
Wife: NO! Only his nose!
Angelo (shaking his head): His whole face.
Wife: (reverting back to their native language, then switching to English) Anyi~ His nose only!
Angelo: (points to the parts of his face) Eyes. Nose. Mouth. Cheeks.
Wife: HIS. NOSE. ONLY.
Then they started bickering back and forth, in mixed Korean and English. Wife got adamant and anxious, Angelo was just shaking his head, smiling and speaking confidently.
Wife turned to us, who were already laughing and going, “Uh-oh, they’re going to start fighting now!”
Wife: He’s my husband. I like Lee Min-ho, so he says these things!
SO. CUTE.
Oh, before I forget.
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