Chapter 2 - Awake, Asleep

The plane landed in Incheon not a moment too soon. I had been on pins and needles for the past 10 hours. What were the odds that TOP would be on my flight AND sitting next to me? I made a mess of everything, but I was too intimidated to make amends at this point.

As everyone else was collecting their carry-on luggage, TOP stayed seated. I didn't want to walk past him. I was hoping he would get off first. I decided to wait until he left the plane. The man I thought he was with from earlier walked down the aisle. It was obvious he had just woke up and he was still trying to rub the sleep out of his eyes. He approached TOP and they were having a conversation I couldn't hear. I could figure out by TOP's frown and the occasional glances my way that they were talking about me. Forgive and forget was out of the picture, so I gathered my stuff and walked towards the exit. I forced myself to stare forward and not look at him. He grumbled a bit, but I didn't stick around to hear what he said.

I was beyond exhausted. I stood in line forever waiting to go through customs before I finally grabbed my luggage from the baggage claim. TOP and I exited the airport at the same time. I was hoping to flag down a taxi as quickly as possible. We were both standing on the curb when a black Escalade rolled up. The driver got out, put TOP's luggage in the trunk. TOP opened the back door and hesitated to enter the car. He turned around and looked at me. "Thanks again for all of this," he sarcastically gestured towards his stained suit, "I hope we will never meet again." He slid into the car and drove off before I could even object. I guess it didn't matter, though, we were going to meet again. And that thought alone sent shivers up my spine. I hailed a taxi and headed to my new home.

YG Entertainment offered to put me up in one of their dorms until I could find a place of my own. The company told me that I would have a roommate: another girl around my age who was just accepted as a trainee for the YG dance team. I was anxious and excited to meet her.

I arrived at the dorm an hour later. The dorm was in an old apartment building not too far from the YG office. I climbed the stairs with what little luggage I had and knocked on the door. A girl in a night shirt, loose shorts, her blonde hair up in a bun and a toothbrush sticking out of her mouth answered the door.

"Um...hi. I'm Song Ha Na...I think we're roommates."

The girl's eyes went wide and she slammed the door in my face. Well, this was getting off to a great start. About 2 minutes later she returned to the door, "I am so sorry! I have a habit of not thinking before I do anything. I should have invited you in, but all I could think of was spitting out my toothpaste. Come in!"

I stepped into the small foyer. There was a shoe closet and that was about it. I changed into slippers and walked into the living area that shared space with a kitchen. "It's small, but you'll get used to it," the girl motioned towards the room. I nodded.

"Oh right! I almost forgot. My name is Kim Eun Ji. I'm a dancer in training at YG Entertainment." She extended her hand and we both bowed as we shook hands. "You look tired as hell! Let me show you our room!"

Our room? As in, one bedroom? I had spent my entire life with the luxury of own room. It was my private space to write music. I wasn't sure how I felt about sharing a bedroom with a complete stranger.

Eun Ji opened the door and there it was: a tiny room with bunk beds and two closets. "I've already claimed the bottom bunk. I hope you don't mind. I'm seriously clumsy and would roll off the top bunk, despite the railing!"

"That's fine. I don't mind at all."

"Well then, the closet on the right is yours."

I was so tired; I just threw my luggage into the closet without unpacking my clothes. "Thanks. Where's the bathroom?"

"Its the only other door in this dorm on the other side of the living room."

I grabbed my toiletry bag and walked towards the bathroom. Eun Ji was trailing close behind. She was incredibly chipper, and while I appreciated that more than having to share living quarters with someone rude, I just wanted to be alone. The bathroom was about the size of a small closet. There was a shower, toilet, and sink so crammed into one tiny space that one could barely turn around just to close the door.

"I just had the drain fixed by the manager of this building. It had been flooding for months!"

"Ah..." I said as I unpacked my toiletries. I was about to close the door so I could undress, but Eun Ji was standing with a silly smile in the doorway. I smiled back. She continued to smile. Okay...this was a little weird.

"Oh! Sorry! You want to take a shower. Got it. I'm a bit scatterbrained," she giggled. No shit.

"It's no problem."

"Are you hungry? I could make some ramyun," she offered.

"I'm good. I just want to shower and pass out."

"Okay then! I'm going to go for a run. See you tomorrow!"

A run. A run? At midnight? How much energy did this girl have? And was Korea that safe to be out on the streets so late at night? I just shook my head.

"Everything okay?" She asked noticing the gesture I made.

"Yep. Just trying to shake off jet lag. See you tomorrow!" I attempted to smile naturally, but fatigue pretty much made that impossible.

Once the door closed behind her, I leaned over the sink and stared at my reflection in the mirror. What was I going to do if I ran into TOP at work? Pretend I didn't know him? That would be impossible. Keep my distance? I might appear to be someone with a bad attitude if anyone at the company saw that. Get down on my hands and knees and profusely apologize until he swears never to tell a soul about what happened? No way. I may be a lot of things, but I don't grovel. I guess I'd just have to wait and see.

A yawn escaped my lips and I walked like a zombie into the shower. Eventually, I made my way to bed. I was out like a light within minutes. Hopefully, my new roomie didn't mind if I snored.