14 hours | lee felix

14

I know it isn't right.

I know she'll be hurt.

I know her eyes are looking over at me.

I know she won't expect it.

I know I can't let her get hurt.

-:-

You can do it.

You can ask for his number.

You know he's just a person.

You know the worse he can say is know.

You know there's something more there.

-:-

"Ladies and gentlemen this is your captain speaking. Welcome to Seoul where the local time is 11:05 in the morning. For your safety and the safety of those around you, we will be unboarding starting with rows A-E. Thank you for flying Korean Air and enjoy Seoul."

It all happened in the blink of an eye.

Maybe a slight exaggeration, but Felix was stood, bags in hand before Aera was even able to comprehend what he was doing.

He was leaving without a goodbye.

Without a simple glance back, or a friendly smile.

The pang is both of their chests felt like a shot through the heart. Aera sat there dumbfounded as their fellow passengers shuffled through the thin aisles of the plane to leave. Without realizing she also stood up, she grabbed her bags, she walked through the line, she was going through the motions.

Only one thought was on her mind, she was on autopilot because to be frank, there was no room left besides the thought of "wow this sucks".

Was it something she had done? Was she too pushy, or not pushy enough? Did she say something within the last 5 minutes that made him run away without even a glance back?

Her invasive thoughts were cut short as she saw the traffic jam that was blocking her way off the aircraft.

There were maybe 10 people ahead of her, all were annoyed with the hold up and glaring ahead. But there was something additional, a noise she couldn't quite place.

As the line began to move forward she understood what was happening. She almost couldn't hold back from rolling her eyes at the sight of a sea of photographers camped out of their terminal.

Some celebrity is probably coming through.

She never understood the appeal of storming an airport to catch a glimpse of some actor or singer who just got off an 8 hour flight. Who looks good after breathing in the same recycled air and eating stale mashed potatoes.

As she made her way to the front her eyes did roam to where the photographers mainly stood. Even if she wouldn't camp out at an airport willingly, it didn't mean she wasn't curious.

If anything it would be a fun story or tidbit from this flight, lord knows she needs a positive moment to bring up when her brother asks how her flight was.

The funny story narrative crashed right in front of her. In the middle of the sea of flashes, loud reporters asking questions that were largely unanswered by the man who's photo was being taken, right there; Yongbok.

The air in her lungs was suddenly taken away. Her heart which felt like it was already broken in two, was stomped on into a million pieces.

It laid on the floor, the same with her carryon bag that was unceremoniously dropped in the middle of her revelation.

Yongbok is a celebrity?

Not only that, he seems to be an extremely popular one. The mountain of reporters taking his pictures and the fans who are clamoring to take a peak at him are proof of it.

Aera could do nothing but gape at the sight in front her her.

"You dropped this." A deep voice snapped her out of her panic and confusion. A hand reached out to her, holding her bag.

"Oh thank you, sorry I guess I was distracted." She absentmindedly grabs the bag.

"No problem." The man says with a soft smile. "I know it's exciting to see idols in person." He chuckles. "I can't believe we were on the same flight as a member of Stray Kids."

"Oh, he's an idol?" She says it more to herself than to the man.

"Guess it's just our luck." The man boasts happily. His black mask and baseball hat don't hide his jubilant demeanor. "Sorry so rude of me not to introduce myself I'm Jun."

"Oh sorry." She bows slightly. "My names Aera thank you so much for picking up my bag."

"Not a problem Aera." He smiles now removing his mask. "Guess I'll see you around. Be careful in this crowd, kpop fans can be crazy." He sends her a knowing smirk.

As if on cue, a herd of fans cheer out for Felix.

Aera turns her head to see what was happening. Felix was being ushered away by his managers, assumingely to exit the airport.

'Wow so he's an idol. This makes so much sense.'

"I can't believe I didn't connect the dots. I mean he said he was a dancer, he has a group of friends that are also his coworkers." She goes over all the little details he gave her of his life.

He's an idol. God she must be crazy to think he would ever want to talk to her after this. He's a world famous kpop idol, and she's- just a girl.

It does explain the secrecy, the leaving without a goodbye, the whole being terrified of phones thing he has going on.

The pang in her heart is back.

As she sees the sea of people swarm out, every step he takes feels like it's ripping her heart out more and more.

She wants to go after him, maybe if she made her way through the crowd and he saw her he'd feel the same way she did. He'd realize maybe they could be friends. She feels something that feels like home, though she can't put her finger on why. Within a second she can imagine them in each others lives, she can see an image that's unfamiliar. If she went after him maybe he could see it too.

But she doesn't.

She lets the swarm exit the airport. Little by little the photographers leave, then the fans, until it's just Aera at the gate staring blankly on the floor.

He never even said goodbye. No 'it was nice getting to know you', or a 'I hope it all works out', not even a 'have a good day'. No picture perfect ending.

I guess this is goodbye.

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Guess who updated😼

Thank you all for reading this story it's truly been such a pleasure to write and I can't believe this is goodbye.

I really want to thank, just kidding- ha you thought. Don't worry there will be more chapters I just forget ppl actually read this and want to know how it ends.

Here's to more frequent uploads (but also pls remember it took a year for me to upload again and hey it's only been a month I think this is pretty good for my track record).