The Divorce

47

The last thing I expected to see, at least this year, was Gabriel sitting opposite to me at the airport, one leg crossed over another, staring out the large window at the planes, landing and taking off. 

Dressed in chinos and a white button up, he looked somewhat casual enough but perhaps not casual enough for a flight, in economy.

His eyes met mine and he stared right back, like he had been for the last hour as we waited for our flight to be called boarding. 

"Did you change your mind?" He asked.

"What?"

Next to him was the smallest leather duffle bag I had seen, enough for his needs,  he had said when I questioned if he had packed more things. 

"You're staring at me," He pointed out, which was true, I was. Because he looked really out of place sitting with me in the common waiting area at the gate, rather than in the business class Qantas lounge, like he wanted to.

He must not know what to do with himself. Time he would normally spend drinking or eating through the buffet was now spent staring out a window. 

"Do you want me to go get us an upgrade?"

It was tempting, it really was. Especially when he checked in with me and the staff member was practically drooling over him, offering him a free upgrade which I said no to. 

Why?

Because I paid for his ticket. 

Well not his ticket originally but his now and deep down I wanted to see how my boss would go in economy. Gabriel was not happy about it.

"I always get free upgrades," he told me once we checked in my overweight bag, that I had to fork out an extra $40 for 500 grams over, and were making our way through security. 

"I'm sure you do." I had responded. 

To which he simply said, "I'll get it for both of us."

For someone like me a business class upgrade was pretty useless. I didn't really like to eat or drink too much on the flights as I got severe indigestion when my feet weren't on solid land, which meant only one thing.

The descent back to land would make me vomit, terribly. 

"No," I said, finally replying to Gabriel, "A cruel part of me wants to watch you in economy." 

Gabriel uncrossed his legs, slightly stretching them in front of me. For anyone else looking at him, which a lot were because he was I guess an attractive man who dressed well, he looked like he had the perfect posture.

But for me, after working for him, I can tell that this was his version of a 'slouch' as his hips weren't glued to the cushion of the chair like he normally did. 

"That's not very nice when I'm doing you a favour."

"Fern offered to do it."

Gabriel looked like he rolled his eyes, or perhaps he did, his pupils lifted to the ceiling and back down but so quickly I wasn't sure if I saw it. 

"He wouldn't be very good at it."

Which is true I didn't really trust Fern but at the same time I had no idea why workaholic Gabriel would take leave off for me. He even called in 'sick' again last Thursday and Fern and I plotted what it meant in the office. It was nice in a way, to be able to eat all the snacks it my desk without Gabriel yelling that I was chewing too loud. 

After what seemed like another hour of waiting, the announcement to board was finally called and I started to stand up and grab my very large carry on bag.