NOVEMBER GOT ME YOU

Chapter 18

DINA'S P.O.V

It's my D-day. I would be leaving London for Miami.

The professor has been calling me since an hour ago. For the last five minutes he briefed me about what to do the second I land in Miami. I memorized it all. He's repeated his words too often.

Well, suitcase was packed too. I had my prediction wrong. Thought I would spend my entire December wearing raincoats because it's London and very cold. But guys, now we're talking about one of the all-summer city, Miami. I had not enough summer outfits to wear.

But worry later. I rushed checking my watch every fifteen seconds during my ride to Heathrow. It's lunch time now. London could be that crazy too. Brianne wish she could drive me but campus kept her grounded. I was alone. Facetime-ing my parents for the last time before busy departure check-in.

"Alright Mommy, that's Heathrow before my own eyes. I need to check in. I'll call when it's time, okay?"

"Take care little sweetheart."

"I do." We all blinked eyes which caused the tears to finally streaming down our face. "Bye Dad, bye Mom, I love you so much."

Facetime ended. I paid the driver and immediately approached the check-in counter. Quite a long queue but managed to get it done in fifteen minutes. Still had another hour before departure. With all craziness that has happened in my life for the past days, I need my green tea latte.

Killing time wasn't easy. I've played all games on my phone and charged my battery almost full, yet haven't got any notice about boarding time.

"Steve, hi."

"Holy cow you girl! How are you?"

"Managed to conquer the world, by far." I repositioned my phone charger to get better angle of this Facetime. "How are you holding up?"

"Jakarta is still crazy. But hey I just got home from Doha, as my parents asked me to meet them halfway from New York."

"Awesome."

"That's...pretty busy behind you. Where you at?"

"Heathrow."

"Coming home? Wow, that's fast. I can pick you up though."

"Not this time." I chuckled. "I'm going to Miami."

"Second surprise in a row." He literally just made a loud gasp and moan. "Serious matter, what are you doing in Miami?"

"Long story short, I was assigned by my professor who are now my employer, to get a social work done for him."

"I don't follow." He shrugged.

"Neither do I. He gave me instruction and I obey it. That's all."

"And you're calling me because..." Steve tried to find some answer within my meaningful stare through this small front phone camera. "Because Miami is in Florida, as Orlando."

"I'm not trying to find him or anything because I guess I'm not ready, but... Funny, isn't it?"

"Has he ever called you or something?"

"Steve, when he said he'll find me, he didn't consider as to how he would even find my number. I neither question nor demand too much."

"Dina, he could just find you that easily..."

"Which I guess, if he considers this seriously, he would have done." I cleared my throat. "It's okay. I'm just doing what's told then probably going back to London."

Silence moment between us made me reminiscing. The time we had to deal with airport goodbyes, tears, and sorrow. I was mourning. The kiss at the corner of the abandoned room. Everything.

I swear I missed Connor, but then what.

"Hey, it's my flight boarding. Talk to you later okay?"

"Take care girl. Give me news."

"Please check on my parents sometimes, I'd appreciate that."

"I will. Bye bye."

I walked to another queue. They rechecked and confirmed our boarding passes. When I finally got to approach my seat, I literally set the world out. Headphones on, Connor's voice note echoed in my ears. Let's have a little nap.

I woke up like an hour later because I felt like going to the toilet. I also ordered some apple juice. It was nice up here looking at the white clouds and everything but I was bored.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we would like to inform you that we are now going to have bad wheather. Please remain calm and go back to your seats, fasten your seatbelts until further notice or until the red lights is turned off. Thank you."

Flight attendant's announcement shocked me a little bit. I didn't hear it clearly enough, but the nice lady beside me told me to fasten my seatbelt. I followed. All remain seated and I couldn't see anyone walking around the aisles.

Suddenly another red alert was turned on. I learned that the sign was coming from the pilots. Getting nervous. I knew a thing or two about flight's code. Red code wasn't telling any good.

"All please remain seated! We would like to inform you that the life vest is under the seat in front of you. As the oxygen pressure is getting low, you will have the oxygen mask popping out from above you. Please wear it and remain calm. Thank you very much."

The chief of flight attendant was just speaking. We were in something. Terrible. This plane was going here and there almost uncontrollably. I remember we weren't even leaving Heathrow that long. If my geography calculation was correct, we were still somewhere above the international sea.

And that's it. The oxygen masks popped out. I wore it and tried to breathe normally. This plane had wifi connection but all was off now. I knew it's getting heavier to handle. Some passengers just vomit because unstable plane position. Personal bags were floating off from the cabin.

Last thing I remember, I held the chair arms so tightly and half-bowing my body toward the seat in front of me, chest against the knees, as how I learned from emergency landing safety position's instruction. It was too bumpy. I hit my head couple times very hard.

I heard very loud splash sound and we all almost likely thrown away from the window. I hit my head twice as hard to the window on my left.

And all dark.