Kim Na-Ri, a half Korean girl living in Seoul.
BTS, the most famous k-pop group under the sun.
She's looking for a new life.
They are looking for an escape...
Maybe they can help each other.
Maybe, just maybe, she can be Bangtan's Release...
...
A young man wearing a black mask, who was seated in the pod next to her, leaned forward to have a good look at the lady who made everyone late. His eyes widened as he saw her, "this is the girl who was sleeping in the VIP lounge... If only I knew she was on this flight, I would have woken her up, saving her all this stress".
He looked at her and couldn't help but to chuckle softly. Na-Ri was all flustered, trying to tame her wavy hair after all that running and sweating, wiping the sweat off her face and topping up her barely-there make-up and most likely cursing in a language he did not understand.
He found her pretty. No, he found her beautiful. He knew for a fact that she wasn't Korean, but she seems to understand and converse in Korean really well, seeing her interaction with the flight attendants. What's her story? Is one of her parents Korean maybe? He found himself wondering about her, wanting to know more.
As he was about to say "Hi", he looked back at her and saw her fast asleep. "She must have had a rough morning," he said smiling at her sleeping form. "We have at least 10 hours to spend together, so no rush," he said to himself. With that, he sat back into his seat and let his own eyes close.
About an hour and a half later, Na-Ri woke up. She took in her surroundings and remembered all the stress she had gone through just a few hours ago and chuckled at the thought. At least she didn't miss her flight.
"You seem to be in a brighter mood; nothing like sleep, huh?" a voice next to her said gently.
She turned around to see who this smooth voice belonged to. It was her "pod neighbor". She had not even noticed him when she boarded the plane.
Has he been seating here all along? Did he see me drool in my sleep?! Was my mouth opened??
"Ah, yes, you're right. It was an eventful morning for me. I feel so embarrassed I made everyone late" she replied shyly with her head hanging low.
"Don't you worry about it; at least we're on our way now." He replied with an eye smile. An eye smile was all she could see because he was wearing a black mask over his nose and mouth. Why would he wear this on a plane? Is he sick maybe? she thought.
It was like he read her mind, or maybe because her eyes wandered a bit too long on his mask. He removed it slowly to finally reveal his face. As he raised his head back up to look at Na-Ri, her eyes widened to strange proportions when she saw who it was.
She recognized him. She knew this face. How could she not recognize those eyes?
-------------------------------------------
"Let me introduce myself. Hi, I'm Kim Ji-Soo" he said with a smile, stretching his hand out to her for a handshake.
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Kim Ji-Soo. Effin' Kim Ji-Soo. Her favorite actor. Her unattainable crush. He was sitting next to HER. What did she do in her past life to deserve this? Her soul has been blessed; she can now die in peace. Or maybe not; she wants to enjoy this a bit more.
She blinked a few times, not sure if she was hallucinating or if this was real life. She was used to be around celebrities due to her job, but it's another thing to meet her favorite celebrity.
Since she seemed too shook to shake his hand, he brought his hand back to him, slightly embarrassed. She noticed this and apologized profusely, explaining that she was not expecting to be seated next to someone like him.
"I'm just like you, it's only my job description that is different. I'm a regular person, you know" he replied with a tinge of sadness in his eyes.
It was hard making genuine friends when you were a public figure. Would these so-called friends still be around if he had nothing tomorrow?
"My name is Kim Na-Ri, nice to meet you Mr.... Kim?" she paused for a moment and they both laughed as they realized they had the same name. Kim was such a common name, along with Park and Choi.
"Please call me Ji-Soo" he said with a genuine smile.
"Ok Mr Ki- I-I mean Ji-Soo" she stuttered, facepalming herself mentally. Girl, get a grip! It's not the time to be fangirling! she thought. Ji-Soo let out a genuine laugh, looking at her being so awkward....and disarmingly cute.
How can she be so cute?
"Na-Ri, if you don't mind me asking, where are you from? Your command of Korean is impressive, but you don't look like you're from here," he asked. He was dying to ask her ever since she stepped into the plane but was waiting for a chance to talk to her.
"Ah, this. Yes, well I'm part Korean on my father's side. My mom is (your nationality)" she explained.
"Aaaah that makes sense. What a beautiful mix..." he whispered the last part.
"Were you saying something?" she asked; she couldn't hear the last part of what he had said.
"No, no, don't worry!" he replied, embarrassed. "Do you live with your with Dad in Korea?" he carried on.
Her countenance changed as soon as this question left his lips, and he knew he messed up. "I'm sorry; I'm asking too many questions..."
"No, no, it's ok... It's just that... I don't remember my father as he left my mom and I soon after I was born. My mother explained that his family opposed their relationship due to her not being Korean, and when I was born, it was the last straw. The pressure was too much; he left and married of a woman of his family's choice." her voice trailing off at the end.
"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to make you relieve these memories...." he said apologetically. "What about your mother, is she in her home country?"
Na-Ri closed her eyes and furrowed her eyebrows. Ji-Soo's heart dropped as he realized he had made yet another mistake.
"She passed away nearly 4 years ago..." she whispered.
"Na-Ri...." he said, closing his eyes. "Mianhe..."
"It's ok Ji-Soo, you couldn't have guessed," she said with a pained smile.
He wanted to distract her, but he couldn't start talking about his own family, as both parents were alive and living happily together. His parents' love story was a stuff of legend.
