The next day Arena was putting her books into her locker at school. She hadn't been able to sleep and had tried to cover her dark circles with all the concealer she could find.

"Are you crying?"

Arena looked up, surprised to find tears indeed rolling down her cheeks. "Hey, no," she dabbed her eyes dry, careful not to smudge her makeup. "I don't know why, it's fine. Hey did you color your hair?"

Naha beamed, twirling around, "Do you like it?"

Arena caught a strand of Naha's now ocean blue hair between her fingers, "It looks amazing on you, you're like a Japanese mermaid." Naha had always held and cherised her natural black locks. She was someone who you thought would never bleach her hair.

Naha linked her hand through Arena's, "C'mon, let's get to class."

"Do you think I should dye my hair as well?"

Naha stopped in her tracks, "Yeah, I think red would look good on you."

A sudden wave of deja vu washed over Arena, her eyes blinking to snap out of it. Where it had come from, she had no idea. She jogged to keep up with her blue haired friend. "Hey, I had the weirdest dream a few days ago."

The lecture was over for the day as Arena closed her silver iMac, tucking her newly dyed red hair behind her ears. She looked up to see everyone already leaving the hall, heading for lunch or their next lecture. Arena pulled her bag onto her shoulder, moving down between the tables.

"Hey, Arena, can I talk to you for a second?" Her professor was stuffing his briefcase with papers, the atomic DNA structures still rough sketches on the blackboard.

"Of course, professor." Arena tugged the strap of her bag up, stopping in front of her Human Anatomy professor.

Mr. Honda looked up at her, pushing up his silver framed glasses. He smiled. "The paperwork for your exchange program came through last night. It has been confirmed." Mr. Honda leaned back against his desk, small notes plastered all over his workplace of the human body and mind.

Arena's eyes widened as she clasped her hands together, "Really? I get to go to Japan?"

Mr. Honda's smile fell, he pursed his lips, taking off his glasses, "Actually. It's for South Korea."

"Korea? But.. I sent my application for Japan, I even talked to some of the professors at the Kyoto Dance Institute." Arena's brow furrowed. What was so special about Korea? She had always been interested in Japan and Japanese culture. Arena knew almost nothing of South Korea.

"The Seoul National Academy of Dance expressed their interest in you, considering the grades you graduated with and how you've managed here, in the Colorado National University. I think going to Korea would be a good choice." Mr. Honda stood up, swiping the blackboard eraser from the corner of his desk. He set to erase the definition of the mitochondria.

Arena looked at her shoes, in a loss for words.

"Look, Arena. You are incredibly talented. I truly believe everything happens for a reason." Mr. Honda touched Arena's shoulder. His dark blonde hair was showing signs of grey, as was his beard. He was incredibly fit for someone 46 years old, always dressing very fashionably.

"Thank you, Mr. Honda. I will take some time to think and get back to you." Arena smiled hesitantly before waving goodbye to her favorite university professor and left the lecture hall, ready for that lunch.

"I don't know though." Arena threw popcorn into her mouth, 3 pieces missing their target and falling onto Naha's carpet.

Naha shrugged, getting a handful for herself. "I think your teacher is right."

"Professor," corrected Arena.

"Right, whatever. I hear Korea is an amazing country. "

Arena sat up on the sofa, untangling her legs from Naha's to cross them under her butt. Her bright red strands were plastered across her forehead from the early March heat. She whisked them away, shaking her head back.

"So is Japan."

Naha wriggled her toes, "Have u heard Korean pop music tho? The artists are seriously handsome."

Arena rolled her eyes as Naha reached for her phone, disbelief clear in her voice, "Oh please, I heard they have literal slave contracts." Naha rolled her eyes before Arena exclaimed, "You're Japanese! Why are you defending Korea?"

Naha chewed on the skin around her nail, her re-done cyan hair in a high bun. She opened youtube, handing her new iPhone to Arena.

Arena looked up, "What's this?"

Naha's eyes lit up, her smile widening, "Just press play."

A music video started playing, the volume so loud Arena had to stop it almost immediately. "Ugh," she stood up, dropping the phone onto Naha's stomach.

"Dude!" exclaimed Naha, struggling to get up from her soft blue couch and go after Arena who had already made her way to the kitchen. Arena glanced over her shoulder, "What the hell was that? I think my ear started bleeding then fell off and continued bleeding on the floor."

"Are you kidding me?" Naha stopped abruptly, "that was my favorite group. The vocalists are very dreamy."

Arena rolled her eyes, "I'm not interested in this."

Naha stomped her leg, "But it's Monsta X!"

Arena turned around, her brow furrowed, "It's a what now?"

"Monsta X..?"

Arena blinked, feeling the sensation of a migrane coming. Her vision blurred, her legs went wobbly. She grabbed the edge of the counter, holding herself up.

Naha speedened her steps, helping Arena sit down, "Why, have you heard of them?"

Arena rubbed her temple, "No, I have no idea who they are."

A name rang through her head. A familiar name she didn't recognize but felt. Arena didn't know what it meant or whose name it was.

Just one name.

"Who are you?" whispered Arena.

"Dear passengers, please return to your seats and secure your seatbelts. We have started our descent. The local time in Incheon, Korea is currently 3.25 P.M. Thank you for flying with Asia Airlines, we wish you a pleasant stay."

Arena pulled her earphones out, checking twice if her seatbelt was fastened. She looked out of the window, the ground barely visible through the heavy clouds. Arena leaned back in her seat, sighing. She closed her eyes, thinking about how in the end she still ended up going to Korea instead of Japan. Well the University of Seoul had actually wanted her and even after all of the times Arena had rolled her eyes and begged for Japan, something about Korea was intriguing.

"Excuse me?"

Arena opened her eyes, surprised to find the young man who had sat next to her the entire flight talking to her for the first time. Arena sat up more straight, smiling, "Yes?"

The young man chuckled, hiding his mouth with his hand. He had really cute dimples, noticed Arena. "I'm sorry, I've been sitting here the entire time and said nothing. So I decided to open my mouth and tell you that you are absolutely beautiful."

Arena blushed, "Thank you, I'm Arena, by the way," she extended her hand for him to shake.

"Jaehyun, Kim. Nice to meet you, Arena. Are you in Korea for the first time?"

"Yes, and alone as well," she laughed and looked out of the window before turning back to him, "Bound to be a disaster, I reckon."

"Can you speak any Korean?"

Arena shook her head, "I know common phrases, but otherwise I'm clueless. Maybe I'll learn while I spend my exchange year here." She tilted her head to see his dark brown eyes from under his black hair that covered his forehead.

Jaehyun nodded, "What uni are you with?"

"The Seoul one."

"There are rather many universities in Seoul," remarked Jaehyun.

"I think it was The Seoul National Academy of Dance?" Arena took her water bottle and took a sip, hoping to unlock her ears from the changing pressure of the descent.

The plane had a successful touchdown followed by the clapping of passengers. It took some time before everyone began filing out, Arena and Jaehyun still chatting as they left the airplane, walking through the tunnel to baggage claim.

"This airport is h u g e," noted Arena, swirling around to get a 360 degree view from where she was waiting for her suitcase. Her backpack was thrown over her shoulders and her hair pulled into a bright red ponytail.

Arena smiled to herself, hauling her big ass suitcase off the moving luggage thingy. She pulled out the handle and waited for Jaehyun before moving on. Arena was supposed to be staying in a college dorm, she still had time before checking in and Jaehyun had promised to show her around just a little bit.

They started walking as soon as Jaehyun got his bag, "I don't know how much you know about Korean pop culture or kpop, but since the artists travel much to different countries fans come to the airports to take pictures of them."

"Isn't that like a violation of their privacy? The fans taking pictures, I mean." The ceiling was made of glass and Arena could see the beautiful blue sky above her head.

"It is, isn't it? That's why I want to become a manager instead. So I could make just the smallest change and help the industry." Jaehyun checked his wristwatch as he spoke.

"You want to become a manager? That is awesome! I'm studying choreography myself."

"Yeah I kinda guessed that when you mentioned the dance academy," smiled Jaehyun, leading Arena swiftly through the airport and the crowds of people safely into the parking lot.

"Do you need a ride? I have my car here, we could go see the city? What time do u have to be at your University?"

Arena hung back, unsure, "I don't know, you're a stranger. How old are you?"

"I'm 22, and a stranger who just made sure you were safe the entire time," he smiled, "How old are you?"

Arena rolled her suitcase towards him so he could put it in the trunk, "I'm 20 in November," chimed Arena before sitting into the shotgun seat of Jaehyun's red Kia, the exact same car she had back home.

They ended up going to a popular noodle place, near at the city square in Hongdae. Arena hadn't realized her empty stomach until she was staring at the menu, Jaehyun translating the dishes for her and recommending his favorites. The two learned a lot about each other, conversation was flowing and Arena was lost in the gorgeous eyes of the stranger turned friend who helped her navigate the awfully crowded capital city of South Korea.

Arena sipped on her iced americano, Jaehyun walking slowly beside her with his hands in the pockets of his black slacks. The warm breeze of late spring blew strands of Arena's undone hair away from her face. She tucked them behind her ear, having lost the hair tie that had been holding them in a neat ponytail.

They heard a faint sound of music, walking the streets of Seoul, time already starting to tick past the time Arena was supposed to check in.

Jaehyun glanced at her, "Do you want to go get a closer look?" Arena's eyes narrowed, trying to see past the heads of hundreds of pedestrians. "I don't know, what do you think it is?" Her bright eyes stared him down, making Jaehyun stop momentarily in his tracks and stammer. "Might be some buskers, or a group shooting a variety show, let's go see." He grabbed her elbow gently, steering her closer to the sound of voices and music.

As they neared the edges of people Jaehyun gasped softly from behind her, he was almost an entire head taller than Arena, making it easier to see over. "I was right, it is a group. I think I've heard of them," he muttered to Arena. Music started playing louder, what looked like actual live vocals chiming in as people stopped to watch, listen or walked along.

"I can't see," Arena craned her neck, catching only glimpses of white outfits moving quickly. She started moving through the people, heading into the front to get a better look. But people didn't want to move nor liked the fact that someone was trying to push through into the front, making Arena only make it into seeing distance as the song itself ended.

Her companion had followed her and Arena craned her neck to look back at him, "Who are they?"

Jaehyun looked at her, "It's Monsta X, they're from the company where I have my internship at. Starship."

Arena turned her gaze back onto the group who was waving, their breaths heaving as they smiled. Arena tried to get a good look at everyone, her chest felt like collapsing. Arena had no idea why she suddenly felt like she couldn't breathe since she had no idea who these people even were.

She swallowed slowly, "It can't be," whispered Arena.

"What?" Jaehyun looked confused.

"Who is that?" asked Arena very silently, her words only a whisper as her finger pointed at one of the shorter guys at the front.

As if he had heard her almost audible words, the member looked up, straight at Arena. The member looked taken aback, his mouth falling slightly open at the sight of the girl with the red hair at the second row.

"Him? That's the main vocal, Kihyun," said Jaehyun cheerfully.

But of course, Arena already knew that name.

She turned her head, away from the member that now only kept staring at her, "Let's get out of here," whispered Arena, tugging Jaehyun after her as she disappeared back into the crowd.

The idol craned his neck, his eyes searching for her again but failing. Another member came to clap him on the back, "Everything okay?"

Kihyun looked at his groupmate, his eyes livid, "I saw Jaehyun in the crowd, you know, the intern. He was with a girl."

"Good for him," smiled his friend.

"But it was weird," Kihyun looked up at Minhyuk, "I looked at her and all of a sudden I felt like I was gonna cry, like my insides would fall apart."

"Don't you think you're being just a teeny bit dramatic?" said Minhyuk, his brow furrowed.

Kihyun shook his head slightly, "It felt like I knew her."

"Well do you? Know who she is?"

"No," Kihyun looked around quietly before meeting his roomate's eyes again, "I have never seen that person in my life."

"Why?"

Arena cocked her eyebrow at her friend Jaehyun, who was getting out of the driver seat as she kept sitting calmly shotgun.

"I keep telling you," said Jaehyun as he nudged open the passenger side door, "That I want you to see the place I'll work at." He extended a hand to help Arena out, which she gladly accepted, smiling. Two weeks ago had Jaehyun tried to ask Arena out on a date, realizing he had developed a crush on the red haired beauty.

Unfortunately Arena had shot him down, asking to stay friends as it hadn't felt right. They had gone on to become almost best friends, although Arena still sometimes felt Jaehyun looking at her when he thought she couldn't notice.

"And they allow this?" asked Arena hesitantly as she strode behind Jaehyun toward the automatic glass doors of the Starship Entertainment building. The latter had successfully finished his internship, being offered a permanent position as a manager. Arena was happy for her friend, even if she was confused af why he had to drag her along on his official first day as a manager.

"Yes, I asked." He stopped to look at her, taking her hand, "I want one of my greatest friends to be with me as I step into this new world of idols and kpop and musi.." He was stopped by Arena smacking him with her open hand.

They both laughed, entering the building together.

"First I have to meet my boss, then the group then get my assignments and yes I need you to tag along as emotional support don't roll your eyes at me young lady," said Jaehyun in rapid English at Arena who was seemingly getting bored.

"I have homeworkk..." whined Arena as they trudged into the elevator, heading for floor 3.

"Can you wait for me here? I'll be just a second," Jaehyun disappeared into a room, leaving Arena standing in the empty hallway alone. "Unbelievable," muttered Arena, after getting taken along and then just abandoned at a place she didn't know with people who didn't know her. She leaned against the wall, closing her eyes.

A door opened 30 seconds later, Arena speaking before she opened her eyes, "That's enough I want to go back to my dorm, Jaehyun." She looked around, her friend no where in sight. Her eyes fell on a young man with black hair who had exited the room opposite her.

"I'm so sorry, I thought you were someone else," sputtered Arena in English. The man looked up at her, his hair color may have changed to a darker tone, but Arena recognized the eyes of the main vocal she had seen on her first day in Seoul.

She started, tripping over her ankle as she backed against the wall once again. Her eyes searched his face. He smiled shyly before answering with an accent. "I'm sorry I wasn't who you were waiting for."

Arena's stomach turned, "Who are you, if I may ask?"

The young man ruffled his hair, stepping closer to her. His eyes narrowed, "Who are you?"

Arena chuckled nervously, Jaehyun saving her as he stepped out of the CEO's office, his shoulders squared. "Hey, Kihyun," chimed Jaehyun, draping his arm around Arena's shoulder. Kihyun raised his eyebrow, Arena's cheeks reddened.

"You're our new manager?"

Jaehyun beamed, puffying out his chest, "I am, yes. C'mon Arena, let me show you around." He steered her away from the wall, Arena's head whipping back around to look at Kihyun. Her heart clenched as Kihyun leaned his head against the same spot on the wall where she had been moments ago.

"Arena.." muttered Kihyun to himself, scratching the back of his neck, trying to remember where he had heard it before.

"He was in the dream!" gasped Arena, throwing off her blankets and sliding out of her bed. Her roommate stirred, not having heard her as Arena grabbed her phone, sneaking out of her dorm room in her pajamas. The girls' bathroom was empty when she entered, as it was almost 3 o'clock in the morning.

Arena leaned against the sinks with her back to the mirrors and raised the phone to her ear. She had to wait before a sleepy voice answered the phone in Korean.

"Hey, it's me!"

"Arena, are you insane," muttered Jaehyun, switching to English at the sound of her voice, "why are you awake?"

"I remembered something. A year ago I had this really really weird dream and I like woke up crying but I couldn't remember why. Only bits and pieces of the dream so I just brushed it off as another nightmare." Arena's heart beat fast.

"Okayy..."

"And just now I was trying to sleep, but I couldn't stop thinking about how baffled I was when I saw the group and the main vocal in Hongdae on my first day. I ended up falling asleep and it came to me in a dream again. He was there!"

"Who are you talking about, Arena seriously I have work in the morning."

"Listen to me!", Arena started pacing in front of the sinks, "Kihyun, I saw him in my dream, that's why I thought I knew him, but I hadn't actually known about his existence in real life, only my subconscious knew he was real."

"And you still remember this dream even if it was over a year ago."