The first thing I noticed when the plane landed was how bright everything looked. I pressed my forehead against the airplane window as the city lights of Seoul stretched endlessly below me.
I had actually done it.
I ran away.
My heart should have been racing, but instead I felt strangely calm, like I had already left my old life behind somewhere in the sky.
When I stepped out of the airport, the cold air hit my face immediately. Everything around me felt unfamiliar—the language, the people, the signs written in characters I couldn't fully understand. For the first time since I left home, a small wave of panic hit me.
What am I doing here?
I tightened my grip on my suitcase.
No. I couldn't panic now.
I chose this.
I walked through the crowded streets, following the directions on my phone. The city was alive even late at night—bright neon lights glowing everywhere, music playing from shops, people laughing as they walked past.
No one looked at me twice.
No one knew who I was.
No one knew my past.
And somehow… that felt freeing.
But freedom didn't make things easy.
The first few days were the hardest days of my life.
I stayed in the cheapest room I could find. It was tiny—barely enough space for a small bed, a table, and my suitcase. The window looked out at a narrow alley where the smell of street food and rain mixed together.
The first night, I barely slept.
The city was loud. Cars, voices, distant music. Everything felt different from home. I lay on the bed staring at the ceiling, wondering if I had made the biggest mistake of my life.
And that's when the memories started coming back.
Section E laughing in class.
Aries arguing with someone.
Angelo scolding me like the overprotective cousin he always was.
Tita Gemma calling everyone to eat.
And Keifer…
I closed my eyes quickly.
I shouldn't think about him.
But it was impossible not to.
Even after everything that happened, a small part of me still missed him.
His stupid confidence.
The way he acted like nothing could scare him.
The way he sometimes looked at me like I was the only person in the room.
But then the truth came back.
The plan.
The betrayal.
My chest tightened and I forced the memories away.
The next morning reality hit.
I needed money.
I spent the whole day walking around looking for jobs. Cafés, convenience stores, small shops—anywhere that had a hiring sign.
But every conversation ended the same way.
They spoke fast Korean.
I froze.
My vocabulary wasn't enough.
Sometimes they smiled politely and shook their heads.
Sometimes they simply said, "Sorry."
By the end of the day my feet hurt and my confidence was gone.
I bought the cheapest ramen from a convenience store and ate it alone in my tiny room.
For a moment I almost cried.
Back home, I never ate alone.
Section E was always loud.
Someone was always stealing someone else's food.
Angelo was always yelling at us to behave.
Tita Gemma always made sure everyone had enough to eat.
Here…
It was just me.
But I didn't give up.
Every morning I studied Korean from videos.
"Annyeonghaseyo…"
"Gamsahamnida…"
"Joesonghamnida…"
Slowly, things started making sense.
There were hard days too.
Once I got completely lost trying to find my way back to my room when my phone battery died.
Another day it rained so hard I ended up completely soaked while job hunting.
But there were small good moments too.
One afternoon an old bakery owner gave me leftover bread when I thanked her in Korean.
Another evening I sat in a park listening to street musicians play guitar, and for the first time since leaving home, I felt peaceful.
And every night…
I wrote songs.
Songs about betrayal.
Songs about loneliness.
Songs about missing people you shouldn't miss.
One evening while walking through a busy street market in Hongdae, I noticed a group of performers singing for a crowd.
A street show.
An idea sparked in my mind.
The next night I came back.
But this time I wasn't just watching.
I stood a few steps away wearing a black mask that covered most of my face.
My hands were shaking.
What if no one listens?
I took a deep breath and started singing.
At first only a few people noticed.
But slowly more stopped walking.
The street lights glowed above me while the city noise faded away.
For those few minutes, the music was the only thing that existed.
When I finished, someone clapped.
Then another.
Soon the small crowd applauded.
I blinked in surprise.
A girl around my age stepped forward first. She had long brown hair and bright eyes.
"You're really good!" she said with a wide smile. "I'm Yuna."
I smiled under my mask. "Thank you."
A tall boy beside her waved casually. "I'm Minjae. You should sing here more often."
Another girl with short hair leaned forward curiously.
"I'm Sora," she said. "Why the mask?"
I laughed a little. "Stage style."
They seemed satisfied with that answer.
Soon another boy joined us too.
He introduced himself as Jisoo, a music student who loved street performances.
Over the next few weeks, they kept coming back whenever I performed.
Yuna always brought snacks.
Minjae helped set up a small speaker for my music.
Sora filmed my performances sometimes.
And Jisoo gave me tips about singing in Korean.
Little by little, they became my first real friends in Seoul.
Little by little, my Korean improved.
One night after a performance, we were sitting on the sidewalk eating convenience store snacks.
Yuna suddenly asked, "So… what's your name?"
I froze.
For a moment, I almost said it.
Jay.
But that name felt tied to everything I left behind.
Section E.
The betrayal.
The girl who ran away.
I looked down at the street lights reflecting on the pavement.
Maybe… it was time for something new.
"I go by Jae-in," I said finally.
The name felt strange on my tongue.
But also… right.
Yuna smiled brightly. "Jae-in! That's a pretty name."
Minjae nodded. "It suits you."
And just like that…
Jay slowly disappeared.
More people started recognizing the mysterious masked singer on that street corner.
Some even posted videos online.
I didn't think much of it.
I was just singing.
Just surviving.
But deep down…
I knew something was changing.
The girl who ran away…
was slowly disappearing.
And in her place…
Jae-in was beginning to rise. 🎤✨
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
Hey guys I just started writing this book I have so many things rn that I want to add one question should I add smth with guns for jay to make her as much powerful as she can be be
Please comment I would live to read ur thoughts or else I'll loose interest in writing
Next chapter tomorrow!💖🫶🏻