My Idol| Yang Jungwon ff

5|

-3rd person POV-

The bus lurched to a stop, jolting Jina awake. Outside, a giant building gleamed in the sun, its roof curving like a dragon's back.

"Whoa," Jina gasped, forgetting all about sleep.

"Gyeongbokgung Palace!" Ms. Choi, their teacher, shouted over the excited chatter. "Remember, stick with your groups and be back at the bus by 3:30! No disappearing acts!" The doors whooshed open, and the students scrambled out.

Jina found her crew – Emi, Hana, Ivy, and the ever-energetic Yumi – already huddled with their assigned partners. Minjun, a quiet Korean boy, and Sarah, a bubbly American girl with a camera permanently glued to her hand, completed their little squad. The red gates were taller than Jina's house!

Everywhere she looked, there were cool things – shiny roofs, statues of fierce-looking animals, and courtyards bigger than any playground. Minjun, surprisingly chatty, started pointing things out.

"See that roof? Shiny, huh? Special tiles," he explained, his English a little bumpy. Sarah, meanwhile, was snapping pictures like crazy. "This place is SO cool!" she exclaimed.

They walked through giant courtyards, past buildings that looked like they were in a movie. Yumi, with her phone glued to her hand, suddenly let out a yelp. "Guys, guys, look!"

They all huddled around, peering at her phone. A picture showed a bunch of guys from their favorite K-Pop group, ENHYPEN, posing in front of a building that looked exactly like the one beside them!

"They're here!" Yumi shrieked, her voice barely a whisper. "At Gyeongbokgung Palace! Can you believe it?" A gasp escaped the group.

Even Hana, who usually didn't get too excited, couldn't hide her surprise. Sarah bounced on her toes, already cooking up a plan. Emi, ever the voice of reason, reminded them about the tight schedule, but even she couldn't hide a flicker of hope.

Suddenly, exploring the palace became a treasure hunt. They scanned every corner, their hearts pounding with every turn. Maybe they'd actually see ENHYPEN! Maybe they'd even get a picture! The possibility hung heavy in the air, turning their history lesson into a K-Pop adventure. With newfound purpose, they followed the path in the picture, their eyes darting everywhere.

Jina peeked around every corner, half expecting to see a mop of colorful hair or a flash of a designer outfit. Sarah, ever the strategist, started questioning other tourists, mostly in broken Korean, hoping someone might have seen the idols.

"Guys, wait!" Minjun suddenly shouted, pointing excitedly. He led them down a side path, hidden behind a grove of flowering cherry trees. There, tucked away in a peaceful courtyard, a group of people were practicing a traditional Korean dance.

The dancers, dressed in vibrant silk robes, moved with graceful precision, their movements a mesmerizing blend of power and elegance. For a moment, they were all captivated by the beautiful performance. But then, a familiar voice cut through the music.

"Yumi, isn't that...?" Hana trailed off, her eyes widening. Yumi squealed, her phone already aimed like a heat-seeking missile.

There, among the dancers, was Jungwon, ENHYPEN's leader, his hair styled in a way that reminded Jina of a soft cloud. Beside him, Ni-ki, the group's maknae (youngest member), spun with impressive agility.

Jina felt a gasp escape her lips. They were real! Right here, in a hidden corner of the palace, they were witnessing ENHYPEN practicing for an upcoming performance. This was a million times cooler than just seeing them in a picture. Suddenly, a loud cough jolted them back to reality.

Ms. Choi stood behind them, a stern expression on her face. "There you are! I told you not to wander off. We need to head back to the bus now." Disappointment washed over Jina. So close! But before they left, Yumi, ever the opportunist, took a chance. She bowed politely to Ms. Choi and launched into a rapid explanation – a mix of English and Korean – about their K-Pop encounter. To their surprise, Ms. Choi's stern expression softened. "Ah, ENHYPEN," she said, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.

"They're here filming a special performance for a music show. But listen, you wouldn't want to disturb them while they're practicing, would you?" A flicker of hope reignited in Jina's chest. Ms. Choi might just be the secret weapon they needed! Ms. Choi's words hung in the air, a tantalizing possibility.

Jina could practically see the gears turning in Yumi's head, a whirlwind of ideas brewing behind her sparkling eyes.

"But maybe," Yumi began, her voice adopting its most persuasive tone, "we could write them a note? A message of support from their biggest fans all the way from..." she paused dramatically, "...overseas!" The rest of the group exchanged surprised glances. Overseas?

Yumi, ever the creative one, had pulled that out of thin air. But to their surprise, Ms. Choi didn't seem fazed. A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "A note, huh? That might be acceptable. But it has to be short and respectful. And you only have five minutes before we have to leave." A collective cheer erupted from the group. Five minutes was all they needed. With renewed energy, they huddled together, brainstorming ideas for the perfect message.

"We should mention how much we love their music," Sarah chimed in, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "And how cool it was to see them practicing here," Emi added, already scribbling on a piece of paper they'd scrounged up from their backpacks.

"Maybe we can even sign it with our names?" Hana suggested, a shy smile gracing her lips. Finally, after a flurry of suggestions and edits, they had a note. It was short and sweet, but it poured their hearts out – their love for ENHYPEN's music, their surprise encounter at the palace, and their best wishes for their upcoming performance. With Ms. Choi's blessing, they discreetly approached a group of people who seemed to be part of ENHYPEN's entourage.

A kind-faced woman with a clipboard listened patiently to their explanation, her smile widening as they mentioned their journey from afar. "I'll see what I can do," she promised, taking the carefully folded note. "No guarantees, but I'll make sure it gets to the boys." Relief and excitement washed over the group.

Even though they hadn't met ENHYPEN directly, the possibility of them receiving their message sent shivers down their spines. As they walked back to the bus, the historical significance of Gyeongbokgung Palace paled slightly in comparison to their brush with K-Pop royalty. The bus ride back was filled with a happy buzz. They recounted their mini-adventure, dissecting every detail, replaying the memory of seeing ENHYPEN practice in their minds.

The disappointment of not meeting them face-to-face had faded, replaced by the thrill of the unexpected encounter and the hope of their message reaching their idols. As they pulled away from the majestic palace gates, Jina couldn't help but feel a sense of magic hanging in the air. Korea was proving to be a land of surprises, and she couldn't wait to see what adventures awaited them next.