Moonlit Man (bxb)

Chapter 15 - Love Takes Flight

The airport was a cocoon of steel, the walls elegantly curved and wrapped around to create a dome shape. Thick beams supported an array of windows while white floor's ran across the space, interrupted by the occasional steward stands and help desks. They arrived at noon, when the people moved like ants in different directions. Mathew, Sam and Sebastian joined the flow of people making their way from the check-in desks to the cafe's and through the gates, each one following the other in front.

"Is it always this busy?" Sam pronounced over the murmurs of everyone around him. A flutter of giddiness mixed with anxiety stirred within him as he brushed past streams of mild-mannered strangers.

"It is during midday. Stick with me and you'll be fine." Mathew said, while approaching a man in uniform, positioned at the departure gate. "Sebastian, please make sure Astrid is ready to meet us there. I've been waiting for her."

"Of course, sir." Sebastian replied dutifully.

Sam was curious to meet this, Astrid. His lips thinned as he contemplated if Mathew ever mentioned having a girlfriend. He did seem like the type of guy who would have a stunning woman by his side. A tinge of envy colored his face as his eyebrows furrowed. He realized this and quickly corrected himself.

"ID please." The gentleman said, while scanning Mathew's face. Sam noticed how people reacted when they first saw his face. It was the kind of face that stopped you in your tracks. He thought Mathew must have been used to that: the sudden pause in a person's natural expression when they looked his way, followed by overcompensating with a nonchalant gaze or a sweet smile – depending on their gender. It didn't help that he was so modest with it, it made the ladies hang onto his every word while the men prized him with more respect compared to others.

Mathew presented his phone and was let through, along with Sebastian. However, when Sam revealed his paper ticket, the man approached him and said, "Sorry this is a standard ticket for international departure, not a private flight. Please make your way to terminal three where you will then be seated."

"Oh, um there must have been a mistake. This is a pre-paid ticket by my friend, and it says terminal four." Sam muttered as he processed the man's words.

"Yes, but these reservations must be signed off and the person must be present with you. Otherwise, you cannot board a private aircraft. It says here, the reservation was made by a Katherine Hoffman, is she here with you today?"

"No but I can explain--"

Mathew stepped in between the two and took Sam's arm while locking eyes with the ticket officer. 

"He's with me." As if automatically, the man stepped aside and let him through.

"Mathew, I can't afford to pay for a private flight. I'll just go on the standard one and–"

"Nonsense. You're my friend, and friends fly together." He interrupted, while flashing him a warm smile. Sam was comforted to hear those words which seemed to dampen his growing anxiety.

They made their way through the gates and onto the smooth, gray tarmac. Before them was a bounty of clover and sun-strengthened grass stitched alongside a long stretch of asphalt. Sam couldn't help but gawk at the towering, yet sleek black jet parked on the runway. Like the Range Rover, the light seemed to bend along the taught curves, displaying the reflections of the afternoon sky in the dark paint. He noticed the two enormous rotary engines bolted on either side of the vessel, housing an array of gun-metal gray blades. They were accompanied by the elegant, black wings of the jet which extended over them as they approached closer.

"Sam, meet Astrid." He said while a smile grew edgeways on his chiseled face.

"She's... beautiful." He whispered through a breath of astonishment.