By Frederick Alexander Choi

Something mysterious happens from time to time and life is amazingly marvelous.

About four years ago, I was supposed to go to Brisbane in Australia for a language course. I stayed at my hometown before departure.

One day I came across a lady and her father in the street and got into a conversation. They told me that they came from Brisbane, the very destination I was headed for. What a coincidence it was!!!

Her father was working in Gwangju, and she was visiting her father. Her name was Rebecca, and her father's name was Barry.

She gave me her phone number. We were supposed to meet in Brisbane. However, I forgot all about it after arriving in Brisbane because I was busy adapting myself to living in a new environment.

A few years have passed since I met them in GwangJu and I never expected what would happen to me magically. Never!!!

After living in Seoul for a few years, I returned to Gwangju to spend time with my family. While I was in my hometown, I was eager to attend religious services in English. I did not know which church was good for me. I was unfamiliar with this city since I left my hometown a long time ago. Many changes had taken place in this city.

One day I visited a bookstore to purchase some books and met two foreigners there. I warmly greeted them. They responded in kind.

I asked them whether or not they knew of any churches here in Gwangju that conducted their services in English. They told me of the church where they attend every Sunday and asked me to join them.

At that moment, I did not realize that one of them was Rebecca whom I had met a long time ago. It had been a while and I could not recognize her.

Luckily I found the church they had told me about and started going there every Sunday.

After the service, there would be lunch at the church with congregation members.

I was sharing a conversation with a lady at the table. I asked her nationality and where she was from. She answered that she was from Brisbane. It was wonderful to meet a person who lived in the city where I stayed a while back.

While I was talking to her, I noticed an old gentleman trying to sit down beside her. I naturally looked up to him. Something struck me. The old gentleman reminded me of a special meeting that I had some years ago.

Yes, they were the people whom I met in Gwangju before my departure for Brisbane. What a surprise to meet them again unexpectedly! The old gentleman remembered me vividly.

Rebecca visited her father in Gwangju. She got a job in Gwangju.

After staying in Gwangju for a few months, I went back to Seoul to pursue other plans. Rebecca's email address was listed in my email box. I would email many friends. I wanted to share my stories with them. However, I did not expect to receive an email from her. Because she was not my close friend, it was not easy to advance a personal relationship with a lady. On the other hand, she responded sincerely whenever I emailed her.

Furthermore, she politely asked me to proofread my writing and told me that I can feel free to ask her about English. What a sweet suggestion!

One day she informed me via an email that she was getting married in a few months in Gwangju. She wanted me to attend her wedding. Honestly, it was not easy to go to the province for a wedding considering my financial situation. I was not positive about going to her wedding, taking my busy schedule into consideration. Therefore, I just sent her a small gift and a congratulatory card.

She must have gotten married by now. I imagined myself standing there next to the handsome groom when all guests posed for a photograph after the wedding. It is my pleasure to congratulate her on the first day of the rest of her life.

A few years ago, I unexpectedly met two people in the street. Time passed and I encountered them at a church. At last, I was with Rebecca and her father again.

Now I wonder what made me talk to them. I also wonder what made them come back into my life after so many years.

They crossed my path in this great universe. There must have been a beautiful relationship between them and me in the cosmos before we were born.

Life is marvelous, isn't it?

The writer lives in Gwangju. He can be reached at freddd@ymail.com.