Sand Dollar |BTS

Chapter 1

You arrived at Incheon International Airport. This is your first time in Korea and it's not just a casual travel but you are moving permanently. You noticed that there were a lot of people crowding over one area of the airport. It caught your attention for a moment. There were cameras and reporters and what could be fans holding up sign boards. You're not very good at Korean yet so you can barely understand what the writings on the fan board say. Seeing that much crowd built up the anxiety in you so you hurried along to get to immigration then to your luggage.

The questions from the immigration officer were fairly simple and he let you pass easily, welcoming you to South Korea. You skipped with a smile on your face, excited to get your luggage and arrive at your new apartment.

You wait at carousel number 2 where your baggage would roll by. You wait patiently, observing the people around you. Everybody so far had been polite and welcoming. You noticed that a lot are on their phone and a group of girls to the right are giggling over their phone. There was a shriek somewhere and the crowd from earlier appeared once again. Your curiosity roused, you were ready to go and look at what's causing the commotion but a clatter to your left caught your attention.

A woman around her forties or fifties dropped her bags and it opened, spilling the contents on the floor. Other people were too busy looking at the commotion so you decided to help her. With all your might, you tried to speak in Korean, asking her if she's okay.

"I'm okay," the ajumma (you learned that that's how old ladies are addressed) smiled gratefully. You helped her put her stuff back in her luggage then you noticed she got a cut on her left hand.

"You have a cut on your hand. Let me help you." You fished a clean handkerchief from your bag and wrapped it around the ajumma's bleeding hand.

"Ah, thank you. What's your name?"

Before you could answer, a man came running towards the woman, "Mrs. Kim! Are you okay? You suddenly left the group! We were worried – ah, you have a cut on your hand!"

"I'm okay, this young lady helped me. My luggage must had a loose lock and the contents spilled."

The man bowed to you, "Thank you very much."

"Oh, it's no problem. Let me help you." You picked up Mrs. Kim's carry on and the man carried the opened luggage.

You followed them towards the other side of the airport where a tinted door was. In front of it were the cameras and reporters, filed outside, waiting for something or someone. You looked up and the sign above the door says: VIP Lounge. You wondered why you were heading that way. You hesitantly followed the two with Mrs. Kim insisting you and her have tea together. You know it's impolite to decline so you smiled and accepted her invitation. The men in suit outstretched their arms to push back the reporters as you, Mrs. Kim, and the man pass through.

The man talked to the receptionist next to the door and she said something in Korean that you barely understood but you heard "BTS."

Inside the lounge was beautiful. The walls were velvet red and the lights were a dim yellow. There were white vases with fresh lilies in them. The floor was a soft red carpet that made your feet relax from the long travel. You felt at ease and at the same time out of place. Who is this old woman?

You followed them, turning to a left then to a big room with couches and platters of food on the center table. There were a lot of people in there, people talking on their phone, cameras being packed, luggage everywhere. The ajumma lightened up to the group of men on the couch.

Your heart skipped a beat. You're familiar with their faces. They are taking the world by storm right now and you are in the same room as them. You don't know what to do with your hands or your face.