"--------" the alarm went on at exactly 5:00 AM, I started my morning with a fresh music playlist to get rid of the sleepy feeling since I just woke up.
I placed everything aside and then began to prepare the only items I'd be bringing overseas.
I was also told not to pack much and was told to only bring the important ones I'll need for studying since they'll be purchasing items that I might need there.
But me being me would pack up to 2 suitcases along with a backpack I wouldn't risk leaving behind. 'I only have a few hours to gather my belongings before the flight.'
I should have expected this too.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I hurried as I saw the sun setting when I just checked the time not too long ago.
Sarcastically, I haven't even bid farewell to all the people here at home except for Ivy who personally sent her driver to assist me on my way to South Korea.
Mister, the driver insisted I place my baggage in the trunk from right behind but since I had already taken them in, he gave in and just headed off.
Rumors seem to spread faster than what's supposed to be known, for example, the country's issues which the public should always pay attention to.
But then again, I do have an image that my father expects from me despite knowing the difference between reality and expectations for them to have false information involving someone, in particular, me...
We are a family, to begin with.
And here comes boredom in the air, I then lowered the car window to enjoy the cold breeze I would only get to feel for the last time tonight here in New York.
"I am so not gonna miss any of them..." unconsciously I spoke making the driver check on the rearview mirror and take a peek at me.
I must say that he does get the atmosphere we have around.
Even if it worries me about going abroad at least change is bound to happen in my life and recalling all those actions I did in front of other people that my father appointed for me to meet regarding work, made me feel relieved that without my parents near me.
I can breathe comfortably and be myself.
For some reason though, I have a bit of a guilty feeling when I showed up as someone I had never imagined myself to be and so, I learned my lesson when it comes to life.
I am not gonna wear thick make-up in my life again, those heels that seemed to be inches tall plus the dresses I wore were too revealing and inappropriate for anyone's eyes.
As well as those gowns that I accidentally ripped off for being annoyingly long and I am never gonna act all prim & perfect.
How I wonder what my life would have been if my parents never dolled me or signed me up for activities I'd rather choose not to do so even if my life is at risk.
My obedience at its finest is another act in life.
Talk about raising me all these years, all they do is pretend to have a happy family who gets along well with each other only in front of other people to have a clean image or impression around them.
And seriously??
I thought they'd book me in the first class but did they really have to go this far?
Just going with the flow, trying not to be ungrateful for what I received.
I brought out my baggage on my own and pulled them on the way to the private plane as the driver followed behind to assist me.
I made sure to place the suitcases wherever it wouldn't trip anyone which could cause another disappointment to my parents because of my clumsiness.
Mister went in already to answer a call as the plane wouldn't take too long to board now, obviously, it'll be too nosy of me to pay attention to his phone call when he's just right across me so I will use PLUM to listen in secret all-around about the people I come in contact with, plugging my earphones and setting it at a low volume to avoid being caught.
Now, it does sound like a creepy thing to do but it's how I get to know others, I've caught many who planned to act as if I, Honey Lou did something bad to them...
Just ignore it, thinking about those times turns my mood upside down so I'll stop caring about their problem. After all, it is theirs to deal with.
I faced the outside of the plane and it was mesmerizing.
The sky at night had many sparkling stars scattered in the open, as well as the colorful lights, flashing there in New York from down below, it will be something I would miss the most after going somewhere else far away for who knows how long I'll be staying.
Still, I'll be free from some of my worries.
There'll be no more fancy outfits, housemaids that just enter my bedroom not knowing how to knock despite probably having the idea of me bathing before taking my laundry as well as the media who treats me as if I'm a celebrity.
I dislike it very much whenever someone takes a photo of me.
Having no idea if I even look good in it...
After a while, I started dozing off from the soothing silence there was around the plane, and as no one paid one bit of attention to me, I became fully relaxed and it led to a long nap.
--Author's Point of View--
After Honey Lou dropped fast asleep, the driver continued his phone call with his actual boss Eun who is from South Korea, she sent the driver to pick up the girl who was currently sleeping.
They have been continuously keeping an eye on her for a while now, knowing that she has been living close to her father, almost everyone in the family knows about Soonji's 'inner side' and can't trust him whenever he's around other people.
Eun cherishes her nieces very much because after all, she doesn't have a child of her own, she sent someone to keep watch over her late sister's daughter in New York while the older one is just right around the area near her.
She took responsibility for raising the girls as to how her younger sister would have done if only she was still alive and with them as well as the fact that the siblings have been separated due to the loss of their mother or even before the moment she passed away.
She also plans to reunite Honey Lou with her friends whom she had been away from these years, not that they intended to but because of family issues with both of the parties that made it turn out this way for each and every one of them.
But in Ivy's case, she had a different reason why she agreed to it and that is because she noticed something quite strange between her husband and Honey Lou, specifically, about the incident from 4 years ago, on the day their daughter was caught in an accident.
She finds it hard to believe that the only person who witnessed the accident was Soonji.
Another strange reason for her to doubt the man was because the location where it occurred was somewhat deserted during the time it did happen and not one other vehicle was found to pass by the spot where her daughter was hit.
She also thought of the benefit they would get by sending Honey away.
To expose the truth to everyone for sure this time since she can't let anyone continue suffering because of Soonji, especially the very victim up close, her daughter who knows all the unrighteous deeds her father committed.
Not only did the man do such cruel things to those who are in the shadow but also led his own family scattered and away from one another.
He observed as the girl frowned because of the sunlight directly shining at her, he covered up the source of the light to help Honey become more comfortable while the plane was yet to land.
He waited for a while before waking her up.
"Miss Lou, don't you think it's time to eat something?" the driver suggested, he lightly shook her after noticing that she had not eaten a single thing since the plane departed.
Honey covered her face and freshened up then waited for the flight attendant to bring the food she chose.
Being hungry made her chew less and swallow in a hurry so she finished in a short amount of time just when the plane was about to land at their destination.
Honey got off the plane along with the driver and followed after him who obviously knows the country more than she does but then she finds herself leading the way towards the vehicle they'll be using on the way to Seoul where she will be staying.
She then settles within the vehicle, closing the car door as they head on.
During the trip, Honey would ask the driver so often to make a stop so that she could take a snap of the sceneries she had difficulty taking her eyes away from, the driver found this quite annoying, and it delayed the time when they should already be in Seoul...
The girl noticed this and decided to keep herself from being too loud.
She could even make the driver drop her off on the road and she would immediately freeze due to the cold weather, Honey brought out her phone to message someone she called a friend from around the area in South Korea.
She asked about the famous places there are in Seoul for newbies like her, but she received only one short reply that there is a certain café they usually spend a whole day long together and that they are somehow regulars there since she and her friends go to that place every single day but Honey finds it funny how her younger friend hasn't realized yet what she meant.
After waiting for a few more minutes, the girl finally received the response she'd been giggling about this whole time.
The reaction her dear friend had expressed was priceless, she thought.
"It's about time..." she inaudibly whispered knowing that the driver could not have possibly heard it again this time, she took her luggage as they arrived at the place her parents bought for her as she was told to live there in the meantime.
The driver departed as soon as he saw her go safely into her new home, and of course, the place was already organized because they would not have bought just the house instead was the whole package or in other words...
The furniture, and many appliances she wouldn't use often but Honey being her usual self, reorganized everything to the way she wanted.
She started unpacking her few clothes once everything already seemed suitable for her, her mother mentioned that she'd only be temporarily using those clothes on repeat.
But after a day, Ivy would be sending plenty of new branded things to her daughter so as to not tire herself out in bringing a lot.
She began dusting every corner of the entire household making sure that it wouldn't irritate her in the future before washing the plates or utensils stored to keep their usability when she needed them.
As the day began to end, she took a rest after exhausting herself in cleaning as well as from the trip, and the long ride towards her place, it didn't feel new to her as if it was a common experience that she had already gotten used to.