Stay With Us

“Maranda, why don’t you just come stay with us? The other guys don’t mind. I already asked them.” My cousin Taehyung tells me on the phone.

“Oppa, I don’t want to be a nuisance. You guys don’t need some girl hanging around your dorm.” I say objecting.

“Aish! You won’t be! Besides you aren’t going to get the same opportunities in the states that I can give you here in Seoul.”

He was right on that. I was never going to have the same options here. At least in Korea I could use his connections. I wanted to be a choreographer. Ever since we were little. My mom had me before meeting Tae’s uncle. So I wasn’t his blood related cousin but we might as well be siblings. My mom felt weird staying in South Korea once I was ready to start school since I was fully American so we moved back to the states with my step dad. He was the only dad I knew though. I took his name when I started junior high because I always thought it didn’t make since why I wouldn’t have it. I always went to South Korea for summer vacations staying with Tae and his family.

I thought over his offer again. “Maranda. I promise you we can make it happen here. And I have hardly gotten to see you since our debut! I miss my Momo!” He says now begging into the phone.

“Uuggh! Fine!” I say into the phone smiling. “But if I become a problem you have to tell me so I can leave! Deal?”

“Deal!” He yells into the phone. “Don’t worry the guys are going to love you! I talk about you all the time. I told Jin how you like to cook, Rap Mon can’t wait to talk about anime with you. Jimin and J-Hope want to see how good of a dancer you are. Suga is glad you are good at fixing things so he isn’t the only one fixing what Rap Mon breaks. And Kookie. Well Kookie is Kookie. He just hopes he will be able to hold a conversation and not get too nervous since you are a girl.” I start laughing.

“I didn’t realize you talked about me this much. I feel like you did a job interview for me.”

“I just want you to feel comfortable when you are here so I told them what to expect from you. And come on! You’re awesome! How could I not talk about you?” He says laughing.

I looked at the clock. “Jesus Tae! It’s 1:30 there! You need to go to bed!”

“Now I’m too excited to sleep!” I can hear him start to jump on his bed.

“Tae, go to sleep. I need to go talk to Dad anyway about figuring out my move there.” I say rolling my eyes.

“Fine! Tell Uncle I said hi.”

“Will do. Good night to you.”

“Good morning to you.” He says hanging up the phone.

We were sometimes weird about those little things. Since there is a fifteen hour time difference one of us would be waking up when the other was going to bed.

I get out of bed and walk into the living room seeing my parents sitting on the couch watching the news.

“Mom, Appa. I have a question.” I say leaning on the wall to the hallway once I was in the living room. Dad paused the television both of them looking up at me.

“What is it?” Mom asks me.

“Well I have been talking to Tae and he convinced me to go to South Korea to try job searching. He thinks he can find me more opportunities there then I will be able to here in the states cause he has more influences.” I breathe in. “So I guess my question is, can I go?” I ask them nervously.

They both think for a moment then turn to each other. “I mean. What do you think?” My mom finally ask Dad.

“Where would you stay?” He asks me.

“Tae said the guys are ok if I stay with them. From how he makes it sound they are looking forward to it.”

“They are right. She will have more opportunities there.” He says looking at my mom.

“That’s just so far though. What are you going to do if living with them doesn’t work out?” Mom asks me.

“I don’t know. Worst case scenario I come home. But I’m sure this is a good decision for me.” They get quiet again thinking it over. “Please? I have done so well in school. I graduated early I was top in all of my classes. I have worked really hard. Now I have an opportunity for it to pay off.”

“She has worked hard.” Dad says to her.

“It’s up to you.” She says to him. “Just be careful.” She then says to me knowing Dad is going to let me go.

“Go start figuring out what you need to take with you. I’ll figure out your visa and get you a ticket.” He finally says to me.

“Thank you guys so much!” I say running over to give them both a hug. “I won’t disappoint you I swear!” I tell them as I run back to my room.

A week later I was putting all of my bags into the car to head to the airport. “Appa! We’re gonna be late if you don’t hurry!” I shout to him putting my last bag in then getting into the passenger seat. I then see him and Mom walk out of the front door.

“You have your passport?” Mom asks me.

“Yep right here.” I say taking it out of my purse to show her then putting it back.

“Money? Visa? I.D.? Everything?”

“Yes Mom. I’m ready.” I say smiling at her.

“Call me as soon as you get off the plane in Seoul! And as soon as you are with Tae.” She says to me giving me a hug. I can feel tears start to lightly drip from her eyes.

“Mom don’t cry.” I say wiping the tears off her. “I’m going to be ok. I will call you every day. And I’m going to be with family.”

“Yeah, Rebecca. She will be just fine.” Dad says to her getting into the driver’s seat.

“I love you.” Mom says kissing my forehead.

“I love you too.”

Dad pulls out of the driveway taking us to the airport. He decided to park to walk me and all of my bags to the check in to make sure there weren’t any problems. Once all my bags were checked we went to wait for my plane to board.

“Ok now when you get there Tae should be waiting for you at this café.” He says showing me on the map of the airport in Seoul. “You guys will get your bags from here after that. Make sure he is with you when you get your bags cause I don’t want you walking around with all of them by yourself.”

“Ok. I promise I will wait for him.”

“And don’t get brave. Seoul is a big place you can easily get lost. I know you have been to Korea a lot but you mostly have been in the south parts. This is a whole new thing.”

“I know dad. I will stick with Tae. And if something happens you have taught me Korean really well. I can do this.”

“That’s the bravery I’m worried about.” He says laughing.

“Flight 396 to Seoul, South Korea now boarding.” I hear the intercom say.

“That’s me!” I say excitedly picking up my carryon and standing up.

“Be careful and safe.” He says giving me a hug. “Listen to Tae. Don’t wonder off on your own.” He then kisses my forehead.

“I will Appa. I promise I will be safe.” I turn around walking to the line with my ticket in hand. I give it to the woman turning to my dad one last time to wave before getting on the plane.

The flight was about fourteen hour’s total. I was so happy to finally land in Seoul. I got off the plane and did what my parents told me to do. I called my mom and started walking to the café to find Tae.

“Hello?”

“Hey Mom! I made it!”

“Good! Have you found Tae yet?”

“No I’m walking to the café now. It’s farther than it looks on the map.”

“How was the flight?”

“Longer then I remember. But it was smooth. No one bothered me.” I look around to make sure
I’m still going in the right direction.

“That’s good. Did you find the café yet?”

I finally see a sign with a coffee cup on it. “I think so.” I get closer. “Yes! I found it.”

“Ok. Do you want me to stay on the phone until you find Tae?”

“No it’s ok. I’m gonna get me something to drink then just sit and wait for him. I’ll text you when he gets here.”

“Ok. I love you. Be safe.”

“I will. Love you too.” I say before hanging up the phone. I walk over and get an iced green tea then go sit at a table by the entrance so I’m easily found.

I check the clock and see that it is only noon. I start scrolling on my phone quizzing myself on which BTS member was who from pictures. I didn’t want to seem rude and get the boys mixed up. I hadn’t ever meet any of them so I wanted to make a good impression. I of course listened to them for Tae. They were pretty good. I actually had Butterfly as my ringtone.

“Momo!” I hear someone yell across the walkway. I look up to see Tae waving his hands at me smiling.

“Oppa!” I yell running over to hug him.

“How was your flight?” He asks me once he releases me.

“Long! I didn’t realize how long it actually was until about three hours in.” I say laughing.

“Oh shit sorry. Guys this is Maranda.” He says to the six boys behind him. “Maranda this is, Rap Mon, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, and Kookie.” He says as they each wave at me.

“It’s nice to finally meet you.” Jin says shaking my hand.

“You too.” I say to him smiling.

“Have you gotten your bags yet?” Tae asks me putting his arm around my shoulders.

“No. Dad told me to wait for you first.”

“Well let’s go!” He says dragging me over to the bags. We get everything gathered up and head to their van. “I don’t think it’s all going to fit.” Tae says laughing at how much I brought with me.

“Ok who is sitting on who?” He asks getting in to the van to find a seat.

“I’m driving.” Jin says taking the keys out of his pocket then sitting down in the driver’s seat.

“I’ll just sit on you Tae. There is no since in them having to be uncomfortable because of me.” I say getting in.

“Ugh fine.” He says jokingly. “But this means I get to sit on you next time.”

“Deal.” I say laughing.

We get to the dorm and the boys all help me to my room. After all my bags were in I flopped down on the bed followed by Tae. “Again. You are sure this is ok?” I ask looking over at him.

“Yes! The guys are happy to help. Jimin and J-Hope are already talking to our choreographers to find any openings.”

“Well that is nice of them.” I say closing my eyes.

“Take a nap.” He says getting off the bed. “I’ll come wake you up for dinner.”

“No.” I say sitting up. “If I nap I won’t sleep tonight.” I get up and start unpacking my clothes. Tae comes over to help me.

“Well then what do you want to do today? We all got the day off so I can do whatever you want.”

“I’m up for anything.” I say hanging up shirts. I hear a knock on the door.

“Come in.” Tae shouts to them. I turn to see one of the boys walk in. “Jimin! We were trying to figure out what we wanted to do today.” Tae tells him folding my pants to put in my drawer.

“If it involves food then we need to tell Jin so he can stop cooking.” He says sitting on the floor.

“I don’t care what we do. I’m just glad to be here.” I say smiling at them. We then hear Tae’s phone ring.

“This is V.” He answers. “What? No I can’t today.” He says to the caller. “I just picked my cousin from America up. No yeah I understand. Yes sir.” He hangs up the phone then looks over at me. “Don’t be mad.”

“Tae if you have to work that’s fine.” I say smiling. “I’m not going to be in your way remember.” I say smiling.

“Jimin!” He shouts looking at him. Jimin looks up confused. “Why don’t you take her to see the city?” He suggests.

“Shouldn’t we ask the other guys to go too?” Jimin asks him.

“No. Jin is already cooking dinner, Suga went to take a nap, Kookie can hardly look at her without freaking out, J-Hope is practicing. And Rap Mon will just go on philosophical tangents about why the building is blue. Come on! I know you will bring her back safely.”

I look over at Jimin still sitting on the floor stunned by the question. “Yeah. Ok, umm. I’ll go get changed.” He gets up and walks to his room to put on different clothes.

“I don’t think he wants to.” I tell Tae once Jimin is out of the room.

“Nah. He just knows I’ll kill him if anything happens to you.” He says smiling at me. “I’m really sorry about this. I’ll make it up to you.” He says giving me a hug.

“You already did.” I say letting go.

“I’ll see you tonight!” He shouts as he hurries to the studio.

I change into some jeans and a blue t-shirt throwing on a white jacket. I put on my flip flops and wait for Jimin in the hall.

“Ready?” He asks walking out and seeing me.

“Yep!” I say excitedly.

Notes