Chapter X: Reunited

Kathy's POV

Cold. That is what greeted me right after I stepped out from the airport, with my large rolling bag in hand and string bag on my back. The icy breeze lingering in the air, signalling the country's early winter, sent chills down my spine from the expected yet unfamiliar temperature after walking out of a warm building

My hazel brown hair were brushed off my shoulders as a gentle yet icy breeze blew past me. The feeling of the cold and brisk wind hitting my exposed skin immediately sent me to shiver

"Damn it, it's cold" A visible puff of smoke formed as I spoke, but vanishes within the wind afterwards

My feet quickly maneuver themselves to turn around and walk in a fast pace towards the row of seats near the entrance of the airport, while pulling along my rolling bag. After sitting down and protectively placing my belongings near me, I immediately rubbed my bare hands together while simultaneously breathing out my hot breath on them

"I forgot it's the month of November," I shivered with a breath, forming another puff of smoke, "The start of early winter in Korea..."

My hot breath and the friction caused by rubbing my hands together were enough to warm them up. However, it didn't help to bring warmth to the rest of my body. And I'm literally not wearing the appropriate clothing for the currently cold temperature

I may wore two long tees, one over the other, as my top, but it's not thick enough to warm me up. And a pair of skinny ripped jeans may suit my top clothing, but it's not really the best choice for these kind weather conditions. My exposed knees are already turning into a shade of pink because of the cold, but I can manage the coldness on my legs

Another quick icy breeze brush past me, prickling my exposed skin and causing me to shiver once again. I hastily went to rummage on my clothes inside my rolling bag and pull out an oversized midnight blue coloured hoodie, which I own this time. Throwing the warm clothing on to protect myself from the cold temperature, I immediately flinched while in the midst of pulling the sleeve on my arm

"Crap" I cursed under my breath, and hissing afterwards: Completely forgetting the injury on my left shoulder

I bit my lower lip to prevent my groans from escaping until I finally slipped into my hoodie. My jaw tightened as I grit my teeth, trying to resist the immense sharp pain on my shoulder. And after a few minutes, the pain subsides

Another puff of smoke after releasing a deep sigh of relief that I've been encaging in my lungs a moment ago. With relief, I leaned on my seat with my hands in my pockets. My dark blue eyes sleepily shifts from one direction to another, anticipating the arrival of my beloved best friends. I know that the three of us were together yesterday, but we're mostly together all the time, but I couldn't help but miss them

I just want to feel their warm and comforting hugs. After all these problems I'm encountering all at the same time: My injury, anxieties about my friends being involved with my connection towards the PMA Agency who have finally found me after years of hiding; I really just want the affectionate hugs of my best friends

When I parted ways with the BTS earlier after boarding out of their plane, my friends texted me saying that they'll pick me up here at the airport. It's been actually around 15 minutes or more when my friends texted me, and I could feel myself getting sleepier as I continue to wait

My vision started to cross as my eyelids begins to droop when I suddenly felt a pang of drowsiness hit me, but I tried my best to keep myself awake. Ugh, jet lag is starting to invade my nerves. The cold wind was quite cooperative on keeping me awake, actually. And just before my eyes could even fully shut themselves, my phone suddenly vibrated in my pocket, snapping my eyelids back up to their fullest

Pulling out my phone and answering the incoming call from Lori, I sleepily placed it to my ear with a groan, "Hel--"

"ANNYEONG!~" And there goes Lori's annoying response every-goddamn-time I answer her phone call

I furrowed my brows, "Damn it, Lori, don't annoy me right now" I muttered in a lazy, sleepy yet irritated tone after placing my phone back to my ear, which I pulled a few inches away because of her deafening greeting earlier

"And you know what happens whenever I'm sleepy and someone annoys me" I drowsily added, giving them a tone that shows a hint of being warned

"You act like Min "Savage" Yoongi..." I faintly heard Karen at the background

"Exactly, Karen"

I heard them laugh, which didn't fail to make my lips curve into a smile followed by an airy laugh. But I let out a yawn afterwards

"Could you, guys, hurry up on getting here? I'm getting sleepier by the minute" I muttered in between of my yawns, obviously sleepy

"Yeah, terrible jet lag, right? We know, been there, done that. Plus, sleepiness is literally written on your face right now" Lori replied, and her words caused me to raise a questioning brow

Excitement immediately started to erupt inside me after having the thought of my friends finally being here. Just somewhere within the crowd. And with my phone still on my ear, I hastily stood up from my seat while shifting my gaze around me to try and spot my friends

"You guys are here. Where are you?" I asked through the phone, still looking around the place

"Kathy! Turn to your right and I'll be waving for you to see us" Karen replied to me instead of Lori

And like what I was instructed to do, I turned and looked to my right. The cold wind caresses my face, yet prickling my skin when it flew past me, sent shivers down my spine. But it didn't fazed my sight on seeing a female with dark brown hair waving widely within the crowd, just a few strides away from me

My eyes lit up and a genuine smile crept on my lips that reaches to both of my ears once I realized it was Karen. She has her unique boxy grin plastered on her face while continuously waving, not bothered on the people around her giving her odd stares

"I can see you Karen" I chuckled through the phone while still looking at them from afar, "But I can't see Lori" I teased

"I'm here. And don't tease me with my height! I'm not small, you guys are just tall" She playfully spat and I chuckled

Ending our call and storing my phone in my pocket, I raised my healthy arm to naturally wave back at them before signalling them to come over to where I am. After understanding my signal from afar, Karen briefly turned to her left and tapped someone on their shoulder before pointing and dashing over to my direction. It was probably Lori who she was talking to, knowing that Lori is short enough to not be seen in the crowd

After a short while, Karen, in her hoodie that's beneath her sleeveless denim jacket, came dashing towards me and wrapped her arms around my waist. I flinched from the abrupt sharp pain on my shoulder when she squeezed me while both of my arms are pinned to my sides. It hurts, a whole damn lot

With my flexible abilities, even if it would hurt, I pulled my arms out from my friend's bear hug. But as a result, the pain on my shoulder intensified. However, I just wrapped my healthy arm around her neck to hug her back, even if it's only with one arm, while biting my lower lip to prevent a groan or hiss escape my lips from the pain of my injury

"Kathy! I missed you" Karen said, her cheery voice came out muffled because of my hoodie being on her face

I couldn't find the words to reply back to her, because the pain on my shoulder is preventing me to speak properly. But before I could even try to speak, I saw Lori's small figure running towards my direction from afar, wearing her pastel yellow oversized sweater. Her phone in her hand as she joined the hug, and, again, I kept in the urge to groan or hiss in pain from my injury

"Kathy!" Lori said in stuffed joy as she looked up at me, cutely pouting her small lips, "I missed you"

I gulped down a lump and laughed out the pain with a smile, "Guys, we were just chatting and talking through the phone for less than 5 minutes ago, but you act like we haven't seen or talked each other in ages" I joked and patted both of their heads

Karen harshly reeled herself away from the group hug in a playful manner, causing me and Lori to look at her sudden outburst. She was glaring at me, and stomped her feet like a kid

"Does that mean you don't miss us then?" She asked, sounding a bit hurt while pouting, but I know she's just being ridiculous

I rolled my eyes, and feeling embarrassed just because of how ridiculous my friend looked like while doing that. After face palming, I reached out and pinched Karen's cheek while my other arm is around Lori

"Don't be such a baby, Karen, and get back in here, you nitwit" I offered with a hint of teasing but she immediately obliged my words

At that moment, I felt safe just by being in the warm embrace of my friends. Despite that I'm towering over the two, and their arms are only hugging my torso with their heads on my chest, I still felt like at home. Seeing each of their unique smiles were enough to temporarily wash my drowsiness away. I didn't even care about the stinging pain on my shoulder anymore

"And what kind of question was that? Ofcourse I missed you guys" I whispered sweetly to them with a smile, "You're the only family I have, and you know that..."

My heart was racing, not in adrenaline, but rather with pure happiness. And the laughs, giggles, and sarcastic comment of Lori saying that it was cheesy, was an addition to that. The smile on my face didn't fade as I looked at my friends

I know that there are a few other things, problems to be exact, that I need to think about and find a solution. I couldn't just stand here and do nothing if my friends are already in danger? But the real question is...

How am I suppose to explain all of these to them? They barely knew anything about me being SK, not even a single fragment of it. But I know this isn't the right time, they still have to wait...

--

"Lori Vargas?" The employee of the cafe hollered with his Korean accent from the counter, calling my best friend that her order is done

"Jeo Isseoyo! (I'm here!)" Lori hollered before turning to us, "Wait here, I'll get our drinks" She briefly said before dashing over to the counter

I lingered my gaze at her figure before turning to the table and yawning, hovering a fingerless gloved hand over my mouth. Jet lag have struck my system once again

"Jet lag is back once again, I see" Karen teased, and as if reading my mind

I laughed afterwards and brought a hand through my natural hazel brown waves, "Very well said" I chuckled

Karen smiled, "Don't worry, I bet Lori bought you coffee"

"I hope she did order me coffee"

The three of us are actually in a small yet cozy cafe, it's much more warmer than outside, and the cafe wasn't really packed with people which was a bonus. I'm not an antisocial, or anything, but I just can't handle noisy places whenever I'm sleepy. I'm a hothead when I get sleepy

Anyways, we took the table by the glass wall near the entrance, giving us a full view of the slightly crowded sidewalk. The cafe is actually a book cafe where you can read for free while drinking or eating your food. The place was perfect for us, knowing we three love reading books. However, none of us were focused on getting a book to read, because I'm practically sure that they just want to talk

"Hey, Karen. How's spending a day in Korea felt for the two of you, when I was gone?" I asked, placing my chin on my hand

It took her a while to respond since she may have a lot of things she wants to say. I could already tell by the smile plastered on her lips after I asked

"Well, it was amazing! I still couldn't believe we're in Korea!" She started, smiling, and that's when the storytelling part starts

I even laughed from the part where they got lost from roaming too much in the streets that they actually passed the hotel we're suppose to stay. They have a map on their phones that shows them the right way, but she said that they mostly took selfies and pictures of the sky, buildings, photogenic streets and skyscrapers

She was quite upset because they didn't spent that much time outside, knowing that they would collapse anytime on the streets because of horrible jet lag

Even though I felt quite sad for not being with them during that time, but the expression that Karen has on her face says she did enjoy was enough to push the sad thoughts away. And the feeling of joy and excitement radiating from her and from the way she speaks, is also enough to make me genuinely smile and be grateful that they were still happy without me around

I hurts, but seeing her smile being all cheery was worth the pain...

Karen was showing me the pictures they took when Lori came back with a tray of food and drinks. Our attention immediately averted down to the delicious pastries once the heavenly aroma greeted our nostrils

"Korean Cappuccino Express for Kathy; Korean Hot Choco Fudge for Karen; and finally a Korean Choco Whipped Cream Iced Latte for me" Lori announced while placing each of our drinks in front of us, then the food in the middle of the circular table before sitting down

I laughed, "You know, just because we're in Korea, doesn't mean all the thing here are made in Korea" I bluntly said then taking a sip on my drink, "Thanks for the drink and food, though"

"So, after judging my way of saying things in Korea are made in Korean, you'll just say thanks?" Lori asked, as if saying for more words

"And, I'm... sorry?" I added to please her satisfaction towards my earlier response, but it sounded more of a question

She rolled her green eyes, "Forget it" She said, causing for me and Karen to laugh

"Anyways, since I've told you about our short stroll in Seoul," Karen spoke, causing our eyes to fall on her, "I think it's your turn to share! How was the trip to Korea inside a different plane from ours?"

My heart skipped an entire beat after hearing her words, but I just shrugged and pulled the plate with a slice of Matcha and Vanilla Cake towards me

"The trip was okay, and I got new friends. They're cool, laid back and fun to hang out with. We talked and chatted about a few random things during the ride, and got to know each other" I lied, but my friends seems to buy it

"The plane was a private jet, right?" Asked Lori while taking a bite on her strawberry cupcake. Ew, strawberry

I nodded. Then Karen asked, "Who were the people that you got to know? Were they girls?"

I gulped down the lump on my throat, "Well, the plane doesn't really contain just a single gender, but the persons I got to know were actually males. The women in the plane were in their 30's and they're all busy because it was actually a plane for a business trip here in Korea" I lied once again, "The boys I met were near my age and were friendly enough to make me join them. So, yeah..."

Damn it, Kath. Why are you so good at lying?!

"Typical, Kathy" Lori muttered before drinking her iced latte

I laughed and smiled afterwards, knowing that it's quite true. I don't know why, but I mostly have this side of my personality of being more close to males than females. Not in a flirtatious way, though. However, that side of me decreased ever since I started my new life and met these two knuckleheads

"Oh, you know me," I said and flipped my hair, causing all of us to laugh

"I wish we could meet them..." Lori added and that caught me off guard

After hearing her words, I nearly choked on the bite I took on my slice of cake. My hand immediately searched for my drink on the table before taking a gulp on the beverage, but only to get a burning sensation on my tongue. I forgot that I have Cappuccino as my drink

"Kathy!" Both Karen and Lori said in unison, and both looked at me with wide eyes as I rapidly fan my mouth with a hand

Lori immediately handed me a bottle of mineral water from her bag. I took in 2 or 3 gulps to slightly appease the burning sensation on my mouth and throat

"Thank you..." I mustered and coughed while slamming a fist to my chest

"Oh my goodness, Kathy. What happened?" Lori asked in worry, while Karen has the same look

I coughed for the last time before sheepishly smiling at them, "It was nothing. I just slightly chocked on my cake, that's all" I said, rubbing the back of my head

Oh my goodness, they cannot know I shared a flight to Korea with the BTS...

•~•~•~•~•~•

Hello my beloved readers 😊 Okay, so this chapter came out quite un-enthusiastic 😅 For me atleast 🙊 Lori, Karen and Kathy needs some moments in this book 😁😂

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