Winter Hearts

In Which Siana Gets Some News

Siana smiled and winked at the little girl, who smiled back. She ate up, waited for her tray to be picked up and settled back into her seat to sleep. She slept deeply and dreamlessly.

Before she knew it, an announcement signalled their approach to Athens. When the mother and child went to the bathroom before their arrival, she followed as well and chatted with Min for a little while waiting in the queue. They promised to meet up again when Min came to Athens next, and as they hugged, she noticed Mark watching them as he collected blankets in the aisle.

She pretended she hadn't seen and went back to her seat. In no time, the plane was preparing for descent and she was asked to put her seat back up.

After a smooth landing she gathered up her stuff and followed the passengers out of the plane, waving excitedly to Min and nodding smilingly at Mark. She walked quickly to customs and had her passport stamped. At the luggage belt, she turned on her phone and searched for wifi to send her dad a message. As she started typing, she got a notification from her social media newsfeed.

Siana's eyes widened in shock. VIXX had announced new concert dates, and they were touring Asia during the last two weeks of December!

And she would be here in Greece, working.

Her heart sank. All her excitement about coming here to Greece, finally seeing her dad again, and settling down to some easy work and cold weather for the next three months, seemed to seep out of her body like water through a sieve.

She wanted to stamp her foot and whine, but instead she let her her eyebrows crinkle up and a sigh escape from her lips. She felt tears welling up but she immediately took a deep breath and shook herself. She knew she had an opportunity to have a wonderful break in a beautiful place, making some money and seeing her beloved father. Why would she let the disappointment of missing a long-awaited concert spoil her enjoyment of it? She should be grateful and happy.

She looked up, blinking away more tears which threatened to fall. She took a step forward towards the luggage belt and saw her ginormous suitcase coasting towards her. Sadly, she thought of the crafting items inside, and those two evening gowns. She hated them all of a sudden.

As she reached forward to to pick it up, she was suddenly overcome by the silliness of hating inanimate crafting objects, and a little snicker of laughter escaped her lips. She smiled, her heart lifting a little. Like her mum, she couldn't help thinking of the silliness of any situation. She stood the vile suitcase of haberdashery upright and got her carryall and documents in order. If she wasn't alone, she would have kicked the suitcase out of spite in the hopes of making herself feel better. She walked up to the customs inspection, falling in line.

She saw Min ahead of her and watched to see if she would turn to say goodbye. She didn't, so Siana turned her attention to the customs officer, who asked her to open her suitcase. Seriously? She gave the officer a despondent look. She didn't know what it was that made him change his mind, but he suddenly waved her through with a wry smile on his face.

"Don't worry, he's not worth it, child," he said in Greek to her. 

She cracked a wonky smile and nodded politely, grateful he was letting her through. How wrong and right he was, she thought. Not worth it, yet so worth it, not him but him... her thoughts jumbled over in her mind as she pulled the case out the sliding doors ahead. Inside the airport arrivals lobby she looked left and right for Min, but she was nowhere in sight.

"She went ahead to check on our shuttle to the hotel," Siana heard Mark's voice behind her.

"Oh, I just saw her ahead and wanted to say goodbye again," Siana smiled through her red eyes. Mark peered closely at her, standing a little too close for her comfort.

"You okay?" he asked, concerned.

She wasn't sure what it was, but her heart skipped a little beat from him standing so close. But she somehow felt he wasn't asking her the question out of concern for her sake.

"Yes, thanks, just tired. Anyway, nice to meet you, my dad will be waiting." She made to move, but he was still standing too close, so she stuck her hand out to shake his. He looked at it and because he couldn't refuse, shook it slowly whilst still looking at her.

She pulled her hand back and stood back a step to go around him, accidentally pulling her suitcase over his feet. Apologising profusely, she kept walking, almost saying sorry over her shoulder.

Yeesh, that was uncomfortable.