Under the lights tonight || Park Jimin

12

"Stella you really didn't have to take the taxi to the airport with Aunt Mae and me." I laugh. She helped me pack my bags but doesn't want to leave my side now.

"My best friend is leaving for an unknown amount of time and I don't know when I'll see her again," Stella narrows her eyes, "Of course I'm coming with you."

"Well we're here," I get out of the taxi, "Bye Stella." I open my arms and she crashes into me.

"Bye Ana," She practically squeezes the life out of me, "I'm going to miss you so much. I wish I could come with you."

"I wish you could too." I sigh as we let go. I wish I could bring Stella with me, she would make this whole experience so much easier.

"You'll be fine." She hugs me one more time quickly before moving to hug Mae, "You two travel safe!" She waves us off as we head into the airport. It felt odd to be traveling in the night like this but I guess it did make sense to travel so late since the flight was so long.

*****

I found out that Aunt Mae had paid for two first-class seats, as we were boarding the plane. I rolled my eyes at the thought of her spending her money on frivolous things like that. Aunt Mae and I sat down in the little cube area for us.

"This is so fancy," I eye the surroundings, "I can't believe you paid for something like this."

Aunt Mae rolls her eyes, "It's a long flight, so it's worth it."

"That's true." I laugh, settling into my seat with a yawn.

"I would never fly anything but first class to Korea."

"That's got to be expensive," I shift around in my seat, "Do you really fly first class every time?"

"Yes. It's about 15 hours." She rolls her eyes.

"That's so much money."

"That's why I don't go often." Aunt Mae leans back into her chair.

"Aunt Mae you go like 3 times a year." I roll my eyes.

"That's not as often as I would like."

"Whatever." I put my headphones in.

*****

"Wake up Ana," I feel someone shaking me, "Get up Ana."

I peel my eyes open and pull a headphone out of my ear to see Aunt Mae looking at me, "What?" I stretch and yawn.

"We're about to land." Aunt Mae's face pulls into a bright smile. This was a smile I hadn't seen since she had visited us in Korea before.

"Really?" I shot up in my seat.

"Yeah," She grabs her backpack and puts her books back into the bag, "I know you sleep a lot but I didn't think you would sleep almost 15 hours."

I rub my eyes and pull both headphones out, "I was tired okay. What did you do?" I ask, packing my backpack up.

"I slept a little but mainly I read."

"How many books?" I joke, knowing her she could've read at least 4 books when she gets set on it.

"I finished 2 and started a third." She rolls her eyes. We both continue to gather up our things before the thud of landing startled us. "We're here!" She practically shouts.

"Don't yell," I warn her, "But yes we're here!" I stop for a minute, my eyes getting wide, "We're really in Korea..." I wish I was excited to be here but everything about it made my heart heavy, my gut was sinking too. I was shaking nervously as I got up from my seat. Aunt Mae was bouncing with joy, however.