Fiona: Cause of Euphoria

Chapter 1: Happy Birthday

"See you in a few hours, Bun!"

"Ya, I told you not to call me that."

"You won't leave me no matter how many times I do."

"I know. Eleven hours isn't 'a few' by the way, Fi."

"Boarding now! Love you!"

The phone call ended when boarding for my flight was announced. I took my seat right beside the window and popped my earphones on, literally ignoring the in-flight announcements. I had travelled so much to know exactly what the cabin crew would say through the wall phone.

The last time I had visited Korea was in June. My friends and I attended a very special wedding, accompanied by very special people. We each had our stories to tell and our burdens to share. As noisy or nosy as I could get, I would sit in silence to listen and laugh along.

After I had graduated with a degree in Psychology, I stopped looking for a world that could get along, at least it had all been hypothetical theories for peace. Every story told always had something untold and sometimes unnecessary. I would get frustrated when others deliberately share too much or share too little. But I would never put the blame on them. People thought differently and minds worked weirdly.

That was never the case when I was in Korea. The air was always lighter, although still polluted. The atmosphere was brighter, although street fashion in the business areas of Seoul were men and women in dark colored suits and skirts. The sceneries were fresher, although I have seen them way too many times. There was just something that brought out the best in me even just by the mention of places and food. And of course he brought out the crazy in me.

Who knew that my purpose of travelling nowadays was nothing near nor concerning work. When I flew to Korea last April, I only expected to attend conferences and seminars with Jane, my best friend since senior high. Maybe a little sightseeing and shopping sprees, but little did we know that the rest of our group, the Bulletproof Girl Scouts, would be there as well for their lines of work. Jazmine and her interior design projects, and Colette who unexpectedly worked together with Jazzy. And Joanne who surprised everyone by signing papers to acquire a new home paid off by a client of hers.

We then met a group of boys whom we looked up to as artists, who inspired us to become the best of ourselves and to love ourselves which meant accepting every freckle and scar on us. They once ruled the world, topping music charts and stealing millions of hearts with their alluring gazes and cheeky pranks videos. Now they were ordinary people, successful businessmen that specialize in their own fields. Entertainment, Food and Beverage, Hospitality, Education, and Tourism are the specific fields they all are in.

They continue to inspire me to grow and to learn. Sometimes I would play the songs they released way back and they still give the same feelings of acceptance and joy that were initially put in the production.

I did the same. The playlist I created that consisted of their emotional ballads and soft melodies put me to sleep on the flight.

I woke up when the the stewardess announced in-flight meals were being served. I could only choose between Japanese and German cuisine, although I badly wanted both. They rolled the food cart down the aisle and served a piping hot Japanese bento box. The usual sushi, tempura, miso soup, chicken teriyaki, nori rice, and salads on the side.