FALLEN WONDERLAND 「LEE SOO HYUK & SEO YEA JI FICTION」

21: A yak in the air

Seo Yea Ji had always been a champion sleeper, able to fall into a deep slumber no matter the circumstances. Even on a long flight from Paris to Seoul, she was able to drift off effortlessly, undisturbed by the noise of the airplane's engines or the commotion of the other passengers. As she slept, the world outside the airplane window changed dramatically. The skies shifted from a bright blue to a deep navy, stars twinkling in the distance. Clouds danced outside the window, and the moon rose high in the sky, casting a soft glow over the cabin.

But Seo Yea Ji was blissfully unaware of the passing of time, lost in the peaceful abyss of her dreams. In her dreams, she was in a tranquil garden, surrounded by flowers and butterflies. The air was sweet and fragrant, and she felt completely at ease. As the hours passed, the airplane continued its journey, soaring high above the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean. But for Seo Yea Ji, time stood still as she remained in the comforting embrace of her deep sleep.

After five or six hours of blissful slumber, Seo Yea Ji stirred from her deep sleep, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Her body stretched and moved against the airplane seat, and she let out a contented yawn before slowly opening her eyes. At first, all she saw were clouds outside the window, and she mumbled to herself, still unsure of what had transpired earlier. As she tried to make sense of her surroundings, memories of the previous night slowly came flooding back to her. She remembered being carried to the airport by Lee Soo Hyuk, barefoot and disoriented. At first, she chuckled at the thought that it had all been a strange dream, but as she looked around, she realized that it was all too real.

Seo Yea Ji rubbed the sleep from her eyes and gazed out the window, still feeling a bit confused. She noticed the blanket covering her and slowly removed it, revealing that she was still wearing the same outfit she had fallen asleep in. Looking down, she saw that she was indeed barefoot, and the reality of the situation began to sink in. She hesitated to turn and face the person sitting next to her, fearing the awkwardness of the situation. But as her memory slowly returned, she knew she had to face the truth of what had happened during those long hours of sleep. With a deep breath, Seo Yea Ji finally turned to face her fellow traveler, ready to confront the reality of her situation.

Despite the tumult of the previous events, Lee Soo Hyuk couldn't sleep on the long journey from Paris to Seoul. His adrenaline was still high from the previous uproar, and no matter how hard he tried, sleep evaded him. He moved in his seat, closed his eyes, and tried other positions, but nothing worked. Finally, he resorted to bringing out his iPad and doing some work to pass the time till they arrived at their destination.

Manager Kim, who had been watching the two passengers, emerged with blankets for each of them, asking Lee to rest. Lee hadn't slept in two days, but he vowed to attempt to sleep when they got to Seoul. Manager Kim was concerned and doubtful despite his claims. Lee kept working, but his thoughts kept returning to Seo Yea Ji, who was still sleeping deeply in her seat. He couldn't help but be envious of how effortlessly she appeared to fall and remain asleep, even when he was carrying her about. Lee found himself examining her resting body as his interest rose, amazed by her ability to sleep peacefully.

Lee started to perceive Seo in a new way as he observed her. Despite the previous pandemonium and their first conflicts, he couldn't help but admire her as she slept soundly against the window. He was so preoccupied with his observations that he didn't know he'd been looking for too long until Manager Kim noticed and warned him.

As Seo Yea Ji slowly started to wake up, Lee Soo Hyuk quickly turned his gaze away from her, not wanting to be caught staring. He couldn't help but feel a bit awkward, knowing that Seo had gone through some embarrassing moments before she felt brave enough to face him. He could sense her confusion as she tried to make sense of their situation.