Chasing Tomorrow

chapter 37

Raya stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her white coat, the symbol of everything she had worked for. Her stethoscope hung around her neck, and the weight of her success finally seemed to settle in her chest. She had done it. She had become the doctor her parents always dreamed of. Every late night studying, every sacrifice, every moment of doubt—it had all led to this.

But as she gazed at her reflection, a small part of her felt that something was missing. The years had flown by so fast, and in the pursuit of her career, she had set aside some of her personal dreams. Now, with her professional goals accomplished, there was a new dream she had to chase, one she had put on hold for far too long.

She smiled as she remembered her and Jake’s conversation about it—about their love for music and how BTS had been a constant source of support and inspiration. They had followed every update, every performance, from afar. But now, it was time for something bigger. It was time to experience it, to see Jungkook, Taehyung, J-Hope, RM, Jin, Suga, and Jimin live in concert. A dream she knew would be unforgettable.

Jake walked into the room, breaking her reverie. "Hey, you okay?" he asked, his smile warm as he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.

Raya turned, her eyes soft as she leaned into his embrace. "Yeah, I’m just thinking about how much has changed. I’m a doctor now… and it feels surreal."

Jake chuckled, kissing the top of her head. "You’ve worked so hard for this, Raya. I’m proud of you, so proud."

Raya looked up at him, her smile widening. "Thank you. But... there’s something I’ve been thinking about. Now that my parents' dream for me has been fulfilled... I want to fulfill one of my own."

Jake raised an eyebrow, curious. "What’s that?"

Raya’s eyes sparkled as she spoke, her voice filled with excitement. "I want us to go to a BTS concert. The one in Seoul in November. I’ve always wanted to see them live, and I think now’s the perfect time for us to do it. A month off, just for us."

Jake grinned, the thought of spending a month away in South Korea thrilling him. "You’re right. We deserve a break, and it’s the perfect time for something like this. I’ve always wanted to see them live too. Let’s make it happen."

Raya laughed, relief and excitement bubbling inside her. "Yes, exactly. Let’s go to Seoul."

The next evening, after work, Jake sat down with Raya at their apartment. They were going to make their dream a reality—going to Seoul for the concert.

Raya pulled out her laptop and began searching for the concert tickets. She had researched the event and knew it was happening in November, but she still had to secure the best seats possible. She opened the official BTS website and began navigating to the ticket section for the Seoul concert.

"Okay," Raya said, her fingers typing quickly. "The concert’s at the Seoul Olympic Stadium, and tickets are being sold through the official fan club. We need to be quick, since tickets are always in high demand. I’ll sign us up for the fan club now."

Jake nodded, watching her carefully. He wasn’t exactly familiar with the process but was excited about what was to come. "I had no idea it was so exclusive."

Raya smiled. "Yeah, being a fan club member gives us early access to tickets, which is crucial. We can’t risk waiting until the general sale. I’m going to get us the best seats."

She quickly signed them both up for the fan club membership, filling out all the necessary details. Once they were confirmed as members, she logged into the concert ticket portal. A few seconds later, the ticket window appeared, and she eagerly clicked on the seating chart.

"Alright, these seats look perfect. We’ll be in the front, " Raya said, her voice filled with excitement. "Let’s do this."

Jake watched as she entered their payment details and confirmed the purchase. "It’s really happening, huh?"

"Yes," she said, grinning from ear to ear. "We’re going to South Korea. We’re going to see BTS live!"

She clicked the final confirmation button, and within seconds, the tickets were secured. They both stared at the screen for a moment, processing what had just happened. They were going to the concert—something they had talked about for years, and now it was finally a reality.

With the concert tickets secured, the next step was to plan their trip. They started by booking flights to Seoul. Raya handled most of the logistics, looking for the best flight deals, while Jake took care of accommodations. They agreed to stay in a nice hotel close to the concert venue, so they wouldn’t have to worry about long commutes the night of the concert.

The excitement of it all was overwhelming. The more they planned, the more real it became. A whole month in Seoul, a city neither of them had ever visited. They would explore the streets, try all the food, immerse themselves in the culture—and, of course, attend the concert.

Jake glanced at Raya as she scrolled through an itinerary for things to do in Seoul. "We should visit all the landmarks," he said, his voice excited. "I’ve always wanted to see Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village."

Raya smiled at him. "We’ll definitely go there. But we can’t forget to visit the BTS-related places. I want to see the places they’ve visited, you know? Maybe even go to Big Hit Entertainment's headquarters."

Jake laughed, shaking his head in mock exasperation. "You and your BTS obsession."

Raya rolled her eyes playfully. "It’s not just a fandom, Jake. It’s part of who I am. They’ve inspired me so much."

Jake reached out and took her hand, squeezing it gently. "I know, and that’s one of the things I love about you. You chase your dreams, no matter what."

The next few weeks flew by, and soon they found themselves on a plane heading to Seoul. The entire journey was filled with anticipation. They couldn’t wait to explore a new city, experience a new culture, and, most importantly, to attend the concert that had been a dream for so long.

Their first week  in Seoul were an adventure. They wandered through the streets, exploring every corner of the vibrant city. The atmosphere was electric, filled with excitement and energy. They visited traditional markets, tried street food like tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) and hotteok (sweet pancakes), and even spent a day at a traditional Korean spa to unwind after the flight.

By the second week, they decided to visit some of the iconic BTS-related spots in Seoul. They went to the famous Itaewon district, which was home to many BTS fans, and explored the cafes and shops that celebrated the group. They even stopped by a large mural painted with images of BTS members, where fans had left heartfelt messages and tributes.

"I can’t believe we’re actually here," Raya said, looking up at the mural with awe. "It feels surreal."

Jake put his arm around her, pulling her close. "It’s amazing, right? It’s like a dream come true."

As they continued exploring, they found themselves lost in the beauty of the city and the excitement of being in the heart of BTS fandom. But they also took moments to appreciate the time they were spending together. In many ways, this trip wasn’t just about the concert; it was about creating memories together, exploring new things, and living life to the fullest.