Chapter Text
Huening Kai was never good at traveling. Sitting in the terminal's waiting area, this remained true. His leg was bouncing up and down as he listened to music, trying to calm his nerves. However, a whole month in a new country, new adventures, and new experiences were ahead of him. A whole month of studying creative writing abroad in Paris, France. He's never anticipated anything more in his life.
Time was like an illusion: seemingly taking forever but passing by quicker than he thought. He took out his phone and checked the time, 7:00 pm, roughly 20 minutes before boarding. It was enough time to use the restroom and buy a ridiculously overpriced box of m&m's to start his flight. Quickly grabbing his backpack and carry on luggage, he set on his small 20 minute mission.
Those 20 minutes were put to use after the long lines to both the bathroom and the treasured m&m's. Kai hurried back to his terminal, not wanting to be late. Just in time, they called for the first people to board the plane. Kai received his passport and his boarding pass from his backpack and quickly got in line with the rest of the economy passengers.
Eventually, the attendant checked Kai's information and he was allowed into the plane. He walked through the square-like hallway with dreams in his heart and flight anxiety in his mind. Because of not having to fly in years, he was absolutely lost.
He shuffled up to a flight attendant and with a clearing of his throat he spoke up, "Excuse me ma'am, i-uh, can't find my seat. Will you please help me?"
"Oh, of course, dear," she responded with a smile, "May I see your boarding pass?"
"Yes, here it is haha." Kai stammered as he got out his boarding pass and handed it to the flight attendant.
"Ah, right this way!"
The flight attendant led Kai through the aisle and to his seat and assisted him with his carry on luggage. After everything was settled, Kai took his seat next to the window. He was once again hit with feelings of anticipation. He was leaving his lifelong home of Honolulu, Hawaii for an entire summer. A summer in the city of lights doing something he loves everyday: writing. Looking out the window, he could see the beautiful Hawaiian sunset. Kai cherishes it like the sky will change when he comes back in late August.
Kai snaps out of his day dreams when a tall, lanky boy takes a sit at the seat next to him. He looks a bit older with jet black hair, opposed to Kai's light brown.
"Oh hello! I'm Soobin. I'll be sitting here next to you haha," The lanky boy awkwardly introduced.
"Ah hi! I'm Kai, it's nice to meet you."
"So why are you headed to Paris hmm?" Soobin inquired.
"Actually, I'm headed there for a study abroad program."
Soobin now looked more interested. He quickly responded, "No way! Me too!" Kai's eyebrows shot up in surprise, "What are you studying there?"
Kai stated, "I'm gonna study creative writing. I've always wanted to be an author. I actually have an idea that is set in Paris, so this hopefully will be a really good opportunity for me."
"That's so cool. Literally, I wish I write, but I haven't since middle school haha. I'm studying biology. I've always loved animals and plants and I'm really excited, actually."
Kai and Soobin continued to make conversation, mainly about Soobin's pet hedgehog, Odi.
"YOU HAVE A HEDGEHOG? SHOW ME A PICTURE RIGHT NOW!"
"Oh my God, Kai. We are in a plane, be quiet! But let me pull up a picture."
After viewing of Odi and another shushing from Soobin, the announcements came onto the speaker. Suddenly Kai remembered he actually had to fly, and all his anxiety came back. Soobin noticed this and tried his best to distract Kai.
"Do you have any ideas for a book or something? You said you like writing, right?" Soobin rushingly asked.
Did he? Kai then forgot all about the flight and began thinking of ideas.
"Um I have some? Maybe you can brainstorm with me, Soobin. Um okay, one I have was kinda like National Treasure, you know the American treasure hunt movie featuring Nicholas Cage? I was thinking of writing a book like that but it takes place all over the world," Kai rambled.
"Oh! That sounds good! I would read that."
"And I have another idea that takes place in Paris. It's a big reason why I decided to study there. It's like Romeo and Juliet, right? But it takes place in Paris and they can only see each other at night."
Soobin's eyebrows shot up in interest.
"And basically they do all these adventures around paris at night. And they eventually fall in love!"
By the time Kai was explaining all the basic aspects of the characters and the story, the plane was off in the air. Kai almost didn't even notice until he felt his ears start to hurt. He reached for his backpack and took out some gum to help ease the pain. Once he popped the spearmint gum in his mouth, he continued his conversation with Soobin.
"There is one problem," Kai proclaimed.
"Hmm?"
"I need to find someone who can take me around Paris at night."
Soobin responded, "It shouldn't be that hard to find someone... right? I mean, we're going to a college in Paris. There's ought to be someone."
Kai nodded in agreement. There's ought to be someone.
The conversation between Soobin and him eventually died down, Soobin fell asleep, and Kai decided to get some outlining and character development out of the way. He put in his headphones, got out his notebook and pens, and got to work.
Every once in a while, Kai would look up from his notebook and look out the window of the great mass of ocean he was flying over. The future was one plane landing away. If everything worked out, this was going to be one hell of a summer.