Beyond the clouds

Chapter 1 : The departur gate

Hana Lee tapped her fingers against the edge of her boarding pass, the rhythmic pattern a soothing distraction from the buzzing energy of LAX. Her oversized headphones, a comforting cocoon, pumped soft jazz into her ears, muting the chaos of travelers rushing past. She glanced at the gate number on the screen: Flight 198 to San Francisco. Delayed.

She sighed, adjusting her glasses and tugging the sleeves of her oversized sweater down over her hands. Airports were always a strange mix of excitement and anxiety for her—exciting because they marked the start of a journey, and anxiety-inducing because, well, crowds. Even as a model, used to flashing cameras and bright lights, it was the sea of faces that unsettled her.

Taking a deep breath, she looked around the terminal. Families huddled together, couples murmuring in low voices, and solo travelers like herself, lost in their own worlds. It was then that she noticed him—Sebastian Kane.

He stood out from the crowd like a shadow against a bright canvas. Tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit that seemed out of place among the casual travelers. His dark hair was slicked back, and his eyes, an intense shade of gray, were focused on the screen of his phone. There was an aura about him, something that made people give him a second glance, but also made them keep their distance.

Hana's eyes lingered a moment longer than usual, trying to place where she might have seen him before. Maybe in a magazine? Or was it a billboard? As a model, she was used to recognizing faces, even those she hadn't met in person. But this man, Sebastian Kane, was a mystery.

As if sensing her gaze, Sebastian looked up, their eyes locking across the terminal. A flicker of recognition passed through his eyes, but it was gone as quickly as it came. Hana quickly averted her gaze, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks. What was she thinking, staring at a stranger like that?

She shook her head, pulling out her phone to check the time. Still a two-hour delay. With a resigned sigh, she decided to grab a coffee. She stood, slinging her bag over her shoulder and making her way to the nearby café.

Unbeknownst to her, Sebastian watched her go, his expression unreadable. There was something about her, something familiar, yet distant. He couldn't quite place it, but it gnawed at the back of his mind. He slipped his phone into his pocket and followed her, drawn by an inexplicable curiosity.

Hana ordered a black coffee, her usual, and found a quiet corner to sit. She pulled out a book, hoping to lose herself in its pages, but her mind kept drifting back to the man in the suit. There was a magnetism about him that was hard to ignore. She sipped her coffee, trying to shake off the thought, but it lingered like a shadow.

A few minutes later, she felt a presence near her. She looked up and nearly spilled her coffee. It was him—Sebastian Kane. He stood there, coffee in hand, looking as though he was contemplating something.

"Mind if I join you?" His voice was deep, smooth, with a hint of something she couldn't quite place—an accent, perhaps?

Hana blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "Oh, um, sure," she stammered, quickly closing her book and motioning to the seat across from her.

Sebastian sat down, his movements graceful despite his imposing presence. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the silence hanging between them like an unspoken question.

Finally, he broke the silence. "I couldn't help but notice you were on the same flight. Delayed, huh?"

Hana nodded, unsure of what to say. She wasn't used to strangers approaching her like this, especially not someone who looked like him. "Yeah, seems like we'll be here for a while."

He smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Airports have a way of making time stretch, don't they?"

She chuckled softly, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, they do. I was just trying to pass the time."

Sebastian glanced at the book in her hand. "What are you reading?"

"Oh, it's, um," she hesitated, embarrassed. "It's a fantasy novel."

He raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Fantasy? Interesting. I wouldn't have pegged you as a fantasy reader."

Hana smiled shyly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's an escape, I guess. Something about getting lost in a different world."

"I can understand that," he said, his tone softer now. "Sometimes, reality can be... overwhelming."

She looked at him, surprised by the hint of vulnerability in his voice. It was unexpected, coming from someone who seemed so composed, so controlled.

For a moment, the noise of the airport faded into the background, and they were just two strangers sharing a quiet conversation. Hana felt an odd sense of connection, something she couldn't quite explain. It was as if, in that brief exchange, they had glimpsed something deeper within each other.

But before she could say anything, an announcement crackled over the intercom, calling for passengers to prepare for boarding. The spell was broken, and the world came rushing back.

Sebastian stood, offering her a hand. "Looks like it's time."

Hana hesitated, then took his hand, feeling a spark of something unfamiliar. "Yeah, I guess it is."

They walked to the gate together, side by side but not quite touching. As they boarded the plane, Hana couldn't shake the feeling that this was the beginning of something. Something unexpected, something that would change everything.

And as for Sebastian, he couldn't help but wonder if this chance encounter was really as random as it seemed.