The Journey to an Unknown Fate
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The Final Goodbye
The airport was crowded, a chaotic mix of families saying goodbye, travelers rushing to their gates, and the distant hum of announcements echoing through the space. But for Sange, everything felt strangely muted, as if the world had slowed down around her.
She stood with her family, gripping the handle of her suitcase tightly. The weight of reality settled in her chest—she was really leaving Bhutan.
Her father stood beside her, his expression unreadable, but Sange could see the concern hidden beneath his usual stern demeanor. "Work hard, Sange. And don't cause trouble."
"I never cause trouble," she muttered, adjusting her backpack.
Her younger brother scoffed. "Yeah, right. Just don't go falling for some chaebol CEO and come back with a dramatic love story."
Sange rolled her eyes. "As if that would ever happen."
Despite the playful teasing, there was something different in the air. It wasn't just an ordinary goodbye. It felt… heavier, like a thread being stretched between two fates.
Then there was her mother, Dechen. She hadn't spoken much, but her eyes—dark, deep, knowing—were fixed on Sange with quiet intensity.
Finally, she stepped forward and cupped Sange's face, her hands warm yet trembling slightly. "No matter what happens," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath, "trust yourself."
Sange swallowed, an uneasy shiver running through her. "I will," she promised, though she wasn't sure why the words felt so important.
Dechen hesitated, as if debating whether to say more, but then Hiraya interrupted with a dramatic sniff.
"I can't believe we're actually leaving," Hiraya wailed, clutching Sange's arm. "Bhutan, my love, I will return one day—richer and married to a chaebol heir."
Sange sighed. "You're not even the one saying goodbye to your family."
"I know, but the moment deserves theatrics!"
The final boarding call echoed through the speakers. It was time.
With one last deep breath, Sange turned and walked toward the gate, leaving behind her home, her family, and the life she thought she knew.
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The Flight & A Vision of Fate
The airplane hummed softly, a steady rhythm that should have been comforting, but Sange felt restless.
Her mind kept replaying her mother's face—the way she looked at her, as if she were seeing something beyond the present.
Eventually, exhaustion won, and her eyes drooped shut.
Then—darkness.
Sange found herself running.
The air was sharp and cold. The city around her was unfamiliar—towering buildings, neon signs, endless streets that twisted into a maze.
Something was chasing her.
Her breath came in ragged gasps as she turned a corner and—froze.
Ahead of her, standing beneath a flickering streetlight, was a man. His face was masked, hidden behind shadows. His presence was eerily still, yet something about him was unshakably familiar.
Her heartbeat pounded.
A voice, deep and firm, cut through the silence.
"You can't run from this."
She took a step forward—
And suddenly, the world shattered like glass.
She woke with a sharp inhale, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
"Sange?" Hiraya's voice pulled her back to reality. "You okay?"
Sange blinked, trying to steady her breath. "Yeah… just a weird dream."
But deep down, she knew. It wasn't just a dream.
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Welcome to South Korea
The moment they stepped into Incheon Airport, Hiraya lost her mind.
"Oh. My. GOSH." She grabbed Sange's arm, shaking her. "Do you realize where we are?! We are breathing the same air as K-pop idols! We could run into a CEO at any moment! My destiny is here!"
Sange groaned. "Can we focus on not getting lost first?"
Their first challenge? The language barrier.
Sange could understand a little Korean, but Hiraya? Absolutely none. That didn't stop her from attempting to speak, though.
As they approached immigration, Hiraya confidently greeted the officer with, "Annyeonghaseyo, oppa!"
The officer stared, completely unimpressed.
Sange elbowed her. "Shut up before we get deported."
Once they finally got their luggage and hailed a taxi, Hiraya was still in her delusional world.
"Oppa, daebak!" she grinned at the driver.
The driver raised an eyebrow.
"She means thank you," Sange quickly explained.
By the time they arrived at their new apartment, Sange was beyond exhausted. The place was small but cozy, tucked in a quiet neighborhood in Seoul.
Sange collapsed onto the bed. "I can't believe this is happening," she mumbled. "Two weeks until I start working under him."
Hiraya flopped beside her. "Let's not think about evil CEOs right now. We have two weeks of freedom! I say we explore, find some good food, and—" she wiggled her eyebrows, "—maybe stumble into a chaebol's arms."
Sange snorted. "You watch too many dramas."
But even as she laughed, that strange feeling returned.
Something about being here felt… off.
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A Glimpse of Hyun Jae (A Tease)
That night, Sange and Hiraya explored Seoul, wandering through the lively streets filled with bright lights and endless possibilities.
At one point, Sange stopped at a crosswalk, watching the cars speed by.
Then—a sleek black car passed.
For just a second, her eyes flickered to the passenger seat.
A man sat inside. Sharp suit. Piercing gaze. An aura of power.
Her chest tightened. Something about him—his presence, his energy—felt unnerving.
Before she could process it, the car vanished into the distance.
Sange shook her head. It's just a random person.
If only she knew.
That was Hyun Jae.
And their fates had already begun to intertwine.
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The Final Hook – A Sign That Fate Is Already Moving
That night, as Sange lay in bed, exhaustion tugging at her, her mother's voice echoed in her mind.
"When the two paths cross, fate will be awakened."
She had no idea what awaited her at J Corporation.
But fate was already waiting for her.
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