I knew that my days of sleeping peacefully were numbered. How you may ask? Because I tried taking a nap and all of a sudden I get spam called. It's still early it's 9:27 when I saw I received 10 missed calls from Aunt Ina. On the 11th one I picked up and groggily answered the phone with a hello. What I got in return was this.
"RAE LEVEN WHY DO YOU NEVER ANSWER YOUR PHONE?!" The screeching sound of Aunt Ina blasted through the house. I held the phone a few inches away to let her scream a bit more as I looked around. Lishi was gone along with her stuff, but she'll be back after she gets changed at her place. We only live five minutes away from each other.
"Sorry I was sleeping what's wrong?" I answered a little more awake now. I mean there should be a good reason she called me almost a dozen times. I hope.
"Oh nothing is wrong I just wanted to remind you of Jonathon's party this afternoon at 3 remember since he just finished his A Levels." She responded cheerily, as if her previous shouting was a thing of imagination. I resisted the urge to groan.
Okay some backstory is needed. If you don't already know I'm adopted. Aunt Ina is not biologically related to me in the slightest, along with all of her family. Why do you need to know you ask? Well Aunt Ina isn't rude or neglectful (just incredibly close minded I blame it on upbringing) her brother and his family are. Jonathon is the now 18 year old spawn of my uncle and aunt. He's the worst. A damn brat sent from the depths of hell to torture me at every family gathering. Examples of what I get from him are "hey look it's the trash girl" which has become his favourite saying for me and now you see why I don't have any fondness for him. Whilst Uncle Jack and Aunt Tess just ignore my existence Jonathon has made it my life's mission to kill me mentally. Aunt Ina is ignorant to what he does because he doesn't do it in front of her but when the "grown ups gossip" start in the kitchen and all us younger ones are in the living room all bets are off the table. Out of the sake of not starting family drama for Aunt Ina I have kindly refrained from beating the ever living shit out of him, although I've come close to it several times. But anyways putting on a fake happy voice I responded to Aunt Ina.
"Of course I'll be there. Wouldn't miss it." After a few minutes of leisurely conversing we hung on each other. I'm also annoyed because it's a two hour train ride to Uncle Jack's house. I manage to get up and get myself ready for the day.
Checking my email I got a response back from Jisoo Kim.
That's great the interview will be held on the 1st June. We will see you there. The address and list of documents are linked here.
Jisoo Kim, Head of Recruitment at Double B Entertainment
Replying to her email and receiving the address for the interview a few minutes later it was all set. Oh god the interview is final! The 1st June is only a day after I arrive in Seoul. Speaking of arriving I need to start packing as well, most of my furniture and stuff were part of the apartment so I'm leaving that behind but the microwave, kettle and the tv are mine so I'll probably sell them or give it to charity. Not letting this afternoons plans dampen my spirits I turned on the kettle to make myself some nice chai tea.
Jaehyun's POV
"Hey you've been out of it all day what's wrong?" My friend Daehyun said in a slightly worried tone. Ah he's right I've been out of it today, but I can't stop thinking back to the girl I met it's strange. She had this sort of energy that pulls people in.
"Hey there's that look again. What's going on in that head?" My other friend Seungho laughed poking my head, and I swatted it away laughing as well.
"Ah don't you have any respect for your hyung?" I teasingly said. Daehyun and I are the same age we're both 20, Minjae is older than us by two years he's 22, even older is Yamato he's 23, our oldest hyung is Lamon he's 25. Seungho here is only 17 he's our maknae. We're all on our way back to Korea soon because school starts for him again, but we had some concerts in London and Birmingham.
"Is it a girl?" Yamato called out from the back of the room where he was practicing his vocals, one more concert and then we're flying back. But damn he got it right I could feel my face blushing.
"Ha it's true look at his face." Seungho said pointing at my slightly red cheeks.
Yamato raised an eyebrow and put down his mic to come over. Once Yamato is curious he won't stop till he finds out, better tell them either way.
"Ah so you know how I got lost because some people," I paused to glare at them," Had forgotten my existence and drove off to the venue site without me. Well this really cute girl helped me by pointing out the nearest station so I could get there." I finished. What followed next was a series of interrogation style questions. Who was she, what's her name etc.
"Wait do you don't know her name, age or anything of the sort? Jae-hyung even I can do better." Seungho said laughing. I know I should've at least gotten a name out of her, but I was in a rush. And these idiots and our manager left me on the side of the road in Birmingham stranded. I literally just got out to buy some snacks and I turn around and they're gone. They didn't realise I was gone until they had already arrived at the venue. I was lucky I had my wallet otherwise I'd be screwed.
"Ah well it's a one time encounter so I won't see her again." Although as I said that, I wished I could have seen her again before we leave for home. Well things happen for a reason, I guess...
Rae's POV
In the most sincere tone and with the most burning passion fuck everyone except Aunt Ina here. Okay I'm swearing a lot today but there's a reason. I'm standing here at Jonathon's stupid celebration, which to be honest is a waste because he only barely passed three C's in his A Levels, and I'm just listening to the fool go on and on about his latest bed conquests across from me to his buddy. Half an hour before I can go without being rude to Aunt Ina, ive already been here for the better part of 3 hours awkwardly eating snacks and avoiding his inner circle.
"Wait so you shagged her? Nice mate!" His buddy high fives him, to which they share a weird bro laughing moment.
Normally I'd ignore this entirely, because it has nothing to do with me but the next words out of dumb and dumber's mouths made me mad.
"Is it cool if I take a hit on her?"
"Trashie?" followed by more shit I decided to tune out for the sake of my sanity and his nose not being broken by my fist. Okay I'm out, screw half an hour. Hell I'm not staying here for another ten minutes, no make that five.
I took a slice of the cake- because it's a chocolate fudge cake and it deserves better- wrapped it up and started walking out of the backyard and into the home so I can get out. I was stopped halfway to the door by a worried looking Aunt Ina and my harsh angry expression softened a bit. I can't be too angry at her... for what it's worth, she may be close minded but she tries her best to see things from other perspectives.
"I'm sorry honey I know they're ignorant, I thought they'd change." She said hanging her head ashamed, and I couldn't stop myself from giving her a hug.
"No Aunt Ina don't worry it's not your fault. And anyways I'll be leaving soon so I won't be seeing him again." I said, making her cock her head in confusion. Better tell her now than never.
"I'm going to be moving to Seoul soon, I even have a job interview lined up first thing when I get there." I said hurriedly in one breath, not daring to look into her eyes in nervousness of her reaction. When I finally did I saw the kind loving eyes I've always known, and her bright knowing smile.
"I knew you'd go back there one day, ever since you came back from your year abroad you were like a different person. Go ahead sweetheart I'm here for you." Her words made me tear up slightly and hug her tightly once more. I really am so grateful to this woman, for raising me from a clueless amnesia ridden teen to who I am now.
"How about this, tomorrow you and I can do what we love and go to a spa have facials and eat expensive chocolate?" I said pulling back. She laughed and I could see a twinkle in her eyes.
"I'd love that sweetheart, and you can bring Alishbah along if you want, we'll have a girls day!" She replied poking me in the rib, making me giggle.
After a heartfelt see you later with Aunt Ina I was back on the next train home when my phone pinged with a strange message.
Unknown: Watch out in Seoul, people are not who they say.
Rae: Who is this?
Unknown: You'll find out soon enough.
Rae: What kind of prank is this?!
ERROR MESSAGE COULD NOT BE SENT
Rae: hello what the fuck???
ERROR MESSAGE COULD NOT BE SENT
What the hell.... okay this is weird. Who messages people's phones like this in this day and age? Is this going to be something where I'll end up kidnapped? I should buy some pepper spray. I swear in every book I've read the heroine ends up ignoring the severity of the texts or it's life saving advice. I mean if they're telling me to watch out and they're reaching out to me either they want to finish me themselves and are extending my life until they can or they're allies and want me to be fine.
I think too much in terms of books and movies when it comes to stuff like this. In the midst of my wondering and trying to decipher what possible reason someone may have in contacting me with an ominous message I came to my train stop. Getting off I looked at the sky to see it quickly darkening with impending rain. Well isn't that a fun bad omen to see? Note my immense sarcasm. I could already feel my sneezing and coughing fit coming later on. During every changing of the seasons I get ill so four times a year I sound like I'm a chain smoker having a pack of 20 a day.
"One day I swear to god something is going to get me killed." I mutter calling a taxi to take me home.
One would ask, Rae why don't you drive? I don't trust my own driving skills well enough on a highway, I took lessons and I do have a licence, but I sneeze too often and I get easily distracted by my own slightly disturbing thoughts. So for road safety I don't. Besides I like either walking or taking a bus/taxi everywhere.
Once I finally got home I kicked off my shoes and started messaging Seohyun. I remember the day we met my Korean was god awful and I tried asking her where the lecture hall was and it took a good five minutes of failed attempts, which ended up making her laugh so hard she had tears. Since then she's made it her mission to help me learn Korean and be my friend. Lishi, Seohyun and I are planning on moving into our own place in Seoul, and splitting the rent between us so it's cheaper. She sent me some apartment links just now so we're going through them.
Between getting ready to move and spending time with Aunt Ina and Lishi, the days went by really quickly and before I even knew it the day to leave came.
"Aunt Ina I'll be fine!" I said trying to escape from her death grip on me. Lishi was a few steps away checking us in and laughing at me slowly dying. Death by hug- what a way to go.
"I know but every time you go I feel like I'm never going to see you again!" She replied continuing to squish me.
"I'll visit as soon as I can okay?" I reassured her before Lishi told us that boarding was going to start in a while.
After few more reassurance words she finally let me go and we walked around to find our gate. Our seats were way at the way which I always prefer, less noise than being in the middle. I checked my instagram and posted my last picture here in the UK.
"Well you excited or not?" Lishi asked as she handed me my travel neck pillow. God bless those things my neck kills if I don't have one. Mines a Gudetama custom one I got for my birthday thanks to this lady here.
"Nervous, slightly scared but hell yes I'm excited. No going back let's do this." I spoke with determination. My decisions may not be the best sometimes but I know this one will be good, I just have a good feeling about this.
Well at least I hope things will turn out fine.