Chapter 25 - 학생 (HAN-SAENG)[Student]

I walked through the hallways, this floor was nearly empty. I was the only one out, and the staff of the hotel hurried past me to do their work. I was already carrying my backpack with all my stuff so I decided I wouldn't need to go back to the room before going onto the bus. The elevator doors opened in front of me, I'm glad no one was in it as I reached into my bag and put on my black mask as I headed to the lobby. There was a soft ding and I walked out, only for people to push past me with heavy luggage bags while I struggled to get out. The doors closed just as I escaped and I let out a heavy sigh. There were a lot of people down here. My hidden face went unnoticed by the tourists and staff members while I walked through the lobby and admired the beautiful murals and porcelain vases.

"Beautiful isn't it?"

I lightly jump and turn to my left to see a young man about my age looking at some jomon pottery which I was standing in front of. He stood at my height, but I bet if I hadn't worn the heels he would've been few inches taller than me.

"Yes. You have an interest in art too?"I ask, trying to hide the shakiness in my voice.

'Am I even allowed to talk to people so openly like this?'

He smiled and nodded."Yes, I'm an art student in Tokyo. But I came here for a class trip you see."

"Ah, I see."I say, smiling with my eyes."I'm a foreigner right now. I just came to visit for some business reasons."

"That's nice. You seem a bit young for a job though. And where's your jacket?"he asks,"It's freezing outside."

Realization struck me and I facepalmed. I should've grabbed it before leaving the hotel room.

"Oops."I mumble, trying to hide my embarrassment by laughing it off."I should go get it."

"Make sure you do."the male chuckles, a booming voice then called all the students to the end of the lobby."Well, I gotta go. Have fun on your trip."

"Y-Yeah, you too."I say back while he waves and hurries off.

When the students left to their hotel rooms I looked at the jomon pot in front of me.

'Beautiful huh?'

I walked to the end of the lobby to see the pool Jimin was talking about. If it was hot yesterday, it surely wasn't today. My eyes glanced just to the left to see a hot spring sign, and my lips moved into an upward smile. It's been awhile since I've been to one. It was about seven in the morning and I finally noticed some of the guys walking into the lobby. Yoongi walked up to me and handed me one of his green army coats with a shake of his head.

"When I told you to remind Jiminie to bring a jacket I didn't know you'd forget your own."he scolds, making sure I put it on."It's ten degrees outside, think for once."

"Ah sorry."I chuckle, rubbing the back of my neck sheepishly.

"Are we all ready to go?"asked one of their managers."We'll be having take out for breakfast."

"Yes! Food!"cheered Hoseok."Then we'll be going to the aquarium first right?"

The guys got hyped up for the sightseeing, even though they no doubt have been in this city more than once. I had a type of bittersweet feeling when I see Osaka. It was a beautiful and unique city, but at the same time it just didn't feel like home. I got into the bus, making good on my promise with Jungkook, I took a seat next to him. He took the window seat while I sat in the aisle, Tae sat in the seat across the aisle with Jimin. Who knew I would be hanging around the maknae line this much during the trip? We passed by a long road of sakura trees and the naked branches contrasted against the clear blue sky. Groups of people walked down the same street, heading to the nearby school in their standard uniforms. The sight brought me back to my schooling years, back to my school in America. I sighed at the sight, this was so noglastic right now.

"Aw why is Roxi down?"asked one of the managers."Have your oppas been taking care of you well enough?"

"No no, it's not that. I just remembered some old stuff I did."I reply, facing the back of the seat in front of me.

"What 'old stuff'?"asked Tae, shifting so he could face me better.

"High school stuff."I chuckle, smiling with my eyes."I studied abroad in America because my uncle always worked. I thought it was a great opportunity to learn a few languages here and there."

"Oh yeah, high school. Ah, all those days were shit."states Yoongi, rubbing his eyes with a smile on his face.

Most agreed and then Hoseok moved the topic back to my high school experience right after we all shared our thoughts."We already know a lot about each other's lives before Bangtan, what happened to you in high school?"

"The usual. Studying, extracurriculars, and friends."I say, smiling at the group of high school girls who were laughing and socializing with each other in a silly way.

"Any boy trouble?"asked my temporary manager from the front, making the other managers snicker.

"No."I mumble shyly."Of course not."

"Fine, any boyfriends?"she asked again, just dying to see me embarrassed.

"...No."I blurt, sicking my tongue out at her."School is for studying, not relationships."

"So that's what a prodigy lives by."said one of their other managers."PDnim always talked about how you did so well in school. Maybe not as well as Rap Monster, but you were still one of the best ones."

"I must keep my title!"Namjoon calls, fist pumping in the air.

"Competitive much."I pout, shaking my head playfully.

"Aw, so Roxi-chan NEVER had a crush on a boy? Really?"asked my manager, segwaying the topic back to my love life."I don't believe you."

"Hey, okay to be real. I did have a boyfriend, if you can call it that, for a few months but it didn't really end well for me."I admit, surprising many of the passengers in the bus."He was a bit too controlling you know. But, eh, it's over so I shouldn't worry over something like that."

"I bet you'll find someone better."she chuckled, winking at me from the front of the bus.

I roll my eyes and focus my attention to my phone. I got a few direct messages on Instagram from my high school friends in America who are going through the same situation I'm going through.

'What college are you going to?'

'When are you coming back to America?'

'I miss you so much! See ya soon!'

'They opened up a new boba place nearby back home, let's go there together!'

I smile and text then back with hopeful responses. But to be honest, I doubt I'll be going back anytime soon. Not with all the promotions and work. Maybe if I get a few days off I'll go to visit anyway.

"Roxi is texting someone in English."observed Jimin, glancing at my phone screen from the back seat."Why are you talking to someone else when we're here?"

"Aw don't be sad Jimin-oppa. I just wanted to greet a few of them."I say, turning around to give him a smile.

"Jimin-ah is really nosey I see."teased Hoseok."We'll be hanging out with each other for the whole day, let's just have some fun alright."

~Time Skip~

After having lunch we went to the aquarium. A cameraman followed the guys around while my own cameraman followed me around. We were live on the V app, and even though I only had a few hundred thousand viewers compared to their four million, I still had fun talking to all of them. Soon we needed to end the stream due to bad connection and the rest of the time was spent talking and looking at the fishes. We were walking through a clear glass tunnel where we viewed the sea creatures, Tae was by my side because I had promised the hangout while we were texting each other.

"Oh, I like that one."Tae gasped, pointing to a colorful fish that swam by."Oh and that one!"

The two of us talked while his other members were socializing a few feet away from us, interjecting every now and then. At the end of the tunnel a swarm of people entered with sketchpads and cameras. One person stood out from the group and waved to me before heading towards me with his blue leather sketchbook.

"Girl from the hotel right?"he asked with a sly smile.

"Art student?"I coyly ask back."What are you doing here?"

"We're just touring the city. Everything's so different from back home."he says, eyeing the men who monitored him from behind me."I don't think you got my name. I'm Isu."

"AJ. Nice to meet you Isu-kun."I introduce, giving him a firm handshake.

Once he let go, Tae cleared his throat and took my hand in his own."We should get going to our next destination."

I turn back to Isu meekly and shrug my shoulders."Duty calls. See ya around Isu-kun."

"You too AJ-chan."

Bangtan and I walk out of the tunnel and back into the darker main area of the building. We got to the lobby and waited for our bus to arrive.

"Who was that guy back there?"asked Yoongi in a stern tone.

"Just someone I met in the hotel lobby this morning."I answer, patting through my hair lightly to fix the slight frizz that erupted."He's just an art student from Tokyo."

"Haven't your parents told you to never talk to strangers?"whined Jimin, wagging his finger at me."You can never know who can be lying out here."

"He seemed nice."I say, ignoring the advice he'd given in the beginning."I mean, it's not like I'll see him again after this trip right?"

"Hmm, fair."shrugged Hoseok, who seemed like the only one of them who wasn't phased by me talking to another guy."Anyway the bus is here, let's go to the gardens."