“Aryah, come get breakfast quickly! Today is a big day!” Mom called from the kitchen.

“Five more minutes, please!” I shout from my room.

“Aryah, you need to eat breakfast before the bus comes. Do you know how many people wish to be where you are right now? So get your ass down here.” My father says,

“Okay, okay! I’m coming!” I exclaim as I sadly turn off my TV and walk down the steps.

I’m Aryah by the way. Today is a VERY special day because I can fulfill an important promise I made years ago when I left Korea.

I promised I would meet my friends again at Opal Academy Boarding School, the school where where the brightest minds from across the globe come together to learn. We all dreamed of going there and now I hope I will see them.

I always watch Korean television and shows to feel more at home, and I’m just obsessed in general. My favorite has to be Falling Into Your Smile though even thought it isn’t technically Korean. It is a Chinese show, the dialogue is Mandarin.

Whoops, got a little side tracked there, back to my hectic life.

“Eat your breakfast before you even think of grabbing your phone and watching K-Drama” Mom states as she takes my phone.

I reluctantly hand over my phone and grab a fork. Mom puts my phone in her pocket. Dad pulls out a chair and sits in front off me before grabbing his own fork.

Dad serves some food onto his plate and then mine. “Did you finish packing?”

I glances at him, finishing what I have in my mouth before responding. “Yeah, two suitcases and my volleyball bag.”

”Do you need all of that? That is a lot of stuff.” He says, slightly surprised by the sheer amount of luggage.

“Well, the volleyball bag has my sport stufff, and one suitcases has all my belongings and some clothes while the second suitcase has the rest of my clothes.” I explain to him as he nods.

I finish my breakfast and put my dishes in the sink, making sure to clean up after myself fully.

“Hey mom, when willl the bus be here?” I ask as I see my mom checking the time.

Mom looks at me. “Can you go grab your stuff from upstairs so we are ready. Also, go get your shoes on.” She says almost panicked.

I go to do everything she asked, I go upstairsrs and grab my bag and suitcases. I set them in the kitchen then before gettingl my shoes on. Mom hands me back my phone and I slide it in my pocket.

Because students from around the world attend this school, a special bus goes around and picks up all the kids that live very far from the school and takes them to the airport where they fly America and are taken to the school.

Since the school is located in America all students are required to learn English for communication. I currently live in Japan so I will get flown to America but I already know a little bit of English so that will be helpful.

“Get your things, the bus will be here in two minutes!” Mom says as dad starts to grab my luggage.

I grab my volleyball bag and walk out the front door, dad follows suit with my suitcases - one in each hand.

I adjust my hat as mom walks out the door. A few moments later I see the bus at the top of hill. It comes closer… and closer… and closer until it stops in front of my house.

A man comes out of the bus and opens a compartment in the side of the bus that is filled with bags and suitcases already. He takes the suitcases from my father and loads them in before taking my bag and putting it in with them.

After, the man leads me onto the bus. I see a few kids in the front of the bus and a few in the back, but not many kids in total.

“Find your name and have a seat, we will be at the airport in about 2 hours.” The man says” before returning to a seat in the front.

I look up and above every seat is a name.

Hana, Haruki, Riki N, Riki S, Akari, Aryah. Finally I see a seat labled Aryah.

I put my headphones on and text my friends back from Korea. "I'm on my bus and on the way to Opal Academy🫶😁😊😘. Can't wait to see u there!!!"

They read the message and after a few moments I see responses, but my face drops immediately.

"Congratulations girl, but my score came a bit short, I'm not going to Opal. I'll visit when I can" One of them says.

"Ari, something happened before the test and I'm not going" Another says and my face falls further.

I turn my screen off but a few minutes late I get a notification. I check my phone, it's a text from Ren, she was my litteral bestie back in Korea. I open the message with little hope.

"I made it into Opal Academy too! I was so scared I was the only one."

I have to read the message multiple times before it sinks in. I almost jump out of my seat and dance with happiness. I quickly type up message.

In all the excitement I hadn't noticed someone sat down next to me. I put my phone down and turn to them.

"Hi! My name is Aryah. What is yours?" I say with a warm smile in my face.

She turns to me and smiles. "I'm Yumi, nice to meet you Aryah."

We talk the entire bus ride I don't even notice the growing amout of people in the bus. She tell me about her experiences and I tell her about mine.

I don't even realize my phone is going off with texts as I here a voice over the rest coming from the front of the bus. It’s loud but calm and demands attention. All the students look up to see who’s speaking.

"We will be arriving at the airport shortly, about 10 minutes until arrival." The man from before says.

He then continues. "Once we arrive at the airport, please find a group of three as the plane seats are in groups of three."

He finishes speaking and all the passengers glance at each other. Everyone had gotten to know the person sitting beside them but no other.

I then turn to Yumi. "Yumi, do you know anyone else on this bus?"

Yumi shakes her head as a response, I feel sick inside. I hate awkward moments and now one is bound to happen. I look up and and around the bus. I spot a name that makes me nauseous.

This name can only belong to one person alone, and it’s Chan Yang, but everyone called her Chan.

Back in Korea, she would bully my friends from petty pranks to borderline illegal. She moved away and no one knew why back in 5th grade though. She doesn’t seem to have noticed me yet but I really hope I don’t end up with her.

Seconds turn into a minute, a minute turns into multiple minutes, eventually that turns into 10 minutes and the bus screeches to a stop in the airport parking lot.

My stomach is twisting in knots as the fancy-looking guy steps up once more.

“We have arrived at the airport so please remain seated until I call for your section. Once your section is called calmly grab any items you brought inside the bus before existing the bus. After everyone is out there will be further instructions.” He starts.

“Section one, you may now begin to exit the bus.” He says after a short pause.

I watch as the first sets of seats stand up and form a line in the isle way. They grab their phones, headphone, wrappers, and more. I guess some people have been on this bus for way longer than me.

I glance at my phone and notice some unread messages from Ren.

”I’m at the Seoul National Airport, can’t wait to see you” That’s what the first messages says, but there is a second.

Now the second messages she sent says “Once we got to the airport, our attenting guy or assistant or whatever said we will have a layover somewhere in North America with the Japanese students!!!!”

I smile at the thought of seeing her again, then another message pops up.

“I’m about to board my plane, so I’ll be in airplane mode. See you later!”

I text a quick bye before putting my phone away. I realize that the second section has already been called and I’m next.

I give Yumi a convincing smile, even though I don’t want a middle seat or a third person.

As our section is called I grab my belongings and fall in line with the others in my section.

When I get out I’m handed back my luggage before joining everyone in the grass nearby.

Most of the tables and benches are full but I find one and sit down.

The last few people exit the bus and when the guy is about to make his announcement he gets a call.

A few minutes pass and he starts to look frustrated. A few more pass and he looks a bit more pleased but not completely. After hanging up he turns back to us, ready to make a new announcement.