Hard Love: Reminiscence - Michaeng || Book II

-5-

Fast forwards to the day where the two are lifting off to the sunny city of LA, away from the cold damp air of Nelson's winter. 

"It's been a while since we rode an aircraft." Mina nodded in agreement, making her way to the boarding gate with Jihyo following behind as their area was paged. Scanning their digital ticket on the machine to board the plane. 

"I'm thrilled. Aren't you?" Jihyo shakes her hands in front of her chest with a wide grin as a sign of excitement before resting on the assigned seat and putting on her seatbelt. 

"Tch." Mina rolled her eyes at the Korean, moving aside the legs of the melon as she crossed over them to get inside her seat. They assigned the seat quite easily without argument since Jihyo is willing to let the Japanese take the window seat, saying that she shall enjoy the views since the latter rarely gets out from their houses besides going to the convenience store where she works. 

"What with the face?" Jihyo asked with a teasing smirk, "Aren't you happy that we are gonna be seeing Chaeyoung in just a few more hours?" Fastening her seatbelt as she put on the prepared headphone, Mina pulled out the transparent tablet displaying before her to read some magazines while pressing on the buttons aside to pull up the partition between them as well. "Aish." Jihyo huffs and was going to take down the partition before it went fully up when the Japanese shot her a blank look. The glare sends her chills which she gradually places her hand back on her thigh and flickered an awkward chuckle, avoiding her eyes from the Japanese before the partition board stands. 

As soon as the solid board stands in between their seats, blocking their sights from each other. Jihyo let out multiple scoffs while glaring at the penguin behind the solid board. "Tch. What a moody bitch!" She mumbled to herself then put on the earphones as well, shutting her eyelids decided to have some rest as the plane takes off after some time. 

-

"Dear passengers, we have landed at our destination, Los Angelos international airport. Please do not take off your seatbelt until the plane has completely stopped. The total flight time is twelve hours and fifteen minutes. Please enjoy your trip here in Los Angelos, thank you for choosing Air New Zealand Airlines, we hope to meet you again......" The announcement continues with different languages as the board between them finally lowers, revealing a Mina who's leaning beside the window, watching the sunny blue sky with a genuine smile plastered on her angelic face. It's a smile that hasn't been seen for a long time and Jihyo feels delighted which the girl still remembers how to smile like this even for a brief time. 

Deep inside, she hopes that she's able to see the sweet smile that lasts longer once again after their plan with meeting the Korean cub works. 

 
Getting off the plane, they passed customs, picked up their baggage successfully, and are now exiting the terminal to where the waiting area is. From afar, Jihyo easily spotted wide cardboard with their names written being raised high above the air waving around. Patting on the Japanese shoulder who's clueless beside her and signaled her to follow, Jihyo leads their way to the cardboard and finds the spouse are the ones who are waving the board like a maniac. 

"It's 2025 oldies. You could have used the LED signs here instead of waving that damn board as if a flag like an idiot." 

"Oh c'mon! Don't you find the technologies too troublesome? You need to pay for the fee to register and all when I could just write your names on here with a free marker." Nayeon reasoned out as she threw the board aside, knowing the robots would clean it up just a moment. "Mina, it's been a long time." She then went past Jihyo who wanted to strangle her a long time ago but finds her words about the technology world now pretty true somehow.