To Be A Bougainvillea

Prologue

"Lady Aurelia, we are experiencing some turbulence so please fasten your seat belt. We will be making an emergency landing very shortly." 

The pilot's voice didn't wake Aurelia up, rather it was the rattling of the jet and ear-splitting rumbling sounds that had her stir awake in bewilderment. 

Before she could even question what was happening, she felt her stomach rise to her head as the pressure inside the jet built up. Chest heaving heavily, Aurelia grabbed the oxygen mask above her with a shaking hand and strapped it over her head as quickly as possible. 

Blood pounding in her ears, she braced herself for the emergency landing by ignoring the rush of force and instead, imagined herself dancing. It was rather strange why she would imagine herself as a ballet dancer when in reality, she knew nothing of ballet except that she was not slim enough for it. A bitter taste formed at the back of her mouth.

All of a sudden, screams pranged from her throat as she clutched at her seat. But in no time, the hard impact threw her off and bombard into an object her vision couldn't decipher. 

Aurelia's head lulled back before everything went black. 

"Lady Aurelia! Lady Aurelia!" She could hear cries in the distant. "We're off! We're safe!" 

Safe. She was safe. 

But she still couldn't peal her eyes open. 

"-and towards the west to the right, you'll find yourself home." The voice this time was unfamiliar. It was a deep, masculine voice that had a low rumble to it. 

"Thank you, sir." That was, undoubtedly, the eager voice of her pilot. 

"My pleasure. Oh, and make sure to have her forehead iced regularly." 

Curiosity was a strange and powerful thing, a fatal flaw Aurelia found in herself. Succumbing to it, Aurelia opened the shutters to her eyes and in her hazy vision, she saw a tall, well-built man in a navy uniform. 

The last thing she remembered before falling unconscious again was a pair of dark, emerald eyes.