Part 1

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Sia's POV

The flashing lights, the pulsating beats, and the deafening cheers from the crowd felt surreal as I stood center stage, the adrenaline rushing through me like a tidal wave. It had been three years since I'd set foot in VIN Entertainment as a hopeful trainee, and now I was performing in front of a global audience in New York. But despite all the excitement, I couldn't help but glance to my right. There she was-Riya Arora, the first Indian idol trainee at VIN. It felt like only yesterday we had welcomed her to the VIBE family, but in no time, she had become one of us.

Three years ago, when she passed her auditions in Singapore, I could see the hunger in her eyes. She wanted this, just like I did. She reminded me of myself when I was that girl back in high school-dreaming big, unsure of the future but determined to carve out a place in this world.

As the crowd roared louder, I threw myself back into the performance, hitting each dance move with precision. But deep down, a small part of me wondered: could I ever balance this crazy, chaotic life with something more?

We finished the last note, the stage lights dimming as we bowed. My heart still pounded from the rush, but as the adrenaline faded, so did the distractions. What lingered was the thought of Seok-jin.

Seok-jin... My best friend, my first crush, my everything back in high school. He'd gone off to the U.S. for further studies, promising he'd come back. But life has a way of pulling people apart, doesn't it?

After our show, while the others prepared to fly back to Korea, I decided to stay a little longer. New York was more than just a city of dreams for me-it was the place where Seok-jin now lived and worked. I couldn't leave without seeing him again.

But when I finally found his office, my heart sank. There he was, standing outside, arms wrapped around a white girl. They laughed, oblivious to the world around them. I stood frozen, unsure of whether I should call out or just leave. In the end, I turned and walked away, tears threatening to spill. It wasn't the reunion I had imagined.

Sitting in first class on the flight back to Seoul, I tried to push the memory of him out of my mind. My phone buzzed, and I quickly answered it, grateful for the distraction. My girls-Lucy and Zoe-were on the other end, their voices teasing and playful as usual.

Lucy: (laughing) "Unnie, stop thinking about Seok-jin! He's old news. We need to find you someone new."

Zoe: (teasing) "Yeah, we heard first class is full of handsome businessmen. Look around, maybe fate's sitting next to you."

Sighing, I ran a hand through my hair, glancing to the empty seat beside me. Just as I was about to respond, a tall man sat down next to me. I froze for a second, taking in his features-broad shoulders, sharp jawline, intense eyes. My heart did a little flip.

Whoa... Okay, maybe this flight wasn't going to be so bad after all.

Sia: (grinning) "You know what? You might be right. There's a handsome man sitting next to me all the way to Seoul."

My voice came out louder than I expected, and I noticed a few heads turn in my direction. But I didn't care. I needed the distraction, and maybe a little flirting wouldn't hurt either.

Zoe: (teasing) "Unnie, aren't you worried he'll hear you? What if he understands Korean?"

Sia: (laughing) "Don't worry, I heard him speaking in Spanish earlier. He has no idea what I'm saying!"

I laughed it off, but inside, I felt a slight twinge of doubt. What am I even doing? I'm not the type to flirt with strangers, but after the emotional rollercoaster of seeing Seok-jin, I needed to let loose, even if just a little.

Later, as the flight continued, I sipped on a glass of wine, finally beginning to relax. But, of course, in typical Sia fashion, I managed to knock over the glass, spilling the red liquid all over the man's shirt.

Sia: (flustered) "Oh my God, I'm so sorry!"

I scrambled for napkins, panic rising in my chest. Great, Sia. Just great. First, you make a fool of yourself, and now this? I braced myself for him to respond in broken English, expecting an annoyed reaction.

Mysterious Man: (calmly, in perfect Korean) "It's fine. Don't worry about it."

I froze, napkin in hand, staring at him wide-eyed. He spoke in Korean. He. Spoke. In. Korean.

Wait... what?!

My cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and I quickly looked away, my mind spinning. Oh no. He understood everything. All the loud flirting, all the comments about him... how was I going to survive the rest of this flight?

I sat in silence, trying to calm my racing thoughts. Who was this guy? He looked familiar, but I couldn't place him. I peeked at him from the corner of my eye, noting the calm demeanor and the quiet confidence he radiated.

Little did I know, this stranger next to me held a world of surprises. And I had just spilled wine all over him.

As the plane continued its journey back to Korea, I felt a strange mix of embarrassment and intrigue. Seok-jin's memory faded into the background, replaced by the growing curiosity about the man sitting next to me. Maybe this flight would be more interesting than I thought.

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