The Atlas Of Love

- nineteen -

It was going to be a long flight but I was at peace because Xander was seated three rows behind me.

I had the corner seat and there was these really kind-looking older women, probably in their later 60's sitting beside me.

They said that they were sisters and were travelling to Paris to visit their father's grave. They told me about how he had died in a war.

It was really very nice sitting next to them. They offered me all kinds of candies which they were carrying inside their bags and I happily took them.

About 55 minutes after our plane took off, the lady sitting in the middle had an urgent need to go to the washroom and she politely excused herself.

'How cute', I thought.

They somehow reminded me of my grandmother, just minus the nagging.

She came back after 3-4 minutes and sat back down, smiling at me.

I smiled back at her, not saying a word.

She continued staring and I felt a little uncomfortable, shifting in my seat.

"Honey, you should've told me earlier." She giggled.

"Hmm?" I smiled, raising my eyebrows, not understanding anything.

She whispered to her sister and she also turned to look at me with an amused smile.

I was dumfounded. "I don't, I don't understand what you're trying to say." I smiled oafishly.

"Don't worry honey. I'll let him sit beside you." She smiled again, getting up from her seat, walking towards the back.

My eyes followed where she was walking towards and I gasped in disbelief when I saw him standing up to offer her his seat.

What the actual fuck is Xander doing?

He whispered something to her ear and swiftly walked up towards my seat and got in.

He greeted the woman beside him and pecked my cheeks. I shrunk back to my seat, looking at him in confusion.

"What did you tell them?" I asked him in Korean.

"I told her that you are my wife and we're heading to Paris for our honeymoon and that you're terrified of flying so I asked her to trade her seat with mine. Don't worry I'm here to take care of you." He winked.

I cupped his cheek tightly, pulling him to face me.

"Aigoo, how thoughtful of you honey. I'll see you when we land." I clenched my jaws, pushing his face away.

The lady beside us just smiled at us, thinking that we were actually a married couple headed to Paris for our honeymoon. How embarrassing.

I cannot believe that I'm going to have to deal with this for 8 more hours.

Lucky for me, Xander fell asleep not even 20 minutes later. His head dropped down on my shoulder and I shifted a little in my seat so that his neck wouldn't hurt.

I craned my neck to see his face, thinking of drawing something on it but decided against it because Xander was nothing less than an angel when he was asleep.

I continued reading the magazines kept infront of me, taking every opportunity to grab the drinks and food which were offered.

After almost 3 hours, Mr. Collins woke up from his beauty sleep, yawning and stretching. "Good mo-- what's the time?" He smiled, his head still resting on my shoulder.

I violently moved my shoulder, causing his head to fall, almost hitting the armrest. He glared at me, pinching my cheeks hard.

"I must say, you remind me a lot of how my husband and I used to be when we were your age." The lady said, holding back her laughter.

I looked at her in disbelief.

"We do, right?" Xander smiled at her, pinching my cheeks hard.

I slapped his hand away, rubbing my cheek. I think it's high time for the old lady to sleep already. It's been 4? or what hours and she should be tired by now.

I myself was really tired and had to get some sleep. I didn't even just 'wanted' to sleep, I 'needed' to sleep.

I shifted in my seat so that my head was resting on the edge of my seat, just not touching the window by a few centimeters, at this really awkward angle and position.

There was no way on earth that I was taking the risk of letting Xander draw anything on my face, so I turned away.

I thought of me. I thought of Xander. I thought of our friends and how we ended up flying to Paris together. Who would've known things would've turned out this way. I still had to pinch myself at times to make myself believe in whatever was happening around me.

Dean just disappeared from my life and I thought I would have a hard time dealing with that, but that was clearly not the case.

I guess what Kara said was true. Out of sight, out of mind.

We really shouldn't have kissed that night. I should've never called him. I fucked up.

Come to think of it now. I never really meant anything I said to him that night, did I? I'm such a bad person.

I played with Dean.

Why?

Why did I do that? Am I that bad of a person? Am I that bad of a friend?

Then Xander's face suddenly flashed before my eyes.

"You can't force feelings J."