Fell in love with an idol

The airplane window showed a sky too blue to be real — like someone had edited the saturation too high. Mina pressed her forehead against the window, watching the clouds drift below her like soft distant waves, revealing a glowing city spread across the horizon. South Korea. A new life she had begged the universe for. A fresh start she wasn’t sure she was ready for. Lights flickered like stars fallen onto the land. Her chest tightened with a mix of fear and excitement — this place was going to be her home for the next four years. When the plane landed, she stepped out with her suitcase wheel wobbled annoyingly as she walked, wobbling just like her confidence. Everything happened too fast — announcements, seatbelts clicking, the shuffle of people eager to leave. Mina stepped out into Incheon Airport and felt the weight of her old life fall away… and the weight of a new one settle on her shoulders. Everyone moved quickly and seemed to know what they were doing. Meanwhile, she kept checking her phone to remind herself which direction to exit. "Welcome to South Korea,” she whispered to herself. The airport was busy, loud, and fast-paced — nothing like her quiet town back home. She kept checking the acceptance email on her phone as if it might disappear at any second.The taxi ride was quiet. Buildings passed by like scenes in a music video, Bright lights, Signs she couldn’t read. At the campus gate, she paused, letting the cold evening breeze brush her face. The university was larger than she expected, its tall buildings outlined in warm lights. A group of students rushed past her, laughing. She watched them with a small smile, wondering how long it would take before she fit in like that. Her dorm building looked exactly like the photos — tall, modern, a little intimidating. Inside, she knocked on the door of Room 407. It swung open. A girl with curly hair and a bright grin gasped. “You must be Mina! I’m Sofia, your roommate!” She pulled her into a hug without warning. Mina laughed despite her exhaustion. “Hi… yes, I’m Mina.” Within minutes, the room became filled with the chaos of unpacking — clothes everywhere, suitcase half-open, Sofia talking nonstop. Within minutes, the room exploded with the chaos of arrival — open suitcases, clothes everywhere, Mina’s folded blouses mixing with Sofia’s disorganized pile of sweaters. Sofia talked nonstop as she helped haul Mina’s luggage inside. “So,” Sofia began, sitting cross-legged on her bed while Mina unpacked, “why Korea? Exchange program? Running away from an ex? Bored of your country? Tell me everything.” Mina snorted. “Wow… that’s a lot of assumptions.” “I like to be thorough,” Sofia winked. Mina sat on her bed, hugging a pillow to her chest. “I just… wanted a fresh start,” she said softly. “I felt stuck at home. I wanted to see more of the world. And Korea seemed like the right place.” Sofia nodded slowly, eyes warm. “I get that. I’m from Spain, and everyone expected me to stay close to home. But I wanted something different — something bigger. So I thought, why not choose a country where I barely understand anything?” She laughed. Mina smiled. “So you’re also scared and pretending you’re not?” “Oh, absolutely terrified,” Sofia said proudly. “But that’s the fun part.” Mina relaxed for the first time all day. There was something comforting about Sofia — loud, chaotic, but genuine. They spent an hour unpacking, sharing stories, comparing cultures. Sofia told her about her strict abuela, her obsession with K-dramas, and how she planned to try every street food Korea offered. Mina told hers about missing her mom’s cooking, her fear of getting lost, and the tiny dream she carried — to reinvent herself, even if she didn’t know how yet. By the time they finished organizing their side of the room, Mina felt lighter. Less alone. A little braver. She glanced around the cozy dorm space, now smelling faintly of Sofia’s vanilla lotion and her own coconut hair cream. “This is it,” she whispered to herself. “New country. New school. New you.” Tomorrow, everything would begin.