Gap Moe on the Flight Home
A woman exuding an air of refined elegance tilted her head at me. "That's young enough to make mistakes, right?"
Given her poised aura, I figured she came from money—someone this striking yet not famous? Her sharp features piqued my curiosity, making it hard to pull off my usual "not Korean" act in English.
"You look so foreign, I wasn't sure if you were Korean. Or are you actually foreign?" She switched fully to Korean mid-sentence.
"Korean through and through."
"I knew it!" She clasped her hands with a smile that drew you in completely. Colder-looking than our Hayun, yet flashing this loose, captivating grin.
"What do you do? Student?"
"Not working, not studying. If I had to pick... MMA?"
"MMA...? It suits you, but feels like a waste too." I get it—Mom's delicate features on me. My pre-smashed face was a blur, but staring in the mirror lately, I remembered why girls liked kid-me. The problem? Comparing to Harin and Beom-jun...
"Search me up or something?"
"Not famous yet."
"Still, worth remembering if I might." Long flight to Korea—guess she was bored, hunting company. Better yet, bring work like me.
"What's your name?"
"English name?"
"Fighters have ring names, right?"
"You know your stuff." She flinched at my words, so I tilted my head.
"Search K-Monster on YouTube." My IMMAF fights were still blowing up—five highlights from that tournament.
"I do SNS too. Beomho Liro?"
"It comes up, but... you 17?"
"Yeah. Korean age 18 soon, school age 19."
"Whoa~ Almost slipped up."
"...? How old are you, noona?"
I wondered if her "slip-up" meant what I thought. If so, gap moe? This elegant aura clashed with her bold approach. Turns out, just 20. Sure, adult-student gap, but ID-wise, I was two years younger.
"Huh? That's young enough to make mistakes, right?"
"....."
"Curious about that mistake? Scoot closer?"
I never turn down a woman coming my way. Figured she saw me as fun, like the rest. But her face flushed red.
"...?"
Her reactions were refreshingly unique. Bold one second, shy the next—I tilted my head.
She stood, decisive, and came to my seat. Sex on a plane? Illegal, obviously. But this girl seemed green as hell.
"Uh... yeah, tight fit for two..." She touched her chin, face beet red, staring at me. Totally unprepared.
Pride hurt by the younger guy? Came over anyway?
"For real, mistakes okay?"
"....."
She nodded slowly, so I kissed her. She tensed up everywhere... stirring my sadistic side. Didn't plan to go this far, but my body moved on autopilot. Hand sliding down, she flinched.
"Shh."
Thought she was easy despite looks, but no—this was virgin territory. Her stiff reaction snapped me back.
"Phew. Almost made a huge mistake."
"Y-you can, though..."
She grabbed my stopping hand. Guess I had to show this girl a new world.
Landing in Korea, I swapped numbers with noona Lee Min-seo. We parted with lingering regrets.
She'd been in the States since high school freshman year. Two-year gap, no need to call it love. Didn't go all the way—huge shame. First time with my gear? Not in public. She got scared too, so we stopped.
Knowing we'd part like this, should've gone for the main event crowds be damned... Didn't expect her to send me off so cool after that heat.
Still, pretty wild intro for a seeming newbie. Licking my lips, I sent Min-seo off and cabbed home.
Mom greeted me after ages. Daily texts worked—she made galbi jjim for me, but I ignored it.
"Mooom~"
Tried hugging; she toed my solar plexus instead. Late reaction on my part.
"Gah!"
"...Who're you?"
"Mom, check this—met a promising noona on the way?"
No apologies here. Divert with juicy bait.
My card hit—Mom eyed my phone silently. Showed the airport pic with Min-seo. Stunner widened her eyes.
But her words floored me.
"...Min-seo?"
"Huh!? How'd you know? Lee Min-seo."
"You don't remember Min-seo?"
Mom knew her already. Head tilt—childhood "girlfriend" memory surfaced.
"No way...!?"
"Met Min-seo on the plane? Did she recognize you?"
"No clue."
Mom dropped the anger, chatting. I called Min-seo again.
-"Tu... tu... tu. The number you have reached is no longer in service."
"....."
No check, but busted hard. Her cool send-off? Last look at unrecognizable childhood boyfriend.
Easy body offer despite "first time"... How'd she know I'd be there?
"Bastard didn't even call—karma? Gut punch 'cause she grew so pretty?"
"Regret city~"
Shrugged, pocketed phone—Mom eyed my face.
"Hmm..."
Smiling at me, but yeah, just regret. Min-seo was my type, but if she pushes away... Can't force it. I don't reject anyway.
Mom's right—stings a bit. Kissed her cheek; she blocked, saying no. Years of patterns? Means "more."
Smooched her cheek raw till she shoved, face serious.
"Strip."
Sounds sus, but prime chance. Shirt off, knees hit floor.
"Tsk..."
Best: silence. Just repent.
Her earlier act? Like never seeing me again. Dropping Min-seo? Godsend.
"Who said you could doodle on the body I made...?"
"MMA as an Asian dude."
"....."
"Tried it out—they all think we look the same."
Explained ticket power.
"Needed standout features for bigger stages."
"...So that trashy tattoo?"
"Who tattoos a Desert Eagle here? Insane."
Awesome as fuck, but wrong vibe now.
"And this tiger on my right chest. English name Leon, Korean Beom-ho—tiger fits."
"Words... just eat."
"Yup!"
Yanked clothes on, ate with Mom.
YouTube's blue ocean now. Uploaded game vids, set up bought rigs. Waited for Harin's school return.
Gold rush content? Minecraft. Just upload, views pour in.
Harin starts gaming late—perfect early gift.
Harin home; said I got presents. Thrilled, hugged me. Led to game room.
Her room PC—not super hyped. But eyes sparkled at downloaded Minecraft.
"Play with oppa?"
"Yeah!"
"Beom-jun joins later too~"
"Got it!"
Recorded her view. No Discord—Skype chat.
"Use English though."
"English... hard?"
"Oppa'll do English. You get it, right?"
"Yeah!"
"Unknown words, I'll fix."
Taught basics, explored together. Beom-jun joined—trio fun.
Edit up—nailed market; views exploded. Harin's cute broken English? Charm point.
Our family's biannual US trips—Beom-jun kinda spoke it. Mom-style Korean accent; I smoothed naturally.
Mom loved game-English lessons.
No need vocab yet—just speaking perfect.
Minecraft, blue ocean goldmine—insane power. Subs skyrocketed daily. Korean subs too—steep curve.
Harin flipped at "$5 per diamond in 1-hour hunt as allowance."
Issue: Harin skips sleep, game-obsessed. Mom worried over Minecraft's violent addiction.