Sojourn. (1/1)

January 2- Key  I looked at my reflection in the mirrors that surrounded me. I was leaning with my head on a hard surface, which was yet another looking-glass. We were in the practice-room rehearsing. Later, we’re going to the concert venue and have the final rehearsals there. I looked at my phone, but nothing showed up, except for a dismal screensaver. I unlocked the screen, and there it was—Our painting. “Actually? Maybe there is.”Her words rang back in my mind. “It’s not yet too late,” I mumbled to myself.“You were saying something, Key?” Jjong-hyung asked, as he took his place beside me.I shook my head, this smile on my face.“Oh…hohohoho. I know that smile!” hyung laughed.I gave him a look o my well-known smug grin. “Hyung, what time is it?”“Gotcha,” he winked. He took a quick glance at the wall clock and said, in a tone as bragging as mine, “Time for you to stop HyunMi.” “Please, hyung! Can’t we go a little fasterrrrrrrrr? I’ve got a flight to catch,” I whined in my seat, while wringing my hands.The four of them sedated me while my agony was driving me half-wild. I tried calling HyunMi, but she wouldn’t answer. Stupid noodlehead wouldn’t cooperate. But alas—we reached the airport. I jumped out of the car and came dashing in. “GOOD LUCK! HYUNG!”“KEY-GOON! GOOD LUCK!”“RUN! RUN LIKE THE WIND!”“PPALI, PPALI!”They all cheered as I ran, like I was a contestant in a race. “You’re not getting away this time,” I said to myself, laboring under the delusion that the threat would reach her. Normally I don’t like running, but this time I felt the need of doing so. For a moment I wished I were a horse, so that I wouldn’t have to worry about getting tired no matter how many miles I ran. Sure horses do get exhausted eventually, but undeniably, there are just times when a human being envies what an animal can do. A voice rang across the airport, but I didn’t hear clearly what it said. It was calling for a certain flight, and it was bound for California. No, just no.I didn’t even care about the people gawking at me. In my mind I could see HyunJi-noona’s image plotting my death, but I was more than ready to face the consequences. Finally I found her. She was sitting on a long row of chairs, and as soon as the announcement was heard all over the airport, she and the other people going to California stood up for boarding. I don’t know if I made a sound or she sensed me. For all I know, I found her dropping nearly all of her things when she saw me. “Kibum-ah?” she mouthed.“HyunMi!” I ran towards her and instantly threw my arms around her.She didn’t return the hug. She just stood there frozen. Clearly, she’s still in shock at the sight of me.It was sweet, sweet indeed—sweet beyond telling. To finally put a stop to what tortured me all this time. “I thought you already went away!”HyunMi gently pushed herself away from me, so she could see my face. “What’re you doing here?”“Stopping you, of course. I’m not letting you off that easily!”She giggled. “But Kibum-ah…” she stopped short, when a female voice announced again the flight about the plane bound for California.I turned to her. “You’re not leaving me, are you? You said I could still stop you,”“I love your optimism. Never lose it.” she smiled at me and drew her mouth close to my ear. “I’m not going anywhere,”“YES!” I embraced her tightly. Then I drew out, planning to put my lips on hers. Now. I thought. Isn’t the end of this. She put her hands on my cheeks but—  “HYUNG!” Taemin shook my arm. “You dozed off!”  Alas, it was only a dream.  ----------------------------------scumbag author lol