"I owe fate a thank you for giving me you"

Gemma Troy

I opened the package that Seohyun sent from Italy for me. It was a contemporary painting in a beautiful frame with a floral pattern on each side of the handle. I smiled while checking on every detail it has. She sent me a message before, as she told me she started to learn to paint and promised to deliver her 1st ever painting to me. I smiled widely looking at the gift I received. Coming with, a letter slipped inside the package: she informed me that the wedding will be held in around 5 to 6 months preparation, so I will be flying to Italy near Christmas day. I couldn't wait for that day as I'd be a maid of honor for her. I shed tears cause I'm indeed so happy for her.

"Wow... It's a beautiful painting there..."
"Seohyun sent me this."
"Is she the one who lives in Italy?"
"Yes. We're friends since young. She's like my own sister." I told Ji Eun. "She sent her first painting to me. Also the wedding thing. I'll become a maid of honor for her and guess we'll be going to Italy in December."
"December?"
"I think I have a schedule in Paris since this one important meeting with a fashion CEO supposed to take in November, got rescheduled. But let me check on it."
"It's okay if you can't accompany me." I literally meant it. I didn't want to bother her. She's a big star, even bigger than the last time I met her.
"No, baby..." She my hair. "Of course I will. I just need to check on the schedule. Besides, Italy is a couple of hours away from Paris, and I want you to come to my second hometown. I will be so happy to have you around, considering you never went anywhere as you told me."


That was... right. I indeed never went anywhere. The last time I planned to go on a trip to Italy, was a mess. Besides, honestly and questionably, I never thought of it before, to travel somewhere. Somehow it started to draw my attention. I searched for some places to go, but having Ji Eun as a partner, will make it more unlikely to do as she even had a full schedule until next year. I couldn't complain about it.

"Baby... What's inside that box?" Ji Eun suddenly appeared from inside my room after taking her bathrobe from the luggage. I narrowed my eyes in the direction she was pointing at and found the box she was referring to. Oh well, that box. "Can I open-"
"No. Please leave it like that." I cut her word. I felt so nervous.
"Uhmm... Okay. What's inside? May I know?"
"Nothing. I should have thrown it away when I moved the apartment yesterday." I smiled at her. "Let me do it."
 

That was my first time being at Charles de Gaulle Airport. The airport itself is spacious and beautiful. Around me, a lot of people passing by at a very fast pace. Most of them are busy with their cellphones, some just acted friendly by hugging and kissing each other's cheeks while saying 'bonjour' or 'comment ça va?' to each other. The arrival of Ji Eun, or IU, returning to Paris certainly received considerable attention from the media in Paris, as well as Korean media that covered it all the way there.

I walked quite far behind her, with Hanteo, Ji Eun's manager. We arrived in Paris quite early in the morning, around 7 in the morning, after flying for about 12 hours which made my body feel stiff. I never really liked being on a plane, even though I was in a First Class seat, but still, I didn't like it. Along the way to the parking area, I tried endlessly to stretch because my muscles felt so tense. From behind, I could see how Ji Eun indeed a professional person. Despite feeling so unwell even since the hour we arrived at Incheon Airport, she could still manage to smile and greet the media warmly. Imagining if I were a celebrity, I would end up being in the cover with the title saying that I'm a cold and ignorant person. That's just who I am, maybe, unlike her.

"Jieun-ah... I think we can only have a quick breakfast when we arrived at the hotel. After that, you have to get ready for makeup and fitting session." Hanteo looked at his iPad while reading all the schedule for today. "Before lunch, we have to get you ready for the event. Remember, you will be singing 3 songs, after EXO."
"EXO is here?" I was quite shocked to hear that.
"Yeah. Why, Taeng? You like EXO?" Hanteo chuckled. "IU and EXO are the representatives from South Korea for this Asia Festival. Some of the fashion designers and their brands will be there as well. Actually, we'll meet a lot of Koreans there."
"No problem at all..." I was thinking of the possibility to meet Baekhyun, the thing I had to avoid. I bit my bottom lips while looking down through the window.

"Baby..." Ji Eun called me softly. "I guess we'll fly to Florence tomorrow morning. I will make sure you still could manage to have a session with Seohyun before the Seohyun's bachelor party."
"Don't worry about that. I'm sure we have enough time."
"Yeah... Let's stroll around Paris after the wedding!"
"Don't you girls want to stroll around Rome as well?" Hanteo added. "It's boring in Paris. Besides, you have another meeting with one of the fashion labels. We're keen to pull the agreement with it, to support your next project on filming the variety show."
"Ugh, another meeting? Is then the one postponed before?" She felt unhappy. "Oppa, I know you like Italy more than France."
"Yeah... That one. You know, Italy, it's warmer there. I guess Taeyeon will love to be in Italy as well."
I nodded. It was somehow hard as I suddenly got a flash memory brought back to me.
"Hanteo oppa, can I sit beside my girlfriend on the next flight? Why should I be away from her?" She pouted cutely at Hanteo who suddenly smacked her head softly while wrinkled his nose.
"I really don't care about you, but Taeyeon. Do you know how your fans will react to that? They will bury uri Taeyeon with billion malicious comments."


I had no idea why, but I laughed at that. That was so scary to think of, actually as I was sure that most of the guys in South Korea adore Ji Eun, and want to marry her. But then, to know the fact about who's the one beside her, which is me, I really don't think most of the people will accept that. I didn't regret a thing, though. I just couldn't hide the fact that sometimes I wish we both are just ordinary people, not a celebrity. Things might be easier for both of us.

"I think you're right. I can't put Taeyeonie in danger." She caressed my cheek. Later I found her forehead to press my lips on.
"I'm okay this way. Don't mind me. This is for your career too."
"Thank you for being an understanding girlfriend that I couldn't ask for more." She whispered to my ears where I replied by pinching her nose as we enjoyed hugging each other for the rest of the trip.