Panic Before The Flight

Two days later, Syanja stood by the dining room table, staring at her laptop screen as the final confirmation email was sent. The choice was locked in.

Her mother walked into the room a moment later, pausing as she noticed the quiet intensity on her daughter's face. "So," her mother asked softly, pulling out a chair. "When are you leaving? You emailed them, right?"

Syanja looked up, a bright resilient grin breaking across her face. Her mother didn't even need an answer; the look in Syanja's eyes said it all.

"I just finished it, Mom," Syanja said, her voice a mix of nervous anticipation and relief.

Her mother offered a warm supportive smile and patted her back before standing up to head into the kitchen. Watching her walk away, a sudden wave of emotion hit Syanja. In just a few weeks, an ocean of distance would separate them, and she wouldn't be able to just walk into the kitchen to see her family.

Anxious to cherish every remaining moment, Syanja followed her. "Mom, let me cook dinner today."

Her mother turned, surprised, but nodded with a gentle smile.

Syanja stepped toward the refrigerator, pulling open the door to scan the shelves. Her mind was spinning so fast with thoughts of packing and moving that she stared blankly at the crisp drawers. "Mom? Did the vegetables vanish? I want to prepare something really spectacular tonight, but I can't find anything."

Her mother walked over and gave her a playful affectionate slap on the back of her head. "They're right in front of your face, you silly child."

Syanja blinked, the green peppers and potatoes suddenly coming into focus, and she let out a nervous laugh. "Right. Sorry, Mom."

Her mother shook her head with a fond smile, knowing all too well that her daughter was completely consumed by the massive journey ahead. Syanja took a deep breath, turning on the tap to wash the produce. She let the cool water run over her fingers, using the physical sensation to ground herself.

She focused entirely on the task, dicing the potatoes, chopping the capsicum into precise pieces, and slicing the bright carrots and red peppers before washing the chicken. Her mother stood back, quietly watching her daughter pour so much love and effort into a single meal. By the time the food was simmering on the stove, filling the kitchen with an incredible aroma, Syanja finally wiped her hands on a towel and smiled.

"At last," she whispered proudly. "I succeeded."

When the family gathered at the table, the room was filled with an easy warmth. Her parents and her two brothers took their seats, immediately eyeing the feast.

Her little brother leaned forward, his eyes widening. "Wow! What is all of this?"

Syanja beamed, fixing a generous plate and handing it over to him. "Here, try it. Eat and let me know how it tastes."

He took a large bite, chewing thoughtfully as the entire table turned to look at him. He shook his head in absolute delight. "Wow... it's delicious."

The table burst into shared chuckles, the looming sadness of her departure melting away as they dug into the meal. After dinner, the family decided to step outside for some fresh air. Syanja rushed up to her room, grabbed her coat, and hurried back down the stairs to join them.

"I-I'm ready!" she gasped, panting heavily as she reached the front door.

Her brothers laughed at her usual clumsy breathless actions, teasing her as they all stepped out into the cool night air together, holding onto the moment.

Two weeks flew by in a blur of packing tape, documents, and sleepless nights. Before she knew it, Syanja was sitting in the crowded echoing terminal of the international airport.

Her heart was hammering frantically against her ribs. This was her first time ever seeing a real airplane, and the sheer scale of the terminal made her feel incredibly small. She kept nervously adjusting her grip on her ticket, her hands trembling.

Her mother, sitting right beside her, noticed her pale face and reached over to rub her shoulder reassuringly. "Relax, my child. There's nothing to worry about."

Syanja managed a tight nod, swallowing hard. Then, the automated voice echoed over the intercom, calling her flight for immediate boarding. The moment had officially arrived.

She stood up, her legs feeling heavy. The tears she had been trying to hold back for days finally spilled over as she threw herself into her mother's arms, then her brothers', and finally her father's.

"I'll miss you all so much," she sobbed, squeezing them with everything she had.

Forcing herself to pull away, Syanja turned and walked toward the security checkpoint. Before passing through the final barrier, she paused, taking one last look at the people who meant everything to her. She raised a hand, waved, and turned around, stepping onto the path toward her new life.

The transition onto the aircraft passed in a daze. Sinking into her seat, Syanja leaned her head against the headrest and let out a long shuddering sigh. I'm really doing it. I'm leaving my country. As the powerful engines roared to life and the plane lifted off, she peeked out the window, watching the ground shrink below. The sudden height made her dizzy, so she quickly pulled the window curtain shut, closed her eyes, and let the rhythmic hum of the plane lull her into a deep twelve-hour sleep.

When the plane finally touched down in Seoul, Syanja walked through the crowded arrival gates, her eyes darting through the sea of faces as she searched for the driver the company had promised to send. She scanned the crowd until a large white sign caught her attention. Written clearly across it was her name: SEOK SYANJA.

Standing beneath the sign was a polite man dressed in a sharp black suit. Syanja hurried over, her heart doing a nervous flutter. "Hello... I'm Syanja. Were you expecting me?"

The man smiled warmly, lowering the sign. "Yes, Miss Seok. I'm Lee. I was sent by VIM Empire to pick you up."

He expertly gathered her heavy luggage and led the way out toward the parking garage. As they stepped outside, the crisp chilly city air hit Syanja’s face, making her eyes spark with instant excitement. She looked up at the towering glowing skyline of Seoul, a massive smile spreading across her lips. It was a beautiful day. She briefly closed her eyes, inhaling the fresh air, letting the reality wash over her: She was finally here.

"Miss Seok, please, this way," Driver Lee said politely, gesturing toward a sleek luxury vehicle.

Syanja nodded, opening her eyes, and watched as he carefully loaded her bags into the trunk. "Please, take a seat inside."

"Thank you," she murmured, stepping into the quiet pristine interior of the car.

An hour later, the car pulled up to a stop in a beautiful quiet residential neighborhood. Syanja stepped out, her jaw dropping slightly as she took in the stunning modern house standing before her.

"It's beautiful..." she breathed, turning to the driver in confusion. "But... why did you bring me here?"

Driver Lee remained quiet, simply offering a knowing smile as he walked over to the front door. Following him, Syanja’s eyes widened when she noticed a small sleek nameplate mounted right next to the door. It had her name elegantly engraved on it.

"This is, in fact, your new home, Miss Seok," Lee explained, placing her bags by the entrance. "Mr. Vim explicitly directed me to bring you here. The company wanted to ensure you had everything you needed to focus entirely on your writing."

Syanja stared at it, a wide grateful smile lighting up her face. "I... I don't know what to say."

"No need to say anything, Miss Seok. I must depart now, but it was an absolute pleasure meeting you. Welcome to the city."

Syanja nodded gratefully, watching him drive away before she finally turned the key and stepped inside.

The interior was absolutely breathtaking. The house was fully furnished, boasting a large television lounge, a pristine kitchen, and high-end decor where everything was perfectly placed. She walked through the rooms in a daze of pure joy, unable to wipe the grin off her face.

"Wow," she whispered aloud, her voice echoing in the clean space. "I had no idea they would do this much for me."

Finding the master bedroom, she set her bags down and began unpacking, carefully organizing her belongings. Once she was finished, she headed straight into the bathroom, letting a steaming hot shower wash away the exhaustion of the long flight.

Feeling completely refreshed, she wandered into the kitchen to prepare a simple dinner. But as she stood at the stove, watching the steam rise from her food, a sudden pang of loneliness hit her. She realized she hadn't called her family since landing.

Dropping her spoon, she reached for her phone and dialed her mother’s number.

On the other side of the world, her mother was busy preparing breakfast in the kitchen when her phone abruptly rang on the counter. Seeing Syanja’s name flash on the screen, she dropped her towel and snatched up the phone, a relieved smile covering her lips.

"Oh, Syanja! I'm so happy you finally called!"

Syanja let out a nervous guilty laugh on her end. "I'm so sorry, Mom! I completely forgot to call the second I landed, things were just so crazy here."

As Syanja ate her dinner and cleaned up her dishes, she stayed on the line, her voice filled with excitement as she described the gorgeous fully-equipped house the company had provided for her. Her mother listened happily, her heart settling knowing her daughter was safe and taken care of.

They talked for over an hour, catching up on every little detail until Syanja glanced at the clock and realized how late it had gotten in Seoul.

"Mom, I should probably get some sleep now. It's really late here, and I start my official work tomorrow morning."

"Of course, my child. Rest well. We love you."

"Love you too, Mom."

Syanja hung up, a warm grounded feeling in her chest. She walked into her bedroom, climbed into the comfortable bed, and wrapped herself tightly in the plush duvet. Reaching over to the nightstand, she carefully set the alarm on both her phone and her table clock.

"At last," she whispered, turning off the lamp. "I can sleep."

Inhaling the scent of the clean linens, she closed her eyes, letting herself drift off into a peaceful sleep, completely ready to conquer her dreams tomorrow.

Meanwhile, on the exact opposite side of the city, the night was far from peaceful.

Jeong Jung-Hoon sat propped up against the pillows of his bed, the harsh glare of his laptop illuminating his sharp facial features in the dark room. He was completely consumed by his upcoming project, his fingers flying across the keyboard as he reviewed lines of corporate strategy templates.

His eyelids felt incredibly heavy, and a deep bone-weary drowsiness was creeping over him, but he stubbornly refused to close his eyes.

I have to finish this before dawn, he thought, his jaw tightening as he forced himself to read another paragraph. Work was his priority, and sleep could wait.

But the human body had its limits. Without warning, his vision blurred, his fingers froze over the keys, and his head slumped back against the pillows. Within seconds, the powerful CEO was fast asleep, his laptop still glowing beside him in the dark, completely unaware that a young author had just arrived in his city, ready to change his world forever.

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