high flying love ¦ lee jeno

ch ; 10

·⁀ ༄.°✈ ₊⭒˚｡⋆ 10 ·⁀ ༄.°✈ ₊⭒˚｡⋆
He Drives

The wheels of the plane touched down on the runway at Incheon International Airport, tires screeching as they met the tarmac. Jeno, muscles slightly stiff from the long flight from Paris, unfastened his seatbelt and straightened his uniform. Stepping off the plane, he was greeted by the familiar rush of cool air mixed with the jet fuel fumes - a scent that strangely felt like home.

Collecting his things, Jeno made his way towards the crew lounge. As he strolled through the terminal, he pulled out his iPad, checking his flight schedule for the next few days. A frown creased his forehead. He didn't have another flight for an unusual three days. This was a rare occurrence in his schedule, typically filled with back-to-back trips and barely a day for rest.

Suddenly, a pair of arms slung around his shoulders in a friendly greeting. "Well, look who it is," a voice with a hint of mischief boomed.

Jeno turned, a smile spreading across his face. It was Huang Renjun, his co-pilot and closest friend on the team. Renjun, with his contagious laughter and parent-like energy, was the perfect addition to Jeno's occasional bouts of obliviousness.

"Hey, Renjun-ah," Jeno greeted him with a fist bump. "Back from Shanghai already?"

"Just landed," Renjun confirmed, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "How 'bout you? Haven't seen you in a while!"

"Also just landed. Now, I have three days off, can you believe it?"

Renjun's eyes widened. "Three days? Lucky you! What are you going to do with all that free time?"

Jeno shrugged, a playful glint in his eyes. "Sleep and more sleep...who knows?"

The memory of his encounter in Milan flickered across his mind, a fleeting image of a certain smile and the unexpected connection they shared. He quickly pushed the thought aside, attributing it to the tiredness of the long flight.

"The entire time? cooped up in your apartment?" Renjun let out an exaggerated sigh. "Well, how 'bout drinks tonight? To celebrate your unexpected vacation."

Jeno couldn't help but grin. "Sounds good. Drinks it is."

As they walked side by side towards the crew lounge, the bustling airport environment faded into the background. Jeno felt a surge of excitement for the unexpected break. Three days in Seoul. Time to recharge.

-

The afternoon sun cast a golden hue over the bustling streets of Seoul as Jeno navigated his car through the familiar traffic. Cool air streamed through the open windows, carrying the city's vibrant energy. He leaned back in his seat, one hand resting casually on the steering wheel, the other tapping out a rhythm against the gearstick.

Renjun, beside him, was mid-rant. "Dude, you won't believe it. Those back-to-back flights from New York to Tokyo and then straight to Sydney nearly killed me. My body was a freaking time zone warzone. I swear, I felt like a jet-lagged zombie at the controls."

"Man, I swear I saw double for most of the trip," Renjun chuckled, wiping a hand across his forehead. "Felt like I was about to hallucinate a whole other crew!"

Jeno chuckled, shaking his head in understanding. "Tell me about it. I remember doing a similar trip last year - London to Singapore to LA. By the time I landed in LA, I could barely tell the sky from the ground." He understood the exhaustion all too well. Being a pilot meant long hours, jet lag, and missing out on holidays. But it also meant an immense responsibility for the lives they carried on board.

A comfortable silence settled between them for a moment, the only sound the rhythmic hum of the engine and the symphony of honking horns outside. The weight of the responsibility they carried as pilots was a shared burden, something that transcended friendship.

"It's tough, man," Renjun continued, his voice laced with a hint of seriousness. "But you know what? Even on those crazy long hauls, there's a certain... peace up there, you know? Looking down at the world, the clouds like a giant cotton candy blanket. Reminds you of how small we are, yet the responsibility we hold."

"Yeah," Jeno said, with a smile, "But hey, that's the life we chose, right? Sacrificing a little sleep and sanity for the thrill of the journey."

"Speaking of sacrifices," Renjun suddenly announced, rubbing his eyes. "I'm running on fumes here. Desperate need for a caffeine boost before we hit the bar tonight."

Jeno crinkled his nose. "Hold on, Renjun, remember we have drinks planned? Maybe skip the coffee and go straight for the good stuff."

"Nah," Renjun countered, waving a dismissive hand. "This is a caffeine emergency. I need something strong to shake the sleep deprivation monster." He paused, his brow furrowing as he scrolled through his phone. "There's actually a really good cafe I know just around the corner - Leo's Hearth. They make a mean Americano, strong enough to kickstart a coma."

Jeno simply nodded, a neutral expression on his face. He didn't know this particular cafe, but Renjun seemed to have a strong opinion on their coffee. Turning the corner, he followed Renjun's directions, pulling up in front of a quaint little cafe with a white and beige awning.

"This the place?" he asked.

"Bingo!" Renjun exclaimed, already unbuckling his seatbelt. "I really need caffeine."

Jeno climbed out of the car, a curious flicker of anticipation sparking within him. With a shrug and a smile, he followed Renjun into the cafe.

-

a/n: I MISSED WRITING FLUFF ROMANCE AAA. i think the last time was my very first book, Umbrella, Jaemin FF. ><

Continued.