Shawn
The jolts caused by the meeting of plane wheels with the ground wake me up from the long flight sleep. My eyes tingle as it refuses to be opened. Thankfully the dim lights beneath the cabin are not thrusting lights directly to my eyes. My back is protesting as it's been laying down and sitting for the whole 20 hours in the plane. Finally, this long exhausting flight will be paid by the beautiful nature of Australia. But first, we need to head to the hotel and readjust our head to the 15-hour time difference between LA and Australia.
As soon as we step out of the plane, the dawn freezing air hit my skin. This was why Ariel always wraps a cloth around my neck at a time like this, no matter how short the time is we're going to be outside in the dawn. Ah, this thought of Ariel again. A sense of pricking start attacking my nose, and it makes me regret more on my decision not to cover my head with thick clothes. Gratefully, close by, a van has already been prepared to drive us out from the plane parking lot.
We jump out of the car, moving to the airport building and onto another car that will bring us to the hotel. The drive is mostly quiet. John Mayer's "Stop This Train" is playing in the background complimented with light snores from Andrew that seems exhausted. That's all I can hear until it also drives me off to another short sleep.
The sound of our luggage being moved out of the car brings me back to my senses. After a somewhat short check-in process, thanks to my one and only handful and reliable manager Andrew, I finally lay down on normal size and springy bed. I rummage my backpack to find my phone that's carelessly thrown in it shortly before we got out from the plane. I turned off the airplane mode and my phone starts vibrating nonstop for about 8 seconds.
Aaliyah ❤️
Hi! I bet you haven't touched ground yet
I just wake up, it's 9 in the morning here
It's hard to sleep without you 😬😬 So I went to sleep a bit late
12:00 AM
It will be 2 in the morning when you arrived right? Poor you, it must be a super exhausting flight for you 💔💔
Rest well and have a fun day tomorrow!
01:00 AM
Don't forget to wrap a piece of cloth around your neck when you get off the plane! Even if it's only for 5 secs, NO EXCUSE!! It's freeezing 🥶🥶🥶☃️☃️☃️
01:23 AM
Mom 🧡
Have you landed?
Go straight to sleep and don't drink...
Love you 😍😘🥰 2:03 AM
Don't forget to check on your sister before you go to bed 😴😴😴👿👿👿 2:04 AM
It's Dad! 🕵🏻♂️🤷🏼♀️2:05 AM
I feel my heart was engulfed with a warm feeling instantly after reading the texts. Those people never failed to bring laughter to my day. I get out of bed, have a quick face and hair wash and change into more comfortable clothes. I grab my room card and head to Aaliyah's room to check on her quickly.
Luckily her room is only three doors away from mine. The door is opened only a couple seconds after I rang the bell.
Behind the door was Alessia already suited in her pyjamas and an eye cover strapped around her forehead. "Oh, come in. Liyah is in the bathroom," she said welcoming me into their already prepped hotel room. I wonder how girls can organize things so well even in the very exhaustive time.
"Who's that, Les?" Liyah asked shortly before she comes out of the bathroom still tapping the towel on her face, "Oh, hey brotha. What is it that takes you here to the girls' room?"
"It's Dad. He wants me to check up on you two to see if you still have four limbs attached to your body after flying 20 hours from home."
"Duh, we're not twelves," She said as she gets under the white thick duvet that's looking so comfortable.
"Told him, but you'll always be twelve in his eyes," I giggled, "So you guys ready to bed, yeah?"
Aaliyah and Alessia nod, already tucked in bed and ready to pull their eye covers.
"Don't chat too much about boys and go straight to sleep. We have to eat breakfast at 7.30 tomorrow. We're leaving at 9," I explain while standing at one of the corners of their bed, "I'll come here to pick you guys and we'll go together."
"Aight, Grandpa!" Liyah shouted and a giggle from Alessia followed.
I leave a kiss on Liyah's cheek and say good night before I go back to my own room. It is probably noon in LA, so I grab my phone and facetime Ariel.
It takes me three rings before Ariel's voice is heard across the line. "Hey-lo!" Her bright voice greets.
"No video?" I ask as she rejected my video call request.
"You can't see me on cam, dumbo," She says, closing it with a chuckle.
"Ah, right," I say realizing that I'll miss her more than what I prepared for.
"You just landed?" She asks.
"No, we landed an hour ago I guess," I say while lowering the pillow behind my back, so I can change into a sleep position. "We're at the hotel, and I've just got back from Liyah's room to send her off to sleep."
"Aww... I really miss hanging out with those two girls," She definitely means it from the way she talks.
"Does a thought of missing me cross your mind too?"
"Come on, I stayed with two nights before," She replies playfully.
"Well," I respond, showing the annoyance's surfacing.
"I love you, babe. Don't be so grumpy!"
"Yeah yeah, love you too," I still roll my eyes even though she can't see it.
"Go get some more sleep, hun. You're leaving early tomorrow, right?" She says as she senses that I'm getting sleepy.
"Yeah, we're having breakfast at 7.30, so I'll go to the gym at 6. We're leaving at 8-ish to the beach," I say before a yawn escapes from my mouth.
"Sounds fun! Keep me updated when you're back to the hotel, kay?"
"Mmh," That's all I can say as I find myself dozing off.
"Now off to bed. Sleep well, Shawnie,"
"You too, Aal," I realized that I said the wrong reply, but I'm too tired to correct it.
The hanging up beeps on the phone is all I hear before everything goes dark and silent.
Can I ever get over Ariel and fall in love with someone else?
YOU ARE READING
If I don't want to - S.M.
RomanceBeing left by love of his life was the worst nightmare could ever happened to Shawn. They both faced ups and downs, heartbreaks and reunites to be together, just to know they could never be at each other's side. Life is bitter but Shawn has to face...
