I went to Korea because I wanted to escape, not because I wanted to fall in love.

Choi Beomgyu ruined my plans in less than a minute.

Arriving at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, I follow my mother in a panic. I check my email once more, not believing my eyes. Dear Jayden, I am sorry to inform you that our check-in time ended an hour ago. Please stay with your mom at a hostel and check in tomorrow. Thanks!

I want to scream. As if the exclamation point could make anything better. I'm sweating as well, Seoul's summer heat relentless against my skin. Even back in Hawaii, it's never gotten this hot and humid. I'm beginning to regret coming here. If I only stayed home....

No. I came here because I wanted to heal. Escape. I need to stay strong, to get into my dorm no matter what it takes. I try several numbers, cursing when the answering machine meets me. My connection is horrible. I wonder how I even received the email when a simple Google search takes a minute to load.

"This way! This way!"

I grit my teeth. Mom gets very frazzled in situations like these, her voice turning more shrill and panicked. It gives me anxiety.

Hurrying through the administration building and almost tripping over nothing, my mother finally finds someone. A professor, by the looks of it. When I hear his response in English, I want to cry. Finally, someone who can help us.

"We have to go straight to the dorm," my mom says, eyeing me. She's already mad at me for being a pushover earlier at the metro—unwilling to shove my way through a crowd to exit the train. It was because of me that we almost missed our stop.

"You're incredibly fortunate," says the current man at the dorm's office. "I was just about to head home. I'll give you a temporary key, and the summer program coordinator will stop by later with your permanent one."

"Oh gosh!" Mom exclaims. "Thank you so much! Thank you!"

Under her loud gratefulness, my own words are drowned out as they often always are.

When my mom finally leaves, she gives me a kiss along with a flurry of instructions—reminders to drink water, eat fruit every morning, to have fun even through my uncanny inability to let loose. Her last words surge my anxiety once more. "Promise me that you'll make friends. And talk."

When the doors close, I collapse onto my bare mattress. I still need to buy bedsheets, a blanket, and a pillow. For now, I want to distract myself. My hands move to open Snapchat, to check if my ex has posted anything. It takes all my mental strength to avoid it. My background is still a picture of us in a fluorescent garden of electronic flowers. I remember that day, seeing A Star is Born, kissing in the backseat of his car.

Being happy.

I almost begin to cry, but the door opens with a grunt. I draw my eyes immediately to the shock of silver hair, vibrant as a coin. His tall legs, strong frame, and when he turns his plump lips and fox-like eyes.

He speaks in Korean at first, offering a shy smile while running a hand through his hair. He carries a bag of tangerines and sets them down on his bed, sitting down to face me.

I realize that he's waiting for my response, so I force my throat to swallow. "I'm sorry, I...." I search my brain for the right response—from the list of tourist phrases I studied on the way here. "Hanguk mal mot haeyo." I can't speak Korean. I pray to God my pronunciation is at least halfway decent.

His brows arch, and he clears away his bangs to reveal more of his face. I feel like the ugliest person alive next to him. "Oh! Um, I'm Beomgyu and it's nice to meet you."

"I know!" I say, a bit too loud. "I'm Jayden. I'm a huge fan of TOMORROW X TOGETHER." I stumble over my words for half a minute. "I'm sorry. I have no idea what's going on and I'm kind of panicking right now. I really think I might be losing it."

He smiles, poking his own cheek. "I'm very real. I'm staying here for the summer session."

A hot sort of dizziness spread from my mind to my toes. "What do you mean? You're an idol. Your comeback is soon."

Beomgyu winks, channeling a teasing note to his voice. "That's what we want the fans to think. Really, we're all here to have our college experience."

"We?" I can't help the trepidation leaking into my breath.

He nods in earnest. "The other guys are here too. We're all gonna be students for this year's summer session."