Voice over PA: Flight 203 departing for Seoul International Airport is ready for boarding, flight 203 is ready for boarding….
Several minutes later….
Voice over PA: Mr Mun Yeorin, please make your way to flight 203, Mr Mun Yeorin, please make your way to flight 203, you're delaying the flight time.
Mun Yeorin, who missed his flight the last time as a result of him not hearing the flight departure announcement due to the loud ravaging sounds of tranquil music being played in his earphones, almost missed it again. He was tapped by an old lady who sat beside him when he missed his first flight.
"Young boy, aren't you the one being called to flight 203?" The woman said, tapping him gently with her old wrinkled hands. He removed the earphones and paid more attention to the words of the old woman.
"What did you say, Madam? I'm sorry I didn't get you the last time." Yeorin replied to her.
The old lady bends towards him and talks into his ears, "Your flight, your flight is about to depart, your name has been called twice."
Yeorin's eyes lit up quickly, he got hold of his bag and started running towards the ticket collection point. Oh, no!" He said with a very low soft tone, he had forgotten something, he ran back to where he had sat down before and took a bow in front of the old woman, "Thank you ma," he smiled at her and started heading back towards the ticket collection point.
"Here," a voice caught the rapt attention of the attendant who was looking elsewhere. She turned her gaze and she saw Yeorin stretching his ticket towards her. He was almost out of breath from running.
"Do enjoy your flight Mr…." She took a look at the name on the ticket, "… Mr Mun…Yeo.." the attendant strained.
"Mun Yeorin!" he said," in a calm voice as respectfully as he could." His thick mature voice resounded in the attendants' ear.
The attendant smiled at him in awe, staring at his dark glasses. She thought to herself "what a nice voice he has."
They both stood there for another forty-five seconds before Yeorin's voice brought her back to the moment, "ummm.. Hello!" Yeorin said.
She was still blown away by his voice, but she kept her cool and professionalism, "Do enjoy your flight, Mr Mun Yeorin."
He nodded slightly and smiled back at her, "Thank you," he said.
"You have a very nice voice," the attendant commented.
Yeorin smiled and at the same time kept a straight face, his words short and precise, "Thank you", he said, and then went onto the plane.
Finally, he sat down, after taking a deep breath, and closed his eyes. He was about to dose off when a voice cracked the walls of his senses, and broke through the silence, "Hello sir…," it was an air hostess dressed in a wine uniform, "...would you like anything?" She asked him.
"Yes please, peace and quiet. Thank you," he said, adjusting himself into a better position. He put his earphones back in his ears and raised the volume level to its peak. The air hostess smiled at him, and he returned the smile with a friendly gaze and shut his eyes closed.
It was a 15-hour straight flight from New York to Seoul. Yeorin's sleep was disturbed by the pilot announcing their arrival in Seoul and the fact that they were about to land.
Mun Yeorin stepped out of Seoul National Airport, his heart racing with a mix of emotions. He was finally starting his freshman year at Jukheon University, a chance to reinvent himself. After a year of studying Art and Design in New York, he was now pursuing a degree in Economics at Jukheon University, a top college in the country. His company, B&S, had secured his admission through a scholarship he made for himself. His father, Mun Tae Gwang, was the face of the company, while Yeorin pulled the strings from behind the scenes. Yeorin was hell-bent on maintaining his anonymity in school.
As he made his way to university, Yeorin's mind wandered to the double life he was about to lead. He didn't have to do that in New York, he was in another man's country, but here at home in South Korea, he couldn't just come out and say he's the son of the CEO of B&S, talk less of him being the owner. His life of anonymity would all crumble. He had placed his father as CEO, a decision driven by his insecurities and the pressure to maintain a low profile as a student. But in reality, he was the one calling the shots, making decisions and shaping the company's future from behind the scenes.
Upon exiting the last checkpoint, Yeorin looks up straight and sees a very familiar face standing by a black Escalade - his ever-diligent care-taker and pseudo-secretary - Kim Yuna.
"Ah… Yuna.. Hello, how have you been?" Yeorin said, his voice cutting through the thread of Yuna's thoughts, who was now leaning on the car.
"Oh… Sir Yeorin, welcome back to Korea. Hope your flight wasn't too stressful.
"Haha," Yeorin chuckled slightly, "who's ever stressed from flying first class, and also, stop calling me Sir, it's weird, you're older than I am by three years. I ought to be calling you Nuna (used to address a female who's older than you but not necessarily your direct family)."
Yuna bent down her head, she was too professional to take their relationship casually, truly she was older than he was, but still, he was the source behind her monthly salary and miscellaneous bonuses. How could she talk to him casually?
Yeorin arrived at campus pretty late, the traffic from the airport to Jukheon University was a little bit intense. He arrived at campus around four in the evening, wearing his black cargo pants and purple hoodie, which were his favorite colors; topping up his outfit with dark sunglasses and his black custom-made nose mask.
"Bye-bye!" Yuna said after he took his items of luggage from the booth. She had offered to help him with his luggage, but he refused her request.
"Thanks, Yuna, itta bwayo (see you later) said Yeorin, waving at the car as Yuna drove off, also waving at him and looking at him from the side mirror.
This was the last day of orientation. Yeorin's eyes were scanning the bustling environment, his expression unreadable. It wasn't his first time experiencing this, but the feeling was always the same. He felt a sense of detachment and emotional obliteration, a deliberate effort to keep his emotions in check and keep them submerged. He was determined to keep his double life separate, his business persona distinct from his student life.
He approached the orientation desk, his movements precise and calculated. A friendly student ambassador greeted him, handing him a schedule and map. "Welcome to Jukheon University, Mun Yeorin!" she said, smiling. Yeorin nodded curtly, his response brief. "Thanks."
He walked away, his eyes fixed on the schedule, his mind processing the information. His first Economics class was the next Monday, and he was prepared to approach it with his signature detachment - staying all quiet through the lecture of the day.
As he settled into his dorm, Yeorin's thoughts drifted back to his company. He had built B&S from scratch, and it was a success. But here, at Jukheon, he wanted to live like he was just another student, unknown and unremarkable. He intended to keep it that way, his focus on his studies and his business ambitions.
"No girls, no parties, no late nights, just studies. I had that last year, this year must be different." He said to himself while settling into his room.
With a calculated calm, Mun Yeorin began his journey at Jukheon University, his eyes fixed on the future, his emotions locked away. Unknown to him, a tumultuous road lies ahead.