Chasm.| Seo Changbin

Six.

Stella wanted to drop her body to the ground and throw a tantrum. She was too tired to even stroll her own carriers, but she had to put on her best smile as she waved at her fans who lined her path in the airport. Their voices echoed loudly, screaming and calling her name while filming her. Changbin was hot in her trail, spreading his arms out to shield her from behind, making sure none of the extended hands reached her.

Stella had always told herself she was now used to the hassle of the airports whenever she had a schedule abroad, but no, she would always find the overcrowding intimidating. It wasn't only her safety that should be concerning her. It was also her staff, fans, press members, other travelers, and even airport staff safety to be considered. And no matter how much her agency tried to keep her departure and arrival time private, she would always find her fans standing for hours waiting for her.

And that day was no different.

Stella wasn't aware the airport wasn't prepared for her departure that morning. She wasn't aware that as she walked to the gates, the situation behind her started to be a little too much. 

Pushing frantically to have a glimpse of her before she was too far, two of the fans stumbled down and fell towards Stella, but Changbin was very quick to pull the girl away from the falling two, protecting her from getting tangled with them and falling down along. One look from Changbin at the security guards was enough for them to jolt and align again to form a barrier between Stella and the pushing fans. Stella was taken aback, but Changbin's gentle hands that held her shoulders assured her a little. That assurance slipped away the moment he pulled his hands back.

She turned around, ready to walk in her way but stopped when she didn't feel his presence behind her. She turned to look for him, only to find him crouching down by the two who fell.

"Are you okay?" He asked the female fan who was now sitting on the floor. She nodded shyly. "Can you stand up?" Again, the girl nodded silently. He then looked at the other fan who was a male around his age. "Did you get hurt?" The other shook his head.

Extending his two hands to the two fans, he grabbed them and yanked both of them up to their feet swiftly. They both stood by his two sides, looking at him with wide enchanted eyes. They weren't the only enchanted ones. The crowd cheered in awe at him. Changbin was really nonchalant about all of that. His eyes trailed the two fans, assessing them and looking for any injuries. Seeing they were both fine, he stood back, gave a curt head bow, and then let them go and walked towards Stella who was scoffing at the reactions of her fans. 

It seemed like they were now Changbin's fans.

Who wouldn't when he walks that confidently with a solid yet very handsome face? His airport fashion was loads more interesting than hers. Those khaki cargo pants, black tight-fit shirt, and combat boots had everyone staring at him.

As he joined her side, Stella shook her head in disbelief at how he didn't even crack a smile after being whistled at and thrown with lovely comments. A girl even started screaming her phone number at him!

Continuing their check-in procedures and boarding the plane, Changbin found himself seated in the VIP class of the plane. It was his first time ever to be boarding a plane in that luxurious class. He would always follow his clients, ensure their security, and then go back to the economy class or the business class. But the VIP? That was a first.

He sat down weirdly by Stella's side. They were sharing a booth on the plane heading to Thailand for the shooting she had for her new music video. And there was Changbin, fidgeting in his place since the plane took off. 

"Won't you stop squirming?" Stella huffed and looked at him. "Are you afraid of planes or something?"

Changbin rolled his eyes. "No. I'm just uncomfortable."

She turned in her seat to look at him closely. The plane was already in the air for an hour. People had turned off their lights and slumped back in their seats, pulling the blinds and wrapping themselves with blankets.

The very dim warm light above them made the shadows fall perfectly on Changbin's face. Stella blinked and then talked. "What's uncomfortable here? It's supposed to be the most comfortable VIP!"

"That's exactly why it is not." He talked lowly while looking around, afraid he might disturb someone's sleep. "Why am I here?" He shoved his head to look at her.

Stella flinched from the abrupt movement and the close proximity. "T-To protect m-e?"

"I could've ensured your safety while I am on the economy." He replied, still talking lowly. She was hell confused. He wanted to be in the economy? Why? As if he could read her confusion, he resumed. "The rest of your staff are in the economy and business. Even your manager. I shouldn't have been here."

"You should stick to me!" She yelled-whispered.

"I should ensure your safety, which I know I'm capable of, even without being here." He corrected her.

Stella scoffed in disbelief. He should be thankful!

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry." She snickered. "Remind me not to book a ticket for you on our way back. You could go back on your own. You could walk across the continent all you want. Maybe you would like to swim back! Oh! You could also fly, Mr. Hulk!" She crossed her arms over her chest sulkily and turned around.

"I-" Changbin started but was cut off by her attitude and how she switched off the booth's light and turned around, giving him her back. She dropped the backrest of her seat down, slumped in it, and pulled the light blanket up her body.

Changbin sighed. He didn't mean to be rude. He just felt like he was out of place cause he noticed how people were eyeing him, including the air hostesses. He just realized that she was a top star, and even if he was a nobody, he would be looked at as if he were somebody as long as he was by her side. 

He didn't want to cause any trouble if people started talking, or even if her staff felt like they were left out.

"They are looking at me weirdly." Changbin talked to Stella, knowing the girl wasn't asleep or anything. "I know when someone is looking at me. It's odd to have one of your staff with you while the others are in another class. You should've had at least your manager here."

Stella sighed but never turned around. "First, I used to have my previous personal guard with me on every flight in the same class. She was literally sticking to me. Second," She looked over her shoulder at him. "They are not looking at you cause you are odd or anything."

"Then why?" Changbin looked at the girl who shook her head and wrapped her head back with her blanket.

"You should really consider looking at a mirror sometimes." She mumbled.