(Guide Us to) A Million Stars

1

Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Manila. The ESL tour as I call it. My plan after graduating from college was to live in each city for a year and teach English. As I walked off the plane at Incheon Airport, on February 2, 2020, I was ready for my new life to begin. Nothing was going to stop me from living my dream.

My aunt, my mom's Korean adopted sister, met me at the baggage claim. She was the one who gave me the idea of starting in Seoul after I told her about my desire to travel the world. Here she was in her native country of South Korea, already doing what I wanted to do. So I followed her advice and came here.

"Annyeonghaseyo, Suni!" She pronounced my name the Korean way, Soo-ni. Back in America people sometimes called me Sunny, but either was fine with me. Auntie gave me a big hug as I wrapped my arms around her petite frame. I noticed she was wearing her hair long for the first time since her husband passed away three years ago.

I bowed and replied, "Annyeonghaseyo, Auntie yee-moh."

"Good, already acclimating to the culture." She gave me the elevator eyes. "Have you lost weight?

I glanced down at my fitted top and skinny jeans and touched her arm enthusiastically. "I finally shed the 'Freshman Fifteen' from college."

She nodded approvingly as only an elderly Asian woman can without seeming too blunt. "How long are you going to grow your hair?" she asked, reaching over to tug a few espresso-colored strands on my back.

"I like it," I insisted. The crowd in the airport surged forcing us to move from our spot. We each grabbed one of my suitcases and rolled them down the lobby toward the doors. "Auntie, I looked up that Korean pop group you work for. I had never heard of them but they seem really talented."

"You watched a video of BTS?"

"Hmm...not me binge watching their YouTube content during the flight. They look like fun guys," I said as I shifted the huge backpack on my shoulder.

"I hope you don't think just because you will come with me to lessons you can hang out with them."

"But that's what I want to do here. Meet the natives, learn the language, live like the locals do."

Auntie dismissed my silly notion of those "natives" being pop stars, by rolling her eyes. It was stupid of me to think that but I really did want to make friends here.

We reached the doors and exited the airport. In the taxi, on the way to her apartment, I looked out the window in awe at the soaring skyscrapers of downtown Seoul. Back home in Los Angeles, there were tall buildings, but not so densely constructed in one area. When I recognized a face of a young Korean man on a billboard, I pointed it out to Auntie.

"Is that the BTS guy you tutor?" I asked.

She shook her head. "I am not allowed to tell you. I signed a non-disclosure agreement."

I shrugged my shoulder and noticed these Korean pop stars faces were everywhere. We drove for another half hour passing by more advertisements and posters. Auntie lived in a district called Gangnam. After we dropped off my luggage at her place, we grabbed a bite to eat in her neighborhood. I practiced my halfway decent Korean and ordered a bowl of tteokbokki all by myself. Auntie looked impressed.

"5,000 won?!" I faked surprised when I saw the cash register. Auntie looked confused. I chuckled. "Just kidding. I know that's only $4.50."

As we brought our food to a table, I noticed how some customers were staring at me. One middle aged woman even muttered something in Korean that I didn't understand. I looked sheepishly at Auntie thinking I was too loud in this small café. But she told me, "It's because you're oegugin. Foreigner. Good thing you're with me."

***

After a day of sightseeing, I finally got to tag along with Auntie to work. I was excited because, not only was I going to practice what I would be doing with my own students in a couple of weeks which I was already nervous about, but I was also going to find out which member of BTS she tutored. When I watched their videos, there was one member who I noticed right away. He looked like a cinnamon roll, but could kill me (with his stage presence). He had looks that could kill me, but was a cinnamon roll (based on their content videos).

When we entered the HYBE building, we checked in at the receptionist desk where the lady gave me a visitor badge. Then Auntie lead me to a small conference room. She placed English books and workbooks on the table and was about to explain how to use them, but I interrupted her.

"Wait...this coffee I had this morning is going right through me. Where's the bathroom?"

She pointed to the hallway so I left in that direction. When I was done, I turned left from the bathroom and stopped when I heard an enchanting voice. Looking around, I noticed it was coming from a room labeled "Snack Room." I followed the angelic sounding voice and peered inside the room. A young Korean man, with his back to me, was making hot chocolate and singing "Fix You" by Coldplay.

"And the tears come streaming down your face. 

When you lose something you can't replace..."

I leaned against the door frame and observed who was singing one of my favorite songs.

"When you love someone, but it goes to waste. 

Could it be worse?..."

I sang the next line softly with him. "Lights will guide you home...and ignite your bones..."

Curiosity got the best of me so I stepped into the room. When the guy noticed, he turned around to face me. Oh my gosh! It's V from BTS! 

No wonder he sounded familiar. I had heard his smooth voice in a video. I hadn't known about K-pop until I got on the plane, but I recognized talent right away. Without missing a beat, he continued singing, as did I, in harmony.

"And I will fix you..."

We looked at each other and smiled. Suddenly, Auntie appeared and said, "Time for the English lesson."

We all left the room. V and I looked at each other, surprised that we were walking in the same direction. Actually, we went down the hallway, side by side, smiling awkwardly, then reached the door of the small conference room. He stopped to let me go first. I laughed nervously as I walked inside.

Auntie was already seated at a table so I sat next to her. I did a double take when V entered, bowed and took a seat across from us. My jaw dropped. I turned to Auntie and quietly asked, "This is the member of BTS that you tutor?"

V said in a Korean accent, "Hi."

"Taehyung, this is my niece, Suni. She is moving to Seoul to do what I do...teach English. She will be observing a few of our lessons."

As I stared in disbelief, he bowed in his seat and said to me, "Hi."

"Hello," I said politely with a smile. A quiet "tsk" escaped my mouth as I rolled my eyes. I was hoping Auntie tutored Jimin!

What do you think so far, reader? Are you surprised by the last sentence? Comments are much appreciated!