#15 Day-39 Ketto Building

Hujan seharian. Petang menjelang buka. Sehari sebelumnya.

Saya, mba Maya, dan mba Lisa baru berjalan pulang dari Homeplus. Belanjaan memenuhi ruang di kedua telapak tangan saya. Di bawah guyuran hujan, saya teringat janji saya untuk segera mencari apartemen untuk orang tua saya nanti ketika mereka datang ke Korea.

Ketto Building adalah tipikal apartemen yang keuntungannya dekat dengan asrama saya, bersih, dan lapang, ...hanya dengan membayar 80000 won per hari saja...namun sayangnya no telp yang saya hubungi selalu tersambung dengan ahjussi yang sama sekali tidak mengerti bahasa inggris...jadilah saya mesti tergagap2 menjelaskan bahwa saya ingin memesan kamar...sayangnya hari itu saya tidak berkesempatan untuk bertemu dengan pemilik Ketto Building,,sehingga harus diundur jadi keesokan hari, Sabtu, pukul 11 pagi.

Hari ini, ternyata pemilik apartemen lagi2 harus membatalkan janjinya untuk bertemu karena anggota keluarganya meninggal..huff...lagi2 di tengah guyuran hujan saya kembali ke asrama. Janji baru kembali dibuat, Senin jam 11 siang.

#14 Day - 40: Flood Flood in Dormitory!!

Suatu kehebohan yg tidak pernah terjadi sebelumnya hari ini tiba2 menjadi suatu fakta yang terelakkan dan menggemparkan seluruh penghuni asrama KIST B.

Hujan sudah mengguyur Seoul nyaris seminggu berturut2. Musim hujan telah tiba.

:Malam itu, mendekati waktu buka. Pukul 7.50 pm.

Dapur asrama kami sudah mulai dipenuhi serombongan orang-orang Mesir, Pakistan, India, dan kebanyakan kami sendiri, orang Indonesia asli. Saya baru memasuki dapur yang ribut, melihat mba May asik berkutat dengan percobaan kolak pisang pertamanya. Saya membantu memtong gula merah demi semangkok kolak gratisan untuk berbuka...dan nyaris semuanya berjalan normal kala itu. Hujan di luar masih kalah berisik dibandingkan dapur kami ketika mendekati waktu berbuka.

Akan tetapi...sesuatu yg luar biasa terjadi.
Untuk pertama kalinya sejak saya menjadi penghuni tetap asrama, langit2 asrama kami bocor.

BOCOR.

Tidak di satu tempat, tapi banyak. Dan anehnya, airnya mengalir turun, bukan menetes. Spontan lantai dapur kami sudah tergenang air di mana2. Hebohnya, kami baru saja berbuka dan yang bisa kami lakukan adalah memandangi air yang turun sambil menikmati kurma dan kolak yang sudah lama dinanti-nanti. Saya meraih ember yg biasa digunakan untuk mengepel lantai, tak lupa baskom kecil. Mba Lisa, salah satu teman Indonesia di dorm memanggil ahjussi penjaga asrama. Ruang TV di sebelah dapur juga jadi korban. Bocor dimana2. Saya masih polos kala itu, cuma duduk tenang sambil melanjutkan makan malam yang sedikit terganggu oleh cipratan2 air yang menetes tepat di sebelah kursi saya.Sya belum menyadari kenyataan aneh yang menggelitik:

Tapi kan, asrama kami itu gedung lantai 3, dan dapur jelas2 di lantai paling bawah. Bagaimana mungkin bisa bocor???

Ketika saya dan mba May beranjak menuju kamar kami di lantai 2 dengan perut yang sudah terisi penuh sesak, kami terperangah.

Lorong kamar kami di lantai 2 sudah layaknya seperti dalam adegan film tragedi kebanjiran...Air menggenang di mana2...untungnya tidak terlalu tinggi saat kami datang karena para ahjussi penjaga dorm sudah secara proaktif bergotong royong untuk menguras air yang ada. Ahjussi tua yang baik hati, salah satu yang paling kami kagumi, tampak tidak putus asa memindahkan air2 yg menggenang ke dalam tong besar untuk dibuang ke tempat yg semestinya. Saat itu masih sekitar jam 8 lewat...nampaknya tidak ada seorangpun yang ada di kamar kala itu...saya dan mba May, terkaget2, melangkah hati2 di antara genangan air yang datang dari kamar tepat di seberang kamar saya...ketika kami mengecek, ternyata sumber air bah ini berasal dari pipa pembuangan air yang pecah di beranda. Di beranda kamar yg bermasalah itu, ahjussi lain sibuk dengan ember kecilnya membuang air ke luar jendela...tapi air yg keluar dr pipa yang pecah tersebut tetap deras mengalir ke arah beranda.

Setelah salat Magrib, saya dan mba May secara sukarela terjun membantu ahjussi membersihkan genangan air yang masi setia mengendap di lorong kamar. Alhamdulillah air tidak sampai mencapai lantai kamar kami karena letaknya yang lebih tinggi dari lantai lorong.

Bagaimanapun juga, karena penanganan yang cepat, satu jam kemudian semua air yang ada sudah disedot dan dibuang keluar dengan pompa. Wahh...what an unforgettable memories!

::Siapa yang percaya jika banjir juga bisa terjadi di lantai 2, bukan lantai 1...wkkkk

#13 Day - 41: Manuscript.Again.

Ini semua karena paper yang tertolak dan tertunda dari Spetember tahun kemarin.

Dan ironisnya, saya hanya punya waktu sebulan lagi untuk menuntaskan beban itu.

Hari ini tiba2 melihat postingan di email dan merusak seluruh jadwal seharian penuh.

Revisi revisi dan revisi.

Nasib menjadi assistant researcher :')

#12 Day - 42 Culcom Community

Thanks a lot to my dearest friends, Endah and Vania, I finally recognize Culcom community in Seoul, a part of free-Korean-lesson for foreigners...something that I really need before I go back to my home country...Almost 2 yrs here, I swear I learn not enough Korea than I expected...even though I watched Korean drama everyday, interact with Korean every time, also listen to K-pop via my Samsung galaxy...it is just NOT enough...*Sigh...

I am very weak in speaking hahahaha, either English or Korean!

Culcom cafe, located in very strategic place in Jongro 3 ga intersection

I was contacted by Ross, person in charge in this community...we made promise already at 12 pm in Culcom cafe, near exit 3 of Jongro 3-ga station...I was in a hurry because I should go to lab also...that day is the second day of Ramadhan...so I could not buy neither food or drinks...but I was so interested on the cafe itselves...lot of books...people with laptops, groups who seem to me as language-exchange group...and it has great view from second floor...

One of part-time worker there greeted me warmly...ask me in English, "Are you Muslim?"

"Yes"

Me - a bit surprised.

"Oo, I learn arabic in my college..."

"Oo really?"

"Ya..." he smiled.

Then I asked about Culcom community, he brought me to a young lady in the other corner.

"Please wait a moment" she said.

"Ne. kamsahabnida"

She surprised that my Korean pronunciation seems perfect.

"Aaa, Hanguko jal haneyo..."

"Aniyo" Me, feel ashamed. I am not good at all. Thats the fact :(

Then, the part-time guy offered me drink but I said that this is Ramadhan so muslim cannot eat and drink..He understand and we talked a little bit. He said he is taking course in Hanguk University of Foreign Studies...not really far from my institute...He will go to Egypt next month for internship and then Canada,,,ooo I envy him...His English is also great enough...I really wish my Korean can be like that :((((

Huhuhuu

Inside Culcom Cafe

I was then interviewed by another Korean guy and he promised to contact me again after finding person who can be my conversation partner...Personally, I really like their system and I recommended this to any foreigners in Seoul who eager to learn Korean seriously but in fun way :)

#11 Day - 43: 1st Ramadhan

Hoo...it was surprised party in the middle of the night to celebrate birthday of one of my Indonesian friend in dormitory...so that was how I start my day today...

*Actually I planned to write this blog fully in Indonesia, but now I think I give up kkkk

This is the last lunch that we have together before starting Ramadhan tomorrow...my friends and I together went to one of Korean restaurant in Wolgok...I was thankful bcause my friend paid for me :p...alhamdulillah...for moslem like me, "the food" things can be very complicated...almost two years in Korea, adaptation was the only way...only eating seafood, eggs, and cooking by myself in case of meat or chicken...and please stay away from non-halal meat!! Even chicken and meat in Korea are not halal so cannot be consumed (of course!)...

We chose 해물  갈국수 (seafood noodle) for the main course (6000 KRW per person) and  해물 파전 (10000 KRW) as desert. We cannot resist for eating kimchi as much as possible (*this restaurant has very fresh and not very sour kimchi - taste well for us)...

(Well you can see the menu from the photo here... >_< ...I really recommend this for moslem especially)

in the middle of lunch

and in the evening, I once again had to attend my fave Korean class with the funniest 선생님 (teacher) ever... 김 선생님!!I fell so regret that I always forget his full name...ckckck...in fact, it is so hard to remember Korean names because they are sounded so similar and so many people have similar name -__-

I took his photo for the first time...this class will end soon in the end of this month,, that's why... *_* I will mis my Korean teacher so bad...but the worse thing is my Korean ability is not improved due to hectic time in lab T__T

HOW COULD THIS BE :((((((((((((((((((((((((((((

my funniest-yet-smartest-sonsaengnim

Then when maghrib came...Ramadhan finally come to me again...my third Ramadhan in Korea :')

Together with my friend, we decided to walk across the crowd in Itaewon to find Itaewon mosque, the only one mosque in Seoul to pray Isya and Tarawih...it was a great experience for me as foreigner and also moslem...there is no one that can ever beat the feeling if I do fasting in my home country - Indonesia...wher the majority is moslem and we can respect each other while cannot eat and drink..BUT here...we are just minority and who cares that we cannot eat and drink during the day (17 hrs exactly, longer compared to Indonesia)... Korean people really have no idea about moslem ...so as it goes...it become more n more difficult to keep the Ramadhan spirit if we dont try hard by ourselves to maintain it

We started Isya at 9.45 pm and finished tarawih at 10.50 pm...

Then my friend said she was hungry so we bought this....Turkish Kebab!!very famous in Korea.... :)

Korean people really do like Kebab...that s the reason why so many Kebab kiosks in Seoul, especially in Itaewon...when you go to Itaewon by subway and arrive in Itaewon station...just pass the exit 3 and you will find AnkaraPicnic..the most delicious Kebab shop in Itaewon :)

It s cheap...only 4000 KRW for chicken kebab

5000 KRW for lamb kebab

and 6000 KRW for mix kebab

Try it whenever you go to Itaewon! You will not regret...aa you can also choose if you want spicy Kebab or not...the owner are really friendly and can speak in many languages...they can speak Indonesian also, enough for greetings you and asking what do you want to buy :)

AnkaraPicnic, the most recommended place to try Turkish kebab in Itaewon

Chicken kebab, I ate it in subway station before departing -- So SPICY ^__^

I arrive in my own station almost midnight...and it was so tired...the weather in Korea now is hot and very humid...the whole week weather forecast was not good ...Rainy season has come...

Anyway, have a happy and cheerful Ramadhan...
Cheers from Seoul :)

#10 Day - 44: I Hear Your Voice aka New Addiction to Jong Suk!!

Let me say...today I bring up myself to watch the brand new project of Lee Jong Suk: I HEAR YOUR VOICE...the first episode...

Well I cannot wait for a little longer...can I???

I had watched the MV of Soo Ha (Lee Jong Suk) and Hye Sung (Lee Bo Young) in YT..well...just from those smart and incredible MV makers I promise myself I will just suffer if I decide to watch them since now...because they are STILL AIRING it on SBS you know...Every Wed and Thurs...and I will die for waiting until next episode to come if I watch it now...but why o why it disturbs my self-defense soo muuch that I repeat and repeat again in my mind...

"OOH i should watch it now...so I can predict where the shooting location...so for the next day I can search where is the place and just go there by subway...WATCH Jong Suk by my OWN EYES before I leave Korea...how lucky it ll be....wkkkkk *evilsmirk"

*it s embarassing..hahaha

So I watched it.

AND it was so great that I just stopped watching it after first episode.

I was so afraid i will watch the rest episodes in one night if I did not stop watching -_-

WHY 

WHY

Jong Suk just so perfect there,hahaha...he choose the right character...I can see that he is there still act as high school student WHO is not really a great surprise since School 2013, BUT...he just turn into such a dark-and-tragic-past character which can burst everything when the time comes...the story line...hmmm..never hear or know something that similar like this drama before. FRESH-and such a unique incident that let him and his first love (Hye Sung) met...WOH, they have 10 years age different....remind me of Itazura na Kiss- Love in Tokyo (Yuki Furukawa and Miki Honoka) *_*

Soo Ha came up as our main heroine in this story, and it showed him as 18 years old high school guy, with a special ability to hear people's mind...and again...this makes this show is more "special" itself - he is handsome, smart, calm, good at fighting, and ...(like everything that I ve said are not enough to melt girls) has to struggle with terrible tragedy from his past. He is an orphan...has to see his father being killed by someone in front of his own eyes by an accident in the age of 8. He met his one-and-only-hero after that, a middle school girl who became the witness of his father's death in the court - almost being the victim too - and young Soo Ha suddenly fell in love for the first time with her.

"I will protect you" he said, feeling soo grateful, happy, yet also guilty toward the girl.
Purely, as a kid.

After 10 years, Soo Ha keep searching for the girl.

.....and

.....you have to watch it by your self right!!

Well then, back to reality again...I know I know it will be like this!!!!I will give Jong Suk big applause because his smart choice...I really support his role in here~~ Maybe because I am the fan of such a tragic-depressing drama that focus on the guy's life as the main story, not all about the pity girl n stuff who is unfortunately fall in  love with rich or arrogant guy or things like that (u know what i mean)...

What just I wrote?tragic-depressing drama??if look one year ago...I will tell that Bridal Mask and Innocent Man are both dramas that really hooked my heart and then broke it into small pieces. Joo Won and Joong Ki, both are them become my top list Korean actor which I adore because of their acting skill...such such such talented, young, and honored. Especially Joo Won. He deserved it....all the awards he got from his role in Bridal Mask....He killed it actually!Brilliant, so emotional n I just think how can he could act like that???So complicated character...Lee Kang To...n so emotionally performed...HUFFF...finished watching Gaksital was really like watching a movie but in 28 episodes. Every scene was just too precious >__<

Tragic but too PRECIOUS.

Not "shallow" as many of Korean dramas nowadays hhmmm

Joo won, playes as Lee Kang To...the most horrific-evil-that-ever-turn-into-the greatest-heroine-ever

Joong ki in "Innocent Man" poster with the famous tag: "There is no such an innocent man in this world"

And now I am seeing Jong Suk as the next one.

Rather different, Jong Suk is really a pretty-flower-boy that I think...even he looks prettier than Bo Young sometimes wkkkk

But I dont mind since I know he is typically popular-guy-style out there nowadays in Korea, and he can just turn out to be so manly in School 2013 (why I dont make a review of School 2013 exclusively??That was a great great drama oh My God :)

Last wed I was so curious and watched I Hear Your Voice in SBS via my smartphone...and of course I didnt know the story yet...but I could feel the strong character of this drama...so I hope it will be one of the greatest drama HIT in 2013

Let see

:)

#9 Day - 45: Lee Jong Suk

Siapa yang tidak mengenal model-aktor Korea satu ini?

Well, saya.
Sebelum saya menonton School 2013.

Setelah tak henti2nya mengagumi alur cerita, sutradara, dan akting para pemainnya yang mengagumkan, saya harus mengakui saya terobsesi dengan pemeran utama drama tersebut: Lee Jong Suk.

Usut punya usut, ternyata dia lahir hanya sehari setelah saya, di tahun yang sama. Well...
Dan hebatnya di drama School 2013 dia memerankan peran anak kelas 2 SMA (Wew....)

What can I say...he is just so talented. He is originally a model, not an actor. But he previously known regarding his appearance in "Secret Garden" ...saya juga menonton si sedikit...well, saya bukan penggemar Secret Garden sejujurnya..saya penggemar Ha Ji Won, tapi saya benar2 tidak bisa mengerti kenapa Secret Garden bisa sepopuler itu, sejujurnya...alur ceritanya bagi saya tidak surprise sama sekali - well, it s just my opinion...but Lee Jong Suk was there and I dont think there is something special at that time...apalagi mendengar perannya sebagai "gay" di drama tersebut  O_O ..ooh ok...I just stepped back and forget him so easily...

Lee Jong Suk in School 2013

*I never see such a person who look so handsome in school uniform....REALLY

Tapi alasan mengapa saya tiba2 mengidolakan sosoknya adalah karena kemampuan aktingnya. School 2013 adalah d best drama for me so far in 2013...Sosok "Go Nam Soon" benar-benar hidup dan membekas di kepala saya - saya benar2 kagum betapa Jong Suk benar2 membuat karakter Nam Soon seakan akan benar2 hidup di dunia nyata...Karakternya yang sebenarnya sangat sulit...di sisi lain, dia punya masa lalu yang kelam karena kegemarannya berkelahi dan buat onar, tapi dia juga sangat sangat setia kawan dan rela berbuat apa saja demi sahabatnya Heung Soo...dan peristiwa yang melatarbelakangi pecahnya persahabatan mereka dan apa yang dilakukan Nam Soon untuk menebus "dosa"nya itu benar2 membuat hati semua penikmat drama ini (terutama perempuan) meleleh dan lmengharu biru untuk Nam Soon.

Saya jadi ikut kagum dengan sang sutradara School 2013..saya menunggu untuk karya Bapak selanjutnya!^^

I even decided to register for me2day only for Jong Suk...itung2 sambil berlatih bahasa Korea...dan saya harus akui dia adalah tipikal orang yang easygoing dan menyenangkan,,it will be sooo great if i can meet him by accident before I leave Korea HMMM (*mimpi banget...tapi why NOT??)

This is him in his "me2day" update status:

잘잤어?? 졸리다.. 나 오늘 상태 좀 좋은것 같아 ㅋㅋ 뭐랄까.. 피부의 정직함을 믿으니까! 스킨ㅍ…… 아 .. 계약 끝났지 ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ데헷.. 아 피곤하다.. 

*Hahahaha...he is so pretty isnt it...

Setelah School 2013, projek terbaru Jong Suk adalah "I hear Your Voice"...dari semua komen penontonnya, tampaknya ini akn menjadi next big HIT!! honestly I am waiting until all episodes to come out so I can watch it all in one night! Tapi malam ini, ketika sedang ngedate berdua dengan teman di Hollys Cafe di pusat Itaewon, saya baru sadar kalau Hollys menjadi sponsor drama "I hear Your Voice" dan ada poster drama tersebut terpampang di sudut cafe...well, here it is (setelah minta maaf sama orang yang lg makan di dekat situ) :)

Hhh, next time I really want to meet him in person, right??!! >_<

#8 Day - 46: The Manuscript

Saya melangkah dengan tangan hampa menuju kamar saya di asrama,pukul setengah 7 pagi setelah semalaman berkutat dengan paper. Belum tidur sama sekali, tapi perut saya merintih untuk diberi sesuap karbohidrat. Saya akhirnya memutuskan untuk menyusuri jalanan lengang di daerah Wolgok, mencari mini market yang buka. Pagi itu entah kenapa saya ingin sekali makan "samgak kimbab" alias kimbab segitiga isi tuma dan mayones yang "bagi saya" luar biasa enaknya.

Tapi ga ada huhuhuhu...

Dan mini market yang saya tau menjual samgak kimbab masi belum buka jam segitu...

Dan akhirnya saya malah memutuskan untuk membeli roti isi kacang merah, murah cuma seribu won :p

Dan saya tepar.

Dan sampe keesokan paginya saya masi harus berkutat dengan revisi paper HOAAAAA

Subhanallah ~_~

#7 Day - 47: Running MAN

Saya pasti dikuliti oleh para penggemar Running Man di negara saya, kalau mereka tahu kalau saya baru memutuskan untuk menonton Running Man, reality show teranyar dr negeri ginseng itu kemaren.

Itu juga gara-gara abis nonton drama "School 2013", dimana tokoh utama yg saya banggakan n jadi orang korea yg plg ingin saya temui akhir-akhir ini, "Lee Jong Suk", jadi tamu di Running Man episode 138.

Ampuun...hahaha...

Saya ga tau persis seberapa besar euforia Running Man merajai negeri kelahiran saya, tapi entah kenapa gaungnya itu masi terasa samar-samar di telinga saya yg kebetulan harus mengisolasi diri di balik tembok lab-kurang dari sehari sejak pertama kali saya menginjakkan kaki di Korea.

Malam ini saya super hectic dengan paper saya yg harus segera disetor ke advisor dan saya "sekali lagi" memutuskan untuk menginap di lab dan baru pulang jam 6 pagi.

Paper oh paper~~

Saya agak lupa episode berapa, tapi saya ingat Running Man pernah singgah di tempat saya bekerja, KIST.
dan waktu itu sayangnya saya belum ngeh sama sekali ma popularitas bang Jae sok dkk.
Yang ada saya berkutat setengah hidup dengan eksperimen saya.

What a life~

Now I feel little regret :p

#6 Day - 48 : Kyuhyun

Hari ini saya memutuskan untuk menulis lagi (still can't imagine)...

Berhubung kondisi saya yang sudah mulai stabil setelah 6 bulan lamanya berkutat dengan eksperimen yang kedodoran, paper jurnal, conference, sampe thesis yang mengharu-biru saya selesaikan akhir Juni kemarin...Saya akhirnya menyadari ini adalah hari-hari terakhir saya di Korea...hari-hari menikmati status saya sebagai mahasiswa dan tentunya status "pelarian" saya

hahahaha

Tidak terasa, hampir 9 tahun lamanya saya hidup merantau.

dan Korea, saya tidak pernah menyangka dalam sejarah hidup saya bahwa Korea akan menjadi bagian penting di dalamnya...

Cheers.
Well,then.

H-48 sebelum saya meninggalkan Korea.

Kenapa Korea?
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.
.
.
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Itu semua karena Kyuhyun :)
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Saya penggemar berat Kyuhyun, Super Junior kala itu...di awal tahun 2011, saya benar2 terpukau oleh sosok dan suara Kyu. Saya koleksi semua lagunya di laptop saya, dan saya bermimpi, benar2 bermimpi kala itu, untuk bisa bertemu dengan Kyu, bagaimanapun caranya.

Saat itu di Indonesia Super Junior masi belum terlalu booming. Tidak ada pertanda mimpi saya akan kesampaian.

Dan Subhanallah.

Saya melamar S2 di Korea di awal April 2011, dan hanya dengan pertolongan Allah Swt,.... saya masi terpekur mengingat betapa mulusnya proses penerimaan saya di universitas saya yang sekarang.

Saya diterima. Saya menjadi warga resmi Seoul terhitung 25 Agustus 2011.
Saya memegang alien card Korea, dan saya (masi terheran-heran dengan keberuntungan saya) bisa mendapatkan tiket VIP untuk menonton musikal Kyuhyun "Catch me if you can" yang diselenggarakan oleh SM Town di Hangangjin, Seoul.

Tidak tanggung-tanggung, saya memesan tiket 1st class, saya duduk di baris ketujuh...dan saya waktu itu  (akhirnya) melihat langsung Kyuhyun dari dekat. 2 jam penuh. Harga tiket yang terbilang mahal bagi saya tidaklah mengapa mengingat karena Kyu oppa-lah saya membulatkan tekad untuk melanglang buana ke negaranya.

Well,hahaha...saya menyesal saya hanya punya kamera pocket kala itu, dan tangan saya bergetar karena terbawa antusiasme para ibu-ibu jepang yang duduk di sebelah saya...

But Kyu, a bunch of thanks toward you...

Itu adalah mimpi beberapa bulan yang lalu, dan Allah swt mengabulkannya begitu cepat, saya kadang sekarangpun masi tidak percaya (kkkk...)

Sekarang, setelah hampir dua tahun di Korea, kecintaan saya pada suara emas Kyu masi tersisa, walaupun tidak sampai separah beberapa waktu yang lalu...hehehe...di Korea ini, saya menemukan banyak "cinta" yang lain ;)

Entah kenapa, intinya adalah "lewat mimpi saya yang terbilang sepele, saya bisa mendapatkan sesuatu yang lebih besar."

Gelar S2 saya, Insya Allah sudah di depan mata.

Alhamdulillah.

Dan di awal Juli yang lembab dan banyak hujan ini, saya bertekad untuk mengejar "ketertinggalan" saya: 

Saya akan menulis "segalanya".

Suka dan duka selama di negara Kyuhyun oppa~

Salam hangat dari dalam kamar asrama!