NOT YOU AGAIN! {KITTYZ}

REENCOUNTER

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Velana International Airport, Maldives. We are pleased to announce we've just landed in paradise. The local time is... irrelevant, because you're in the Maldives, baby! Please remain seated with your seatbelts fastened until the seatbelt sign is turned off and the aircraft comes to a complete stop, but feel free to internally scream with excitement because you've made it!"

Hanni slowly tugged off her earphones, leaving behind the calming playlist that had been her escape for the last few hours. Peering out the window, she was met with the jaw-dropping sight of the Maldives—bluer-than-blue ocean, lush green islands, and picture-perfect sandy bays. It was like staring at a screensaver, but in real life. For a brief moment, she was in awe.

Then, she made the critical error of looking around the plane. Mistake #1. Everywhere she turned, cringey couples were making out like it was the last day on Earth. It was as if she'd stumbled onto the set of a low-budget rom-com. Hanni sighed dramatically, sinking back into her seat. She was already exhausted and hadn't even touched down yet. This trip was going to be... something.

Pham Hanni, 22 years old, daughter of an ordinary office worker, had been waiting for this day since what felt like the dawn of time. She'd been saving for this luxurious trip forever—penny by penny, scraping together every cent like she was preparing for the apocalypse. Juggling multiple jobs, late-night shifts, and the kind of early mornings that make you question your life choices, she powered through college, all for this one shining goal. Even the New Year's and Christmas money from relatives that usually went to "treat yourself" moments was stashed away in the "Maldives " fund.

After years of hustle, sleepless nights, and staring longingly at tropical vacation Pinterest boards, the day finally came! She was practically floating on air the night before, manically scrolling through travel guides, triple-checking every detail. The excitement was so real she didn't sleep a wink.

But then, morning came... and so did the dreaded phone call. Her boyfriend—yes, the one who was supposed to be joining her in this dreamy paradise—called to cancel, citing "family stuff." Cue the rage. Hanni's inner demon was ready to cut him loose. Who in their right mind ditches a FREE trip to the Maldives?! But her angel was like, "Calm down, Hanni, he didn't know it was your ultimate dream vacation spot because, duh, you didn't tell him."

So, after an internal wrestling match between revenge and reason, Hanni made the executive decision to go alone. After all, she had already paid for everything in advance, and nothing—not even a flaky boyfriend—was going to stand between her and those overwater bungalows.

After a quick hop off the plane, Hanni was ready to dive into her paradise vacation. But first, she had to endure a 20-minute boat ride that felt longer than her college lectures. Seriously, was this a luxurious resort or a scene straight out of Titanic? As the boat glided over the waves, she could practically hear the "My Heart Will Go On" soundtrack playing in her head.

Finally, they arrived at the main lobby, and Hanni's eyes went wide as if she had just stumbled into a Pinterest board come to life. She was instantly transported into an oasis of elegance and serenity—think "glamorous vacation" meets "why don't I live here permanently?" The lobby was open-air, blending seamlessly with nature, as if Mother Nature herself had thrown a party and forgotten to invite the rest of the world.

A grand entrance greeted her with soaring wooden beams and airy white drapes that billowed softly in the ocean breeze, giving off serious "I woke up like this" vibes. The ceiling was so high it could've doubled as a launch pad for the SpaceX rockets. If that wasn't enough, the centerpiece was either an elegant water feature or the world's fanciest kiddie pool, stretching out toward the horizon and mirroring the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. Hanni half-expected to see mermaids lounging on oversized floaties.