Inside the flight...
Sita boarded the plane quietly, a soft murmur of announcements echoing through the terminal behind her. She looked at her boarding pass—Seat 18A. As she walked through the narrow aisle, the hum of conversations and overhead storage bins closing felt oddly distant. Her fingers brushed against the backs of the seats as she passed, like she was holding onto something familiar for balance in a world that suddenly felt new and terrifying.
When she reached her seat, she found that it was by the window. A small, fragile comfort. She gently slid into place, placing her bag under the seat in front of her. Just as she fastened her seatbelt, the woman next to her smiled warmly. She was heavily pregnant, her hands resting protectively over her belly.
Sita offered a polite smile in return, her eyes drifting to the world outside the window. The airport runway stretched endlessly, and beyond that—clouds, sky, and the unknown.
How will I ever survive in a new place, she thought, when I barely know who I am now?
Her chest tightened. She couldn't stop thinking about the lives that were lost because of her, or at least that's how it felt. The guilt was sharp, like shards of glass she'd tucked away and forgotten until now.
Maybe I really am unlucky, she whispered silently to herself.
Suddenly, the announcement buzzed through the cabin speakers:
"Ladies and gentlemen, please fasten your seatbelts. We are ready for takeoff."
As the plane began to taxi down the runway, Sita's breath hitched. Her hands gripped the armrests. The roar of the engines grew louder. Her heart pounded against her ribs like it wanted to escape.
The woman beside her noticed. "First time flying?" she asked gently, her voice soft and reassuring.
Sita nodded, swallowing her nerves. "Is it that obvious?" she chuckled shyly.
"Don't worry, I was like that too," the woman smiled. "I'm Annie, by the way. I came to visit my mom who lives in the countryside. Now I'm heading back home. Me and my husband live in Velaria—it's a little city, nestled in the hills. Almost like a fairytale, really."
Sita's curiosity was piqued by the name. Velaria... She could almost imagine it—cobblestone streets, floating lanterns, soft evening winds.
Annie continued, gently rubbing her stomach. "It's our first child. I've always dreamed of becoming a mother, loved kids since I was one myself. But now that it's real, I don't know. I feel nervous... scared, even. Sometimes I regret my choices. What if I'm not good enough? What if I mess it all up?"
She let out a breath, then smiled faintly. "But then... I saw her for the first time in the ultrasound. And it felt like everything—every fear, every sleepless night—would be worth it."
Sita turned toward her fully now, her eyes softening. "You're going to be a great mother," she said sincerely. "And I hope... I hope I get to meet this little one someday."
Annie beamed. "Thank you. That means a lot. You know, I never had siblings. But maybe now... my baby has an aunt."
They both chuckled at that—strangers only minutes ago, now sharing something warm, fragile, and human.
Sita asked gently, "Isn't it dangerous to fly when you're... you know... expecting?"
Annie nodded. "I talked to my doctor. It's not ideal, but it was necessary. My mom really needed me. My husband was worried sick, but... I had to come."
Sita reached out, her voice steady for once. "Don't worry. Everything's going to be fine. You're brave. And... you're not alone."
Annie smiled with gratitude, then leaned back slightly, eyes fluttering closed for a moment of peace.
Sita turned her gaze back out the window. The clouds seemed to whisper now, not roar.
> Maybe this is what healing looks like—small moments, gentle words from unexpected places.
As the plane climbed higher into the sky, her thoughts drifted to her parents—their voices, their laughter, the memories of what was. Her throat tightened, but she let the emotion sit with her. Sometimes, pain just needed to be heard.
---
Meanwhile, at the airport...
The terminal was packed. Flashlights blinked like stars, fans screaming, phones raised high.
All for Tae Hyun.
They were shouting, "Evan! Evan!!"
That was his arena name. The crowd outside the airport swarmed like bees, desperate for a glimpse of him.
Tae-hyun's manager peeked out through the tinted glass and sighed. "You weren't kidding… they're everywhere."
Tae-hyun leaned back in his seat, hood up and cap low. He wasn't the type who liked attention—or people, really. Fame wasn't something he chased. It had just… happened.
"Let's switch," he said suddenly.
His manager blinked. "What?"
"You be me. I'll be you."
And just like that, Tae-hyun handed over his jacket and cap. The manager hesitated but then nodded, pulling the disguise over himself. Moments later, he stepped out the car, met by blinding camera flashes and deafening screams.
Meanwhile, Tae-hyun slipped out the other exit—hood up, face down—just another guy in the background.
---
At the same time, a plane touched down.
Sita and Annie stepped out of the terminal, pulling their hoods up as they entered the airport's main hall. But before they could fully take in the place—
"Is that… is that Evan!?"
A tidal wave of fans surged forward.
Tae-hyun's manager, disguised as him, was trying to keep calm, but the crowd was getting wilder by the second.
In the chaos, Annie stumbled. Her ankle twisted sharply, and she screamed, "Sita!"
Sita turned—but the crowd had already swallowed Annie.
"Annie? ANNIE!" she shouted, her heart thudding, panic rising.
She pushed her way through the wave of bodies, ignoring the elbows, the shouting fans, the frantic flashes of cameras. Finally, she found her—collapsed, breathing hard, face pale and twisted in pain.
"Annie, I'm here!" she said, crouching beside her.
A nearby guard rushed to them. "You need to get her out of here. There's another exit, come on. I'll call the ambulance."
Sita, barely holding it together, pulled Annie up. Every movement made her friend cry out, but she kept going. She didn't care about the tears stinging her eyes, the way her hands trembled. She had to get Annie help.
But just a few steps from the exit, her strength gave out. Annie was too heavy, her limbs too limp.
Sita almost dropped to her knees, desperate. "Someone… please…"
And then, a hand reached out.
Strong. Steady. Warm.
She looked up, startled, and her breath caught.
The man standing before her wore a mask and a cap pulled low, but something about him immediately stood out. His short, clean bulletin-cut hair peeked out from beneath the cap, and though half his face was covered, his bambi-like eyes met hers—wide, deep, and impossibly gentle.
Despite the modest clothes and the disguise, he had a quiet magnetism. His physique was solid and broad-shouldered, built like someone who trained not for the spotlight, but for discipline. He didn't say a word, just supported Annie from the other side and helped her to reach near the ambulance.
Sita was calling to Annie's husband but his phone was off .
When she turned back and looked for the guy who helped her , No one was there...
TO BE CONTINUED...