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Aiko
Aiko woke up groggy, her mind still clouded with the remnants of last night's emotional turmoil. She had packed most of her things the day before, so there wasn't much to do this morning except get herself ready and leave for the airport. The pain from Milo's harsh words still lingered, but the thought of seeing her mother gave her a sliver of hope.
A quick shower and a change of clothes later, she was ready to go. Grabbing her suitcase, Aiko made her way to the airport. The drive there was uneventful, but her mind raced with thoughts of what awaited her in Korea. Would her mother be happy to see her? Would she finally get the comfort she so desperately needed?
The flight to Korea was smooth, allowing Aiko some time to reflect and gather her thoughts. She couldn't help but replay the breakup in her head, Milo's cruel words echoing in her mind.
Aiko shook her head, trying to dispel the memory. As the plane touched down in Seoul, she forced herself to focus on the present. She gathered her belongings and made her way through the bustling airport to the train station, determined to get to Jeju Island and finally see her mother.
Navigating the train station was a bit confusing, but after a few missteps, Aiko found the right platform. She boarded the train, dragging her suitcase behind her, and looked around for a seat. The train was nearly full, but she spotted an empty seat next to an old man who was engrossed in a book. She sat down, trying to make herself comfortable.
Taking in her surroundings, Aiko noticed a family of four across the aisle. The father was on his phone, the mother was feeding their young daughter, and their teenage son was absorbed in his own world, headphones in and eyes glued to his screen. The scene made Aiko's heart ache with a longing for her own family, or what was left of it.
As the train started moving, she allowed herself to relax, watching the landscapes pass by. The rhythmic motion and peaceful tunes in her ear lulled her into a light sleep. She dreamt of better times, times when her mother was just a phone call away and Milo's smile didn't hide any secrets.
➶ ➴ ➶ ➴➶ ➴➶
Aiko woke up a while later with an urgent need to use the bathroom. She stretched a little before making her way down the aisle. As she approached the bathroom, she saw a girl already waiting. The girl had dyed blonde hair with pink highlights, a leather jacket, and black pants, adorned with an impressive amount of jewelry.
The girl noticed Aiko and smiled warmly. "Hey there. I'm Minji."
Aiko smiled back, albeit a bit shyly. "Hi, I'm Aiko."
They stood in silence for a moment before Minji, clearly a very talkative person, started chatting. "So, where are you headed?"
"Jeju Island," Aiko replied, keeping her answer short.
"Me too!" Minji exclaimed. "Visiting family?"
"Sort of," Aiko said, not really wanting to delve into the details.
