dear heart

the 'getaway'

Pol and Arm finally got to meet Pete after harassing the latter for days on end. Their best friend looked terrible - he was ghastly pale, cheeks hollow and eyes red and puffy from all the crying. He was practically a walking zombie just trying to get by.

Pol suggested the trio take a trip to Chiang Mai over the weekend - a getaway they think Pete desperately needs, to which their best friend was clearly not in the mood to even think of going on a holiday at this time. Nevertheless, Pol and Arm had already booked their flights (they had to snoop around for Pete's room for his passport but it wasn't that difficult when Pete's room was this tidy).

Still, it took a lot of convincing for Pete to finally agree albeit reluctantly. Or rather, he didn't but Pol and Arm took matters into their own hands. They helped him pack his luggage, get his documents, and all that's left is to take a cab to the airport.

"I don't want to go." Pete said grudgingly as he hauled his feet to the cab waiting outside his apartment as Pol and Arm trailed behind him.

"Come on. It's been ages since the three of us have gone on a trip." Pol persuaded, as he shot Pete a pleading smile. "Do it for us?"

Pete sighed wearily. Seeing his best friends look all excited, he found it difficult to be the wet blanket thus, the trio set forth for the airport and Chiang Mai where they'll spend the next 2 days.

The airport was crowded, bustling with people from all walks of life. Fortunately, it took them less than an hour to get checked in, though Pete silently wished they had missed the flight so he could get back home.

"Let's go." Arm said to Pete, as he hurried the latter from the back while they boarded the flight. There was a long queue and it took a bit of squeezing to get to their seat. Oddly, Arm and Pol were allocated a different seat from Pete. They were seating 2 rows diagonally from where he was.

"Why are we on different seats?" Pete asked, trying to hear himself amidst the noise on the plane as people started streaming in.

"There was a system error." Arm explained. "We only knew of it just now. Tried to change our seats during check in earlier, but there weren't any available."

"Ah." Pete nodded as he laid back against his seat. He was taking the window seat, so the seat next to him was empty (for now). It was a full flight according to Arm so Pete can only pray that the person next to him was pleasant even if it was just for an hour. Let's just say, Pete has his fair share of terrible seat mates on flights.

Pete looked out of the window and the sky had turned golden orange as the sun prepared to set. He was still admiring the view when he felt the seat next to his sink, implying a presence of another. Out of courtesy, he turned his head to greet his new seat mate for the next hour, but his jaw tightened the moment he laid eyes on the very one person he was trying to avoid. The cause of his demise.

Vegas too was shocked to see Pete here for his pupils dilated and his mouth fell open at the familiar figure. "I-"

Pete's lower lip was trembling as he stared at the boy wordlessly. It's been a week since he last saw him so what was he doing here? Coincidence? Pete highly doubts so. He shot a death glare at the masterminds who immediately averted his gaze like they had done something shameful - guess he was right.

"I'm gonna get off." Pete muttered, but before he could leave his seat the pilot had given the command for all passengers to take their seats because the plane was preparing for take off.

This got Pete panicking internally as he felt the plane moving along the runway which meant an hour with Vegas. A living nightmare.

"I swear I don't have any part in this." Vegas insisted, seeing the anger on Pete's face like he was ready to lash out at any time.