After a short two-hour nap on the plane, I woke up feeling surprisingly refreshed. I stretched and glanced to my side. The masked guy was gone.
"Haiz… I wonder when I'll see him again," I whispered, shaking my head and picking up my small bag.
We had just landed. At the main entrance of the airport, a sea of people waved colorful signboards — probably fans waiting for their idols. I didn't pay much attention, until a familiar voice called my name.
"Biny!"
I spun around and ran. "Chae Chae!" I shouted, hugging my cousin tightly. Relief and happiness bubbled inside me. "I thought I'd be alone on this trip!"
Chae Chae laughed, matching my energy with her warm smile. She was the same age as me, 21 and had moved to Thailand with her parents five years ago to continue their family business.
"You've grown so pretty!" she said, helping me lift my luggage. "How was your flight?"
As we walked, I spilled my story, including the masked guy on the plane. She laughed so hard I couldn't help joining in.
"Girl, finally a crush!" she teased, nudging me. "You've always been chased by someone… or rejecting someone… but now you fall for a guy you don't even know? On a plane? Hahaha!"
I rolled my eyes, smiling. "Stop making fun of me."
"So, where are you staying?" she asked.
"I booked a hotel near the training center," I replied.
"You should stay with us," she said cheerfully. Her family was wealthy, but I shook my head. "No, it's okay. I don't want to bother you."
Meanwhile, Ryul was already outside the airport, luggage in hand. His teammates and manager were shouting at him over the phone.
"Why did you go to Thailand alone? We were supposed to leave tomorrow!"
"Done talking," he said, calm and uninterested. "I wanted to get there early to rest."
"Don't you have enough sleep on the plane?" his manager asked.
Ryul didn't answer. He just stared at his arm, hung up, and called a ride to the hotel.
At the hotel, I approached the front desk cheerfully. "Hi! I'd like to check in, please."
The receptionist handed me the key politely, and I headed toward the lift.
And then — bump!
"Hey, watch where you're going… bunny."
I froze. My heart skipped. I looked up. Fate had brought him here. The masked guy.
"W-we met again!" I said, smiling brightly, my excitement barely contained.
He didn't look at me. Calm. Distant. Unmoved.
I tried again. "By the way, my name's Biny. What's yours?"
His eyes flicked to mine, cold but calculating. "No wonder your name is Biny," he said softly. "You really do look like a small bunny… is that why your parents named you that?"
My cheeks heated. My heart raced.
This was it. Fate — or coincidence? Either way, the game had begun.