Chapter Text
The automatic doors of the airport slid open just as Hongjoong sprinted through them, suitcase rattling violently behind him. His chest burned from running all the way from the taxi drop-off zone.
His cap was pulled low, mask covering half his face, but he could still feel people staring as he rushed across the terminal.
He was a bit relieved to see that the airport was not very busy, which was why he chose this time to leave. Even though he had to wake up at one am to catch his flight.
“Excuse me…sorry.” He dodged around a couple blocking the escalator and checked the time on his watch again.
2:28 am, thirty two minutes before his flight’s departure.
His stomach twisted, how did one week in Jeju Island go by so fast? For the first time in months, Hongjoong had finally been able to breathe. No cameras shoved in his face every second of the day, with or without his consent.
And now he had to say goodbye to sleeping ten hours without worrying about early morning rehearsals.
It was very nice while it lasted but now he was about to miss his flight back to Seoul, which meant he’d miss the connecting flight to Japan with the rest of Aurora.
“Final boarding for flight KE124 to Seoul.”
Hongjoong nearly swore out loud. He rushed towards the check-in counter, dragging his suitcase so fast the wheels screeched against the floor.
A woman who was standing next to the counter that Hongjoong was headed to stepped aside with an offended gasp.
“Sorry,” he muttered quickly before reaching the counter breathless. The employee standing behind the counter didn’t even flinch at his dramatic arrival.
When the man looked up at him, Hongjoong almost forgot how to breathe. The man behind the counter was unfairly handsome. Honey-toned skin, thick glasses, and sharp eyes that somehow made him look both approachable and intimidating.
His uniform looked painfully perfect, not a single wrinkle in sight. His name tag read Park Seonghwa. “How can I help you?”
A deep voice startled Hongjoong out of his stupor and a flush crept across his cheeks when he realized that he had been staring. “Hi, I’m checking in for the Seoul flight.” Hongjoong shoved his ID and ticket forward.
The man, Seonghwa, looked at the screen and at the ticket before lifting his eyes. “I’m sorry, sir. Boarding closes thirty minutes before departure.”
Hongjoong blinked.
See, Hongjoong had never planned his own travels before. His manager has always been the one who plans everything down to when he is supposed to wake up, so he never really paid attention. “…What?”
“Boarding closes thirty minutes before departure.”
“No, no,” Hongjoong said quickly, laughing in disbelief as he checked his watch, “The plane leaves in twenty-eight minutes right?”
“Yes.” The man nodded.
“So can you check me in?”
“I can’t.”
Hongjoong stared at him in disbelief. Around them, airport announcements echoed overhead while passengers continued moving past. Meanwhile Seonghwa stood there looking as calm as ever.
Hongjoong lowered his voice. “I just need to get to Seoul.”
“I understand.”
“Can you let me board? I promise I will be seated in five minutes.” Hongjoong tried to plead with the man again.
“I can’t.” Seonghwa replied with that same neutral tone.
Something in Seonghwa’s tone irritated Hongjoong. His tone was not rude or mocking but it was just firm, as if he was explaining something to a child that is throwing a tantrum.
“I have another international flight after this,” Hongjoong pressed. “I’m already cutting it close.”
“I’m sorry for the inconvenience.”
The rehearsed response made Hongjoong’s eye twitch. “Inconvenience?”
Seonghwa remained silent, staring down at Hongjoong.
Hongjoong leaned closer over the counter. “Listen, there has to be something you can do.”
“Regrettably, there isn’t.” Seonghwa shook his head, his voice not showing any hint of regret.
“You haven’t even tried.” Hongjoong uttered.
“I have followed our policy.”
Hongjoong let out a sharp laugh, of course he should have guessed that this man would say that.
Hongjoong only had one option now, reveal his identity. He has never been someone who uses his popularity to get his way, but Seonghwa looked to be around his age, surely he would know Aurora. And he might understand why Hongjoong needs to get to Seoul as soon as possible.
Hongjoong took off the mask and pushed his cap back slightly, looking at the man, waiting for the man's reaction when he finally recognizes him
.
Hongjoong was sure that even if Seonghwa didn't know Aurora or Hongjoong he must have surely seen his face somewhere, considering how Aurora has billboards all over the country.
But Seonghwa only stared back at him blankly.
Hongjoong let out a frustrated sigh, “Do you know who I am?”
Hongjoong regretted the words the moment they left his mouth. They sounded so wrong even to his own ears.
Seonghwa on the other hand didn’t even seem to be bothered by the question as he simply picked up Hongjoong’s ID, glanced at it once, then looked back at him with an unreadable expression. “Kim Hongjoong.”
Hongjoong stared at him in disbelief. “That’s not what I meant.”
“Then what did you mean, Kim Hongjoong?” Seonghwa asked the question with so much calmness as if they hadn’t been having this back and forth for a few minutes already, and it was driving Hongjoong insane. Cause how can a person be so calm in this situation.
“I’m saying when I get to Seoul I still have to take another flight to Japan, and my passport is in Seoul, and…”
“And I’m saying,” Seonghwa replied evenly, “that you arrived after check-in closed.”
Hongjoong opened his mouth, then closed it again. What kind of customer service training did this man go through? “You’re seriously not letting me on the plane?”
“Yes.”
Hongjoong put back his mask and prayed no one had recognized him in such an embarrassing situation. This whole interaction was definitely going to keep him awake at night.
“That’s crazy.” Hongjoong mumbled to himself.
“What’s crazy,” Seonghwa said, finally sounding slightly colder, “Is arguing loudly in front of other passengers because you were late.”
Hongjoong froze, he had completely forgotten about the other passengers.
A few people nearby were definitely watching now, but there was luckily no line behind him and everyone went back to minding their business when Hongjoong expressed his apologies.
Well, everyone except the two attendants seated on either side of Seonghwa who were openly pretending not to listen but the looks they were giving each other showed that they were definitely listening.
Heat climbed up Hongjoong’s neck.
“If you still wish to leave today,” Seonghwa continued professionally, bringing Hongjoong’s attention back to him, “You’ll need to rebook but the next available flight is in ten hours.”
Hongjoong clenched his jaw so tightly it hurt. For one terrible moment, he considered continuing the argument out of pure spite.
“I…Fine,” Hongjoong replied.
Seonghwa nodded once and went back to typing something on his computer.
Hongjoong wanted to grab him by the shoulders and shake him but he didn’t want to cause an unnecessary scandal. Seonghwa did look like someone who would sue for anything.
Ten hours, that meant he would get to Seoul with less than an hour before their official meeting time.
He walked away from the counter with his suitcase behind him and pulled out his phone. There were three missed calls from his manager (Maddox) but he ignored them in favor of finishing the rebooking.
When he was done with the booking he sighed preparing himself for the call with his manager.
The answer came instantly. “Kim Hongjoong, please tell me you are already on your flight back."
Hongjoong winced at the tone. “Uhm…”
“You missed your flight?”
“I didn’t technically miss it…” Hongjoong tried to explain but couldn’t come up with a good excuse. It’s not like he can blame it all on the airport's uptight employee.
“You missed it.”
Hongjoong glanced back towards the counter. By some coincidence, Hongjoong had found himself seated across Seonghwa’s counter. Seonghwa was helping an elderly couple now, expression softening slightly as he explained something to them.
Hongjoong narrowed his eyes. Traitor, he wasn’t that nice to me.
“I’m taking the next flight, but it’s in ten hours.” Hongjoong explained.
A long sigh came through the speaker. “You land and go straight to KQ, the other members will be there.”
“So no sleep.” Hongjoong whispered.
“You brought this on yourself.”
Maddox ended the call not waiting for Hongjoong’s response, how rude.
Hongjoong spent the next two hours alternating between different social networks. First, he searched for his own name, the airport's location and every possible combination of the two;
‘Hongjoong airport’
‘Aurora leader airport'
‘Idol arguing with airport staff’
‘Celebrity misses flight’
Each search made his stomach twist a little tighter.
The knot in his chest only began to loosen up when no post came up after two hours of refreshing in every thirty seconds.
At least his reputation had survived.
After having an overpriced sandwich and a cup of coffee, Hongjoong returned to the waiting area and dropped into one of the chairs with a huge sigh. Unfortunately, by some coincidence the seat had a perfect view of the check-in counters again.
Every now and then his gaze drifted in that direction, not because he was looking at anyone in particular. At least that is what he told himself.
Hongjoong’s eyes landed on Seonghwa, he was helping a family of four check in, then a man in a black suit, then a young woman in a red dress, a tall young man, an elderly woman, then another passenger, another one and another.
The passengers kept changing but Seonghwa never stopped being irritatingly professional. Not once had Seonghwa looked over or even shown the slightest sign of remembering their argument.
What made things worse was the fact that every now and then Seonghwa’s eyes roamed around but they never met with Hongjoong’s.
Meanwhile, Hongjoong had replayed the entire conversation at least fifteen times, especially the most embarrassing part.
‘Do you know who I am?’
Hongjoong groaned and buried his face in his hands. Why had he said that? Now Seonghwa must think he is some arrogant spoilt brat who thinks everyone knows him.
An announcement echoed through the terminal. Hongjoong straightened on his seat checking the time. Only three hours had passed. He stared at the screen for a long moment before letting out a dramatic sigh.
Seven more hours to go, this was going to be a very long day.