'Sarah and Jonathan congratulations on being selected by the school's film committee to film your movie concepts!' The professor proudly announced to the class.

Every year the first year master students compete for three coveted spots to showcase their movie concepts to the who's who in Hollywood on the day of their graduation.  The three movie concepts are selected by a panel of famous and award winning directors. Their professor was beaming with pride when he found out that Shin Hye and Joong Ki were selected by the committee, in his 20 years in teaching screenwriting he's never had two students in one year selected from his class.

'As you know they will be filming their movies this summer. Jonathan will be in New York since his movie is centered on a city thriller where a group of 5 college students work together to  rob the wealthy with the FBI hot on their tracks. Sarah will be in Seoul filming her melodrama on a South Korean solider's struggle for his love for his country and a North Korean spy that he accidentally fell in love with. Let's give them a round of applause for a job well done.'

'It was a good year, class until next fall shall we meet again. I hope to see your finished products then' he looked towards them.

'Sarah, Jonathan please come to my office after class I would like to have a few words with you.'

Shin Hye and Joong Ki packed up their belongings and did a round of farewell hugs with their classmates. They wished each other the best of luck and promised to keep in touch as they were all going to be traveling around the world to film their film thesis.

Knock...knock...

'Come in please'

'Professor Allen' they both greeted him while taking a seat.

‘Take a seat’ their professor pointed towards the two empty seats facing him.

‘Do you both have everything set for your projects? Remember the caliber of people who will be watching it, it needs to be Hollywood quality.  This might be your big break into the entertainment world, don’t treat it lightly.  But I know the both of you will give it your all.’

‘Thanks Professor Allen for all your help in identifying a group of undergrad film students to help us in the filming process.  We have everything set and ready to go’ Joong Ki confidently answered to show his professor that Shin Hye and him have both done their homework and are going to give it their all for this once in a lifetime opportunity.

‘Sarah, how are the clothes coming along for your actress?’ the professor turned his attention towards Shin Hye.

‘My roommate Grace is almost done with the samples, so far they look great. The finalized pieces will be done in Seoul, next week.’ She gave him a reassuring smile as she knew he was worried about the clothes that were going to be used since her sponsor dropped at last minute and Shin Hye had to beg Grace to stand in and design all of the lead actress’ clothes.

‘How about your lead actor and actress? Any luck?’

‘I found the lead actress, she’s a friend of mine in Seoul.  It’s a plus that she’s a current actress, her name is Park Se Young.  I just need to lock down on the actor.’

‘Sarah, I think I can help with that.’ Her professor tapped his chin as if he was in deep thought.

‘I contacted an old friend of mine who runs the public relations department of the South Korean army.  He tells me that every year there are a handful of actors that enlist in the army.  He promised me that he will find you one that can be the lead actor in your movie.  It’s a win – win, a free professional actor for you and a movie that the South Korean army can hopefully use to promote their army.’

‘That’s awesome! Thanks Professor Allen for helping with the last missing piece.’ She clapped her hands and smiled widely in excitement that he found her an actor.

‘That’s what I’m here for.  Now, just don’t let me down.  I have high hopes for both of you! As you young Koreans say, Fighting!’

Shin Hye and Joong Ki laughed happily at their professor’s fighting gesture.  For once it seems like all was falling into place.

***************

The flight attendant approached the heavily sleeping man and stood next to his seat pondering about how she should wake him up.  Lee Min Ho booked the first flight out from Seoul to LA when he was released on his summer furlough, the moment he got onto the flight he had fallen asleep like a rock. The plane had landed so smoothly that he wasn’t aware that the plane had arrived.

‘Sir, we have arrived.’ The attendant slightly tapped his shoulder, causing him to stir in his sleep.

‘Sir, sorry but we really need to clear the plane.’ She shook his shoulder hoping it would do the trick and wake him up.

‘Hmm…’ Min Ho mumbled as he slowly woke up from his deep sleep.

‘I’m sorry, but…’

‘It’s ok, thanks for waking me up.’  He rubbed his eyes and stretched his arms and legs waking his body from its calm state. 

Min Ho bowed to the attendant while putting on his sunglasses and walked towards the exit of the plane holding onto his light travel bag.   He swiftly went through customs without being recognized  by any fans and walked straight to the taxi stand in hopes of catching her before she leaves.  He quickly opened the door to the first empty taxi and hopped in.

‘Sir where to?’ the taxi driver turned around to get the location.

‘Please drive quickly to here please’ Min Ho handed him a white folded paper with Shin Hye’s address.

‘No problem, we’ll be at USC in 25 minutes.  Just relax for a bit.  Here’s your address back.’ The taxi driver stepped onto the accelerator and raced out of the airport.

Min Ho’s nodded to the taxi driver as he handed him back Shin Hye’s address.  He looked intently at the address 2813 Ellendale Place Los Angeles, CA the ink of the address fading slightly against the creased paper.

Two days before he was released on his furlough, his omma had called him and asked a string of weird questions like how he was feeling, did he have any plans for his time off, did he want to see someone, where he placed his passport, and if he had spoken to Ill Woo recently.  She told him instead of his appa who will pick him up, she would come since she missed him so much.

The moment he got into his omma’s car, when she arrived at the DMZ base, she pulled him into a warm embrace and wished him a happy birthday.  He looked at her confused at how she could get his birthday wrong, she was two days early.  She giggled at him and told him she wouldn’t be able to wish him a happy birthday on his actual day, but she had a birthday gift for him that would make it up to him.  She gently patted his head and told him to take a nap as she drove them back to Seoul, Min Ho nodded and closed his eyes falling quickly to sleep.  After a two hour drive, his omma parked the car and gently shook him to wake him from his deep slumber. 

As bright white lights pierced through his dark vision, his eyes widened in shock as he realized she didn’t drive him home but to the airport.  He turned towards her as she handed him a white sealed envelope.

‘Min Ho ah, happy birthday!’ she warmed smiled while handing him the envelope.

‘Omma, wae? What is this?’ he stuttered completely caught off guard at what was happening.

‘Open it, it’s my birthday present for you’ she winked at him.

Min Ho looked down at the white envelope and turned it around, he gently broke the seal and lifted the flap.  He pulled out a business class ticket from Seoul to Los Angeles the departure date was tonight and it was suppose to return the following night.

‘Omma…it’s a two day turn around ticket to LA.  What is this? Why are you sending me for two days? What’s so important in LA?’ he scrunched his forehead trying to figure out what was up her sleeve.

‘You forgot to look at the other paper in the envelope.’

He put his hand back into the envelope searching for the small white folded paper, gently opening to see Shin Hye’s name and LA’s address written neatly on it.  He stared at it in silence putting two and two together.

‘Omma….how did…wae…’ his mind went blank as he searched for the questions he wanted to ask her.

‘Min Ho ah, I just know’ she reached for his hands and warmly smiled telling him that she knew about everything and she