MJY: Please have a safe trip.

MJY: Something about you hurtling through air on a plane for that long has me nervous.

MJY: Even though I’m on a plane more often than not.

MJY: Please take care.

MJY I miss you.

It’s only when I power up my phone after landing and stepping foot in London Heathrow International Airport do I get to see the messages that Jaeyong’s sent me while I was hurtling through the air from Seoul to London.

The trip wasn’t so bad, but still over a ten-hour flight, and I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to that, plus the whole skipping time zones thing has thrown me off.

When I left Seoul, it was early afternoon, and it’s still the afternoon London time, but I’ve been on a plane for thirteen hours and I feel weird about it, like time took a pause while I was on my way to my destination.

And I just wigged myself out.

I quickly message Jaeyong that I made it, even though I’m not completely certain about his flight schedule, since Trickshot was doing a few shows in North America and then swinging over to do some more shows in Paris and London.

All I know is that Jaeyong’s going to be performing at Wembley both on Thursday and Friday night, and I’ve got barricade tickets (right in the front-front of the standing area, closest to the stage) for Friday night’s show, before the boys take off once again and head back to Korea for a few shows in Busan and in Seoul before completing their world stadium tour.

I haven’t occupied the same physical space as my idol boyfriend in five-and-a-half long months, and now we’re finally going to be in the same city again, sharing the same space and time zone (finally), and I’m not going to miss a call because I was sleeping.

I’m so excited I could throw up.

I don’t need to claim my luggage since I was able to fit gifts and whatever I’m going to be wearing in my two carry-ons (my duffel bag and my smallish suitcase). I head out of the airport, wincing at the cost of what a taxi will set me back from here to Maddie’s apartment, the address plugged into my phone, highlighting the distance from here to there.

I could have rented my own car right off the bat, but the whole idea of driving on the opposite side of the road plus all this jet lag’s enough to make me fear for all the London drivers and pedestrians, and honestly, I don’t need that added stress. But still, that taxi ride’s going to be expensive.

Ah, whatever, whatever.

I head outside, pulling in a deep breath of warm(ish) London air, very welcome from the increasing and cloying humidity that is Seoul right now and the near-constant rain only about to get worse.

The taxi ride’s simultaneously too long and too short, and I don’t know where I went in my head to rest, or if I fell asleep with my eyes open, but we’re suddenly pulling up in front of Maddie’s cute apartment building, and I wonder how she hasn’t moved out yet—although I know nothing about the cost of the living in this city—and if her salary is even comparable to what the men get paid over here (plus their insane endorsements).

The only reason I know anything about the Prime and Super Leagues is because South Korea has some excellent soccer players that are playing professionally over here, too, and Jaeyong (and the boys from Trickshot) are emotionally invested in the teams here.

I pay the taxi driver, grab my luggage from the trunk and head up the stairs, catching the just-about-to-close door and pulling in a deep breath, taking a few minutes to myself to drink some more water, hoping to chase away the fatigue. I push my hair back off my face, tying it up once and for all, adjusting my jeans and T-shirt so the top doesn’t look too wrinkly, and I make sure I look at least a little presentable.

Jesus Christ, we’re here, about to be reunited in Maddie’s apartment and this is going to be the best vacation ever.

The only thing that could make it possibly better is seeing my boyfriend in person towards the end of the week, where he’s assured me he’s carved out some time from the rest of the promotions (radio shows, interviews, and the like now that Trickshot is back in Europe) they have to do. It doesn’t matter, I’m going to get to see him and hold him and kiss his stupid cute face and it’s all going to be worth it, all the waiting for him these weeks and weeks and weeks.

I use the elevator and head up to Maddie’s floor, and once I step out into the hall, I can hear both Maddie’s and Aria’s excited voices, making me practically run down the hall to the semi-opened door of what has to be Maddie’s apartment.

“Hey! What about me?” I call, interjecting into their conversation and getting hugs all around.

Shit, shit, shit. I’ve missed them, so very much, and now we’re here, in London, England of all freaking places and it feels a lot like home.