The airport throbbed with a restless energy. Amidst the throng, a disheveled (Y/N) stood, hair escaping its bounds, exhaustion etched on every line of their face. The flight had been brutal. They leaned against a piled-up trolley, pushing it through the aisle, tired eyes scanning for a sign bearing their name. Their parents had promised someone would collect them.
It had better not be written in Hangul.
Recognition wasn’t fluent; each letter demanded conscious effort. Years spent in America had dulled their connection to their heritage. Their parents had enforced Korean culture, but relented when (Y/N)’s complaints grew too loud. Now, they wished for that nagging insistence. They understood, belatedly, how important it had been.
(L/N) (F/N).
There it was—their name, rendered in both Hangul and English. Convenient. They rushed toward the person holding the sign, tapping a shoulder in anticipation. Finally, their ride had arrived.
“Ah, excuse me?” they asked, voice polite.
The man turned, a wide smile blooming across his face. It was their uncle. He’d come to the airport personally to collect them. His eyes radiated happiness at the sight of his niece.
“(Y/N)-ie!”
A nickname unused for years.
“Nice to see you again, uncle.”
He pinched their cheeks, and they made a face. They’d have to endure this playful treatment for the duration of their stay. They knew how much he loved to treat them like a child.
“You’ve grown so big! How is my little sister?” He patted their head, still smiling.
Bang (Y/M/N), their mother. Their uncle was Bang Si-hyuk, her elder brother, the president of a now-massive entertainment company in Seoul. They felt lucky to be staying at his grand residence. He’d sent pictures, and they’d filled them with excitement.
“Eomma is fine. She sends her regards,” they answered, offering a tired smile.
He took hold of the trolley, pushing it toward the exit of the arrival hall. Korea was shrouded in darkness—midnight, after all. They walked into the cool air, a shiver tracing its way down their spine.
“Cold, right? You should have worn something thicker,” their uncle chided gently.
“Uncle, don’t blame me for not checking the weather before coming here!” They pouted, trying to ward off the chill.
They rubbed their bare legs together. Shorts were a terrible choice for this time of year. At least they had a hoodie. Hands wrapped tightly around their torso, they listened as their uncle rambled about managing a team under him.
What was their name again? Bangtalk- something?
They simply didn’t care. They wanted to sleep. Although, as a sleek black BMW pulled up to the curb, their exhaustion momentarily faded. The perks of being the niece of the company president. The driver stepped out, and they were ushered into the warmth of the car. They slid across the cream-colored seats and let out a sigh of relief.
“I can’t wait for you to meet my boys tomorrow. I haven’t told you about them yet, so it’s going to be a huge surprise,” he rambled, pausing for breath.
“Mhmm…”
Their forehead rested against the cold glass, eyes fluttering shut. Maybe they’d paid attention to that last part. Maybe they were excited to meet them. After all, their friend had promised a parade of cute boys—might as well acknowledge the possibility. A smile tugged at the corners of their lips before they drifted into a deep sleep.
-- NEXT MORNING --
“(Y/N)-ie~!”
They groaned and buried their head under the white pillow. Still half-asleep. This time difference would be their undoing. They pushed their upper body up from the now-messy bed, running fingers through their (H/C) hair.
“What time is it?” they asked, voice rough.
They’d spoken in a blend of Korean and English again—a disadvantage of living overseas. They understood Korean perfectly, but speaking it required conscious effort. Sentences were weighed, dissected, before they were uttered. Even then, English words crept in.
“Almost nine. The boys are already there, doing some dance practice! I can’t wait to introduce you to them.”
With that burst of excitement, they slammed the door shut, and their uncle’s footsteps quickly tapped against the wooden floor. They huffed and sat up. If they wanted to adjust to a normal sleep schedule, they had to wake up now. They sank into the warm mattress, then pushed themselves up and off the bed.
“That’s all?” Their uncle questioned their outfit choice.
“Good morning to you too, uncle,” they replied sarcastically.
Their retort brought a smile to their uncle’s face.
“If you ever freeze to death, just remember it’s your own fault.”
“Yeah, yeah…”
They glanced at the chopsticks, then at the assortment of dishes laid out for breakfast. Their chopstick skills remained abysmal. Usually, they’d surrender halfway through, resorting to forks and spoons.
Hesitantly, they picked up the chopsticks and stabbed at the diced omelet on their plate. Their eyes flickered toward their uncle, who was speaking on the phone. At least he wasn’t laughing at their clumsy attempts. Muttering an English curse word, they ate the omelet with a combination of effort and a spoon.
“Are you done with breakfast, (Y/N)?”
“Yes, yes.”
Their plate was messy by the end, a smudge of kimchi on their lips. At least they’d finished everything. They quickly cleared the plate, then followed their uncle outside. Finally, it was time to meet the band he’d been talking about.
I hope they’re nice people…