ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 3: 서울-파리 (ꜱᴇᴏᴜʟ-ᴘᴀʀɪ)- ꜱᴇᴏᴜʟ ᴛᴏ ᴘᴀʀɪꜱ

Through the crystal clear infinite sky with sunny weather, the aircraft swiftly made its way to its destination. From Seoul to Paris, the city of love!

Yi-Ahn chuckled sarcastically as the word "city of love" popped up in her mind. She wondered, where love itself gad abounded her, will the city of love be kind enough to accept her?

She was sure that most of the passengers on this flight were heading to Paris for their honeymoon or vacation. Will she be able to give them a safe trip? Her misfortune won't affect their happy moment, right? On the contrary, maybe sharing their luck, she will be able to land in Paris? Or, had the stars chosen something else for her?

It's been already 6 hours since the departure. Captain Jung had a overnighter flight so he was the first one visiting the bunk for a nap.

"Nuna," Soobin called her breaking the silence, "If you think me as a friend you can share what happened. You know, sharing is caring. Maybe I can help-"

Yi-Ahn cut him off before he could show her any more pity as everyone else does to her, "Soobin, We are at work. Don't bring any off-topic, please. I am not in a very good mood."

"Okay," Soobin was taken aback by her strong voice, "I am just letting you know that, if you don't feel so good, you can rest for a while. I can handle it myself and captain Jung Hae In will also be back in a while. So, you can rest until the landing. I don't mind it," he replied, being a gentleman.

Yi-Ahn, without replying, shot her a glance mixed with hesitance, confusion, surprise, and a slight mixture of despondency. "No, thank you. I am fine. Besides, I am the captain of this flight. I can't leave the cockpit just like that. You know it too that It's against the rules." she reluctantly denied his offer.

But, she has to accept it as Soobin kept bugging her about it, "Oh, come on. We can just make an exception. You know it too that you need some rest. And since we are lucky, we have Captain Jung with us. You know how understanding and kind-hearted he is. I'm sure he'll help if it is you."

"Fine, I'll leave only when he is back. And you have to promise to call me the first thing if anything happens." she agreed knowing somehow she wanted some time alone too. She needed it and she knew it.

"Yes, your highness," Soobin uttered sarcastically.

"What are you two talking about?" Captain Jung entered the cockpit a few seconds later with the usual smile plastered on his face.

"Minister Jung, I've something to say to you." Soobin was the first one to respond.

And then he made up all the 10-minute-long story of how sick Yi-Ahn was without even batting an eye. This guy sure has a talent for these things. 

Disregarding her resolve and losing to her needs, she made her way to the pilot bunk.

When she reached there, she slipped the sleeping bag over her. Though she was not sleepy at all, on the contrary, sleeping seemed something impossible for her now. Whenever she closed her eyes, she could see him. His innocent smile, that held her whole world. Those happy moments they spent with each other.

She wondered, when did it all go wrong?  Was it all really just an act? Did he actually even love her in the first place? That genuine smile, those sweet kisses, warm hugs, lovely yet deep brown eyes... Was all of them just a lie?

She felt warm liquor pouring down from her eyes, and she let them be. They were at least the things that never left her. Even though she hid them inside her for a long time, tried to avoid them as much as possible but the reality was they never left her. The tears never left her. They were always waiting there to break her completely.

Suddenly, she started to feel self-conscious. Was she really that bad as a girlfriend? Is that why he left her for another one? Was she the only one who never thought to be parted from him? Was it just money that he wanted from the very beginning?

After her mother and father, he was the only person she trusted, loved, and shared everything with. Will she ever be able to trust anyone anymore after this? She didn't think so.

He broke her.

He broke her totally, into hundreds and thousands of pieces. And you know what? Even if you reconnect a broken glass, the scars never leave it.

If only sorry could
Fix shattered mirrors,
That can be put back
Together with efforts...
But, the cracks still remain

And deep down, she knew, she'll never be able to heal from this scar. It'll keep hunting her like a nightmare till the day of her death.

He didn't love her. He just didn't want to be alone. Or maybe, she was just too good for his ego. Or, or maybe she made him feel better about his miserable life, but he didn't love her. Because, you don't destroy people you love.

Thinking all of these in her mind, Yi-Ahn sighed deeply, "The biggest mistake I've ever made was not realizing, that I don't know you. I only know what you allow me to know."

✵°✵.｡.✵°✵

Yi-Ahn rubbed her eyes, as she got up hearing the harsh alarm. Though she didn't sleep but she was considered enough to set an alarm so that she won't be late. She didn't want to cause any more trouble for her two co-pilots.

She immediately got off of the sleeping back and folded it back in its place. Then made her way toward the cockpit. It was almost time for landing.

Greeting the two co-workers, she took a seat and started preparing for the landing silently with them.

Captain Jung was sitting in the back seat, Soobin in the first officer's seat and Yi-Ahn in the captain's seat.

"Runway 3-4 right is cleared for takeoff" Through their headset the controller provided the pilots with a runway, wind regarding of 27 knots, and cleared them for takeoff.

"Heading 0-2-0 cleared for takeoff runway 3-4, right," She spoke through the speaker as she dragged the rudder forward.

The three pilots made eye contact for the last time and exhaled deeply.

Suddenly, the plane veered hard to the left, causing them to slant to the left with extreme force. An ear-piercing sound could be heard and alarms started to ring all of a sudden. None of them were understanding what was actually going on and what was wrong with the aircraft.

Slowly, the plane was going out of control. Yi-Ahn and Soobin were laterally panicked and if they would've noticed, they would found the senior Captain worried too. They started to click and drag some of the buttons and rudders before them in an attempt of taking control of the plane but in vain.

The plane didn't show any symptoms to stop but rather raced off to the front at a speed of more than 100 miles an hour.

Passengers started to scream and cry as they collided with each other. A huge clatter could be heard along with the danger alarm that was making things no better for them.

Yi-Ahn's brain stopped functioning. All she knew was that it shouldn't happen, the thing she had been apprehending should never happen. No, she can't make her misfortune take over these innocent lives.

"No!" She screamed and begged for mercy to the almighty. Not for her, she didn't care if she live or die, but she would never be able to forgive her if even one person died in her hand. But it was before her face, it was happening.

She could clearly see it, the doom. It was coming for them. Her vision got blury and she couldn't think of anything else than her death. She knew, the plane was out of control and none could stop it. They had nothing to do.

It was so close to crashing that everyone already lost hope. All they could think of was the faces of the loved ones that they'll never get to see again. Some kept praying to the Almighty for mercy. Little did they know, none hears prayers.

What Yi-Ahn never thought was, something so misfortune will happen on a day like this. The day her long-awaited dream came true, the day she lost the person she had in the entire world- her love and the day of her death, everything came too fast.

And if she recalled things clearly then it was also the day of her mother's death. Some memories flashed through her mind as she recalled that tragic night.

✵°✵.｡.✵°✵

[ꜰʟᴀꜱʜʙᴀᴄᴋ]

"Jal gayo (Go safely)" Lee Hwang kissed the forehead of her little daughter as he unlocked the car for her.

"Saranghae, papa" Yi-Ahn hugged one last time before getting off of the car.

"Nadu saranghae little twinkle. I'll be waiting for you with eomma." Lee Hwang uttered as he closed the window and drove off to the airport.

Lee Yeri, Yi-Ahn's mom was one of Korea's top businesswomen who had to attend a meeting in Italy for a business deal. She had a flight back to Korea today. So, Lee Hwang was heading to the airport after dropping Yi-Ahn off school.

While driving, he turned on the music and raised the speed. He loved music. It was like something that healed his soul. Music knew him, knew what he needed and what he longed for. Music cured him when he missed Yeri.

Soon, he reached there and parked the car as he got off running. He was too excited that even a second seemed like years to him.

He was there early. Too early that the plane even didn't reach the runway at that time. Well, at least in this way he could feel himself closer to his loving wife.

While wandering around, he decided to drink something. As it had been nearly one hour since he arrived there. He went to an airport coffee stall and ordered an iced americano.

Paying with his card, he was about to grab his drink from the counter, but-

*thud*

Somehow, without his consent, the cup slipped down from his hand. He was sure that he grabbed it right, that how it fell- it was even an unsolved question for him. Somewhere, something seemed wrong to him. Something about dropping the cup gave him an unpleasant vibe.

However, ignoring the unpleasant feeling, he apologized and bought another cup instead. While his order was being ready, he continued looking around.

Suddenly, something made his heart jump. Airplane's sound. It is normal to have a lot of plane sound at an airport. But, it was different, maybe he could just hear the airport sound, but it wasn't hard for him to feel Yeri's presence in it.

"Sir, your order is ready." He, drowned in her thought was caught back to reality by the barista's voice.

"Oh, thanks a lot. And I apologize again for the trouble." He didn't forget to apologize again.

"It's okay. Thanks for ordering." he gave a warm smile assuring him that it was really fine.

Lee Hwang was about to leave with the American, but suddenly he remembered something. No, he shouldn't forget this.

"Please bring me another iced americano." turned to the counter again.

The barista just chuckled at him. He surely will remember him as a clumsy man for a long time. Hehe... he wouldn't even mind being called clumsy when it comes to Yeri.

Suddenly, he noticed some noises around them and it grew louder slowly.

"Your americano," the barista knocked on the table knowing his concentration was set somewhere else.

Taking back his card, Lee Hwang didn't even wait to thank him properly as his curiosity grew larger with the sound of horns and whistles. Suddenly, the airport grew busier within a second. He even noticed some reporters getting off of their vans.

While he was following the crowd who knows where his heartbeat grew faster. He knew something serious had happened. But what- was just to find. While walking he overheard something, that made his whole world shatter into pieces. His senses stopped working, as he stood there, the world revolving around him. His whole body gave in and the 2 cups of iced vanilla americano dropped off from his hand.

"No, no... it mustn't be... it mustn't be true," he whispered to himself almost in an inaudible tone.

Suddenly, he got back all of his senses.

Yeri.

He had to reach Yeri.

No, he can't lose her.

Not now.

He started running, running like a maniac as if only reaching her mattered everything to him now. People he collided with started cursing t him, but he couldn't care about that now. All that matters now is her.

"You must be alright, Jagiya (Honey). Please hang in there." He didn't even notice the warm require dropping down his eyes as he kept running.

But, again, he had to stop. The police won't allow anyone to enter the crashed scene. Before him, was a burned plane with tons of ambulances passing. People were crying their lungs out and sirens and horns sound made the air thick.

But, his world was left silent. All the noises couldn't pass through his ear. The world seemed to be stopped for him. Everything moved so slowly like there is no end of this waiting. Eyes desperate, to see just one face.

Suddenly, something caught his attention, the world around him started getting audible and he seemed to come back to his sense, just with one glance. It was the scarf he saw on Yeri's neck on the video call before her departure. It was there- the scarf, just before his eyes.

Nothing matters now. He, passing the barricade, ran towards it as two police officers ran after him to stop him. Not long after, they grabbed him tightly, "Sir, you must not come here. Please stay away." One of them spoke out.

"Let go of me, idiots!" He screamed his lungs out as he struggled under their grip. "I wanna see my wife, damn it! Where is she? Let me go and find her myself!"

"No, you must stay away from the accident scene. We'll inform you after finding her." The other one spoke for the first time.

"There is no need of that. You idiots won't understand. You... you'll never understand. I can't live without her. Just let me find her!" He was on the verge of breaking down.

"We have rules, sir. We can't let you in." the policeman's voice was almost inaudible to him as his gaze stuck before him, on a stretcher.

Finally getting rid of them he ran to the stretcher, and it was Yeri, laying there. Blood covered her beautiful face, those sparkling eyes shut as if she was no longer her.

Trembling, Lee Hwang managed to grab her by the neck into his chest. Her body was extremely pale and cold.

"Jagiya (Honey)" he whispered into her ears, "Bogoshippo (I missed you)" Tears rolled down his eyes like no ends and he, himself was wondered by them. Never in his life, he broke down like that, never in his life, he cried so desperately for someone.

Without his consciousness, there stood the grim reaper beside them, reading the death note of his beloved,

"Name: Lee Yeri, Age: 29, Death time: 11: 23: 54, Cause of death: Plane crash."

[ꜰʟᴀꜱʜʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴇɴᴅꜱ]

"Eomma, Appa, I'm coming to you," Yi-Ahn whispered one last time as a drop of tears left her eyes.

And with that, the aircraft crashed into the ground.