***SONG: HOW TO HIDE A BODY by DAISY GRENADE*** (Honestly this song is pretty fire)
New York City, USA
~Phoebe~
"I can't believe you're actually leaving me, and that this is goodbye." Mouse cried. Her cheeks shiny and wet, her eyes were red and puffy. Snot even dripped down her nose, but she had no shame in it.
"It's not goodbye, it's, see you soon. Girl, you have your passport, you'll come visit me in Korea. Meet some hot Korean men or something." I teased her, wiping the tears from her eyes.
Her parents. Dr. Karen Greene and Chris Greene.
"Yeah, but it's still you're going to be a literal day away from me now. That's so far and such long way. It's really happening. I just want to crawl in your suitcase and come with you." Mouse wined.
"Hannah, control yourself, you're being ridiculous, move let me say bye to my favorite daughter." Dr. Karen Greene teased and scooted Mouse to the side and hugged me. "We'll see you soon, we'll come for the holidays, so you won't be spending it alone. You know if you ever need anything, you can give us a call."
"Karen's right, Bee, don't forget you have people in your corner always." Dr. Chris Greene said to me.
"Thanks, you guys. I love you." And that's when the tears started to fall. I hated crying, saying goodbye has never hurt so bad.
"Who started cutting onions in here? So rude of them, people are trying to say their farewells." I sniffled, wiping the tears from my cheeks.
"Text me as soon as you land… you hear me?" Mouse demanded through heavy sobs.
"Of course I will. I love you."
"We love you Bee." They all said hugging me goodbye.
My heart ached at leaving the only family I have behind.
When I turned and walked away, I didn't look back.
If I did, I don't think I'd get on the plane.
After passing security and finding my gate, I went around JFK airport and shopped for some snacks and a book to read on the plane, it was a long 14hr flight, so I'd have plenty of time.
By now my Abeoji would be getting ready to leave for work.
Being an adult now provided certain privileges. Ones like the ability to disappear, if I wanted too. It helps I'm a computers geek; I wonder when he'll notice I'm gone, and that, like my mother, I'm not coming back. That I changed my number. Transferred schools. Sealed my records. Leaving him without a single trace.
Would he even care?
Would he miss me? Suddenly make a change and chase after me? Would leaving make him want to be the dad I deserved?
"What does it even matter?" I sighed and closed my eyes, before I knew it sleep came over me.
When I woke up, my flight was boarding. Quickly, I grab my things and rush over to my gate.
When I handed my printed ticket to the woman, she took it "Your seat has been upgraded to first class miss, here's your new ticket."
I looked at her unsure and then down at my new ticket and back to her, "Are you sure? Who updated my ticket? Is this a prank?"
"I'm just a steward, miss, I'm not privy to such information, however you, we are certain. You are Phoebe Park, correct?"
I nodded with eyes showcasing confusion.
"Then yes, your seats been upgraded. Please enjoy your flight, miss." The woman's smile was so practiced, yet still sincere. I nodded and took my ticket back.
"Thank you. I whisper." I reposition my duffle bag and shove my ticket in the bottom, I wanted to keep it as a souvenir and pulled out my phone. A text message from Mouse said: "Enjoy the new seat. Start this new life off right, babe."
I smiled. She was truly the best.
Bitch set me up with a first-class ticket. Eep. This was going to be exciting.
Entering first-class felt unreal: white leather reclining seats, tables between rows of two, and a clean, spacious area with only a few passengers. I checked my ticket and took my seat.
She even made sure I got the window seat. My best friend you are just the best. I leaned back and closed my eyes, enjoying the fresh scent of leather and champagne.
"You're fucking kidding me?" A deep voice said aggressively next to me I frowned. I open my eyes and look up to see who the voice matched.
My jaw nearly hit the floor when I saw him. I was face-to-face with possibly the sexiest man I think I've ever seen. He possessed storm-grey eyes that held intensity through their gaze. His jet-black hair and tousled yet appeared carefully styled, and his complexion was perfectly clear, like his skin has never heard of the word blemish before. The sharpness of his jawline and defined chin only added to his overall aura that screamed privilege and control.
"Pick up your jaw." He spoke with such coldness; I thought I might get frostbite.
"The fuck crawled up your ass and bit you. Relax." I groaned and turned away from him. Ready to ignore his crude behavior. No manners.
"You are in the wrong seat." He spoke with the kind entitlement of a man who thought he owned the world.
He was about to find out real quick though.
"You are incorrect, this is, most certainly, my seat. You can take yours or you can fuck right off, it makes no difference to me." I didn't have the patience or the energy to entertain this or be polite to him. Matching energies. Maybe this is my villain era?
His eyes nearly popped out of his head at my tone. He was clearly not used to be spoken to like that.
Good. Maybe you need a reality check, bud.
"Excuse me?"
I ignored him; putting in my headphones and lean back with my eyes closed, ready to recline and relax. I was not going to listen to this; I refuse to let some asshole ruin my mood.
The next thing I know I'm getting tapped on my shoulder. I open my eyes and look up and it's a flight attendant.
"Yes?" I ask her, taking out one of my headphones so I could listen better.
"May I see your ticket, miss." She asked me kindly.
"Sure." I hand her over my phone with my digital ticket. I'd already put my printed one away and didn't want to fish it out.
"Mr. Kim, this is indeed her seat. There are no other available seats, please take yours so we can begin the takeoff procedures." The flight attendant bowed, cautiously. Waiting for him to move before lifting her head and walking away.
She was scared of his reaction.
He scoffed and mumbled something I couldn't hear, eventually he reluctantly took his seat beside me.
I put my headphone back in and opened my book on new aged coding and gaming tech.
This book was on my study list, and I was lucky JFK airport had a legitimate bookstore, I was able to pick up a read from my course list to start before school was even in session.
I could feel his eyes on me. Watching me follow along with my book. His gaze was intense and heavy. I tried to pretend I didn't notice the holes he was drilling in my head.
I could hear muffled words outside of my headphones and couldn't help myself.
Popping my headphone out without looking away from my book, "Can I help you?"
"What are you reading that has you so engrossed?"
I was a little dumbfounded. Why did he suddenly care? Wasn't he the same asshole picking a fight over a seat?
"A book on art." I answered vaguely, it wasn't entirely a lie… it was art. I mean, coding and designing are forms of art in their own right. I didn't like to broadcast my interest in computers and gaming graphics. As a girl, it got me unwanted attention. The tech world was incredibly sexist.
"It looks like there's more coding than art literature." He remarked sarcastically.
I was a little surprised that he recognized coding; I raised an eyebrow at him.
"And? Would you disagree? Is coding not art?"
"What are you doing with a book like that? Are you interested in graphics?" He asked, ignoring my question. He didn't carry the same cold tone he did before.
"Why do you care? You didn't seem to fancy my company earlier." I closed my book, giving him my attention, now. "And now you just want a casual conversation?"
He frowned. Guess he doesn't like it when others have a mind of their own.
"Because it looks ridiculous when girls pretend to be interested in things like this. Just go play with your make-up and oh so fake social medias profiles." He scoffed, his rude attitude returned.
But his words meant nothing. I let them roll off my back.
I was used to worse men then him egging me on. I was accustomed to their misogynist behavior. I didn't respond and just put my headphone back in and returned to my book.
Fucking asshole.
I'm literally just breathing. Why is he acting like such an unnecessary dick?
"Who spit in your coffee?" I grumbled low enough only I thought only I could hear my comment.
Yet the smirk that tugged at the corner of his mouth suggested otherwise.