A Slight Misunderstanding

                                    

                                          
Remember how I said that Incheon was nuts? LAX is so, sooooooooo much worse. 
                          
From the moment we get past security, it seems like half of the city is waiting for Bangtan. Some of them are carrying purple ribbons in hand, but others are just shoving each other to get as close to the boys as possible.
                          
Jungkook grips my hand the moment we get to the crowd, pulling me close to shield me from getting dragged away again, and Jin and Jimin walk on either side of us. I feel much safer having all of the most muscular members of the group surrounding me. The boys smile and wave to the crowds, except for Jungkook, who is clinging onto me for dear life as we navigate towards the exit.
                          
Two black SUVs are waiting for us when we finally get outside, but so is another batch of American fans. I can feel their eyes on me, cursing me for being so close to the boys. Most of them have their phones out in some capacity, snapping photos and videos as we walk past.
                          
Jin heads toward the front car, and Jungkook, Jimin and I follow him.
                          
"Ladies first," Jin flashes me his perfect smile and offers me a hand to step into the large vehicle. Once the three boys have loaded inside also, we begin to pull away and weave into the American traffic.
                          
It's absolutely beautiful here, just like I'd imagined. The sky is so blue without a cloud in sight, and there's palm trees scattered amongst the pavement. It looks just like the movies.
                          
"It's so pretty here!" I gape out the window at the scenery as it flashes past. "Everything is so bright!"
                          
"Noona, you look like a kid in a candy store." Jungkook laughs at my wonderstruck expression.
                          
"You did the same thing the first time we came to America," Jin says next to me.
                          
"It gets better," Jimin adds from the backseat. "Just wait until we get to Santa Monica."
                          
"What's that?" I look back at the unnaturally beautiful boy behind me.
                          
"That's where our house is," Jungkook answers for him.
                          
"You have a house here?" I look around at the boys in amazement. I knew the band had money, but this is amazing.
                          
"It's the company's," Jungkook taps my shoulder to bring my attention to the front window. In the distance, the beach and a large pier are barely visible. As we get closer though, I see a Ferris wheel and an assortment of other rides.
                          
"Jungkook! There's a Ferris wheel!" I squeal, shaking my brother's shoulder in excitement.
                          
"Which one of you is older?" Jin teases, his windshield laugh shortly following. I give him a warning glare, but he just laughs harder.
                          
"Can we go? Please?" I beg the boys, and Jungkook snickers.
                          
"We can't all go," Jin answers, "the group as a whole would draw a large crowd. But a few should be able to go without too much fuss."
                          
"We should go," I say to myself. It's been so long since we got to act like kids. Plus if I remember correctly, Jungkook has a fear of heights, so I'd love to stick him on that Ferris wheel and watch him freak out.
                          
What can I say? I'm his noona. It's my job to torture him occasionally.
                          
"Maybe," Jungkook says hesitantly.
                          
"Jungsoon," Jimin turns in his seat to look at me, "have you been to America before?"
                          
"Aish, she's your noona!" Jin smacks the back of his head. "Where's the honorific?"
                          
"Sorry," Jimin chuckles.
                          
"I haven't actually." I never left Korea until medical school. "While I was in London, my friends and I took trips around Europe, but America is still quite far, so we never went."