Main Characters
Sama (Jiyeon): A young woman of Arab, Muslim descent, 18 years old, living in an Arab country. She dreams of going to Korea and becoming a singer, but sees it as an impossible dream. Her goal then becomes to finish her studies and buy a building to start a project — whether it's a hospital, a school, a restaurant, or even a small shop — anything that benefits her country. She always tries to uphold her principles and morals, but feels discouraged about achieving her dreams in her home country. On the other hand, she loves to travel and aspires to live in a European or Asian country outside her own. She's incredibly beautiful; no one can deny her pretty face and amazing physique. She's also very intelligent, fluent in English, and knows a little Korean. However, she struggles with academics despite spending a lot of time studying. She constantly has a vague dream of being on a plane that gets hijacked.
Taecyeon: A very talented, tall, handsome, and wealthy young man with a captivating smile. He's the main rapper in the group 2PM. His father is a very important prime minister in Korea, but Taecyeon often gets into trouble because of his father's position, despite his father's attempts to minimize it.
T-ARA: Members of the Group T-ARA
IU: Jiyeon's first friend in Korea. She helps and encourages Jiyeon on her artistic path. IU's father is a complicated man who dislikes his daughter's first boyfriend.
Eunjung: A very kind and gentle girl with a beautiful voice. She will become Sama's loyal friend.
2PM (Wooyoung, Jinwoo, and the rest of the members): All friends of Taecyeon.
Secondary character definitions to follow.
Small Note: Sama changed her name to Jiyeon when she arrived in Korea to make it easier to adapt. This is just for clarification.
_________________
Sama: "Ugh, I'm so tired!"
Her Mom: "Oh, honey, you study too much. Take a break and eat something. I hope you become a doctor or something useful for your country."
Sama: "Mom, I really do want to help my country. So I'll be a doctor or an engineer, then go abroad, come back, and help my home country."
Mom: "You're always dreaming of going abroad. I hope so, but you know it's hard. Your dad tried so many times and couldn't go."
Sama (to herself): "Because he just didn't try hard enough."
It was the last day of exams. "Oh, these questions are easy! I'm gonna be a doctor, haha!"
Students: "Ugh, this is so hard! Did you see that girl? She turned in her paper first, and it was blank!"
Sama: "Haha, she's definitely gonna fail!"
Another Student: "Haha, I don't think so. Her dad's the minister's office manager and a friend of the Minister of Education. She won't fail."
At home, a week later:
The phone rings.
Sama: "Hello? Who is it? Oh, hey, friend!"
Friend: "Hey! The results are out!"
Sama: "What? What's my total score?"
Friend: "72. I'm sorry, but that's what it says. I was shocked too. The admissions are out also. It's for an institute."
Sama (a painful tear in her eye): "H-how?"
Friend: "I don't know, but what shocked me more was that girl who turned in a blank paper—her score is 99! This is unbelievable. I saw her blank paper myself, and she got accepted into medicine. Her dad must've paid a crazy amount of money for that result."
Sama hangs up the phone, crying bitterly. It can't be! All my answers were right! She kept crying until she fell asleep.
Mom: "Oh, my poor girl. In the end, you'll go to an institute."
Sama opens the door in front of her whole family. "I'm not going anywhere!" She slams the door shut.
Family: "Oh my God, she's lost it!"
Sama (in her room, hearing them talk): "Yeah, I guess so. I'm crazy. When you're so close to achieving your dream, some spoiled rich kid comes along and takes it without any effort. I can't stay here. I have to travel and become someone important. I don't want to be a coward and weak anymore." That night was the one that changed her life.
2
The idea that took root in my mind after that shock had grown, and I had to execute it in a different way because my old path was blocked.
The Next Day:
Sama: (Opens the door in front of her family in the morning) "I've decided. I'm going to Media College in Duhok." (A province in her country, very far from her home.)
Sama (in her room): "I've carried out my plan just as I mapped it out. If it turns out my family loves me, I'll go to Duhok, then I'll travel and sort things out in Korea. After what happened to me, I can't stay here. But I'll come back with a lot of money, and I'll fight corruption and bribery. And if they don't agree, I'll just die at home, and that'll be the end of it."
Suddenly, her mother walks into the room (interrupting her beautiful train of thought), saying: "Hey! Get your stuff ready! We're leaving for college tomorrow, and go to sleep fast, our drive is super long!"
At the same time: Sama pulls the blanket away from her face after pretending to be asleep. What? I'm leaving here? Awesome! But suddenly, she feels sad and remembers how much her family loves her, and she's about to lie to them. But hope pushes her to say: "Mom, I'll come back and always make you proud!"
After they arrived in Mosul:
Sama: "Thank you all. I promise I'll never fail. I'll be strong."
The next day, she completed everything. "And here's the ticket to Korea."
The Next Day:
Sama changed her clothes and grabbed her bag to leave.
Her Roommate: "Where are you going? You just got here yesterday."
Sama: "Listen, anytime anyone asks about me and seems to know me, just say, 'She went back home.' See ya!"
Four Hours Earlier:
Taecyeon: "Hey guys, I gotta head back."
The Guys: "Alright, safe travels!"
Wooyoung: "Why are you leaving now? We're heading back tomorrow."
Taecyeon: "I have to. I have an appointment with my dad I can't miss and can't postpone because he told me not to travel and to stay in Korea this week. Now I'm going to China, then to Korea. I need to go in disguise."
Sama (at the airport): I've arrived. Now I have to get on the plane for the first time in my life. As she was thinking...
3
She got on the plane, replaying her thoughts over and over, telling herself, No, I won't get off. I'm going to Korea now, and I'm not backing out.
Girl sitting next to her: "Hahahaha, is this your first time?"
Sama (blushing): "Yeah. I don't know where I've seen you before."
Girl: "Haha, this is gonna be a lot of fun. So, why are you flying alone for your first time?"
Sama: "You're alone too."
Girl (smiling): "Yeah, but it's not my first time. I actually hate flying. By the way, I'm Nour. Call me Norahana. Or are you not gonna tell me your name?"
Sama: "Oh, and I'm Sama." She then told her the whole story and her dream of living in Korea. "So, why do you hate flying?"
Norahana: "My dad moves around a lot, and I move with him. I don't even have friends at school. I only went to school for exams anyway."
Sama: "Ahhh."
Upon arriving in China:
Norahana: "Hahaha, you're so funny. Listen, take this. It's my dad's restaurant address. He used to be a manager in our country, and now he's retired."
Sama: "Was your dad the General Manager of the First District?"
Girl: "Yeah."
Sama: "I knew it! You were with me at school, haha! Your score was 99!"
Noura: "Yeah! I'm so happy to meet you. You're my first friend!"
Sama: "Haha, me too. It was great meeting you. Bye!"
As Sama walked away, she thought, Ugh, she's so nice. I thought she was conceited, but she gave me her address. Oh, this is a beautiful start. I even got on the plane!
Taecyeon (walking and turning around, he bumps into Sama): "Oooh!"
Taecyeon: "Mianhae, mianhae!" (Sorry, sorry!)
Sama (speaking Arabic): "Hey, you idiot! You ruined my dreams!"
Taecyeon: "Sorry!" (Without understanding her words, he walks away.)
Taecyeon: Nobody recognized me, haha! I'm good at disguises! (No, actually someone did recognize him.)
(A strange, bulky man): "Hello, sir. He's entered the airport."
The Man: "Listen, Jo. When I call you, start the operation."
On the Plane:
Sama: Seat 8, where is it? Ah, here! 10, 9, 8. She comes and sits down. And who's sitting next to her? Taecyeon.
Sama: "Yah! What are you doing here? Aren't you..."
4
"...Aren't you the guy I bumped into just now?"
Taecyeon: "Oh, you speak English? Please, have a seat."
Sama: "Yes."
Taecyeon: "Sorry I bumped into you."
Sama: "It's fine."
Taecyeon: "What's your name?"
Sama (thinking): What do I tell him? "My name is Shin Tan Li. Yeah, that's my Korean name."
Taecyeon: "I'm Ok Taecyeon."
Sama: "Nice to meet you."
Taecyeon (notices she doesn't recognize him as a famous star): "Hahaha, I really am a great at disguises."
Sama 'Tan Li': "What's that? Is the plane taking off? Why are these noises? Is it broken?"
Taecyeon: "Hahaha, are you scared?"
Sama: "Yah! Aren't you scared?" (Taecyeon is used to flying, sometimes multiple flights a day.) "Haha, nope."
As the plane takes off, she grabs his hand, then immediately notices and pulls her hand away quickly.
Tan Li: (Listening to 2PM songs and singing along, holding a book in her hand, studying Korean.)
Taecyeon: "Haha, you're unbelievable. You're studying and listening to music."
Shin Tan: "Yeah, I'm trying to learn Korean. They pronounce the words."
Taecyeon: "I can help you." (He starts teaching her Korean.)
Taec: "Yah, you're smart! Fighting!"
Shin Tan Li: "Haha, we've arrived!" The plane lands. Someone's phone rings. Taecyeon looks up, and there's the bulky man, holding a gun to his head. "Come with me, now!"
Tan Li (shocked): "Hey! Where are you taking him? He didn't do anything!"
Jo: "Shut up, or I'll put a bullet in your head!"
Taecyeon: "Sit down, don't be reckless."
One of the flight attendants intervenes and takes Tan Li as a hostage. "If you come any closer, I'll kill her!"
The plane door opens, and they're put into a car and taken to an isolated location.
Tan Li: "Are you a criminal? A drug trafficker? A head of state? Someone important?"
Taecyeon: "I'm an artist, a singer, but my dad is the President."
Shin Tan Li: "Oh my God! Help me! Trouble just follows me!"
Taecyeon: "What language are you speaking?"
Tan Li: "What's it to you? Figure out how to get us out of here! I'm stuck here with you!"
Taecyeon: "And what's it to me? You're the one who defended me!"
Two hours later, in the dark:
Taecyeon: "Eugh, where is he? I'm sure they're negotiating with my dad."
Tan Li (crying): "Hoo, hoo! I came here to live a wonderful and dignified life, plus my love for Korea! Wah, wah, wah! It's my dream to come here! Why am I in this mess now?"
5
"...Not to be locked up here with this stranger, despite how handsome he is, he's really mysterious." She glances at him discreetly. "Yah, when are we getting out?"
Jo: "Pay half a million dollars!"
Sama: "I haven't seen that much money in my dreams! How can I give it to you?"
Taecyeon: "Don't worry, you'll get the money. My dad will pay you."
Tan Li: "Yah! Are you sure? How can you be so sure?"
Jo: "Silence!" He leaves.
Taecyeon: "Are you American?"
Tan Li: "No, not at all! My mom's Korean, haha." (She tries to lie, but with difficulty.) "Listen, sir, my stomach really hurts."
Jo: "What do you want?"
Tan Li: "I need to go to the bathroom."
Jo: "No, impossible!"
Tan Li (acting): "Please, I'm gonna die!"
Jo: "Go. It's next to the cabin." He takes her, and they walk together.
Tan Li: "Yah, you, get out!"
Jo: "I'll wait for you for 3 minutes, then I'm coming in."
Shin Tan Li: "No, make it 5!"
Jo: "Araso." (Alright.)
Suddenly, she escapes through the back window and keeps running, then she goes back for Taecyeon. She sees Jo still waiting by the bathroom.
Tan Li: "Hey, Taecyeon, jump!"
Taecyeon: "The distance is high. How can I?"
Tan Li: "Jump, and I'll catch you!"
Taec: "I'll just jump." He jumps, and she moves away, laughing.
Taecyeon: "Didn't you say you'd catch me?"
Tan: "Hahaha, did you believe that?" They both run through the forest. Suddenly, Taecyeon looks back and doesn't see her. "Yah, where are you?"
Tan Li: "Over here! My leg hurts! I fell!"
Taec: He quickly approaches her, picks her up, and walks while carrying her.
Tan Li: "Yah! Get your hands off my body!"
Taecyeon: "Are you crazy? How else am I supposed to carry you?"
Tan Li (blushing, silent): "Yah, just move your head a little. Pffft."
Taecyeon (laughing): "Where are you from? Are you foreign?"
Shin Tan Li (flustered, not wanting to tell him the truth): "Uh... my mom is Korean, and my dad isn't Korean, haha. Do I look really weird?"
Taecyeon: "Hahaha, no, not weird. I guessed one of your parents wasn't Korean. Your mom must've been beautiful."
Tan Li (changing the subject): "Yah, shouldn't you thank me for saving your life?"
Taecyeon: "Gomawo." (Thank you.)
Tan Li doesn't know what that means, so she stays quiet. (She still doesn't speak Korean fluently, so she doesn't know the meaning of some words.)
Tan Li: "Yah! Look, those houses! They're our way to freedom! Oh!"
6
"Look at those houses!"
Taecyeon: "Those aren't houses. Oh, those are... they're a small village."
Tan Li: "Come on! Someone must be there to help us!"
Taecyeon: As they walk, the place is empty.
Tan Li: "It's spooooky!" She moves a little closer to Taecyeon.
Suddenly, a strange old man appears, speaking a strange language. "What are you two doing here in the dark?"
Taecyeon: "Are you crazy? What are you saying? I don't understand you!"
Tan Li: "Wait, it sounds a little like Arabic, but fast and unclear."
Tan Li: "Me and 'da' (meaning Taecyeon) are lost. We need a place to sleep." She gestures with her hand, "sleep," in Arabic.
Taecyeon: "Hahaha, you're crazy!"
The Old Man: (Points to them) "Come!" They arrive at an abandoned house. He offers her a key. Tan Li reaches out to take it, but he quickly pulls his hand back and extends the other hand, meaning he wants something in return.
Tan Li: "Taecyeon, do you have anything valuable?"
Taec: He pulls a gold watch from his pocket. The old man takes it and gives them the key.
Taecyeon: "Yah! What a greedy guy! It's so valuable!" "But where are we? It's an abandoned place."
Tan: "It's a poor place. I think we're in Somalia, meaning they always take advantage of lucky people there."
Taec: "Oh my God, let's get inside quickly!"
At night:
Shin Tan Li dreams she shouldn't have left. She runs to her mother but can't reach her. Suddenly, she screams, "NOOOOOOO!" Hah, hah, hah! (Crying) "I shouldn't have left! I'm sorry! I...!"
Taecyeon hugs her. "What's wrong? Are you dreaming?"
Tan Li (in his arms): "Yaaaaah! Why are you hugging me?!"
Taecyeon: "What? You were so scared and shaking!"
Tan Li (haughtily): "Yah! That's because you took the blanket!"
Taecyeon (laughs): "Oh, really? It's with me?" (Shocked) "Haha!"
Tan Li snatches it from him. "You! Get away!"
Taecyeon: "What a crazy girl!" He goes to sleep. "I hate her."
Tan Li sleeps with a smile.
In the Morning:
Taecyeon is asleep, tossing and turning. Suddenly, he opens his eyes and sees the old man in front of him. "YAAAAH! WHAT IS THAT?! TAAAAAN LI! Get him away from me! He's so scary! Yah!"
Tan Li: "Come on! I've..."
7
"...Tan Li! Come on! I've prepared some food!"
Taecyeon (comes to her): "What is this?"
Tan Li: "Listen, you spoiled brat. Either you eat or you starve."
Taecyeon: "Araso. I'll eat. What is this, a coconut?"
Tan Li: "Yeah, it's the dishes! Yah, you scary old man, take some food!"
Taecyeon: "You're giving him some before me?"
Tan Li: "Go ahead!"
As soon as he took the first bite, he finished it all.
Taecyeon: "Yah! It's delicious and tastes amazing! What is this?"
Tan Li: Before she could finish, men surrounded them, looking at a picture in their hands. One of them grabs Taecyeon. "Come with me!"
Taec: "Wait! Come with me!" He pulls Tan Li with him. They get in the car and speed off. Taecyeon is on the phone. "Yes, yes, okay."
Tan Li: "What's happening?"
Taecyeon: "It's my dad! They found us, and Jo is dead. I'm going back to Korea, and you're coming with me."
Tan Li: "Thank God! Your dad saved us! I have to thank him!"
Taecyeon: "Thank me!"
Tan Li: "Haha." She looks at him.
After arriving in Korea:
Taecyeon gets out and looks at his father, who is waiting for him and seems angry.
Taecyeon: "Dad, uh..."
Father: "I told you, I ordered you not to leave Korea! Do you know what they demanded? They wanted me to resign from the presidency!"
Taecyeon: (Doesn't speak) "I'm sorry."
Father: "It's not your fault. Follow me quickly. We'll say you were on vacation with your father, and that way, no one will notice."
Taecyeon turns around and doesn't see her.
Father: "Who's that girl?"
Taecyeon: "She saved my life."
Father: "Give her some money."
Taecyeon (to himself): She left without me saying goodbye. That's a shame. I never learned the name of that dish.
In Korea:
Tan Li: "Ugh, I finally arrived! But where are my bags? They were left on the plane! Oh!" She goes back to the airport. "Excuse me, I lost my bags. I was on a flight from China to Korea..."
(...): "Miss, they were handed over to Mr. Taecyeon."
Tan Li: "What's his address?"
(...): "Oh, no, he's an important person. I can't give you his address."
During that time:
Tan Li wants to thank his father, but she can't find an opportunity since he's talking to Taecyeon, so she goes on her way.
End of Part
So, what do you think? How will Sama, or Shin Tan Li, find a place to live in Korea, and a job, and all that, for a girl in a new country? Let's keep following in the next part!
That is, if anyone keeps reading, of course!
Please vote and comment, pleaseee, so I'll upload the next part quickly, because I've already written it, just need to publish it. And, of course, according to your requests!
My regards,
Author.
P.S. Sama is her real name, and Shin Tan Li is also a name her friends who love Korea used to call her.
Jiyeon: Is her stage name.
Hint: They will enter the groups in the novel, and also Lee Min Ho and Sehun.
--------
To be continued
What do you think of it?
Comments
Post a Comment