There was no denying that Jinhwan loved being up on the stage, performing in front of thousands of fans, singing and dancing for the people who support him. It's a thrilling feeling, irreplaceable in his mind, to know that he's reached his dream.
What he didn't appreciate, however, was having to run away from the same fans while on his day off.
He made a quick turn, hoping to lose the sasaengs. They were still right behind him though. Jinhwan felt bad for the civilians who were bothered by the chase, but he had no time to express it as he was literally running for his life.
An empty taxi cab caught his eye and he tried to catch the driver's attention. The idol managed to get into the cab before the fans could reach him.
"Go go go. Just take me anywhere!" he instructed the driver who shrugged and did as he was told.
"Kamsahamnida, ajhussi," he muttered to the taxi driver as he watched the obsessed fans disappear from view.
"It's no problem. Are you famous or did you do something to upset those girls?" he inquired.
Jinhwan let out a small laugh in relief. "The former," he replied. "Can you keep driving for a while? Maybe until there are fewer people?"
"Somewhere more peaceful?" the driver questioned and Jinhwan nodded. "I know just the place."
The cab driver stopped just some minutes later. Jinhwan paid the driver and hopped out of the cab. The place he was dropped off at, he wasn't too familiar with but he guessed he could just call one of the company's own chauffeurs to pick him up. At least, once he found out the name of the place.
He walked around, enjoying the tranquility of the park. There was laughter of children somewhere in the distance but he didn't mind it. Instead he explored, passing through the playground without a glance. He wandered deeper into the park, seeing couples and friends hanging out. It wasn't too loud, even with the teenagers. No one seemed to want to disrupt the peace.
There were more trees now, where he was walking now seemed to be where the park blended with the forest. There was barely anyone there. Jinhwan would have thought it was completely deserted but the slight movement caught his eye.
She almost seemed to blend in, the dark clothing she wore acting as camouflage in the trees.
And he realized the design on her arms weren't part of her clothing.
It wasn't usual to see someone, a girl nonetheless, with ink-stained arms and looking so casual at the park. No one noticed her, he thought. The girl sparked something in him, his curiosity.
She wore headphones and he could see her bop her head slightly. The girl looked up and their eyes met for a moment.
Her expression was one of confusion until she snapped out of it. She shook her head and looked away. Jinhwan didn't know why.
