Whispers In Bangkok

Unexpected Reunion

AARADHYA POV

-----

The week seemed to rush by in a blur, each day filled with endless meetings and busy schedules. My business trip in Japan had been productive, but the one thing that had been missing was the chance to see Riki again. After our lunch together, I had hoped for another opportunity to cross paths with him. But as the days went on, my busy schedule made it impossible to meet him once more.

Back in the hotel room, I was packing my things, trying to focus on the task at hand. Rayn, my elder brother, appeared in the doorway with a casual air, his expression calm yet expectant.

"Ara, are you ready to leave tomorrow?" he asked, glancing at me with his usual mixture of concern and curiosity.

I looked up from my suitcase, my heart sinking slightly. "Yes, but..." I hesitated, my mind drifting to Riki. I wanted nothing more than to see him one more time before leaving.

Rayn noticed my distant look. "What's wrong? You seem a million miles away."

I forced a smile, trying to hide my emotions. "I'm just tired, that's all."

He frowned, clearly not convinced. "Are you sure that's all? You've been distracted lately."

"It's nothing, really," I said, hoping to end the conversation. The truth was, my mind was completely occupied with thoughts of Riki. The idea of leaving Japan without seeing him again was almost unbearable.

---

The next morning, Rayn woke me up earlier than I had anticipated. I groaned as I rolled out of bed, rubbing my eyes. "It's time to go, Ara," he said, his tone light but firm.

"Why so early?" I asked, my voice thick with sleep. "We still have five hours before our flight."

Rayn's eyes sparkled with mischief. "It's a secret. You'll find out once we get there."

I stared at him, puzzled. "A secret? What's going on?"

Rayn only smiled and continued with his preparations. I decided not to press further, though my curiosity was piqued. As we drove to the airport, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was afoot.

---

**In the Car**

"Oppa, why are we going so early? And why are you so excited?" I asked, breaking the silence that had settled in the car.

Rayn's grin widened. "It's a secret, Ara. You'll know soon enough."

I fell silent, reflecting on how little time I'd spent with my brother due to my busy schedule. I realized I hadn't teased him in a while and decided to seize the opportunity.

"Oppa, when are you going to get married? You're turning 30 next month!" I teased, trying to lighten the mood.

Rayn's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Why are you bringing this up all of a sudden?"

"Well, you have a lovely girlfriend, and your friends are getting married. You're the same age as them."

"They're already 30, Ara."

"Does that make you any younger? You're so annoying. I feel sorry for my future sister-in-law."

"AARADHYA!"

"What? I'm just speaking the truth. Your two best friends are getting married soon."

"I'm not prepared yet, Ara. I'm still nervous about it!"

I laughed, genuinely amused. "Haha, I can't believe it! Rayn, the boldest man I know, is nervous about getting married?"

"Ara, if you keep teasing me, I won't tell you about your surprise!"

"Okay, okay, I'll stop. But tell me your plan. You always tell me first."

"Well," Rayn said, his tone becoming more serious, "as soon as I propose, I want to get married that same month to make it special. You know, she's just like us-half Japanese and half Indian. We might have two weddings: one Indian and one Japanese."

"Oh my gosh, that's going to be amazing! And she's my only best friend after you, Kwan, and Yo-han. I miss her a lot."

"Me too, Ara. It's been a whole month."

"Ew, so cheesy. Haha!"

"Ara!"

---

We arrived at the airport, and my excitement was palpable. "Rayn, where's my surprise?"

"There she is," he pointed.

I turned to see Rayn's girlfriend, Meera Nishimura, standing nearby. A wave of emotion washed over me. Meera had always been like a sister and a mother figure to me, despite being younger. I rushed to her, enveloping her in a tight hug.

"I missed you so much!" I exclaimed, feeling tears prick at my eyes.

Rayn watched us with a proud smile. "Hi, Meera," he said, giving her a quick flying kiss so I wouldn't see and feel awkward.

"Eonnie, how did you know we were here?" I asked, pulling away from the hug.

"Rayn told me you'd be here," Meera explained. "I have to go to India for a month because my mom keeps calling. There were no flights from South Korea today, so I came to Japan. My flight is in three hours, and Rayn mentioned you're flying to Thailand at the same time. I wanted to see you before I left."

"It's okay," I said, touched. "I really wanted to see you, and Oppa was missing you so much."

---

We spent the next two hours catching up and having lunch. The conversation flowed effortlessly, and it was comforting to be with someone who knew me so well. Afterward, I decided to give Rayn and Meera some private time.

"Are you going to be okay on your own?" Rayn asked, his concern evident.

"Yes, I'll be fine," I assured him, heading off to explore the airport.

I spent the next hour shopping for gifts for Meera, my family, and Rayn. As I browsed through a cute shop, I came across a small AR necklace. It was adorable and unique, with a feature where pressing a button would light up a message of love or miss you. I bought it on impulse and decided to wear it right away.

After buying the gifts and bidding farewell to Meera, I boarded the flight. The seat arrangements were not ideal; Rayn and I were not seated beside each other due to a booking oversight. The flight was luxurious and catered to business-class passengers, but the seating arrangement only added to my feeling of melancholy.

As I settled into my seat, I glanced around and noticed how quiet and serene the cabin was. The thought of not being able to see Riki again made my heart ache. I looked at the necklace I had just bought, hoping it might bring me some comfort.

The plane began to taxi, and I saw Rayn seat assignments far from mine. I felt a pang of sadness as I thought about how Rayn was feeling, missing merra and there time together. As the flight took off, I became lost in thoughts about Riki, tears silently slipping down my cheeks.

"Hello," a voice said from beside me. I barely registered it, lost in my thoughts.

The same voice said, "Hello" again. This time, I looked up, feeling a twinge of annoyance mixed with sadness. But when I saw the face next to me, my heart skipped a beat.

"Riki?!" I gasped, my eyes wide with disbelief.