860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZB5lrnbAN
❝You're not some pervert, right?❞
860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafxwvGM77N
Areum stared at the wall of the kitchen as her mother continued on and on as she usually did, nagging her about what a failure she was. Her older sister who was currently twenty-six was, according to their loving mother, what a success looked like. At her young age, she was at a point where she was managing a business she had started on her own. However, unlike her angel of a sister, Areum was still undecided on the path to take with her life.860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdbWD5h6Hm
She knew that she enjoyed writing and bringing joy to others through her work. But her parents would never allow that. As long as she wasn't following in the footsteps of her sister, she would always be viewed as a failure.860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDNpF1yXYT
And because of this, who could blame her when she decided to pack her bags and head to the airport─with no destination mind you but with the purpose of escaping her parents in mind.860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwySSjSVbU
She pulled her bag behind her and shrugged her backpack on her shoulder after she had gotten out of the taxi. She exhaled into the cold air, visibly seeing her breath, before she walked towards the large building, the only sound she could hear being her boots as she walked. However, when she opened the door, that was when she saw how alive the airport really was. 860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4GSbMAIGM
All around her, people walked while some half jogged, dragging their luggage with them. She surveyed the space and decided to head to the food court for some breakfast before deciding on where to go. She walked towards a small bistro and ordered a cup of coffee and a small sandwich. Once she got her order, she made her way to the first empty table she saw, and sat down. 860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2S03uB3nsC
Unbeknownst to her, Joon entered the airport, grinning from ear to ear as he thought of the trip he had ahead of him. Since his engagement to the love of his life, he had been busy with her, planning a trip which was meant to bring them together before they finally got married. He could hardly contain himself as he pulled his luggage behind him as he walked towards the middle of the airport, checking his watch for the time. Once he saw that there was still twenty minutes before she would arrive, he decided to walk to the same bistro for a cup of coffee to stay energized.860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡse5TqjmvEK
He smiled to everyone he passed, feeling as if his excitement was bubbling out of him. He even gave the barista a tip before heading to a table close to girl who was scrolling through her phone indecisively. 860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24S17r6hUX
Areum looked up when she felt someone looking at her, to find a guy smiling as he held his coffee and pulled his luggage behind him. She watched as he passed her and sat two tables away. She shook her head, wondering how someone could be so happy in the morning. She dismissed him and returned to her phone which she had opened to an airline's website, in search of her destination.860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyn90MNJThH
Perhaps going to a tropical island would be a great idea? She had already had enough of the winter even though it had just started. But she quickly shook that thought away─she didn't like to be in smoldering climates for too long. 860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJB6l446nb
She ran a hand through her hair as she continued to scroll through the website. When she finally decided to give up, she tossed her phone onto the small table and took a large gulp of her coffee, immediately burning her tongue. 860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGjcxVvsca
"Sh-" she immediately stopped what she was about to say as she remembered where she was. She looked around nonchalantly as she thought of more places to go when a ringtone surrounded them. She quickly picked up her phone, thinking it was her call. But she was pleasantly surprised when she saw that it wasn't her phone which had rung. She looked around until her eyes landed on the weird guy who had smiled earlier. 860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6LADRtwAG
Joon smiled as he saw his fiancé's name on the caller I.D and picked up. 860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYyNqUrj4h
"Hello?" he asked, almost unable to hide his elation in his voice. But he was met with silence. His smile faltered slightly as he repeated his words. 860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6bYabPSl0
"Hello?"860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkklUMiYynw
"Joon... " Jin trailed off, causing him to begin worrying. 860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrKJtnbf5Q
"Jin, is everything alright? Are you on your way?" he asked. She sighed for a few long moments before saying the words which he never thought he'd hear. 860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JzrguxZfi
"I'm not coming, Joon." 860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhewJmFQAmp
His hand trembled slightly, causing him to almost drop his phone. But he used his other hand for support. 860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOCHU8P10w
"What do you mean you're not coming?"860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj73r7vY0YO
"Don't you understand words? It's exactly what it sounds like," she snapped at him, taking him aback. 860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9u4lCJcjUv
"Why are you like this all of a sudden Jin? Just yesterday you seemed so excited about this trip and now you're not coming?" he stated more to himself. 860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUASjgjeDz
"Well people can change Joon. Look, I have to go. I'd say I'm sorry but let's be honest, that's not what you need to hear."860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLesXrh0xzs
Joon couldn't say a word as his world crumbled around him. 860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwpdiAr0mY
Areum continued to watch him as he stood up, his face the complete opposite of what she had seen earlier─dark. She continued to observe him as he began to walk away from his table, his posture slumped. She looked away and felt herself beginning to feel pity for him without even knowing what was wrong. And when she looked back, that was when she noticed that he had left his belongings behind. Without a second thought, she jumped into action. 860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfp23XEJVxG
---860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoVHyOGrnJ
She reached him just before he stepped out of the airport, putting her hand on his shoulder to gain his attention.860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalHm1xTVkX
Joon turned as he felt her hand and was surprised to find her holding his bag.860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8icFX2pt1e
"You forgot your bag," she told him, breathing heavily. His eyes wandered to his bag sadly before he looked at her. He didn't say or do anything as he continued to look at her.860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjBitwDabV
Areum shook her head in disbelief at his behavior. How distraught would he have to be to leave his bag behind? And his behavior was beginning to get on her nerves as the silence dragged on.860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrs3EPG7mb
"Look, I have things to do. So if you're not going to say anything, just take your bag." 860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiDqLDiM0e
She wheeled it towards him before turning around to walk away.860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobVQOH0uHy
Joon watched her as she walked away, unsure of whether or not he should be grateful since the bag was a reminder of the rejection. He continued to look at her as she took out her phone.860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRo9RBppNlf
And it was at that moment when it struck him.860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEp5ozB9maM
He didn't give himself time to think about it again before he ran towards her and placed a hand on her shoulder just like she had done to him. She turned around and her surprised expression immediately turned into impatience.860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTqCmiShfw
"If you have something to say, please make it quick. I don't have a lot of time," she told him. 860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQK7MpyvEC
Joon smiled uncertainly as he asked her,860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeleqMiVbX
"Would you like to go on a trip with me?"860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrvNJhfSLp
The first thing that crossed Areum's mind was: "is he crazy?"860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IvM28dhj5
She couldn't fathom why a stranger would just suddenly ask her to go on a trip with him. But when she remembered the current situation which she was in, she began to reconsider.860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4JdrZVFnf
Maybe if she accepted it, it could be an adventure. She didn't know where they were going but most importantly, she would not have to pay for a ticket. And she wouldn't have to worry about her parents anymore. She surveyed him as she came closer to a decision.860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhh8jpNaL7Q
"You're not some pervert, right?" 860Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktjtBxahEq
