I frown.

My Instagram name is, Kiwi Kayla, so how does this Korean person know my real name? I don't think I've ever mentioned it on my social media, never mind social media, I've never mentioned my name to any Korean fan. So how does this person know my name? Unless it's...

Me:
J-Hope? Is that you?

It takes some time, but I patiently wait feeling a little less paranoid, hoping that indeed it is J-hope. If it's not, then I'm in big trouble. Being in this type of business is fun and all, you get to be in touch with people around the world who'll support you and your content through thick and thin. But it has its hectic moments, such as fake fans posing as you, or catfishing and even haters. It's especially worse since I have to be my own security. If anything goes wrong with my account, it would be a huge loss on my side. I strongly hope, nobody is catfishing me..
My phone chimes and I look back on the screen

HopeWrldxcx:
Yesss 😁 J-hope!

My heart leaps with joy as I feel a warm smile spread over my lips. This is what you call real support, you meet someone and instantly you just follow each other supporting their dreams.

Me:
Hey J-Hope (✷‿✷)
I can't believe you remember me ;D

It takes moments for him to reply, before I remember that he mentioned a translator app.

HopeWrldxcx:
How could I forget you ?

Me:
I'm so shocked wow
Thanks for following me and leaving hearts and comments (灬º‿º灬)♡
It means so much to me

HopeWrldxcx:
Anytime
Thank you for following me

With that I rest comfortably on my bed with my phone pressed hard against my face as I go into the translation app and I type out my sentence in English before sending it to him.

Me:
I listened to your tracks on your profile
Their really dope
I love them

HopeWrldxcx:
You listened to the music on my profile?

He takes time to type back but it's in English. I shake my head quickly going over to the translating app.

Me:
No type out in Korean
Be comfortable .✧

As he types out, hopefully in Korean, I turn on my side patiently waiting.

HopeWrldxcx:
Then... You won't understand

He sends in English.

Me:
Then how do you suggest that I learn Korean?  🤭

HopeWrldxcx:
You want to learn Korean?

•

2 weeks later

It's my last day in Korea and I couldn't be more happier to leave the foreign land and go back home to my mama. The past week has been hectic; shopping, sight seeing, brand meetings, unboxing and finally going for basic Korean lessons. The Korean lessons wasn't really in my to do list but after J-hope suggested the classes, I immediately signed up feeling suddenly interested in the language.

It's pretty weird how my first encounter with the guy was basically my last face to face encounter with him. All other interactions were through the posts I'd post or any new beats he'd put on his Instagram. Aside from that I've been attending the Korean classes and interacting with a few new Korean fans that I've gained.

Jenevieve has been a bitter rude girl non stop, the only person who helps me hold my tongue back is Heaven. If she wasn't here, Jenevieve would've already been daed while we celebrate her funeral...oh sorry, I meant while we mourn and shed false tears for her. Heck her coffin would've been empty, because believe you me that girl needs to be chopped to death or even be put to ashes or eaten by cannibals. I don't like that girl. I really don't like that girl. My sister is the only thing keeping me sane throughout this whole trip. Thank goodness I don't have to travel back with them. They left an hour ago since I booked two different flights. Economy for them and economy for me since I realised that I spent a lot of my cash on that Korean class- which was and still is very helpful. I've been putting my lessons to the test and successfully I can say that I'm a pro beginner in Korean.

Although for now, 2 hours before my flight I stand outside the airport terminal building getting all my bags out the taxi putting them on a large trolley making my way through the building, passing all the sensors and getting through with no problem.

That's until I get by the bordering gates. There's a crowd, a mob of girls all screaming, crying and being in absolute hysteria. I'd be overreacting if I said they were here for me but judging by the pool of security guards I know it's not me. Ohh, maybe "the president" is flying on this flight too. I shrug my shoulders making a safe escape route from the girls. Thankfully the thin officer patrols are standing between the screaming girls and the door through. I show my ticket in order to pass through.

I get into the airplane feeling all eyes on me, but it's something I've gotten used to. I find my seat that's right in the middle between a Korean girl and an elderly woman. I kindly smile to the elderly lady who's got her eyes on me and she smiles back. Meanwhile the Korean girl on the other side resorts to putting on her mask and shifting away, even though there's no where else to move to. Rude much.

Before I can even put my earphones on, the lady besides me begins speaking in Korean. (*All conversation in Korean will be in italics)

"Hello young girl," she begins.

I put my earphones down smiling towards her. "Hello ma'am,"

"So polite," she grins. "Where are you traveling to?"

"South Africa,"

"Africa?" She asks in a surprised tone. "But this flight is going to America,"

"Oh yeah, I'm going to America." I nervously shake my head. "I thought you asked where I'm from, sorry,"

She chuckles. "That's Korean for you. You're learning Korean right?" I nod my head. "Those are some of the challenges of the language. The different pronounciations and sounds that sound so similar. But don't stress much about it, you sound like a natural."

I laugh. "That's too far. I'm still learning,"

"That's very humble,"

We continue talking in Korean and it's not so bad as I understand some of the phrases even though some words slip my vocabulary. She's very sweet and patient helping me with some of my words and comprehension, even making me do tongue twisters with her.

"Please excuse me. I need to use the restroom."  I politely excuse myself.

"No problem dear,"

I get up gently making my way past the girl and down the isle to the mini spaced toilets. I get in doing my business before hearing the intercom sound.

"Attention all passengers, the plane to America will be boarding shortly in 5 minutes..... Comfortably situate yourself.... before..... turbulence. Thank you."

Best believe the only words I heard are those and everything else was a ball of Korean. I flush the toilet and wash my hands exiting the little space. From a distance I can hear very ambitious sounds swarming throughout a corner. Before heading back to my seat I slowly make my way towards the airplane door trying to see what all the noise is about. Seems like those squealing girls have followed. Some males all wearing masks enter the plane and a bunch of other people in black enter, they walk through the first class doors the opposite direction from where I am.

A small lady stands infront of me stretching her hand out. "Please take your seat madam,"

My eyes lock with familiar pair of eyes as soon as that lady speaks but before I can fully recognise the face, the lady gently holds my shoulder snapping me back to her.

"Oh sorry. Yes I'll return to my seat." I bow my head apologising and paying respect before heading back to my seat.

When I get back to my seat the old lady I was conversing with is laying quietly knitting something bright yellow.

"Yellow is a nice colour,"

"Yes it is. It means happiness and prosperity along with forever joy raining upon you. I'm hoping to finish this for my grandson,"

I nod my head. "Your grandson...America? The one in university?" I ask remembering the conversation.

"Yes. He's been working so hard," she smiles and looks back at me. "I presume maybe it's why I like you so much. He's fiance is much like you,"

"Really?"

She nods her head. "All my life I've worked at a market, meeting different kinds of people. Sorry to say this, but mostly people of your kind aren't always the nicest towards oldies like me,"

"I understand you. My friend's friend is like that,"

"But you and my grandson's fiance along with many other beautiful souls I've met, make me feel like maybe you're not all bias or racist," she smiles. "She's got a good heart and so do you,"

I let her continue her knitting and place my earphones in my ears listening to some music while answering some of my fans comments. My inboxes buzzes with so many DM's but it's HopeWrldxcx that catches my attention.

HopeWrldxcx:
Hey
Are you on a plane right now?

Me:
Hey you :D 
Yeah why?

I respond in English, waiting for him to do his whole translation.

HopeWrldxcx:
I may have seen you

Me:
Was that you?

I smile and sink in my seat realising that I'm riding the same flight as him.

HopeWrldxcx:
Hey this may be a bit much
Do you think you could come to first class?

Me:
I don't think I can do that

HopeWrldxcx:
I really wanna see you again

Me:
I know :(
Me too but I don't think you can do that.

HopeWrldxcx:
I'll pay for you

Me:
As flattering as that sounds it kinda gonna piss me off
Don't try and bride me with money

HopeWrldxcx:
I'm sorry

I stop frowning for a bit thinking of something.

Me:
Ayt how about we do this
This may be a bit unfair but do think you can come to economy?

It takes a long while for him to respond before a thought pops in my head. He's in first class with all those other people.

Me:
J-hope?

HopeWrldxcx:
Sorry
I don't think that would be possible. I am willing but...
My manager...
Don't you know who I am?

Me:
An aspiring Raper?

I think for a little bit before sending another message.

Me:
Here's an idea without wasting an money
Why don't you come to economy? There's someone who's sitting by the window seat
You can swap your first class seat with her's
Interested?

HopeWrldxcx:
Sounds promising, but I can't let just anybody swap my seat

Me:
She's an elderly lady and she doesn't bite

HopeWrldxcx:
Let me talk with my manager

It's odd how he has to talk with his manager... I mean I know he's an aspiring Raper but not to be a hater, his Instagram still has like 10 followers. Welp everyone has a starting point, maybe he's gonna be doing some promotions in America.

HopeWrldxcx:
He agreed. What's your seat number?

Moments later I take up courage to the old lady offering her the better seat in first class with free accommodations and anything to eat. She's very pleased and surprised and I explain to her the situation that my friend wants to come over. She's a bit hesitant not knowing how to accept or decline that's until a big fit Korean man approaches. He removes his black mask and asks the elderly to kindly follow him.

"Just for me?"  She asks in Korean.

"Just for you," I smile back.

When she moves off the seas there's another somebody that comes and takes the seat right next to me.

"Uhm. Sorry. This seat is taken." I turn to face the head to toe man in black with big sunglasses and a bucket hat. I try and say the phrase in Korean. "Sorry. This seat is taken."

"Oh," he turns to me sounding surprised. "Your Korean has improved,"

I scrunch my eyebrows. He removes his hood and that large bucket hat over his head along with his glasses. J-hope?

My eyes widen and a large smile comes over my face. Seeing his bright cheery smile instantly puts me in a good mood. "Hello,"

"Oh wow so polite. Say hi or hey instead, it makes me feel like we're close," he says talking in a whisper tone.

I chuckle. "We are close,"

The 4 hour flight in the air is spent with me constantly speaking as Hoseok listens to my new Korean, he plays his playlist songs making me listen on his earphones, I show him some pictures and video clips of my trip here in Korea and he's very pleased to see that a lot of the places I went to were placed he recommended to me. We talk and laugh sharing jokes and stories, my simple basic Korean doesn't match up to his full grown Korean, which makes him talking and teaching me even funnier and quite sweet.

The flight comes to an end and he rapidly wraps himself up with his hoody and bucket hat and mask. As I'm about to ask why all the clothes, the same big guy from before comes back and takes him away. I hug him slightly and promises to keeping in touch with me.

Beside me the Korean girl turns to me as I stand up just as the aeroplane lands. She surprises me when she speaks English. "Excuse me, was that Jung Hoseok from BTS?"

BT what? I shake my head and continue gathering my things, when I leave the plane I see another wave round of screeching girls that burst my eardrums as they squeal and chant. Seriously, who did I travel with? It's definitely not a president, otherwise why would teenagers be stomping their feet nearly trying to run the bodyguards down? Maybe Justin Bieber? I doubt.

I shake my head continuing my root. I book another flight that's gonna take me straight back to South Africa.

It's takes another 6 hour flight before I'm back home in the comforts and embrace of my mother. But aside from happiness, another surprised shocked feeling dawns upon me.

"Hey Shanique," Heaven calls me.

"Yes?" I go to her over in the living room where she's watching the MTV music channel.

Heaven looks up to me stressed monitoring towards the television. "I'm not tryna be racist and say all Koreans and Chinese people look the same, but isn't this that man that you showed me pictures of?"

When I arrived home, I showed off to Heaven the new pictures that I took with J-hope. My mum had almost a similar reaction like Jenevieve but thank goodness she wasn't so rude and straightforward, she actually said he's cute...for a girl. But I'm not gonna let that get to me.

I look towards the flat screen TV on the wall seeing Heaven rewind back on the TV until a bunch of Korean man stand on a stage singing and dancing. "Just because they're Korean doesn't mean that they're automatically the ones I spent my time with,"

"Nah, check it,"

She presses okay and plays the video.

"Lalalalala, lalalalala," the group sings in Korean and in particular there's one red haired face that captures my attention. It seems like it's the end of the song as he points to his wrist. "DNA,"

J-hope?

My eyes widen and my jaw kind of drops. Quickly as the name comes on for the group, I remember the girl from the flight. BTS?

I search through the search bar surprising myself when I see all the members of this Korean boy band, or should I say Kpop group, BTS.

Rap Monster
Jin
Suga
J-hope?

My jaw drops seeing his picture... So that was what all the commotion was about in the airport. They're famous and they've just been nominated for the Billboard music Awards?

Oh my soul. My black behind not only ate with J-hope of BTS, not only got J-hope's account and started chatting with him but I became a friend of J-hope of BTS.

My black behind was sitting next to J-hope of BTS!

___________________________

I can only imagine my black behind sitting next to someone as famous as J-hope🙆 sorry for the late update
I'll try posting frequently
My baby hope deserves justice