~ a Park Jimin AU ~
re·al·i·ty
1. the world or the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them.
See, that isn't right. Thanks for nothing, Google. Reality is based on perception - very rarely does it...
1:07 AM, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2028. SHANGHAI, CHINA.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Shanghai was a cultural shock. Even after browsing through images of the city in some futile attempt to prepare myself, it was terribly apparent that we were not in Kansas anymore, Toto. I always loved traveling, but Shanghai was so vastly different from home that I knew I would have to text Arlie often to maintain my sanity.
At least the public transportation was somewhat familiar.
Immediately upon exiting my flight, I retrieved my bags and headed for the underground metro system running through Shanghai. On the plane, I had taken some time to study the behavioral customs of the people here, and even if I hadn't, they would be painfully apparent. I stared dutifully at my phone to avoid any potential interaction until suddenly, a ping disrupted the steady hum of the metro.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Her last text pinged just in time because the train slowed to a stop at the precise moment that I put my phone into my pocket and stood on wobbly legs. Upon exiting the drafty station, I was submerged in the chilly Shanghai night, where the lights of the city were practically blinding. Thankfully, I seemed to have emerged directly in front of the expensive, shimmering skyscraper complex that happened to be my hotel. I didn't know whether to feel intimidated or excited. I had traveled frequently with my family back in high school and college, but we never even ate at expensive restaurants, much less stayed at luxury hotels. Still, my tired legs and cold nose propelled me into the warm building, where a uniformed man practically harassed me to help me with my bags.
Given, I was hardly in the mindset to deny him what he so clearly wanted. I was tired, brain-dead, and absolutely in shock because I swear to God, that tree alone was more expensive than me.
Indeed, the lobby was adorned with a perfectly trimmed, round tree, a cascading wall of light, and wooden floors that gave the modernistic styles a feeling of familiarity and comfort. It must have been painfully obvious that I was a Westerner because the uniformed man spoke in broken English to direct me to the front desk. Using broken (and probably incorrect) Mandarin to thank him, I approached the receptionist and managed to check into my suite.
The elevator and the hallways were lovely, too, but all thoughts of my spotless surroundings faded as I struggled to unlock the door to my room, feeling pressured by the presence of the man who held my heavy luggage. Finally, the door swung open, and holy heck, it was a blessing that I ever managed to make my feet move.
"I will... set these by the door, yes, miss?"
"U-um... uh, yeah. Sure. Sounds great. Perfect."
Private dipping pool. Private dipping pool. Private dipping pool. There was a private freaking dipping pool in my hotel room!
The room was adorned with a spacious, queen-sized bed that, again, probably cost more than me, and a sofa with gold-tasseled cushions. There was a desk, of course, where I might complete my work, and a television that scrolled through the programmed slideshow of the hotel's amenities. But, of course, even a 55-inch, 4K screen could not make one's eye stray from the private dipping pool backed up against a window that offered a spectacular view of the city across the river. The pool was bordered by two spa-like beds and already-filled glasses of champagne, still bubbling.
Ha. They thought I would have a companion. Whelp, it would be a shame to let champagne go to waste – I guess I'll just have to drink them myself.
"Wow, would you look at the size of this place? Hey, you're room service, right?"
~ ~ ~
A/N: not @ how i spent a full day working on those images *face palm*. the image content was originally gonna be in the novel format, but i've been working on photoshopping recently, so... now you get to enjoy my bad editing lmao.
this was kind of a filler chapter, but i hope you enjoyed it!! if there's anything you can't read on the images, please let me know!! and as always, have a lovely day/night <3
