My Idol| Yang Jungwon ff

6|

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The aroma of sizzling meat and kimchi filled the air, a stark contrast to the serene tea house they'd just visited. Jina, Emi, Hana, and Ivy meandered down the bustling street, their stomachs growling after a morning of cultural immersion. Yumi, however, was missing in action.

"Where'd Yumi disappear to?" Hana grumbled, her stomach already grumbling a protest.

"Probably chasing down some K-Pop merch store," Ivy replied, rolling her eyes playfully. Just then, a figure emerged from the crowd, arms laden with bags. Yumi beamed, a triumphant grin plastered on her face.

"Guys, guys, you wouldn't believe it!" she exclaimed, dropping her shopping bags onto a nearby bench with a dramatic flourish. "They have a whole street dedicated to K-Pop souvenirs!"

Ari, who had been trailing behind the group, scoffed. "Seriously, Yumi? All this plastic crap is a waste of money." Yumi's smile faltered for a second, her usual sunny disposition momentarily clouded.

"It's not crap, Ari," she retorted, her voice laced with a hint of annoyance. "It's for fans, like us."

"Real fans appreciate the music, not this mass-produced junk," Ari countered, crossing her arms and puffing out her chest in a display of self-importance. Hana sighed.

Ari's unwavering devotion to BTS, specifically Jungkook, could be tiresome at best, and downright mean at worst. It felt like Ari constantly needed to belittle their other K-Pop interests to validate her own.

"Look, Ari," Hana interjected, trying to mediate the situation before it escalated, "there's no harm in enjoying both, right?"

"Exactly!" Yumi chimed in, her fighting spirit reignited. "Besides, who knows, maybe we'll find something BTS-related too." As they continued walking, the delicious aroma of Korean BBQ wafted from a nearby restaurant. Jina's stomach rumbled again, a loud and undeniable plea for food.

"How about we grab some Korean BBQ?" Jina suggested, hoping to divert attention from the K-Pop debate.

"Finally!" Emi exclaimed, her eyes lighting up.

"I'm starving!" Ivy, the group's ever-considerate vegetarian, piped up, "Do they have any vegetarian options?" The girls crowded around the restaurant's window, scanning the menu displayed outside. Their faces lit up at the sight of a dedicated vegetarian section.

"Looks like they do, Ivy!" Hana said, relief washing over her features. They entered the restaurant, the smoky scent of grilling meat hanging heavy in the air. Ari wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"Ugh, this place smells so greasy," she complained, eyeing the sizzling meats with disdain. Yumi rolled her eyes for the umpteenth time that day.

"Not everyone's a picky eater like you, Ari," she mumbled under her breath. Ari's comment hung in the air, leaving a sour taste in their mouths.

Despite the delicious food and Yumi's exciting K-Pop finds, Ari's negativity cast a shadow over their afternoon. As they tucked into their meals, Jina couldn't help but think that while Ari might be a K-Pop fanatic, she was also a major buzzkill.

--

Relief washed over them as they reached the familiar entrance of their hostel. The trip to the palace had been a whirlwind, a dizzying mix of historical sights, delicious Korean food, and the surreal experience of seeing ENHYPEN practice. They were exhausted but exhilarated, their bodies buzzing with the aftereffects of adrenaline and excitement.

As they entered their room, the girls erupted in excited chatter. Each recounted their favorite moments, reliving the encounter with ENHYPEN through animated gestures and enthusiastic exclamations.