Then, as I looked up, there he was. His profile was reflected in the window of the building I glanced at. It occurred to me that during this time, he must have been a university student here.
I broke away from the crowd and started running.
Ignoring the voice calling me from behind, I dashed up the stairs. I leaped over the turnstile where you needed to scan your student ID to enter. The alarm started blaring loudly.
Stairs, more stairs. I ran with my breath caught, my head spinning, stumbling once and banging my knees against the steps. In my head, I counted the floors where he was. His expression as he glanced outside, his face not recognizing me.
It was a miraculous opportunity. To meet him ten years earlier than I could have. Even if it meant being treated like a mad person, I wanted to grab him, someone I met for the first time, and hug him tight.
I wanted to tell him that I traveled back in time to meet him, so I could stand before him as I was, without anything distorted or broken.
The footsteps of pursuers chasing after me were noisy. I jumped over the last few flights of stairs and rushed through the open door. Numerous people sitting at desks looked up in surprise and stood up from their seats. His desk, hidden behind a tall bookshelf, couldn’t be seen. I grabbed the bookshelf to take the last few steps.
My feet shook as if they were about to give way. The dream slipped away as if it were stolen.
In the last moment before opening my eyes, I saw beyond the bookshelf. There was a window overlooking the blue sky, and high school students were still standing in a group below. His desk was clean and empty without a trace.
“Ah-.”
I barely closed my mouth and suppressed the sound. My back was damp with cold sweat.
The cabin was dark. The passenger next to me was sleeping peacefully in a stable posture.
I relaxed my body, took a long silent breath, and exhaled. My chest throbbed heavily as if pressing on my ribs. The insides of my eyelids felt dry and scratchy. My body felt heavy as if I had rushed up the stairs at full speed, and even after wiping it off, my mouth tasted bitter and sticky.
I turned on the seat screen to check the time, and there were only two hours left until arrival. Bright light seeped through the small gap under the window shade. We departed in the evening, and now it should be midnight, but somehow we had traveled back in time, and it was daytime again.
Still, when I looked around, everyone was asleep. I noticed slippers protruding from under blankets with the airline logo, and heads leaning against the backrests at uncomfortable angles. The strange stuffiness emanating from the regular breathing of numerous people filled the cabin.
Then suddenly, the lights in the cabin all turned on at once.
“What the-.”
The person next to me tossed and turned. Shielding their eyes with their hand, they murmured toward me with a sleepy voice.
“Please tell them I’m not eating.”
“Ah…”
As I looked around, people who had been asleep were waking up with sleepy eyes. A child in the same row was picking up fallen headphones from the floor. Movies that had just ended on the screens were starting to play again.
Soon, two flight attendants and a meal service cart appeared from the back. I regained my composure and lowered the table in front of me. The flight attendant asked kindly,
“For breakfast, we have omelette and porridge, which one would you like?”
“Omelette, please. Oh, and this person won’t be having anything.”
“Yes, understood.”
The flight attendant pulled out a tray from the compartment under the cart and handed it to me. I hesitated for a moment and asked,
“I turned off my phone, can I use it now?”
“Yes, you can use it in airplane mode.”
“I forgot to change it before turning it off… Is it okay now, sorry.”
“Well… it’s okay to turn it on and change it right away. We’re about to land soon, and there will be an announcement during landing, so please turn it off then.”
The flight attendant smiled and pushed the trolley past me.
I took out my phone from the front pocket and turned it on. As the screen lit up, I quickly pressed the settings and touched the small airplane icon. It was my first time actually using airplane mode on a plane.
I took a photo of the meal and checked the conversation with him. It seemed like he had seen the message, but there was no reply.
“The window.”
The person next to me, who had risen while I was eating omelette, said with a locked voice.
“You can open the window cover all the way. You have to open it when we land anyway.”
“…Yes.”
“Could you take a picture of the sky for me with this? I’ll hold the tray for you.”
“Ah…”
The woman handed me her phone with the video function on. Feeling queasy, I left the tray on her table and took a picture outside the window.
“Thank you.”
She said, seemingly unconcerned about the sound being recorded.
“Can you see the ground below?”
“…I don’t think so. Because of the clouds…”
“Oh, I wanted to take a picture when it’s visible.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“P’ii ajxf jcbatfg bcf ijafg.”
P ofia ilxf P rtbeiv boofg ab rklamt rfjar ys cbk. Ktf qjrrfcufg ktb uba tfg qtbcf yjmx rwlifv.
“P wluta tjnf ab aegc boo ws qtbcf rbbc, rb la wluta cba kbgx. Dea ralii, atjcx sbe.”
“…Tfr.”
“Vtbeiv P yglcu atf agjs yjmx? Yg rtbeiv P gfaegc la?”
I saw a trolley coming from the front section. Feeling guilty for not finishing my omelette, I nodded.
“Please return it. Thank you.”
Suddenly, the seat in front was pulled forward, creating more space. Some people were also pushing up the window shades. Caught up in the mood of landing preparation, I quickly shot a video. As the plane’s wings sliced through the clouds, the seatbelt sign lit up, and the descent for landing began with the announcement.
“So soon?”
Even though it felt like there was still a lot of distance and time left, everyone was comfortably wrapping up their blankets or changing shoes with slippers. The cabin, with all window covers open, brightened up.
Passing flight attendants were distributing small papers that looked like ones used in post offices. Seeing my perplexed expression, the passenger next to me said,
“Would you like to borrow a pen?”
“Huh?”
“I’ll be done with it soon.”
I took the stiff paper and looked at it. Fortunately, it was written in Korean. It seemed like something essential had to be filled out.
“Here you go.”
The pen was passed to my seat. Glancing through it, there weren’t any particularly difficult questions. I took out my passport, copied the number, and wrote down his hotel name in the U.S. As I mentally calculated the monetary value of the items in my carry-on, the plane shifted direction. My ears faintly rang as if in a vacuum.
“Are we landing already?”
“We’re slowly descending. Can you see the ground yet?”
Indeed, I could. Feeling stuffy, I looked out the window and saw the land far below.
Suddenly, I couldn’t move properly due to tension. Although it was just a landing, he was somewhere down there. There was less than an hour left until our faces met.
As the plane continued to tilt downwards, I sat there, staring fixedly out the window. I could see small buildings arranged neatly in squares and rectangles, as well as straight roads extending in all directions. It was a landscape that reminded me of a computer motherboard.
As we descended, the small buildings grew larger, and large parking lots and green fields began to appear. The announcement of the captain’s landing instructions came in Korean and English.
This time, I kept my eyes wide open as the plane gradually approached the ground. The altitude decreased to the point where cars moving like ants on the highway were visible, and trees resembling small broccoli began to appear. Thin streetlights, like threads, were also visible. The noise of the plane, growing louder as it descended, was barely audible due to my blocked ears.
When the ground seemed close enough to land in the middle of the road, the runway threshold came into view. The shadow of the plane’s wings touched the ground sharply. Trees and buildings passed by swiftly in the strong wind. It felt like flying parallel to the ground.
Then, with a jolt, the wheels touched the ground, and the plane shook.
Part of the wing suddenly opened, resisting the strong wind as if the fragile cover would break. I could feel the plane slowing down with all its might. The gray asphalt flew by rapidly. It was a speed that seemed to devour the remaining runway.
Until the plane moved at a decent speed, I didn’t dare to breathe. The gentle sound of the seatbelt sign turning off echoed. A low voice came through the speaker.
“Ladies and gentlemen, our plane has arrived at Los Angeles International Airport. It is currently 3:24 PM on September 22nd, and the temperature is 23 degrees Celsius.”
Leaning my forehead against the wall next to the window, I closed my eyes in relief. So this was it. The tingling sensation in my toes as they touched the ground after eleven hours was invigorating. Once you’ve done it, doing it again didn’t seem too difficult.
I was grateful for the existence of the plane. The vast and vague world I had imagined, seen through his travel photos in the display cabinet and the globe on his study bookshelf, now seemed within reach, just a stretch away.
Now, it felt like I could follow him wherever he went. Instead of endlessly waiting for him to come to me, it seemed like I could go to him.
***
“Korean passport? Come this way.”
As the plane came to a stop and the seatbelt sign turned off, it took quite some time to wait in line due to the intimidating line forming in the aisle to exit the plane. With sore legs, I dragged my carry-on and followed the direction others were going. There were multiple long lines again, this time for immigration.
“Immigration at LA Airport usually takes a while.”
She said, receiving my thanks with her puffy face.
“It’s better if you have a U.S. passport. Sometimes it can take up to an hour and a half after you collect your luggage.”
“…An hour and a half?”
The time we agreed to meet was four o’clock. Feeling anxious, I tried to take out my phone, but I saw an airport staff member over there stopping someone from using their phone. The woman who saw the same thing looked at her wristwatch and said,
“It’s a little past three thirty now.”
“…When can I use my phone?”
“It should be fine once you pass through here. Have you studied English?”
“English?”
“They ask questions during immigration. If you can’t answer properly, they might not let you in.”
It sounded like a joke, but her face indicated otherwise. While there was information about immigration procedures during my search, I had skipped it due to lack of time.
“What kind of questions do they usually ask?”
When I asked, the woman, chewing on something like candy on one cheek, fell into thought for a moment.
“Why you’re here, how long you’re staying, things like that? And sometimes other questions. It depends on the person.”
“…Okay.”
Although I had recently been studying English, most of it was related to work and direct matters.
I mentally rehearsed my answers while staring at the bright sky blue of my carry-on. The line moved so slowly that I wondered what was happening. Finally, after reaching the point where the line branched into several, the time was ten past four.
“You’ll do fine. Don’t be nervous.”
The woman waved her hand and went into the narrow corridor first. Standing in the next line, I soon approached the immigration officer’s gesture and pushed all my documents, including my passport and remaining papers, through the window. Despite being bombarded with multiple questions from the immigration officer, all I could think about now was quickly getting through without any tension.
As soon as I passed the immigration counter with the stamped passport, I took out my phone. When it powered on, I saw that the battery, not charged since yesterday morning, was running low. The Korean time displayed on the screen showed tomorrow morning.
“Excuse me.”
While focusing on turning off airplane mode on the screen, I was startled by someone tapping on my shoulder. It was the passenger who had been sitting next to me earlier, now standing beside me and looking down at me.
As I looked at her with confusion, she wrinkled her nose slightly.
“Just, I was wondering… You’re here just for a little while, right? Not staying or anything like that.”
“Huh?”
“You were just at the immigration counter, right? I saw you coming out, so I thought I’d ask.”
“Oh… yes, I’m here for a trip.”
“I thought so. Well… have a good trip then.”
“Yes, thank you for your help today.”
As the woman waved her hand and walked away, I finally saw the vast space around me. Several planes had arrived, and bags of various sizes poured out endlessly onto the conveyor belt. Thankfully, I hadn’t checked any luggage. I looked down, only to find my phone screen completely black.
“Oh…”
This isn’t good. I tried pressing the power button, but the screen went dark again right after showing the startup screen. I couldn’t bring a backup battery onto the plane, so I left it behind. Although I had a charger, I couldn’t use it right away without a place to plug it in.
Feeling anxious, I dragged my bag towards the line at the inspection counter. I needed to get through as quickly as possible to find a way to charge my phone.
The line at the inspection counter was long, but it moved quickly. The customs officer who received my customs declaration just nodded and let me through without even opening my bag.
Feeling bewildered, I emerged from the checkpoint and followed the people walking ahead. A long corridor with blue glass walls appeared. At the dead end of the corridor, another long corridor stretched in the opposite direction. I caught a glimpse of the vast airport and the countless people waiting behind waist-high fences in the distance.
I stopped abruptly in my tracks. In the meantime, a blonde foreign woman pushing three heavy bags on a trolley passed me. Before she could reach the end of the corridor, a joyful scream echoed from somewhere. The woman smiled brightly, waved her hand, and disappeared from my view.
“…”
Though I couldn’t check the time, it was clearly much later than our appointment time.
Is he somewhere in this crowd, waiting for me? If not, where should I look for him?
I stood by the wall with dry lips, hidden from view. I fiddled with the handle of my carry-on, standing still in my spot. My heart raced so fast that it almost rang in my ears.
As I hesitated, a few more people passed by my side. I closed my eyes, listening to the sounds of joy that seemed to fill the air, then opened them again. The anxiety that had tormented me over the past day resurfaced.
What if he doesn’t seem happy to see me? Perhaps this is all just a dream. Arriving in a foreign land, even familiar things seemed unfamiliar. I lost my confidence.
I took a deep breath, grabbed my bag, and started walking down the corridor. Without looking at the gradually appearing people, I hastened my steps, focusing only on the floor.
I wanted to leave without drawing attention, but suddenly, the end of the corridor opened up, revealing an area where people were waiting directly in front of me.
I froze under the gaze of the many people who turned their attention towards me.
Countless unfamiliar faces, people from unfamiliar countries. The vast space filled with blue lights and golden sunlight. Dozens of people leaned against the railing, watching the corridor intently. Thirsty children, countless white placards with names written on them. Amidst the multitude of unfamiliar gazes focused on me, I took hesitant steps forward.
And there, in the distance, he was.
He was waiting for me, recognizing me, stepping one step deeper into the crowd. His tall figure and neat face stood out.
When I came to my senses, I was already running towards him. Like in a dream, as if this were a dream. I ran towards him at a speed that the suitcase wheels couldn’t keep up with. As I threw myself at him, his arms embraced me tightly.
In his strong embrace, in his familiar and warm scent, I couldn’t think of anything else. I wasn’t anxious anymore.
“…Team Leader.”
He held onto the fallen handle of my suitcase and led me out of the corridor. After a few steps, my body was pulled back into his arms. He hugged me tightly as if he would never let go, exhaling a long breath. His large hand gently stroked my back.
“…Team Leader.”
“……”
“I’m sorry for being so late… I didn’t know if you would still be here.”
I said absentmindedly, staring into his eyes. Seeing him for the first time in two weeks, he seemed a little tired. His jawline was sharper, and the surface of his well-shaped lips looked rough. Slowly, his tired eyes met mine.
“Why didn’t you check your messages?”
“Oh… My battery died while I was arriving.”
As rationality slowly returned to me, I noticed a few people glancing at us from our direction. It was more curious than disdainful. Still clinging to his neck, I whispered softly.
“It seems like people are staring.”
“Lee Seodan saw me and got excited, so they’re staring.”
His voice carried a hint of laughter. I didn’t release my arms around him, thinking that this was a foreign place anyway, and these weren’t people I’d see again.
Han Team Leader lifted my chin and gazed deeply into my eyes. His eyes meticulously examined every feature of my face. His finger slowly brushed against the corners of my eyes, sweeping across my forehead. His lips lightly touched my exposed forehead and lingered there. His intense gaze relentlessly swept over my lips.
“I’m dying to kiss you.”
His restrained voice was thick with a fierce desire.
I struggled to calm my rapidly beating heart. Remembering the hundred or so people around us, I reluctantly pulled away from him.
“What time did you arrive?”
“Not too long ago.”
He looked down at me as he took a step back, holding onto my wrist that rested on his back. His warm hand squeezed my fingers tightly, leaving no gap between them.
“Let’s go out first. Unless you want to explore the airport.”
“…Okay.”
Come to think of it, it was time for him to return to the company.
With a regretful heart, I completely let go of his embrace. My hand still held onto his as I mechanically followed him as he walked. Han Team Leader, who had led me and my suitcase to the airport entrance, looked down at me and smiled lightly, like the wind.
“You managed not to get lost and made it all the way here.”
“…It wasn’t as difficult as I thought.”
Although the half-day journey from boarding the plane until now felt like a week, in the end, arriving safely meant it was a success.
“When I searched, everything came up. Directions in the airport, people I met on the way were all kind and helpful.”
“That’s good to hear.”
As we stepped outside the airport, a cool breeze greeted us. It was a lazy afternoon with the sun losing its edge. The congested scenery outside the airport with taxis and cars was not much different from Korea, but the smell of the air was unfamiliar. Tall palm trees clustered at the far end of the expansive view.
“Oh.”
A thought struck me, and I suddenly stopped walking. He, following my halt, looked down at my face.
“Happy Birthday.”
I wanted to say it seriously, but laughter teased the corners of my mouth. Han Team Leader glanced at me with a slightly furrowed brow.
“I bought a gift too.”
I added hastily, afraid he might misunderstand.
Han Team Leader eventually smiled faintly at my words. His sharp eyes softened.
“It’s enough that Lee Seodan came.”
“I wanted to make seaweed soup for you.”
“…You can do it when we get back. Did you like the in-flight meal?”
“It was interesting, but my stomach didn’t feel great… There was an omelette, but it tasted different from the one you made.”
He led me without hesitation between the parked cars in the parking lot. A strange blue sedan silently blinked its headlights.
“Get in.”
He released my hand, opened the passenger door, and went to the trunk to put in my suitcase. I remained standing without getting in until he returned to the driver’s side door.
“Why.”
“…No reason.”
It felt strange to be with him under the bright sunlight. Although I felt a bit more relaxed once inside the car, I couldn’t help but keep looking at him. Han Team Leader sat in the driver’s seat and closed the door, but he didn’t start the engine. He remained motionless, staring at the windshield. I fastened my seatbelt and looked up at him.
Even just looking at his profile, I could tell. The air inside the car was becoming heavy and tense. Despite knowing what was about to happen, my stomach churned, and my heart raced. I took a shaky breath and whispered to myself.
Han Team Leader still didn’t look at me as he spoke.
