Chapter 2
Carly
I looked outside my window as the plane descended into Korea. This was my home. I lived here until I was 12 years old. My mom packed us up and moved us to the United States after my dad had passed away. She couldn’t bear to stay here because it reminded her of him. I loved my mom. She was my best friend. She signed me up for dance and singing lessons to get me out of my comfort zone and learn English. Never in our wildest dreams did we think I would be 1/4 of a very successful female pop group. I had just barely turned 19 when my mom passed away from breast cancer. I was 18 when she was diagnosed. I wanted to quit the group and spend all my time with her but she wouldn’t let me. So I took her around the world with me when we toured. Took her to all the best restaurants, shows, and shops the world had to offer. The day she died, She told me I had to live my best life. She said she was ready to go and be with my dad. She said she would watch over me and always be with me. I really wished she was here now. After she passed I met a guy who worked in Hollywood as an actor. He was one of the leading male actors. I thought I was in love with him. He was charming, kind, and caring. I stupidly thought maybe my mom had sent him to me. A girl can hope right?I watched so many K dramas I was sucker for a good romance. But he started to change after a few months. He loved the fame. He wanted us to be a power couple, but I just wanted to be me. I didn’t enjoy the party scene. I just loved singing and dancing. It was when I was most happiest. I had given him everything because I truly thought he was my soul mate. But one night I walked in on him with another Hollywood starlet. He wanted to get back together but I refused. Now he released our sex tape. People are calling it revenged porn. I was happy my parents weren’t alive to see this happening.
“It is now 5pm in Korea.” The pilot says over the intercom. I was to meet someone named Solia.
I grabbed my suit case. It was raining. Of course it was raining. My career was ending so why wouldn’t it rain to signify that this was really the end of my career.
I walked into the airport loving that everyone was ignoring me. I had on black leggings, a black sweater and Uggs. I had removed my contacts and put on my glasses. It was a 13 hour flight, I wanted to be comfortable. I was pretty sure that there wasn’t going to be any paparazzi around. So I was blissfully happy to walk around looking like a homeless person. Unlike Hollywood where I had to always be dressed up, even when I was trying to dress down it had to be high end. I was almost out of the airport when I see a woman dressed in a black pantsuit with her hair perfectly in place holding up a sign with my name on it.
I walk up to her and introduce myself, “ Hi, I’m...
“I know who you are Miss Choe.” She says giving me a little bow.
“No need to bow Solia.” I’m a lot more American than I am Korean. I am kind of hungry, can we pick up food before we head to the hotel?” I ask her while dragging my suitcase behind me.
I hear her heels clicking as she runs to catch up to me. “Certainly Miss Choe.”
I stopped and smile at her, “Please just call me Carly. I am no one special. I just want to be treated like a normal girl.”
Her face suddenly paled at my request. I was trying to remember my Korean etiquette, wondering if I had offended her in anyway. “Solia are you alright?”
“No one told you the schedule?” She asked nervously.
I looked at her confused, “What schedule?”
“Your manager thought it would be a good idea for you to work with SWT while you are here and take some light off of your.....” she coughed before she whispered “Scandal.”
I rub my temples. Of course I wasn’t going to be relaxing. What was I thinking?
Solia looks at me terrified.
“Solia, I’m not angry. I was just hoping that this time off was actual time off that’s all. It’s my misunderstanding.
Solia looked relieved
“Just one more question, what is SWT?”
