Orla:
“So,” he said, leaning back in his seat, “got any big plans once you land?”
Breakfast had come and gone, the remnants of our trays cleared away, leaving Milo and me in our little bubble of first-class calm. The plane hummed softly, the world outside nothing but a stretch of clouds and sky. We still had some time before landing, and I couldn’t help but feel a bit of nervous energy as the reality of where I was headed sank in.
But Milo, with his easygoing demeanor and quick smile, had a way of making the time pass effortlessly. Our conversation had shifted from polite small talk to something more playful, more comfortable. It was the kind of back-and-forth that felt natural, like we’d known each other for longer than just a few hours.
I forced a casual shrug, trying to hide the anxiety gnawing at me. “Not really. Just… seeing family, I guess.”
The lie slipped out before I could stop it, and I felt a pang of guilt. The truth was, I had no idea what I was doing in Seoul. The only person I could think of who lived in South Korea was an old college roommate, but we’d lost contact over the years. The more I thought about it, the more I realized how alone I really was in this. But what was I supposed to say? That I’d run away from my own wedding and landed on a plane to Seoul without a clue about what to do next?
Milo raised an eyebrow. “Just family? No wild adventures or spontaneous decisions?”
His words sent a jolt of anxiety through me. For a moment, I felt like he was on to me, like he knew there was more to my story than I was letting on.
I chuckled nervously, shaking my head. “I think I’ve had enough spontaneity for one day, don’t you?”
He grinned, and there was a glint in his eye that I couldn’t quite read. “Fair enough. But Seoul’s a pretty big city—lots of places to get lost in.”
“Is that your way of offering to be my tour guide?” I teased, raising an eyebrow.
“Maybe,” he replied, his tone light but his gaze steady. “If you’re up for it.”
I felt a flutter of something—nerves, maybe, or excitement—as I considered the offer. There was something undeniably appealing about the idea of spending more time with him, even if I wasn’t entirely sure what that meant.
“So, how about you?” I asked, steering the conversation back to him. “Any plans once we land?”
He hesitated, just for a moment, before he answered. “Work, mostly. But I’ve got some free time here and there.”
“Oh yeah?” I leaned in a little, curious. “What do you do, exactly?”
There was that hesitation again, but he covered it quickly with a smile. “I’m in entertainment. Music, mostly.”
I nodded, not wanting to push him too much. Before I could think to ask anything more on the subject, he shifted the conversation back to me. “You on Instagram?”
The question caught me off guard, and I felt a rush of embarrassment. My Instagram was a mess—full of pictures of Logan and me, moments that seemed so perfect at the time but now felt like someone else’s life. I hadn’t had the chance to delete them yet, hadn’t even had the chance to think about what I’d do with all those memories.
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“Um… yeah,” I said, trying to sound casual. “But it’s kind of a mess right now.”
He tilted his head, clearly curious. “A mess?”
I could feel my cheeks heating up, the embarrassment creeping in. “Just… old photos. Stuff I haven’t had a chance to clean up.”
His expression softened, and I could tell he was about to offer some kind of reassurance, but I cut him off before he could.
“How about you?” I asked quickly, hoping to shift the focus. “What’s your handle?”
This time, it was his turn to hesitate. He rubbed the back of his neck, a small, almost sheepish smile playing on his lips. “I, uh… I don’t usually give it out.”
I raised an eyebrow, surprised by his sudden shyness. “Really? Why not?”
“Let’s just say I have a lot of followers, and it can get… complicated.” I tilted my head, curious. "Then what’s the harm in one more follower?"
He gave me a small, almost apologetic smile. "It’s not that. I guess I should say I don’t usually share my personal account."
It took me a second to process what he meant, and when it finally clicked, I felt my eyes widen in surprise. “Wait, are you famous or something?”
He laughed. “Something like that.”
“Well, now I really want to know,” I said, leaning in a little, my interest piqued.
He paused for a moment, then reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. “Alright, you win,” he said with a small smile, handing it over to me. “This is my private account. DM me whenever you feel like touring the city—I should have some time on the weekends.”
I took the phone, glancing at the screen. His Instagram handle stared back at me, and for some reason, it felt like more than just a casual exchange. It was like he was letting me in on a side of himself he didn’t share with just anyone. My chest tightened slightly, an unexpected reaction I didn’t fully understand. I quickly typed in the handle, careful to mask the flutter in my stomach, and handed the phone back to him with what I hoped was an effortless smile.
“Thanks,” I said, a little surprised by how easily he’d offered it. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
He nodded, slipping his phone back into his pocket. “So, how long are you planning on staying in Seoul?”
I hesitated, the truth catching in my throat. The fact was, I didn’t have a plan, not really.
“I’m not sure yet,” I said with a shrug, keeping it vague. “Just… seeing how things go.”
He seemed to accept that, though I could tell he was curious.
“Well, if you’re around on the weekend, we can grab a coffee or something. I’ll show you a few spots.”
I smiled, nodding. “Sounds good.”
But even as I agreed, a nagging doubt crept into my mind. If he was as famous as he claimed, I’d probably just be a blip on his radar—someone he’d forget all about as soon as the plane landed. The thought left me feeling a bit uneasy, like this whole encounter was more fleeting than I wanted to admit.
Despite my doubts, we continued with small talk about the sights and food as the aircraft began its slow descent. There was an easy calm between us, a connection that didn’t require much effort. As the plane dipped lower and the city of Seoul came into view, our voices blended with the quiet hum of the engines. The simple back-and-forth felt good, and for a while, it was easy to forget everything else.
The seatbelt sign flashed on, preparing for landing. I could feel the plane shifting, the soft thud of the wheels touching down bringing our journey closer to an end.
Milo turned to me, a soft smile on his face, as if he’d been thinking the same thing. “I know we just met, but… I’m glad we did. This flight would’ve been pretty boring without you.”
I smiled back at him, feeling a warmth spread through me despite my lingering doubts. “Same here,” I replied. “You’re really easy to talk to.”
“Thanks. I really hope you do DM me if you’re up for exploring the city,” he said, smiling back.
I nodded, still unconvinced that this would go beyond the flight.
As the plane began taxiing to the gate, my mind wandered to the logistics ahead—where would I stay? What would I do here? Passengers started gathering their things and preparing to disembark. Milo stood and began collecting his belongings, glancing back at me with that easy smile.
We exited the plane through the jetway and entered the bustling terminal, weaving our way towards baggage claim. The crowd moved quickly, and I found myself struggling to keep up, nearly losing sight of Milo more than once. By the time we reached the carousel, I saw two guys rush over to him, wrapping him in enthusiastic hugs—a reunion that seemed filled with energy and familiarity.
I hesitated, watching from a distance as the crowd around us grew thicker. There was no chance to say anything to him now, not with how caught up he was with his friends. It was like I’d already slipped from his mind. As he laughed and chatted with them, I realized this was where I should retreat. With no baggage to claim, just my carry-on pulled behind me, I quietly stepped back into the crowd and faded away, leaving without a word.