Lee Heeseung Imagines 2

Flight

Flying was never your favorite thing. Not because you were afraid of heights, but because airports were chaotic, and airplane seats were far too cramped. Today was no exception. You were rushing through the crowded terminal, trying to make it to your gate on time. Your carry-on bag bumped against your legs as you hurried past passengers. With a quick glance at your ticket, you spotted your seat assignment: 17A.

As you finally boarded the plane and reached your row, you noticed someone already seated in 17B. A guy dressed in all black, his face obscured by a mask and a beanie pulled low over his forehead. He sat by the window, staring out at the tarmac, seemingly lost in thought. You assumed he was probably another traveler who just wanted to avoid small talk. Not that you were complaining.

You slid into your seat beside him, giving him a polite nod before getting comfortable. The last thing you expected was to sit next to someone who might be a famous idol. After all, you were just a casual listener of K-pop and didn't follow the idol world too closely. Besides, you had a playlist of soothing music ready to help you zone out for the next few hours.

As the flight attendants made their final rounds, you pulled out your sketchbook, something that always helped calm your nerves during flights. You weren't a professional artist by any means, but sketching was a hobby that relaxed you. You flipped to a blank page and started doodling mindlessly.

Out of the corner of your eye, you noticed the guy next to you glancing in your direction. He quickly turned his head back toward the window when he saw you look up. You chuckled quietly to yourself, thinking he must be shy or nervous about flying.

The plane began to taxi down the runway, and you braced yourself for takeoff. Your seatmate shifted uncomfortably beside you. He tugged at the brim of his beanie and adjusted his mask as if trying to make himself invisible.

Curiosity got the best of you. "First time flying?" you asked softly, trying to make conversation.

He turned to you, his eyes widening slightly above the mask. He shook his head, then paused. "No, just... had bad experiences in the past," he said, his voice low and hesitant.

You nodded in understanding. "Yeah, airports can be a nightmare. All the crowds and chaos, it can be overwhelming."

He gave a small, almost relieved nod, his body relaxing slightly. "Something like that," he muttered, glancing back out the window.

You smiled, thinking he must be like you—a quiet traveler who preferred to keep to himself. But there was something about his demeanor that intrigued you. It wasn't nervousness, exactly. More like he was on guard, as if expecting something to go wrong.

As the plane ascended into the sky and the fasten seatbelt sign switched off, you went back to your sketching, occasionally stealing glances at him. There was something oddly familiar about him, but you couldn't quite place it. Maybe he just had one of those faces, even if it was mostly hidden behind his mask.

"So, are you going on vacation?" you asked, breaking the silence again.