Whispers Before Dawn

Chapter 10

Ilay sat in his seat on the private jet, staring out the window as the aircraft glided smoothly through the sky, leaving Zanzibar behind. He was still, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest, though his expression remained unreadable.

Ten minutes after takeoff, an air hostess approached him, her smile polite and practiced. "Would you care for some snacks, sir?"

Without shifting his gaze, Ilay shook his head. "No, thank you."

Another ten minutes passed before she returned, this time offering the drinks menu. "Would you like something to drink, sir?"

Ilay's fingers stilled for a moment, his response curt. "No."

A third visit followed, and she now carried a tray of essential oils. "Sir, would you like a massage? We have—"

"No" Ilay interrupted, his tone firmer, irritation beginning to surface.

After twenty minutes, she returned again, her voice a little more tentative. "Sir, we have a variety of dinner options—Continental, vegan Korean, Chinese, Indian. What would you prefer?"

Ilay finally turned to look at her, his eyes narrowing. His tone was calm, but there was an edge to his words. "I'll ask if I need anything."

She hesitated before speaking again. "Then, what would you like in terms of alcoholic beverages?"

At that, Ilay undid his seatbelt, his movements deliberate, as if he were about to stand. Before he could rise, the bodyguard who had accompanied him from Zanzibar stepped forward, his posture stiff.

"Sir, this is all on the boss's request" the bodyguard said.

Ilay's brow furrowed. He turned fully toward the bodyguard. "What nonsense? Tae-ui wouldn't put up you guys to irritate me"

The bodyguard shook his head. "No, sir. Boss gave specific instructions. He added 20 new services to your flight plan and requested that we ask you personally about each one."

Ilay's gaze darkened. "How many services in total?"

"Thirty-five, sir."

Ilay exhaled sharply, leaning back into his seat. "Mark 'No' for all of them unless I say otherwise."

The bodyguard hesitated. "Not even the body massage, sir? We brought two extra hostesses just for that."

Ilay's lips twisted into a thin smile, cold and sharp. "If you want them to stay alive, don't ask me another question."

"Understood, sir." The bodyguard quickly stepped back, gesturing for the hostess to leave.

As they retreated, Ilay's gaze returned to the window. His fingers resumed their rhythmic tapping. "This guy..." he muttered under his breath.

******

It was just past midday when an Asian man wearing a black cap, leather jacket, and combat boots exited the arrivals terminal at Hong Kong Airport. His footsteps were steady, unhurried, as if unaffected by the bustling crowd around him. His phone rang in his hand.

"Hello..." the man answered quietly.

"Taeii... on your left, 60 degrees" a slow, familiar voice drawled on the other end.

Tae-ui's head lifted slightly, his gaze following the directions. Standing next to a parked car, Ilay leaned casually against the door. His presence seemed to stop Tae-ui in his tracks, and for a second, Tae-ui remained still, his eyes lingering on Ilay as though gauging the moment.

Without a word, Tae-ui made his way toward Ilay and slid into the passenger seat. When Ilay climbed in beside him, Tae-ui pulled him into a brief but intense kiss, his grip firm for the fleeting moment they were connected. Once the kiss broke, Tae-ui leaned back into his seat, his cap pulled lower over his eyes, casting a shadow across his face.