224 (Today, Tomorrow, Forever) | SaiDa Fanfiction

Chapter 2 - Freedom

Sana's last week with her company before she fly over to another country for a vacation—which she doesn't know how long it would take, ended up the most hectic days she wished to end as soon as possible. She was so busy that she hasn't eaten a decent meal. So when Momo heard about her plan to go somewhere to refresh, she was indeed happy for Sana as it was best for her. Momo assured her that she would take care of the company while she's out— and so, Sana trusted her best friend.

The two have known for too long that they treat one other as a family. It is as though there is nothing they don't know about themselves. Whenever they have problems, they rely on each other and face them together. That's how special their relationship is. Sana even trusts Momo with all her life. So leaving the company in her hands is no big deal. She knows Momo can handle it perfectly.

"Have fun, okay?" said Momo and pulled Sana for a hug, who still wore a troubled face. "C'mon, can you just please stop with that face!" Momo groaned and pinched both of Sana's cheeks which was immediately shoved as the girl's face red.

"That hurts," said Sana, who by now caressing its obvious pinkish cheeks.

Later on, the passengers for the flight to Jeju were called, so Sana bid her goodbye. It took only 2 hours to arrive from New Tokyo International Airport to Jeju. It was not Sana's first trip to Korea as she went back and forth for business trips. However, it was her first to visit the country as a tourist and not as a businesswoman. She felt free, and for the very first time in a long time, she felt excitement.

Her first step outside the airport gave her chills for a reason she didn't know at all. But she had the feeling that her stay in Jeju awaits another story of her life. A chapter in her life that she would always look back on as the best part, the page that she was genuinely happy and felt alive. That's how she imagined and hoped her trip would go.

The beach was the first thing that ever crossed Sana's thoughts when she caught a glimpse of Jeju even while they were still up in the air. She kept on remembering the same dream over and over again. The shadow of a woman on a beach—is all she could clearly recall. She thought maybe visiting a beach first thing on her vacation would free her from the thought that keeps on haunting her. Instead, it scared her because she realized that she already learned to love the woman who kept appearing in her dreams. That's what makes it a bother to Sana, as it is just a dream. The woman she loved in her dream does not exist in her world, and she knows it.

"Aaah... finally, fresh air," she murmured. Sana took a long deep breath, her eyes closed, and slowly exhaled along with the reopening of her eyes which by then fixed on the vast horizon of now what looks like the orange-colored sea as the sunset reflected. She was happy to decide to come to the island because it felt like a heavy burden lifted off her shoulders, and a thorn was removed from her heart.

Sana stayed until the sun eventually shifted into a moon. Then, she walked back to the hotel with a smile she couldn't brush off ever since she arrived at Jeju. Every person she passed as she walked couldn't help but turn their head back to the woman who glowed in beauty and charisma. But Sana didn't mind the attention she was getting from other people as she was somehow used to it. And it didn't really matter to her at the moment, as what she thinks matters most is that no one knows her and she can do whatever she wants. She was having the best of her time.

"Why aren't you picking up my calls?!" a complaint from the other line of the phone said. "Anyway, how are you now?" Momo continued, now in a calm manner.

"Just got out from a shower; that's why I couldn't answer your damn calls," Sana said, obviously irritated by Momo's habit of not stopping to call until you answer it. As a result, she got around 30 plus missed calls from her just that night. "I was just worried," Momo said. Sana sighed, "I'm good. Not gonna lie, I love it here," she said with enthusiasm in her voice, and Momo could see that she was honest.

Their call went on for a good 30 minutes and ended because Momo got hungry and wanted to eat already. After they bid their goodbyes, Sana carefully tossed her phone on the bed and jotted her way towards the dresser. She stared at herself for a couple of minutes and realized she was smiling ear to ear. She couldn't help but think how silly she's been acting up lately since she arrived. The feeling of liberty was just new to her because she's been deprived of it ever since she was young. She had little to no freedom to experience normal childhood because she's 24/7 guarded due to her elite family background. Momo was the only friend she has had. She had no childhood as any other kids did. As a result, she grew up lonely inside even if she has had everything she could ask for, aside from the genuine happiness of being loved by her loved ones. 

No matter how much money and fame she has, she couldn't get to feel what it's like to be cared for and loved for wholeheartedly. She was just so sick of living monotonously. Sana felt like every day was the same day as yesterday, and so will be tomorrow. But today was different. She felt alive.