My Idol| Yang Jungwon ff

3|

-Jina's Pov-

My phone buzzed in my hand, shattering the comfortable silence of the car ride.

It was a text from Yumi: "Hi when are you arriving?"

A grin stretched across my face as I typed back, "I'm on my way, I'll be there soon." Almost instantly, a reply popped up: "Okay we're waiting."

After a what felt like an eternity stuck in traffic, the car finally pulled up in front of the massive airport building. Stepping out, I took a deep breath. The airport was huge and loud, with people rushing around everywhere.

A mix of excitement and nervousness bubbled in my stomach – I was finally on my dream trip to Korea! I gave Dad a quick hug and grabbed my suitcase, which felt like it weighed a ton. Entering the airport, I scanned the crowd, searching for my friends.

Relief washed over me when I spotted a familiar figure. There, amidst the sea of faces, stood Yumi. Her medium-length hair bounced as she waved excitedly, a big smile plastered on her face

. She looked comfy in her black T-shirt and gray jeans, totally different from the people around us who were all dressed up for their trips. My heart thumped as I hurried towards her.

The moment I reached Yumi, she wrapped me in a tight hug, practically squeezing the air out of me.

"Jina, you're here!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with joy.

"Where's Emi?" I asked, looking around at the ever-moving crowd.

"She texted me saying she'll be another ten minutes," Hana grumbled, clearly annoyed. She was scrolling through her phone with a frown on her face.

Ivy, who always liked to be organized, sighed and plopped down onto her suitcase. "Weren't we supposed to meet at 3:10?" she asked, sounding a little frustrated.

Suddenly, a loud announcement echoed through the airport: "Attention passengers for flight KE832 departing for Seoul, Korea, please proceed to Gate 23 for boarding." Yumi's eyes widened.

"Oh no, that's our flight!" she exclaimed, grabbing her suitcase with a panicked look.

"Relax," Hana said, finally looking up from her phone. "It's probably just a pre-boarding announcement. We still have some time."

Yumi, however, wasn't convinced. She started bouncing on her toes, her excitement turning into nervous energy. We all grabbed our suitcases and started walking towards the gate number displayed on the announcement board, hoping Emi wouldn't miss our flight.

--

The airplane roared to life, vibrating with a satisfying rumble. I pressed my face against the window, watching the cotton-ball clouds drift below as we soared into the sky. Beside me, Yumi bounced with barely contained excitement, phone clutched in her hand like a lifeline.

"Okay, okay," Yumi muttered, tapping the screen rapidly. "Downloaded enough dramas to last a lifetime? Check. Airplane mode on? Nope, not yet. Why is this so hard?"

Across the aisle, Hana rolled her eyes and leaned over her seat. "Just enjoy the view, Yumi. We're stuck in this metal bird for the next 14 hours anyway."

Yumi shot Hana a playful glare. "Easy for you to say, Miss Organized. I need Korean dramas for the flight! What if Emi gets bored?"

Speaking of Emi, the ever-reliable one, finally arrived a few minutes later, slightly flustered but with a triumphant grin. "Sorry I'm late! Train was delayed, but I snagged some amazing snacks for the flight!" she announced, pulling out a bag overflowing with colorful packages.

A wave of relief washed over me as the familiar routine with my friends calmed my pre-flight jitters. Emi's snacks were a welcome distraction, and Yumi's frantic energy, though sometimes overwhelming, felt comforting in this new situation. As the plane leveled off, the seatbelt sign switched off. I unbuckled myself, glancing at Hana who was already engrossed in a book.

"Hey, Hana," I whispered, feeling a familiar knot of nervousness tighten in my stomach. "Do you ever get nervous flying?"

Hana looked up, a small smile gracing her lips. "A little bit at first," she admitted. "But I just focus on something else – a book, music, whatever takes my mind off it."

Taking Hana's advice, I pulled out my headphones and scrolled through my music library, hoping to find a soothing melody to chase away the pre-flight jitters.