The airplane continued its steady journey across the Pacific.
Outside...
There was nothing but endless white clouds.
They stretched beneath the aircraft like a quiet sea, glowing softly under the afternoon sunlight.
Inside the cabin, however, everything had settled into a peaceful rhythm.
The overhead lights had been dimmed.
Some passengers watched movies with headphones on.
Others flipped through magazines.
A few children had surrendered to sleep, curled beneath tiny airline blankets.
The constant hum of the engines became almost comforting after a while.
Ji-Ah sat quietly by the window.
Her forehead rested lightly against the cool glass.
She had never imagined the world could look like this.
No buildings.
No roads.
No mountains.
Just...
Clouds.
Thousands and thousands of them.
"So this..." she whispered to herself. "...is what birds see."
A small smile tugged at her lips.
Behind her...
Ha-Joon slowly opened his eyes.
He blinked once.
Twice.
His gaze adjusted to the soft cabin light.
For a moment he simply sat there, trying to remember where he was.
Canada.
Right.
The trip.
He rubbed the bridge of his nose before looking around the cabin.
Min-Ji was asleep beside him, her head still resting lightly against his shoulder.
Several rows ahead...
He noticed Ji-Ah.
She wasn't watching the clouds anymore.
She had turned slightly in her seat...
Looking back.
The moment their eyes met...
Ji-Ah jumped.
Like she'd just been caught stealing cookies.
She whipped her head forward so quickly her hair slapped lightly against her cheek. "..."
Ha-Joon almost smiled.
Almost.
A moment later...
He carefully shifted his shoulder.
"Min-Ji."
She stirred slightly.
"...Mm?"
"I'm going to stretch my legs."
Still half asleep, she nodded.
"...Okay..."
He gently moved away without waking her completely.
Standing in the aisle, he adjusted his sweater before quietly walking toward the front of the cabin.
Ji-Ah heard footsteps.
She looked up.
Then froze.
Ha-Joon stopped beside her row.
"The seat's empty."
She blinked.
"...It is."
He gestured toward it.
"May I?"
She stared.
"...You're asking me?"
"Yes."
"This is unexpected."
"I'll stand instead."
"No!"
She immediately moved her backpack.
"I mean... yes."
"You can sit."
He nodded once before taking the seat beside her.
The seatbelt clicked softly.
Ji-Ah sat so straight her back looked painful.
Her hands rested perfectly on her knees.
Her eyes stared directly ahead.
She looked like she was waiting for an interview.
Ha-Joon noticed.
"...Relax."
"I am."
"No."
"I'm relaxing professionally."
He looked at her.
"...Professionally?"
She nodded once.
"I've never sat beside my boss..."
She lowered her voice dramatically.
"...Thirty thousand feet in the air."
"We're closer to thirty-five."
She slowly turned her head toward him.
"...That wasn't the point."
"I know."
A tiny smile flickered across his face.
For a few minutes...
Neither of them spoke.
Ji-Ah kept stealing little glances toward the window.
Then toward the television screen.
Then toward the buttons above her head.
Then toward the safety card.
Everything fascinated her.
Ha-Joon followed her gaze.
"...First flight?"
She looked embarrassed.
"...Is it obvious?"
"A little."
"I've only seen airplanes from the ground."
She looked back out the window.
"I thought they'd feel... bumpier."
"They can."
"...Don't tell me that."
"They're usually smooth."
"Usually?"
He looked at her for a second.
"...Forget I said that."
She pointed at him.
"You see?"
"You're making it worse."
A few moments later...
She cautiously pressed one of the buttons above her seat.
A reading light switched on.
She blinked.
"...Oops."
She pressed another.
The flight attendant call button chimed.
Ji-Ah froze.
"..."
"..."
"...I broke it."
"You didn't."
"I absolutely did."
A flight attendant approached with a warm smile.
"Yes, miss?"
Ji-Ah looked like she wanted to disappear into the clouds.
"I..."
"...Pressed curiosity."
The attendant blinked.
"...I'm sorry?"
"I was exploring."
Ha-Joon quietly spoke.
"It was accidental."
The attendant smiled kindly.
"It happens all the time."
She turned the call light off.
"No problem."
Ji-Ah bowed about six times.
"I'm so sorry."
After the attendant left...
Ji-Ah slowly covered her face with both hands.
"...I embarrassed my ancestors."
Ha-Joon looked out the window.
"You'll survive."
"I don't think I will."
"You apologized enough for five generations."
She peeked through her fingers.
"...You're making fun of me."
"A little."
A while later...
The seatbelt sign turned on briefly.
The aircraft passed through a patch of light turbulence.
Nothing serious.
Just a few gentle bumps.
The plane dipped slightly.
Ji-Ah grabbed both armrests immediately.
"..."
"..."
"...Ha-Joon."
"Yes?"
"I don't think the plane likes me."
"It isn't personal."
Another gentle bump.
She squeezed the armrest harder.
He noticed her knuckles turning white.
"...Are you afraid of flying?"
She shook her head.
"No..."
Another pause.
"...But..."
He waited.
"I..."
She looked embarrassed.
"I get motion sickness."
"In cars."
"Boats."
She sighed dramatically.
"...Apparently airplanes too."
As if to prove her point...
Her face became noticeably paler.
Ha-Joon frowned slightly.
"You should've told me."
"I thought I'd survive."
"You don't look like you're surviving."
"I feel..."
She swallowed.
"...like my stomach is arguing with gravity."
He reached into the seat pocket and took out the small airsickness bag, placing it gently in front of her.
"Just in case."
She looked horrified.
"...Don't prepare for my downfall."
"I'm preparing for the seat."
"...That's worse."
He quietly reached into his backpack.
After a moment, he pulled out a small packet.
"Ginger candies."
She blinked.
"You carry these?"
"My mother gets motion sickness."
"Oh..."
He handed one to her.
"It might help."
She carefully unwrapped it.
"...Thank you."
After a few minutes...
Her breathing became steadier.
The color slowly returned to her face.
She leaned back against the seat with a tired sigh.
"I'm exhausted."
He looked at the dark circles beneath her eyes.
"You barely slept before we left."
"I was too excited."
"I noticed."
She laughed weakly.
"I wanted to see Canada."
"You will."
"I know..."
Her voice had become quieter now.
The medicine and the gentle humming of the engines were making her sleepy.
Ha-Joon looked toward the window.
Then back at her.
"...Sleep."
"I can't."
"You can."
"I'll wake up looking ugly."
"You'll wake up."
She frowned.
"That wasn't comforting."
He looked at her for a long second before speaking again.
"If it's more comfortable..."
He shifted slightly in his seat.
"...You can use my shoulder."
Ji-Ah's eyes became enormous.
"...Your shoulder?"
"Yes."
She pointed at herself.
"...Mine?"
"There are only two of us here."
She laughed nervously.
"I..."
"No."
"Why?"
"Because..."
She looked away.
"...That's weird."
"It isn't."
"You'll regret offering."
"I won't."
"You don't know how much I move when I sleep."
"I'll take that risk."
She stared at him.
His expression hadn't changed.
Calm.
Patient.
Entirely serious.
"...You're impossible," she muttered.
"So I've been told."
She hesitated for another few seconds.
Then...
Very carefully...
Almost like she expected him to change his mind...
She leaned sideways until the side of her head rested lightly against his shoulder.
She immediately stiffened.
"...Too heavy?"
"No."
"...Really?"
"Sleep."
She let out a tiny breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
"...Okay."
Within minutes...
The steady sound of the engines...
The warmth of the cabin...
And the exhaustion she'd been carrying since morning...
Won.
Her breathing slowed.
Her shoulders relaxed.
One hand loosened its grip on the blanket.
She had fallen asleep.
Ha-Joon glanced down briefly.
A few strands of brown hair had fallen across her face.
Without waking her, he gently brushed them aside so they wouldn't tickle her nose.
Then he looked back toward the clouds outside.
Several rows behind them...
Min-Ji slowly woke.
She blinked sleepily.
"...Ha-Joon?"
Silence.
She looked beside her.
The seat...
Was empty.
Her brows furrowed.
She looked around the cabin.
Then she found him.
Rows ahead.
Sitting beside Ji-Ah.
Ji-Ah asleep.
Resting peacefully against his shoulder.
Ha-Joon hadn't moved.
He simply sat there quietly, letting her sleep.
For a brief moment...
Something sharp twisted in Min-Ji's chest.
Jealousy.
Hot.
Unpleasant.
She clenched the blanket in her lap.
She's just an employee...
Then why...
Why does he look so comfortable beside her?
Her gaze lingered.
Then...
Very slowly...
The jealousy melted into something colder.
More calculating.
A faint smile curved across her lips.
Not warm.
Not kind.
Just thoughtful.
Sleep well, Park Ji-Ah.
Enjoy this trip while you can.
By the time we return...
You'll wish you had never stepped onto this plane.
She leaned back into her seat, closed her eyes again, and hid the smile before anyone else could see it.