Train to Busan

I grab my ticket to ride the train. I loved trains ever since I was a kid and the super train on Lightspeed Rescue flew into the skies I knew I was hooked (iykyk) so I made a point of taking every “famous train” in the world today trip. A train to Busan Korea. As usual, I get weird looks and glares due to my unusual stature and appearance.

I sit down in my seat enthusiastic and ready to begin the ride. As the train fills up the three seats around me are taken by 3 pretty ladies. In front of me was a Pretty blonde who radiated a happy energy that was almost suffocating, diagonal left a pretty brunette with a smile that curved into a half moon, and directly to the left of me was a smaller brunette with a determined look. They all politely greet me and I reciprocate of course. Their names are Jeewon (in front of me), Yewon (diagonal Left), and Chaehyun (directly left)

"Nice to meet you all. My name is Dinovaldo, but everyone calls me Dino"

"Dinopaldo?" Jeewon says cutely. I was going to correct her then I remembered my friend who was also Korean complained about how "Complicated my name was." So I nodded and said,

"Yeah, but call me Dino,” Yewon and Jeewon smile. Chaehyun looks at me with a focused and determined look.

"So what brings you to Busan?" Chaehyun asked as she leaned in closer and showed her cleavage

"Oh, I like trains and try to ride as many "famous" ones as I can," I replied. The three girls looked at me surprised but didn't say anything else. Chaehyun let out a chuckle and I went back to enjoying the ride.

A little later Chaehyun asked me, "Hey so where are you from originally?"

"Um...Portland, Oregon. No, you wouldn't know that... The United States." I answer Chaehyun. She nods and chuckles as do Yewon and Jeewon.

"What about y'all? Where Y'all from?" I ask

"Oh, we're all from Busan," Jeewon answers confidently. I nod now dialed into the conversation.

"How long are you in Korea for?" Yewon asks

"Oh, a few weeks for some business in Seoul. I finished yesterday so now in my last week I am just enjoying it. You know seeing the rest of the country." I replied. I noticed that Jeewon and Yewon were starting to warm up to me and were being more involved.

"Oh, that's cool," Yewon said. I gave her a thumbs-up as we continued to chat. I learn a lot about the girls. They were all K-pop idols (whatever that meant) who were going home to visit family and just relax as their schedules had all eased up for the time being. They were all incredibly charming but also kinda dorky in an extremely lovable and endearing way. As we talked I could feel myself being lulled into a state of ease by the three girls. It worried me. They were almost too perfect, too sweet, and too engaging, so I kept my vigilance as I continued to talk to them.

While we rode the train we enjoyed each other's company until Chaehyun (the boldest of the trio) asked, "Hey I noticed you keep looking over your shoulder. Are you worried you are being tricked?" I instantly tensed and then eased again. seeing her pleasant smile

"Yeah, a little it's not often three pretty ladies just come up and talk to me. Especially for so long." I reply.

Jeewon perks up, "Aww thank you. Well, you're cool to talk to. Plus you aren't treating us any differently."

“Wait why would I treat y'all differently?” I asked with a furrowed brow. "Well, I thought you were all normal ladies," I replied hesitantly

"No," Yewon says with a cute but also aggressive tone. She takes out her phone and starts playing a video of her performing at Inkigayo along with five other young ladies. I watched in awe as I could see it was Yewon but her presence was so different. Gone was the goofy girl who was sitting across from me the Yewon I was watching was graceful, sexy, and poised, with an almost deadly sense of presence I had only seen replicated in assassins.

It was unnerving but also captivating. When the video finished the other ladies all showed similar videos. Each showed me a bit more about them. Jeewon is super bubbly and happy in her video and Chahyun’s video shows her range. I see a huge range of her personality but it always comes back to the determined look. That look of desire. After that, we hit the third hour of the trip and fatigue began to set in. All of us started to get heavy eyelids and one by one each of us fell asleep. I was the last one and got to see Chaehyun's head fall onto my shoulder as she was talking about how hard being the "unofficial" leader of her group was. I couldn't help but smile at her plight. Her pleading eyes but strong voice made me listen and consider her words with the utmost seriousness. something she noted

"You're a really good listener," she said as her eyes fluttered as they got heavier. A telltale sign she was losing the fight with her fatigue.

"Well in my profession being a keen observer is always a requirement," I answer politely

"Oh and what do you do Mr. Mysterious?"

Chaehyun teased

"It's a secret." I teased

"Oh come on please tell me," Chaehyun asked with pleading and endearing aggression, but I remained silent