Fly to Your Heart

Fly to Your Heart

Love hits people unexpectedly. Love hits Tiffany when a female pilot decides to use air traffic communication unwisely.

Prologue

“Los Angeles Tower, Boeing Hotel Lima Eight Two Seven One, eight miles east north, inbound for landing with information Tango.”

The sudden female voice coming from her headset has actually managed to startle Tiffany, the action is saying a lot by itself. Hwang Tiffany does not get surprised, not on her line of work where she is deemed to be calm even when people are burned to death down on the runway. Blaming the slow traffic on the airport, the young air traffic controller immediately springs to action. She shifts her attention to the screen in front of her. It may look like a boring plain map with moving dots and random number on top of each blinking red speck, but it represents hundreds of lives. Lives that will be endangered if Tiffany makes a miscalculation that resulted into a crash between the dots.

After making a quick mental calculation and deciding the next course of action, which in fact has not taken more than three seconds, Tiffany replies back to the communicator, “Boeing Hotel Lima Eight Two Seven One, Los Angeles Tower, enter right downwind, runway two four, report entering right downwind.” It is all, short and simple, almost robotical even.

“Hotel Lima Seven One will report right downwind, two four,” The pilot replies back then directs the plane to the designated runway. It does not take much to control a Boeing 777 because it is equipped with the new fly-by-wire smart system, but it is still better safe than sorry. “Los Angeles Tower, Hotel Lima Seven One, right downwind, two four.”

By now, Tiffany can see the new blinking dot nearing the runway with HL8271 attached on it. She easily recognizes it as the only Boeing from Korean Air, which mostly contains Koreans, her kinfolk. While she is born and raised in America for her whole life, she is still a full-blooded Korean. Her people, the closest term she can call them with, for her countrymen shall forever be the Americans, are the last she wants to put in danger. With the additional pressure, Tiffany glances and takes note of the other aircrafts on the radar, just to make sure, before she sends the new information to the waiting pilot.

“Boeing Hotel Lima Seven One, cleared to land.”

“Cleared to land, Hotel Lima Seven One.” Then the pilot cuts off communication, putting her whole concentration to land her plane safely.

Tiffany, although keeping close eye on HL8271, continues her job by informing the Ground Control for the incoming Boeing. Once each plane has safely landed, the responsibility of guiding it moves from Tower Control to Ground Control. Such network ensures everyone work seamlessly in keeping up the airport. From her position in the tower, Tiffany watches the redblue Korean Boeing roll to a stop on the runway. The landing is perfect and now Tiffany can breathe a little easier, knowing she has done yet another perfect job.

“Hotel Lima Seven One, turn right next taxiway, contact Ground, point six five, leaving the runway,” Tiffany passes the information. She only needs confirmation from the pilot then she is free to guide another landing. A Qantas is already looming on the outer part of her radar, about twenty miles away from the airport.

“Right turn, contact Ground, Hotel Lima Seven One.” But then the pilot did not cut the communication.

The air traffic controller waits, keeping the positive thought inside her mind. The communication works in a way that ensures pilot to have full access to the air traffic controller for as long as they need, meaning the line will not cut off unless the pilot stops pushing the communicator button. Tiffany knows this female Korean Air pilot is not new, even though she has been in the IncheonLAX flight schedule for only about three months. Tiffany has heard her voice on every other day and the pilot has been anything but perfect on executing each landing process. That rules out the possibility of her forgetting to cut off the communication.

Two more seconds and Tiffany can’t keep quiet. “Hotel Lima Seven One, contact Ground, point six five,” she repeats, hoping the pilot will move the frequency to Ground Control because by now, she is practically hogging the Tower Control for herself. Tiffany feels a mix of irritation and worry when she receives no response. “Boeing Hotel Lima Eight Two Seven—“

“Hey, it’s Friday night and a little too fast to ask, but do you want to go out with me tonight?”

The question throws Tiffany off. She has heard pilots and air traffic controllers throwing jokes at each other, she has heard air traffic controllers losing their patience on clueless new pilots, but she has never ever heard a pilot asking out an air traffic controller, or vice versa. The pink pen she was twirling on her fingers falls to the table, knocking off her pens’ holder, and within second they are cluttering on the floor. Tiffany can feel eyes on her, from the other staffs who work on the tower and her fellow air traffic controllers, and she is painfully aware that it is not because of the mess she made.

Although Tiffany admires the pilot for having the guts to ask her out on public communication, where practically every airport workers can hear them, she does condemn her way of doing it. It is unprofessional. “Negative,” she states simply, earning collective thumb-ups from her senior coworkers.

“I’ll ask again in three days.”

Tiffany rolls her eyes. “It will still be ne—“ but the pilot has cut off their communication, leaving her with empty static.

Introvert Pilot

“Los Angeles International information Juliet one four five zero Zulu weather. Wind two three zero at six, visibility one zero. Two five thousand scattered, temperature three three, dew-point minus three. Altimeter two niner niner five. IFR approach is ILS or visual, runway two four left and two four right. Simultaneous parallel ILS approaches in use. VFR aircraft say direction of flight. All aircraft read back and hold short instruction. Advise controller on initial contact that you have Juliet.”

Both pilot and co-pilot are listening to the ATIS message intently. They take mental notes of the information, storing it to the back of their heads, but so far it is a perfect condition to land. The co-pilot, a twenty eight years old man named Kim JongHyun, gives a thumb-up to the pilot as a silent agreement to go forward with the landing procedure. They still have several miles before approaching the airport, though.

“Stop grinning like a maniac, you’re creeping me out.”

“I’m just encouraging you. Go get her, tiger!”

The pilot, Kim TaeYeon, makes a face. “You know it’s not like that...”

“Are we going through the ‘I’m-hurt-my-fiancée-dumped-me-after-two-years-being-togetherand-now-I’m-scared-to-start-dating’ talk again?”

“Are you insinuating that I’m scared of love?” TaeYeon fires back. She is very sensitive when her ex gets brought up into a conversation. “Or that I’m playing with the ATC girl?”

At the accusation, JongHyun cocks a brow, frowning. “If you think like that, then maybe you are.” He shrugs, ignoring TaeYeon’s taken aback expression. “Ten miles away, you better send the message now.” Then the previous topic is replaced just like that.

TaeYeon, although still looking a bit irritated, follows through. “Los Angeles Tower, Boeing Hotel Lima Eight Two Seven One, nine miles east north, inbound for landing with information Juliet.” The words flow from her lips with practiced ease.

It goes exactly like it did three days ago, except this time TaeYeon feels excited, unlike her usual sour mood. She has been in the flight business since she is born, her father owns a private aviation company back in her hometown. It is really nothing big. The planes have propelled engines, mostly for doing crop dusting and sometimes banner towing. It does, however, contribute greatly to TaeYeon’s career. With a pilot as a father, she began training really early. At sixteen, she started flying solo and by seventeen, she already got her pilot license with about a thousand hours of flight under her belt. Now, barely twenty five and after two years out of college with Bachelor of Science degree, she has secured a line in international flight.

With such amazing accomplishment, it is natural for TaeYeon to think that she has it all, until her lover left her for a man and she became devastated. It took JongHyun a month to lure her out of her shell, but his tactic of getting her into night clubs and picking random girls in bar for one nightstands failed to work. TaeYeon is never good with human relationship. To say it simply, she is socially awkward, which is bizarre because she works as a freaking pilot, the dream job with big income and beautiful flight attendances ready for a game or two. On more than one occasion,

JongHyun and several other pilots have called her an introvert and she does not even bother to retaliate, because she knows it is true. The fact that right now, she is talking with the air traffic controller, whose voice she has a crush over—if that is even possible—through the communication but does not dare to meet her face to face, is enough proof of it.

“Hotel Lima Seven One, turn right next taxiway, contact Ground, point six five, leaving the runway.”

If the air traffic controller feels bored for reciting the same message over and over again, it can’t be detected in her voice. But again, she sounds as static as she always does and TaeYeon can’t help but think that maybe they are not that different. The ATC girl is hiding behind the communicator as well, and even worse, she is trapped in a tower for at least six hours a day. Both of them definitely have something in common.

“Right turn, contact Ground, Hotel Lima Seven One. Go out with me?”

“No.”

TaeYeon can feel JongHyun rolling his eyes at her unsuccessful attempt, so she tries a new approach. “At least tell me your name?” It comes meekly and she can only hope the other woman does not notice it.

“No.”

This is her last shot. As much as she wants to spend hours talking—harassing, as JongHyun would have corrected—to the air traffic controller, she knows she can’t. Actually, it is against the rule to talk more than required and even more when it is for petty matters like wooing someone. TaeYeon can only wonder why the woman has not reported her yet.

Maybe she is not as bothered as she sounds... the thought puts a small grin on TaeYeon’s face. “Then I’ll call you Rapunzel, because you are ‘trapped’ in a tower.”

“This action is really—“ Again, TaeYeon cuts it off.

From the corner of her eyes, TaeYeon sees JongHyun shaking his head at her. “What?” She puts in the ground control’s frequency and without waiting for her co-pilot’s reply, she talks to the microphone, “Los Angeles Ground, Boeing Hotel Lima Seven One, taxi to transient parking.”

“Boeing Hotel Lima Seven One, taxi to parking,” a deep manly voice replies.

“Taxi to parking, Hotel Lima Seven One.”

JongHyun postpones their chat as he concentrates fully on parking the plane. It is probably the only one time when an airplane is going slower than a car. For such humongous metal, the pilot and co-pilot fully depend on the light line marshaller, since they are so high up there and not able

to see any fine detail of the ground. TaeYeon and JongHyun finally relax when the marshaller puts both of his arms up to form an “X” with his red batons and they secure the break.

“You’re so mean.”

“I know,” TaeYeon answers back, feeling satisfied that for once she is in full control of how she wants the ‘relationship’ to progress. “I hope she isn’t mad at me.” She frowns slightly. Even after such exhilarating exchange, uneasiness still resides inside her.

“After that ‘Rapunzel’ line? I doubt she will.” The older man takes off his safety belt and headset then smacks his blonde companion on the shoulder. “This calls for a drink!” He cheers loudly.

Chance Encounter

“Cheers!”

The large number of bar’s patrons simultaneously raise then clink their glasses together before downing whatever they have in one go. TaeYeon, however, does not share the same excitement. Instead, she flinches over the loudness before taking a small sip of her cherry coke. Drinking in a bar at six in the afternoon is never her thing, but with her messed up schedule—arriving on LA at around four then departing back to Seoul at midnight on the next day—it is the only empty timeslot that she can afford to go out. It does not mean she has to be happy over the activity, though.

I should’ve been sleeping soundly right now... the blonde pilot thinks eyes drowsy.

The only thing that keeps TaeYeon awake is the drink on her hand and the occasional loud shout coming from somewhere inside the bar. JongHun usually drags her out on Saturday nights for real drinks back in Seoul, since they have Sundays off. However, today is Monday and they are on duty within the next twenty four hours, which means they should avoid drinking any alcohol, and yet he still insists to buy her a drink. So they end up sticking with the next best thing, drinking non-alcohol beverages in the Marina bar by gate 105.

With her glass half empty, TaeYeon is barely able to keep herself awake. The small amount of caffeine in the coke does not hold a candle for a religious coffee drinker like her. So, when all of a sudden JongHyun slips to sit beside her on the deserted booth then wraps his muscular arm around her shoulders, she jolts up.

“You scared me!” TaeYeon hisses, harshly pulling off her partner’s arm from around her shoulders. “JongHyun!” She warns, but it falls on deaf ears.

“Relax, TaeYeon.” The older man pokes TaeYeon on the cheek. He then takes a swing from his glass that is filled with something that suspiciously looks like beer whilst ignoring the glare TaeYeon is giving him. “Are you serious about Rapunzel?”

The out-of-nowhere question has taken aback the blonde woman. She quirks a brow, as if to say excuse me?!, but of course the small detail slips JongHyun’s attention. “Are you drunk, Kim JongHyun?” TaeYeon fires back with a hardened look on her face. “I’m not up to spend another twelve plus hours being trapped with SiWon and his preaching just because you got ‘sick’.”

“As if a glass of A&W root beer will get me drunk...” JongHyun sneers before his expression turns solemn. “I’ll ask you again, are you serious about the ATC?”

Sensing her partner’s unsaid concern for her well-being, TaeYeon softens slightly. “It’s only a harmless flirting. I don’t know her, she doesn’t know me.” She then takes another sip of her drink. The words have left foul taste on her mouth and she does not even know why.

“And that,” the older man dramatically points his forefinger at TaeYeon, whose eyes widen in surprise, “is the reason I’m so worried about this whole harmless flirting.” He notices that the blonde is ready to talk back, so he waves his hand to stop her. “No, no. Let me finish it first. There is nothing not harmless about the exchange you have with the ATC girl. Do you remember my Nana?”

The random question gets TaeYeon confused. She really wonders whether JongHyun is drunk of his root beer or not, because it seems like he does. “Yeah...?” She answers uncertainly.

“My old wrinkly Nana has a very beautiful, soft voice over the phone. One day, she received a call from an unknown number. The caller, a boy, admitted that he had put in a wrong number and apologized.”

TaeYeon still does not know where the story is leading, but she knows better than to disturb JongHyun on his story-telling time. So, she nods politely as to signal him that she is listening, but does nothing more than that. JongHyun appreciates the gesture and grins widely at her.

“But the boy didn’t hang up after. Instead, he made a lame attempt of a small chitchat with Nana.” JongHyun chuckles. “You know the old generation and their belief in keeping up politeness no matter how shady the situation is. She held to it and entertained him, until he asked her out.” He is laughing loudly right now and TaeYeon finally sees where the story is going. “He was so adamant about it; no matter how polite she was while trying to turn him down. Until she had no more and kinda yelled at him about her age and how she is a proud grandmother of a boy that’s probably around his age. He hung up right away.”

“So you’re saying that the ATC can be an old woman?” TaeYeon actually takes offense from his insinuation.

“No. I was saying that you don’t know anything about this woman you have a crush on. She can be Asian, or Caucasian, and even Africa-American. She can be twenty, or thirty, or even fifty.

She can be single, married, or a widow with three kids. You don’t even know if she plays for the same team, TaeYeon.” Seeing TaeYeon mulls over his points, he adds, “I’m all for this flirting, I really am. You have all my blessing. But you only ever heard her voice; she might turn out to be someone you wouldn’t like... and it will crush you again.” JongHyun reaches out to hold TaeYeon’s hand and squeezes it in his bigger one.

“I...” TaeYeon trails off. She realizes that JongHyun is right and she does not have anything to argue back, so she decides to flee instead. “I’m going to get a refill.” Without waiting for her friend’s reply, she slips out of the booth and goes to the bar with her empty glass in hand.

“More cherry coke?” The bartender asks whilst taking TaeYeon’s empty glass. He holds no judgment over her choice of drink, many pilots are regular patrons of the bar and every bartender knows better than offering any alcohol for them unless they ask for it themselves. “Or would you like to try our new mocktail, berry patch? It’s a mix of blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, vanilla ice cream, and milk.”

“Can you change the milk with soda?” The blonde asks after pondering over the mix.

“Sure thing! Please wait for a moment.”

TaeYeon then takes a seat on one of the stools. Everything JongHyun said is clouding her mind and she unconsciously sulks. They should be having a celebration, not a wake-up call in a bar that tempts her to drink alcohol. Too deep in her gloomy thought, TaeYeon does not realize someone has occupied the seat beside her.

Soon after, the bartender comes back and serves her drink. “One berry patch with soda.” He takes the payment, smiling at the extra tip TaeYeon has slipped in. “Enjoy your drink.” He then moves to the next customer and asks for her order.

TaeYeon is eyeing her new drink suspiciously, fearing that it is far too sour for her, when she hears the person beside her says, “Can I have pussyfoot?”

The blonde pilot freezes on her spot. Eyes wide, heartbeats roar in her ears, and pinkness dusts her cheeks. It, obviously, has nothing to do with the bizarre beverage’s name. She recognizes that voice, although it sounds a bit clearer and deeper now.

Rapunzel?! TaeYeon’s eyes look like they might pop out from their sockets after she steals a glance at the girl and then the first thought that crosses her mind is she is not a wrinkly old woman!

Dream Girl After taking one deep inhale, TaeYeon scurries off from the bar counter. She never looks back at her crush and opts to disappear within the crowd of people whilst inwardly hoping that the ATC does not take notice of her awkward action. Her steps falter and come to a stop when she reaches

her booth. JongHyun, startles by his partner’s sudden appearance, immediately cocks up a brow after he gets a good look on said partner. TaeYeon is clutching her glass, hands trembling slightly, and she is hyperventilating. Despite the rather dim light inside the bar, the older man also manages to spot the redness on TaeYeon’s face.

JongHyun gasps. “You’re drunk!” He exclaims.

When TaeYeon stares at her co-pilot with unseeing onyx eyes, he takes the initiative to investigate it by himself. JongHyun sniffs the blonde’s drink wearily, expecting to catch the hint of alcohol, but he fails to detect even a whiff of it. He furrows his brows, confusion paints his handsome face.

“S-she is here!” TaeYeon squeaks.

“Who?”

“Rapunzel!”

The outburst earns the duo several stares from the patrons around them. JongHyun immediately tugs the stuttering, blushing mess, which is TaeYeon, to sit beside him. He, again, wraps him arm around the blonde’s shoulder to give the outlook of an intimate couple, while in fact, he is keeping her still by locking his arm around her neck. JongHyun fears TaeYeon will bolt and run

out of the bar like a headless chicken anytime soon. The heavy blush on her face does make her look like she is going to explode, though.

“TaeYeon, breathe!” JongHyun hisses on her ear as he tightens his chokehold. “Breathe!”

Instead of doing as she is told to, TaeYeon turns blue. “Can’t-can’t breathe!” She claws at his forearm and he finally realizes that he is, indeed, choking her then quickly lets her go. “You moron!” The blonde nudges JongHyun on the ribs with her pointy elbow, hard.

“I’m sorry.” The co-pilot rubs his forearm and side sheepishly. “But come again? Who is here?”

“My Rapunzel! The ATC girl!”

JongHyun’s eyes become wide in surprise. “She is here?! Where?!” He looks around frantically, trying to spot the unknown woman TaeYeon has been crushing over, although he does not even have the slightest idea of how the woman looks like. “Where, TaeYeon? Where? Is she pretty? How old is she? Can I meet her?”

TaeYeon makes a face at her partner’s overflowing excitement. “Are you sure you’re not the one having a crush on her?”

“Oh, please…” JongHyun continues scanning the crowd. “It’s just SooYoung,” he mentions the stewardess who usually joins their flight every other day, “and I, and also YoonA,” yet another stewardess, “are having a bet about how your crush looks like. I bet fifty bucks that she is nerdylooking thirty years old—Ouch!” He yelps when another nudge lands on his side again, harder this time. JongHyun grins guiltily. “I didn’t mean it that way…”

The blonde rolls her eyes at her rather childish partner. “You can say goodbye to your money.” Nervousness gone, TaeYeon turns giddy, like a schoolgirl after seeing her crush smiles at her for the first time. “She is drop dead gorgeous! And she is Korean too! And her hair is shoulder length and not blonde, but I love Tangled so she can be my kick-ass Rapunzel forever! And her eyes—“

“Stop, stop!”

“What?”

“How did you even know that it’s her?”

“You really hate losing a bet, don’t you?” TaeYeon narrows her eyes at JongHyun. She loves the man like a brother, but he can be damn annoying at times, even more than their resident gay pilot, Kim KiBum. “I heard her voice, she came up beside me on the bar and ordered pussyfoot,” she explains. “I didn’t gather more about her, though.” She frowns, regretting herself for being too shy and ran away instead of introducing herself and all. If only I did, I might be talking to her

instead of JongHyun right now… TaeYeon sighs then mumbles, mostly to herself. “I was in panic so I didn’t get to use my gaydar on her…”

“Shoulder length brown hair and she is Korean, right?”

“Yeah…” TaeYeon takes big gulp of her drink to sooth her disappointment. “Why?”

“Well… If that is her...” JongHyun points at the general direction where a group of people, probably part the airport staff, is sitting together, and one of them matches TaeYeon’s description of her dream girl. “Then you don’t need your gaydar, because mine exploded the moment I saw her.”

TaeYeon whips her head to where JongHyun is pointing. It takes her millisecond to find her crush, sitting among the group, and she can’t see what her partner meant about his gaydar exploding. “That’s her, yeah...” she confirms dreamily then continues on without letting her eyes off from her crush, “but I can’t see anything gay about her yet and you don’t even have a gaydar.”

“I have the gayest of them all as my best friends; my gaydar is much more honed than yours, but whatever.” The co-pilot rolls his eyes before he slaps TaeYeon on the shoulder, snapping her out of her trance. “Grow a ball and talk to her!”

The blonde gasps, shyness goes back in full force. “N-no, no! I can’t do that! She’ll think I’m a creep.”

“You are a creep...”

But TaeYeon has not heard JongHyun's sarcastic remark and goes on with her panic rant. “How big is the possibility of meeting your crush in a bar after you flirted with her about three hours beforehand and-and I’m not ready. I have no idea of what to say. Can I just come up to her and say ‘hey, I’m the pilot who has been annoying you every other day. I know I’m short, yeah. And I’m also an awkward turtle when it comes to courting and such, but now that we’ve meet in person, I’ll be a brave gentleman for once and ask, would you like to go out with me? Oh! Wait! Do you even swing that way? I’m TaeYeon, by the way.’? And then what? What if she turned me down? In front of her colleagues? I’ll just make fun of myself and—Mmfh!” She gets cut off as JongHyun clamps his big hand over her mouth, effectively shutting her up.

JongHyun laughs sheepishly. Apparently, TaeYeon has attracted the attention of the people around them and they are staring at the duo weirdly. “I’m sorry, my girlfriend here get a panic attack.” But the stares do not cease so he adds, “We are going to have sex for the first time!”

As expected, the crowd cheers. They all just need silly reason to drink more. While they are busy clinking their glasses together, JongHyun takes the chance to pull the too-stunned TaeYeon out of the bar. Only when they are out and safe out of anyone’s earshot that the blonde stomps her heel onto her co-pilot’s, earning a loud painful yelp from the man, before she walks away angrily.

Two days later, after a lot of apologizing and a spa coupon, TaeYeon and JongHyun are back into their normal self, with the former being all ecstatic and the latter keeps rolling his eyes at her. They have successfully landed yet another flight despite the rather cloudy day, which, by the way, has given TaeYeon a perfect excuse to ask detailed direction from her crush. The ATC did not seem to mind at all. In fact, if TaeYeon dares herself to say it, her crush sounded happier than usual, as if she knows something they don’t.

Ignoring the nagging feeling inside her chest, TaeYeon continues talking on the communicator, “I like blue, and sometimes purple too,” she informs without being prompted to. The blonde feels she has the upper hand because she has seen her crush while the latter knows nothing about her. It’s only fair if I tell her about me, right? The blonde giggles happily, empowered by the fact that she, apparently, is the one wearing pants in the relationship. But her glee is not going to stay for a long time.

“I know, Captain Kim TaeYeon.”

The Note

“I know, Captain Kim TaeYeon.”

TaeYeon freezes on her seat, forgetting about what she is supposed to be doing next. On the seat beside her, JongHyun goes through an almost identical reaction, except that he gathers his wits faster and practically smacks the pilot’s hand off one certain button on the panel, effectively cutting off their communication. His Nana would have chastised him for being rude but such grave situation requires an equally grave action to counter and it has nothing to do with this urge he has for acting dramatic. Nope. Not at all.

Since the pilot is still looking blankly at the panel, JongHyun takes the initiative to enter the Ground Control’s frequency. The man’s voice replacing her Rapunzel’s soothing one manages to pull TaeYeon out of her shock, but only as far as making her operate in autopilot mode. They park the plane without any more heart-stopping incident.

“Are you okay?”

“No.”

“Do you want to get out of this plane so we can talk about it?”

“No.”

JongHyun let out a sigh. “We kinda have to get out, though.” But TaeYeon does not react so he continues, “It has been ten minutes since the passengers left the plane.”

“Hmm.”

“YoonA had checked on us twice.”

This time, not even a hum answers JongHyun. Apparently, TaeYeon has opted to withdrawn back into herself and freaked out inside her mind, as usual. Her action is not something JongHyun has not predicted—he is very used to his captain having silent moments where he can hear her thoughts echo inside her thick skull—but this one seems worse. TaeYeon does not even flinch when he practically breathes on the side of her face and he knows how much the woman hates having her personal space intruded.

“That’s it!” JongHyun exclaims, throwing his arms into the air rather dramatically. “We’re going to the tower,” he states with finality as he undoes the belt around TaeYeon then tugs her back on her feet.

“What?! No!”

TaeYeon’s loud objection to the one-sided decision falls on deaf ears, although not for the unwanted spectators they gather along the way. The blonde is trashing and flailing her free arm about, like a small child refusing to go to school, while JongHyun holds her wrist hostage as he

leads the way. A fleeting thought of going all caveman on the petite woman, slinging her across his shoulder, crosses his mind once before it gets turned down almost instantly. Even with her small figure, TaeYeon is packed with quite a kick. He has witnessed his partner kicking a drunk man right on the balls when he touched her inappropriately while they were drinking in a club back in Seoul. JongHyun does not wish for such treatment to befall upon himself, thus his smart decision in keeping his weakest spot—and practically all part of his body, except for an arm— away from the blonde. That does not manage to save him from getting his shoulder punched, though.

“Kim JongHyun, I demand you to release me. Now!” TaeYeon speaks with as much authority as she can muster. Panic rises as they are getting closer to the North Tower. “Kim JongHyun!”

JongHyun grimaces, offering awkward smiles to the people who have taken interest on them along the way. A female pilot spluttering what sounds like an angry alien language to her fellow Korean pilot is not everyday happening. The usual calm and collected TaeYeon is long gone. Thankfully, they are taking the employee pathway so the general public will not see their very unprofessional behavior. Although the dirty look a janitor sends to JongHyun as they march past is enough to make him duck his head in embarrassment.

“For the love of God, shut up and grow a ball,” JongHyun finally hisses when they take a turn into a deserted hallway.

By now, TaeYeon realizes they are on the wrong way. She truly does not mind not getting to meet her Rapunzel sooner; she knows she will only make a fool out of herself without proper preparation. But going through a roundabout course and therefore prolonging the torture are not doing any good for the blonde either. She will get aneurism if it is going to take any longer to get

to the tower. The elevator’s loud ‘ding’ snaps TaeYeon out of her death wish and she looks around in bewilderment. They are in front of the control room of the tower, the South tower.

“What are we doing—“

“Every pilot has to report before departure and they check our identity all the time.” The tall man rolls his eyes. “It’s the best place to start if someone was searching for your information.”

JongHyun then jerks the door open and pushes TaeYeon inside before she can retort. She stumbles then turns around to glare at her co-pilot after she gathers her composure, face flushes in red. The man only points behind her, where some staffs are staring at them with raised brows. TaeYeon’s blush deepens as her self-consciousness shoots through the roof and she mindlessly smoothes her uniform, trying to look more presentable. She hates being the center of people’s attention. Fortunately for her, a short blonde woman shushes the rest of the staffs and comes bouncing to their aid.

“To what do we owe the pleasure of this visit, captain,” the woman looks at TaeYeon first before moving to JongHyun, “First officer?” She is perky, with dimples popping and sparkly blue eyes. She is everything TaeYeon is not. “It’s so rare for pilots to come up here to send the departure papers in person, so I guess it’s not that?” She deduces smartly.

“We’re looking for information.” JongHyun steps up to stand beside TaeYeon. Even he feels a little irked by the woman—Robbins, her name tag says so—and her happy-go-lucky attitude. “I hope you can help us, Miss Robbins.”

“Sure!” The blue-eyed woman bounces on her feet again, hands clasp in excitement. “What do you want to know?”

“Captain Kim here—“ JongHyun begins, but he gets interrupted by a squeal. Several squeals, actually.

“Wait! You’re Captain Kim? As in Captain Kim TaeYeon?” Robbins asks.

TaeYeon nods dumbly, lost of why these men and women suddenly stare at her like she is a piece of fresh meat and they are the salivating zombies. The spark on their eyes can be categorized as predatory. TaeYeon’s fight-or-flight instinct tells her to flee, but JongHyun has started holding her hand again. What the blonde pilot is not aware of is the fact that her partner does it because he is scared too.

Another staff joins them, a short man with sleek brown hair and doe eyes. “You’re so cute!” He claims, high-pitched. Then when TaeYeon replied his compliment with gruff voice and an expression between aloof and intrigued, he fans his heated face with one hand. “Oh my... That’s such a turn on.”

Eew... This time, both TaeYeon and JongHyun share the same thought. They want to get out of the tower, fast. TaeYeon grips her co-pilot’s hand as hard as she can and he catches her silent suggestion right away.

“I take that all of you have heard the exchanges between my captain here and the ATC on North Tower?” JongHyun asks and a chorused ‘yes’ answers him. Apparently the South Tower is less strict due to the considerably younger staffs running it, unlike the North Tower. “Uugh... We are wondering if anyone can share some information with us.” He chooses to ignore his own stalkerish manner since they are too deep to pull out, so it is better to just get through it for once and all. “As you see, the ATC isn’t really thrilled with Captain Kim’s approach.” A collective nods respond him and TaeYeon can’t stop blushing in embarrassment, apparently everyone in LAX know about her and her silly wooing approach for the ATC. “But she knows her name while she doesn’t and it’s unfair. We hope anyone can help us to even out the ante...?”

“Actually...” This time another woman steps up. “We have something better.” She hands the folded note she has taken from her drawer to TaeYeon. “When she came here to ask about your data, she had predicted that you would pay a visit soon, so she left this for you.”

The blonde can’t hide her surprise as she receives the note, her jaw slacks and eyes wide. Again, TaeYeon gets beaten by her crush in the rivalry game they have unconsciously created together. The woman seems to defeat her on every chance she gets and moves several steps ahead before TaeYeon can even catch up. It is both annoying and challenging.

TaeYeon fights off the blush and the stupid grin that threatens to break on her face as she slowly unfolds the note. Her stomach is doing flips whilst her heart flutters with anticipation, but the neat Hangeul written inside makes her stomach drop. JongHyun, who peeks over TaeYeon’s shoulder, immediately squeezes her hand when he read the single sentence.

Please stop bothering me at work, Captain Kim.

Captain Kim and Miss Hwang

TaeYeon eases herself onto the bed. She does not care enough to peel the cover nor taking off her shoes first. She does not even care the wrinkles her uniform will surely obtain in the process. The blonde is heartbroken. It feels like high school all over again, except for the absence of her thick glasses and brackets, and the fact that her crush did not even know of her existence. But her Rapunzel—No, Miss Hwang Tiffany, did notice her and yet she still got her heartbroken.

Hwang Tiffany.

Robbins had kindly informed TaeYeon of her crush’s name after she saw her crestfallen expression. It failed to ebb the pain, despite how nice the name rolls off TaeYeon’s tongue. The changes must have been so obvious that even JongHyun did not make any joke and let TaeYeon have her space. He too did not raise a protest when the blonde woman later on decided to not participate in the flight back to Incheon on the next day. That is two flights in a row—LAX to

Incheon then Incheon to LAX—and she did not even blink when she was told about a certain amount of money in her paycheck would be reduced then handed to SiWon, her replacement.

TaeYeon just wants to sleep, but even the sandman evades her tonight. Again, the time difference is part to blame. Now that sleep is elusive and her thoughts are making her restless, TaeYeon turns to the tiny pills her physician had prescribed shortly after her major break-up with her ex-fiancée. Two blue bitter pills and a glass of water later, the blonde finally dozes off. When TaeYeon wakes up the next morning, the first things she notices are the fact that she is still in her uniform, sans the shoes, and then, that she is alone in the lodge room the airport has provided for international pilots like herself. The memories of what had happened the other day rushes into her mind and she sighs dejectedly.

The blonde goes about her morning routine in a vain attempt of distracting herself. She takes a long shower, dressed herself in civilian clothes, and grabs a quick brunch with JongHyun at a nearby restaurant. It works well, until she comes back and checks her uniform before she supposes to send it out to be dry-cleaned, and finds the note from Tiffany. TaeYeon had shoved it inside her pocket after she read it once, not bothering to see it ever again. Despite the pang of displeasure inside her chest telling her to toss it away, or better, burn it off, she still goes against her own better judgment and sits down on the bed, rereading the lone sentence that had managed to break her heart.

Please stop bothering me at work, Captain Kim.

TaeYeon scoffs. Thinking so highly of yourself, huh? She then rolls her eyes, heart sets on the more traditional way of getting over the heartbreak by hating the woman, or in this particular

case, ignoring the woman. I will get over this stupid crush, she promises herself as she tosses the note haphazardly and plops down to lie on her back. I will overcome it. It’s so not worth—

Whatever newly-made determination TaeYeon is going to declare suddenly vanishes when she turns to her side, looking straight at the back of the folded note, where a string of numbers stares back at her tauntingly. Bewilderedly, she reaches out for the paper and brings it in for closer inspection. The numbers are written on the bottom and in smaller letters, which is why she had not noticed it before. It is a foreign cell phone number, written by Tiffany, but it can be of a random person’s. Or it can be another proof of her crush’s apparent disrespect of the affection she harbors towards her, the deliberate use of used note is to mock said feeling.

Or it can be hers... the small, hopeful voice rings from the far back of TaeYeon’s head. It can be Tiffany’s and she wants me to call her...

Before the stupid self-argument TaeYeon normally engages in can commence, her heart has yet again beaten all logic her brain is ready to throw out. With her body in perfect tune with her heart, the blonde finds herself scrambling ahead to retrieve her own phone from its charger on the nightstand. The number is typed in and soon followed by the green call button being tapped, panic finally settles in TaeYeon after the first ring. She might be calling her freaking crush and she has no idea of what to talk about. When she thinks of hanging up to gather her wits first, it is too late.

“Hello?”

TaeYeon’s heart skips a beat and the butterflies she does not know she has start doing silly somersaults inside her stomach. It is Tiffany. The pilot tries to greet back, yet no sound manages to come out. Her mouth opens and closes like a fish out of water. She hears small rustle on the other side, probably Tiffany taking the phone away from her ear, and she waits for the dial tone to resonate with bated breath. TaeYeon is sure Tiffany will hang up, thinking it is a prank call, but the noise never comes.

“Captain Kim?”

“Yes!” TaeYeon squeaks out.

The blonde has to remind herself that Tiffany is, in fact, not standing in front of her. She can’t see her. There is no reason for her to be so worked out over a phone call. It is just like another courting attempt through the air traffic communication, except it is better because the whole LAX staffs can’t hear them. With such reassuring thoughts, TaeYeon’s nervousness dissipates and replaced by her composed, flirty persona.

“Hello, Rapunzel.” This time, TaeYeon’s timbre goes down by a notch into her pleasantly soothing voice. She also uses Korean to subtly hint that she knows about Tiffany’s lineage. A smile breaks on her lips when she notices a tiny, almost timid giggle comes from the other end. Maybe I’m not the only one who is shy here. Her grin widens into a toothy one.

“You must have known my name already, Captain Kim.” Tiffany’s Korean flows impeccably but her heavy accent makes it very distinguishable that she does not use the language frequently.

“So do you, Miss Hwang.” TaeYeon switches back to English, it never hurts to practice the language more.

“It took you long enough to finally call me, TaeYeon.”

TaeYeon frowns, but not because the intentional use of her name. “You told me to stop bothering you, Tiffany.” She really does not want to be petty, but the woman had caused her unnecessary suffering.

“Yes, at work.” Tiffany sounds like she is enjoying the small banter too much for TaeYeon’s likings. “I prefer to act professional while I’m working. That’s why I gave you my number.”

“Yes, number that I prefer to be written in big bold letters on front, under your message.” TaeYeon would have rolled her eyes but she is too distracted and buzzed with excitement, so much that she ends up blurting out, “I’m free today and the date offer still stands.” Then smacks herself square on the forehead, even when it is too late to take it back.

Tiffany laughs good-naturedly. “It does?”

“Y-yeah...”

“Then pick me at seven on the North Tower.” A small chuckle follows. “I expect you to recite the line from Rapunzel—“ It gets cut off.

TaeYeon is sure her heart has leapt up to her throat when Tiffany agreed, but the abruptly ended call has pummeled it back down to her chest where it proceeds to drop down to her stomach with each second passes and she hears no more sound coming. Confused and a bit hurt, TaeYeon pulls the phone away from her ear and stares at the black screen. She cusses out loud when she realizes it has run out of batteries.

Rapunzel, Rapunzel...

TaeYeon is early, thirty minutes early. She has gone up and down the North tower twice and visited the restroom to check her appearance thrice. Now, with ten minutes left, she starts pacing in the fortunately-empty hallway in front of the control room, hands balled on her sides in order to stop herself from biting her nails. She is a total emotional wreck today and with no JongHyun around to talk with—he is going to fly back to Seoul with SiWon later tonight—her anxiety simply burns her out from inside.

An older man casts a questioning glance at TaeYeon while he gets inside the control room and the pilot—now unidentified in her sleek black slacks, blue plaid shirt, and dark jacket—actually glares back at him. He huffs in disapproval at her as he closes the door behind him. Less than a minute later, the door opens again and TaeYeon stops dead on her track. Back stiffs and breathe hitches in her throat, she waits, thinking the man had informed his coworkers about her presence outside their control room and Tiffany had come forward to speak to her outside. TaeYeon can barely hold herself up when the person behind the door pokes their head out through the gap. The gender, lineage, and even hair length are correct, but the age is not.

“Mister Doyle, it’s not my granddaughter,” The middle-aged Korean woman calls back to the room, eyes still on TaeYeon. When the pilot makes a disbelief face and grunts back at her, she adds in disdain, “My granddaughter has better manners.” Then slams the door shut.

The small exchange, while unpleasant, has managed to distract TaeYeon for the rest of the time. She leans on the wall across the control room’s door and crosses her arms defiantly across her chest. When a few minutes later the door opens again, TaeYeon readily throws the coldest glare she can muster at whomever that will poke their head out. Only this time, a well-dressed Hwang Tiffany comes out.

Tiffany cocks a brow at the menacing then shocked look she receives from her suppose-to-be date. “Should I come back later?” She takes a step backward, crossing the threshold without taking her eyes off from TaeYeon.

TaeYeon is beyond dumbfounded. The sudden fear prickling on her skin snaps her out of her stupor. She peers past Tiffany, where about a dozen pair of eyes—belongs to the staffs that are almost as old as her own grandparents—staring straight at her with clear warning. Hurt her and we will hunt you down. It is like meeting the parents of her date, six times the number and double the age.

The blonde gulps uneasily as she avoids the penetrating gazes and chooses to look at Tiffany. “Can we start over again?” She pleads sheepishly.

“Sure.”

Then Tiffany closes the door, leaving a perplexed TaeYeon alone. But it is not for long because the door opens again and this time, Tiffany steps outside then closes it behind her back. TaeYeon sighs and smiles gratefully at her date, but the expectant look the latter gives her is making her brows furrow in confusion. TaeYeon’s brain rakes through their exchange earlier. Tiffany had replied to her apologetic text message with a simple ‘it’s okay’ and told her that she would turn off her phone because her work shift was going to start, so it must be something during the phone call.

I expect you to recite the line from Rapunzel. TaeYeon eyes widen and she stares at Tiffany bewilderedly. She really wants me to say it?!

As if she can hear TaeYeon’s thought, Tiffany nods encouragingly. After one full minute the now-blushing blonde has stayed quiet, Tiffany nudges her head slightly at the direction of the door behind her as a silent threat. TaeYeon knows she has embarrassed Tiffany before with her insistent public courting attempts and it will only be fair if she gets her fair share of embarrassment herself. At least Tiffany does not require her to actually recite the line while she is down outside the tower.

Eventually, TaeYeon huffs in defeat. She takes in a generous amount of air to prepare herself in getting the taste of her own medicine. “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair.” The words flow along with her exhale, growing exponentially softer with the redness on her cheeks.

Nonetheless, it pleases Tiffany. She actually takes her hair out of its tight ponytail—the hairdo TaeYeon had failed to notice earlier due to her attention being placed somewhere else, namely Tiffany’s eyes—then shakes the tresses free. The silky dark brown locks cascade down elegantly, not even a strain sticking out of place despite its recent confinement. TaeYeon does not bother to be more discreet, she openly gapes at the action and Tiffany grins back in delight. As soon as the exchange ends, silence reigns.

TaeYeon grows uncomfortable then does the first thing that comes to her mind; she sticks her hand out for a handshake as she mutters a quiet ‘nice to meet you’. Tiffany stares at the offered hand then at TaeYeon, who schools her expression to not give any hint of the incredulousness she is feeling at the moment, before accepting it. No electric sensation crawls over their skin, no random realization of how their hands fit each other, just one warm and firm handshake.

However, TaeYeon, in the ill-advised effort she again comes up with to salvage the awkward situation, brings Tiffany’s hand up then kisses it smoothly.

Oh no... The blonde groans inside her mind as she breaks the contact, avoiding looking at Tiffany on all cost. The date has not even started yet and she had made fun of herself. “I-I’m sorry. It’s just... an impulse. Your hand feels so soft, I can’t help it.” The last unnecessary sentence flies out of her mouth without her consent and undoes her whole effort to act less crazy. With how deep she has dug, TaeYeon is surprised she has not buried herself alive yet. I’d love to have the ground opened up and swallowed me whole now!

“It’s okay.” Surprisingly, Tiffany’s voice holds no teasing tone in it. “Thank you.”

TaeYeon looks up just in time to see the other woman’s small, shy, but genuine smile. She grins back, a little more confident than before. “Shall we go?”

Be Your Everything Instead of offering her arm, the pilot nudges her head down the hall. Skin to skin contact will be too much for her already-rattled brain to handle and Tiffany seems to be on the same page with

her in this as she takes the first step. They walk together until they are out of the tower and in the public area, where TaeYeon abruptly pulls to a stop.

“Where do you want to go?”

“Anywhere is fine but I can’t stay out too late.”

A small flush invades TaeYeon’s face. “I’d like to treat you dinner somewhere outside the airport...” She rubs the back of her neck; a sheepish smile tugs on her lips. “But I have no idea of where to go...”

“You’re not familiar with the area?”

TaeYeon shrugs. “Never have the chance to roam in the city.”

“I know this nice Thai restaurant,” Tiffany suggests after considering the options. “Are you okay with Thai food? There are plenty of Mexican grills and American bistros too if it doesn’t fit your palate.”

“More than okay.”

One problem settled, they resume the walk out. At this time of the day, the airport is on its highest activity. Passengers and staffs alike are running from one end to another. With such packed crowd, Tiffany is forced to walk closer to TaeYeon, arms and shoulders brushing against each other as they amble towards the entrance. The blonde halts, but her date continues forward and she has to catch up until they are walking side by side again.

“Are we going to the parking lot?”

“No.”

TaeYeon quirks a brow when no more explanation coming. Tiffany’s answers so far have been clipped, but she does not feel any animosity radiating from the ATC. It seems like the brownhaired woman just functions that way. Straightforward, clear, and neutral. Just like the way she responded to TaeYeon’s courting through the air traffic communication. She is decidedly warmer during their phone call, though.

Tiffany stops on the curb and hails a cab when she says, “I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“For this.” Tiffany points to herself, as if that will make any more sense. Even she is frustrated with herself. “I’m just not used to...”

“Dating?” TaeYeon supplies as she opens the taxi’s door for her date. “Me neither.”

Tiffany gets in first and scoots away to give TaeYeon space to sit. She then tells the driver to go to Ayara Thai Cuisine on Westchester and soon enough, they are out of the airport complex and into the city street. Tiffany does not make any attempt to revive their conversation, feeling uncomfortable to talk about her dating life, or lack thereof, in front of a stranger while they are confined in a closed space. Since it is her official first time being out, TaeYeon takes the chance to drink in the surrounding view as much as she can, the slow change of day to night and the twinkling lights fascinate her. It is like any other big city, but the different architecture, people, and culture are giving different vibe from Seoul. Unfortunately for her, the drive ends as they reach their destination.

TaeYeon takes out her wallet to pay, but Tiffany beats her to it. “You can pay for dinner,” she says in finality, leaving no room for argument as she slips the crisp dollar bills to the driver.

The dinner can’t get any better. The food is great and conversation between them flows seamlessly. They have mutual love for the aviation, but surprisingly, other than the initial exchange of short stories about how they came to love it—TaeYeon and her father’s business, Tiffany and her memories of watching the planes from the airport’s waiting room whenever she went to send or pick her parents from their year-round overseas business trips—their conversation topics broach to everything else but the aviation itself.

Just as TaeYeon has suspected earlier, Tiffany is the type of uptight, blunt, and no-nonsense person. While it does not make her necessarily a socially awkward turtle like TaeYeon is, she

does tend to steer people away from her due to her brutal honesty and lack of common compassion sense. It is really peculiar, their relationship that is. People who is shy and rather keep to herself like TaeYeon should not be with people like Tiffany, who does not even bat her eyelashes when she told TaeYeon about how her shiny heeled dress shoes do not fit the rest of her attire. Normally, the blonde would have taken offense and called the date off as soon as the words left her date’s mouth, but she did not this time because she knows it is never meant to be an insult. It is just Tiffany being Tiffany and she finds it endearing. So, there they are, walking out of the restaurant with arms comfortably intertwined.

“Let me take you home.”

Tiffany immediately puts some distance between their bodies without breaking their link. “No,” she answers with straight face.

TaeYeon looks confused and a tad upset at first, before she becomes painfully aware of what her previous statement has insinuated. “I didn’t mean taking you home that way!” She cries out, mortified.

“I know.” The ATC chuckles, squeezing TaeYeon’s arm as she brings herself closer again. “But seriously, you don’t need to. I live nearby, I’ll just walk.”

“Walk?” The blonde asks in disbelief.

“I live in West Sepulveda Apartments, 8501 Sepulveda Boulevard. That’s next block. Ten minutes top.”

“Should you be that precise all the time?” Tiffany’s literalness sometimes scares TaeYeon, just like in this instance. “I might have some evil intentions and now I know where you live.”

“Yes, my job requires me to, and I have to inform you that I own a semi-automatic twelve gauge Benelli Montefeltro Silver shotgun at home.” As if the unnecessary bit of information is not enough to make TaeYeon’s jaw sweep the ground, Tiffany rummages through her bag to take out a can of pepper spray and pink lipstick tube shaped stun gun for her date to see. “I’m going to be fine walking home. You should take a cab back to the airport.”

Oddly, the new knowledge of Tiffany’s vast amount of self-protection weaponries does not waver TaeYeon’s confidence. “I insist. I’ll take the cab in front of your place.” She grins a bit roguishly. “Letting a lady walk alone at night will make me a bad date, won’t it?”

“But you’re a lady as well,” Tiffany points out as she tugs TaeYeon to walk along with her, wordlessly agrees on the latter’s suggestion to walk her home. With the unhurried pace of their stroll, it will definitely take more than ten minutes to get to her apartment and for once, she does not mind at all. She enjoys their chat and banter all the same; both are as lovely as it is amusing.

“I’m wearing the pants tonight.”

“Then I’m going to wear the pants next time.”

TaeYeon’s eyes twinkle hopefully. “Next time?”

“Tonight is enjoyable.” Tiffany ducks her head slightly to hide the redness on her cheeks. “I won’t mind a repetition.”

“It can be arranged.”

Instead of taking shortcut back to the main street, Tiffany takes the roundabout way by circling the block. It is something she will not do if she were by herself as she deems it as a waste of time, but she decides to show the blonde around the area. They stroll along West 87 th Street, take a left to Truxton Avenue, until they are out on West Manchester Avenue.

Along the way, the ATC animatedly points out each building that seems to attract TaeYeon’s attention and provides a little background story of the establishment. TaeYeon listens to her tentatively, although she is sure she will not shop on Tanner’s Sewing and Vacuum Center, or get to Red Ross Tattoos, or being inside the Calvary Chapel, anytime soon. She might have to get an appointment with the foot doctor from the corner of West Manchester Avenue and South Sepulveda Boulevard if she was going to walk any farther in her very uncomfortable heeled dress shoes, though. One shop in particular has managed to catch her full attention and popped a rather romantic idea inside her mind. So, when Tiffany announces her apartment is across the street, TaeYeon pulls her to a halt on the sidewalk.

At Tiffany’s questioning look, TaeYeon responds, “I... Uum... I need to get something.”

The brown-haired woman takes it as a clue for their parting. She beams as she untangles their arms. “I have a nice time tonight, thank—“

“No, no.” TaeYeon waves her hand frantically, her blush deepening. “I really need to get something but I want you to wait for me in front of your building. I promise I’ll come back as soon as I can. Give me fifteen—No, twenty minutes. Please?”

The quizzical expression does not cease, but Tiffany nods then hands her pepper spray to TaeYeon, who takes it without any protest then sprints down the street as fast as her short legs can. The pilot knows she will most probably get ugly blisters on her feet by the end of her scheme, but she could not care less. Approximately eighteen minutes later, TaeYeon crosses the street and goes straight to where Tiffany is waiting for her. Her fair locks are tousle and cheeks flushing from the exertion, but the toothy grin she sports is bright and wide.

Tiffany frowns in disapproval. Before she can ask anything, TaeYeon brings out the single rose she hid in her jacket’s inner pocket and presents it to her date, who takes it with a perfect blend of wariness and gratefulness. She is sure TaeYeon like her in romantic sense, but the present makes her doubt herself. Maybe she has been reading the blonde’s approach in the wrong way, because the rose is not red (“romantic love”) or even purple (“love at first sight”). It is yellow and Tiffany never loathes the color as much as she does now.

“Yellow is for—“

“Friendship,” TaeYeon completes the sentence, grin never falters.

It was something the blonde had realized two months after her major break up. Her ex-fiancée and she were never friends. They met through mutual friend, clicked, then decided to pursue the romantic relationship right from the start. They have different sets of friends—her ex is a few years older and is a dentist—and whenever problem arose, they would turn their back towards each other instead of working it out together. When TaeYeon noticed their relationship was slowly slipping out of her grasp due to their busy schedule, she desperately tried to keep it together by tying her ex with the engagement ring, but never entertained the idea of marriage itself. Apparently, it was the same reason that drove the woman away and into the arms of her fellow dentist, an older man who is ready to settle down and have family. For once, TaeYeon is the one who was left behind.

So, when she was picking which flower to buy for her date in the LA International Floral shop she had noticed earlier, she chose to go forward with the yellow rose. Single, not because she can’t afford buying a dozen, but because she was being considerate of Tiffany. Not all women love being smothered by flowers. The ATC’s almost insignificant slump of shoulders when TaeYeon said the word ‘friendship’ does not slip her attention either.

“You’re a wonderful person. I’d love to know you better and be your friend first,” TaeYeon declares, proud that she can say it all without blushing or stuttering. Her smile grows wider, if it is physically possible, as Tiffany’s chocolate eyes lit up. “Because a great relationship starts from a great friendship, don’t you think so?”

For the flower, audacity, and especially for the thoughtful words, TaeYeon earns herself a kiss on the cheek from Tiffany.

Green-eyed Monster “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome on board on flight KE062. This is Captain Kim speaking and I have some information about our non-stop flight. Our flight time today will be thirteen hours and twenty minutes and our estimated time of arrival in Seoul is on Sunday, 06.00

local time. The weather in our route is good and the forecast says it will be cloudy in Seoul when we arrive. We remind you that if you need any special attention, all our crew will be ready to assist you. Latest update on weather at our destination will be given as we approach Incheon. Enjoy your flight.” TaeYeon then repeats the message but in Korean this time as the plane taxies out to the runway.

After getting an okay from the ATC, the plane slowly rolls down on the runway, gaining more speed and eventually altitude as it takeoffs. JongHyun makes report to the North Tower while TaeYeon retracts the landing gear. Once they fly past the cloud, the blonde turns off the ‘fasten seatbelt’ sign, letting the chief flight attendant to inform the passengers that it is safe to undo their seatbelts even though the plane is still ascending in order to gain its preferable cruising altitude. TaeYeon does another throughout check and all five eight-inch LCD color screens— two primary flight displays, two navigation screens, engine indicator, and warning system of the crew (EICAS) screen—on the flight deck are all showing excellent information.

After the plane reaches the desired altitude, TaeYeon’s hands are still holding on the yoke and foot plants firmly on the rudder bar. She can feel the fly-by-wire system alternating the controls JongHyun and her have made separately. With not much going on at the moment, she relaxes and leans back on her seat. Her mind immediately goes back to a certain beauty with short brown hair and the pair of most beautiful chocolate eyes she has ever seen and she can’t stop the upward tugs on her lips as she sighs happily.

“I hate to pop your pink bubble of happiness,” JongHyun’s voice came from the headset, breaking the happy reminiscence TaeYeon was having. “But it’s getting too big and unbearable for this small cockpit, it starts suffocating me.”

TaeYeon sticks out her tongue at him.

“Very mature, Romeo. Did you stick your tongue down her throat as well?”

As expected, TaeYeon blushes furiously. “No! We didn’t—“

“I know, I know. It’s only dinner, walk, yellow rose, friend request, and a peck on the cheek. You told me while we were checking the plane, twice.”

The date sounds so plain when JongHyun sums it up like that and TaeYeon can’t help but huff. For her, it is a very important, a very pleasant experience. The blonde is satisfied she did not commit any grave mistake that might alter the outcome of her budding relationship. With such assurance, she can relive everything, step by step, from the beginning until the end, and finds a smile gracing her lips every single time the memory invades her mind. To put it simply, it is perfect.

“You are grinning like an idiot again,” JongHyun comments in a sing-song tone before his expression hardens into a serious one as he says, “I have something that will steer your mind away from your Rapunzel.”

TaeYeon catches on the sudden change and feels herself tensed with anticipation. “What is it?”

“News. Bad, worse, and worst. Which one do you want to hear first?”

“Easiest first.”

“The company hired a bunch of new pilots so they can start exercising the new FAA rules.”

The blonde nods. “That’s not so bad...”

The new FAA rules include new pilot fatigue rules. It restricts pilot flight time to eight or nine hours per shift and for two-pilot crews it is decreased from previously sixteen to just fourteen hours. It also requires pilots to get at least ten hours of rest in between shifts; eight of those must involve uninterrupted sleep, and to have thirty consecutive hours of rest each week. TaeYeon has predicted the mess it will cause, but JongHyun and her are working in two-pilot crews system for about thirteen hours flight and with average one day rest between the shift, they have covered the requirement. The blonde then groans when the big prospect of herself being tied in meetings— something that will definitely take place on the next few days—surfaces in her mind. TaeYeon prefers sitting inside the cockpit rather than inside the meeting room with a dozen other pilots.

“What is the worse news?”

JongHyun falls into silent before he sighs, torn between joy and grief. “I got promoted to Captain.”

The initial reaction from TaeYeon comes in the form of a proud pat on her partner’s shoulder. She would have hugged him if not for her hand being required to be steady on the yoke and the central console separating them. The taller man has been her partner for quite a long time, as copilot, it is time for him to get a raise in rank. The congratulatory words, however, dies down on her throat when the less wanted consequence of JongHyun’s promotion slaps her straight on the face.

“They are going to make two captains for LAX-Incheon Boeing line?”

“No.” It is the worst news and JongHyun himself feels bad to be the one delivering it. “I get an Airbus. This is the last time I fly with you.” JongHyun made a mock salute, despite his own eyes betraying him. “They have assigned a new co-pilot for you, Captain.”

Their second date is an ambush. TaeYeon flied back to Incheon on Saturday and supposed to be back on LAX by Monday, but she never did. Her sudden time off before makes her one of the pilots who has not gotten briefing from their supervisor and she also has yet to meet her new copilot. So instead of TaeYeon, a male Captain Kim was the one greeting Tiffany on Monday. Confused from the sudden change, she tried to text TaeYeon but the time difference is playing against them. The ATC ended up not hearing a lot from her favorite pilot until Wednesday. It is so tempting to ask where the blonde had been through the communicator, but Tiffany successfully fought the urge and kept professional. Instead, she takes an hour break to wait for TaeYeon on the arrival gate.

“Where have you been?”

TaeYeon instantly snaps her head away from the conveyor belt she was staring at and comes face to face with Tiffany. “Tiffany? What are you doing here?” She snatches her black carry-on once it made an appearance on the belt then takes several steps ahead to close the proximity with the flustered ATC. “Shouldn’t you be working right now? Are you okay?”

“I am.”

For once, Tiffany shies away from TaeYeon’s questioning gaze. She twiddles with the name tag hanging in front of her chest, finding it intriguing after she has unceremoniously flashed it to the security outside the gate so she can get in without any question asked. It is an action that is so unprofessional and so unlike her, but she was dead worried about the blonde that she could not sit still and try to manage the planes before she sees TaeYeon—alive, breathing, and safe—with her very own eyes.

“I’m just wondring where you were these past four days...”

“Oh!” TaeYeon’s expression quickly changes to an apologetic one. She had only managed to send a very brief text to Tiffany during the said four days of her absence. “I’m sorry, I was busy. The company started making adjustment to follow the new FAA rules.”

TaeYeon sports a small relief smile when the other woman’s understanding shines on her eyes. Of course Tiffany will know which FAA rules and what kind of alteration she was talking about. Truth to be told, she both hates and loves the change at the same time. She had just lost her partner, have to adapt with a new one, and she is obviously not the best person to start making friends with, let alone adjusting to share plane control with a complete stranger. Less flights also means less money, but also more time to rest, which reminds her of the information she wants to share with Tiffany.

“So... Are you free right now?” TaeYeon fidgets a little, another rush of incoming passengers start filling the arrival gate. “Can we talk somewhere else?”

“Sure, I am on a short break.” Something I never did after two years, seven months, and one week of my career as an ATC in LAX, but Tiffany leaves the rest of the unnecessary information stored away and offers a suggestion, “We can talk over coffee.”

They walk together out of the arrival gate with Tiffany leading the way. She is far more familiar with the airport anyway. TaeYeon kind of presumes it will be either Starbucks, Euro Coffee, or the Marmalade Café—the typical over-priced big-name coffee place in airport—when the ATC brings her to the food court on the upper level. The whole floor is dedicated for restaurants, cafés, and lounge. Tiffany surprises TaeYeon by escorting her to a small coffee place by the corner.

The bright-eyed young man behind counter seems startled at first when he saw Tiffany at this time of the day, but it is immediately replaced with a smile. “The usual?”

Tiffany steals a glance at TaeYeon first, who nods back in agreement. “Make it two, please.” Then she proceeds to make a payment.

The ATC would have waited, as usual, but the man tells her that she and her pilot date need to grab a booth and he will bring the coffee to them later. It prompts redness to dust her cheeks as she does as he said. She lets TaeYeon pick a spot, even though there are not many to choose from, and the blonde takes one closest to the door. Thankfully for them, the shop is right on the corner so not many people walk passes it and it offers quite a semblance of coziness.

Only when TaeYeon starts unbuttoning the navy blue pilot-issued standard jacket that Tiffany becomes painfully aware of how attractive her date is in a pilot uniform. It is not a sudden revelation; she has known it from the moment she saw the blonde waiting for her outside the control room. But then again, at that time TaeYeon was wearing casual clothes, which, if Tiffany has to admit, made her look so young that she can pass as college student. This time, though, TaeYeon is the embodiment of beautiful and handsome at the same time. How it is even possible, Tiffany has no idea, but her breath hitches when TaeYeon peels off the jacket from her body, revealing soft feminine curves hugged by the crisp short-sleeved white shirt and decorated with the dark blue tie. Then the blonde slings the discarded jacket on top of her luggage, takes a seat, and time goes back on its normal pace again, leaving Tiffany standing beside the table with a flush on her face.

“Two Americano.” The man announces as he set down the order, effectively snapping the distracted ATC from her daze. “And free blueberry muffins for my favorite costumer.” He winks at Tiffany, who has finally sat on a seat across TaeYeon, with a knowing grin on his lips.

“You don’t have to do that, but thank you, Jake.”

“No prob Tiff.”

TaeYeon smiles and nods in gratitude at the man before he goes back behind the counter, leaving the two ladies on their own again. TaeYeon lit up after she took one experimental sip of the warm beverage. It is so rich in taste, better than any of the tax-laden drink she ever had in any airport. She then sips vigorously and eventually burns her tongue, earning a set of giggles from Tiffany. Despite the pain, TaeYeon laughs along. It is so worth it if she were going to hear the melodious sound coming from the beauty who has held her heart hostage for a while now.

“It’s so much better than whatever coffee I had on plane,” TaeYeon says with slight lisp.

“Try the muffin.”

Tiffany regrets her suggestion right away. TaeYeon practically moans after popping a bit of said cake. The constant buzz in the airport does little to nothing to hide the soft noise and Tiffany blushes beet red. In a panic of being noticed, the brown-haired woman distracts herself with her own drink. Who ever think a cup of Americano and blueberry muffin on the hand of a petite pilot can be deathly weapon for a certain stoic ATC?

“Jake passed the certification tests from level one and two in Barista Guild of America Certification Program. Most of the coffee here is his own recipe. I suspect he adds some spices to enhance the flavor, but he never shares his secret and I don’t want to pry.” Of course Tiffany will come up with the unnecessary information to hide her freaking out moment. “I found his blend

far more satisfying than the usual big brand kind, although I do like some creative mix selection in Starbucks... Have you tried the elephant-fermented coffee beans?” She winches after the question left her lips, it is never a good idea to talk about waste product and if her quirkiness has not driven TaeYeon away before, she may have now.

“Elephant-fermented... As in elephant eats the beans and then...” TaeYeon trails off, but the laugh that follows after is from genuine merriment rather than to ridicule Tiffany. “I’d love to try it! I like the Luwak one.”

The enthusiasm settles Tiffany’s nervousness and she sighs in relief. She really likes TaeYeon ever since the first time the pilot asked her out through the communicator. She refused her advance purely out of professionalism. Not even TaeYeon’s obvious gender manages to deter the attraction because Tiffany is the kind of person who believes in sexual fluidity. The ATC has both men and women as her prior lovers, simply because she likes people based on their personality, not because of their gender.

Tiffany is too enthralled in her own thought that she becomes confused when TaeYeon excuses herself. “Yes?”

“Sorry, I have to turn on my phone,” TaeYeon answers as the black device on her hand lit up. She waits for a minute for it to fully load but no message comes in so she settles the gadget down on the table, placing her hand over it as she frowns. The blonde feels like she is forgetting something important, but she can’t remember what it is and decides to brush it off for the moment. “Back to my disappearance earlier this week...”

TaeYeon goes on reciting her tale in a surprising ease whilst Tiffany listens to her attentively. The blonde only halts once, when her companion slips her slightly bigger hand over her own on top of the phone over the table. They both simultaneously blush from the contact; none of the two is a fan of skin to skin contact—the intimacy of such action sometimes feels too intrusive on their personal space—but this time they revel on the simple hand-holding. It is the reminder that while they have agreed on being friends first and are going through the slow pace, they are still pursuing more than just a simple friendship from the other. The contact, however, unfortunately has to end when all of a sudden, TaeYeon’s phone buzzes.

The pilot grins apologetically as she retreats her hand and the vibrating phone from under Tiffany’s. “Just when we start talking about her...” She mutters after checking on the name flashing on the screen. “Hello?” But no answer comes so she just hangs up.

Truth to be told, TaeYeon is far more eager to spend whatever minutes Tiffany has left from her short break rather than talking to her new co-pilot, even though she had promised to show the girl around LAX and had practically ditched her on the arrival gate. The blonde honestly has enough of the so-called prodigy, youngest girl ever made into first officer. A small part of her is jealous of the girl, because she herself is the youngest woman ever made into captain in Korean Air and her co-pilot may beat the record soon. The bigger part is just irritated because said girl is too energized for her taste and is apparently TaeYeon’s ‘number one fan’. After getting over the initial shyness, the co-pilot is exactly like the female version of SiWon, except for the preaching part. TaeYeon is in the process of telling Tiffany just that, earning a laugh from her date, when a hat lands on her head and she looks up in surprise.

“You forgot your cap, Captain.”

TaeYeon fights the urge to roll her eyes and plasters a smile instead. “Thank you, SunMi.” She then proceeds to stand up beside the girl to introduce her to the ATC, who not so furtively runs a pair of calculative chocolate eyes over the newcomer. “Tiffany, this is my new co-pilot—“

“Partner,” SunMi quips.

But TaeYeon ignores her. “Lee SunMi.” She stares at Tiffany, sending a see what I meant? through her gaze and the latter nods in silent agreement. “SunMi, this is my...” TaeYeon halts, hesitating over the correct term to address the ATC. Girlfriend? Date? “Friend,” she ends up with the most neutral one, “Hwang Tiffany.”

“Nice to meet you.” Tiffany got to her feet to match the other two and offers a handshake, which SunMi accepts. “TaeYeon had just begun telling me about you,” she comments out of politeness but the other woman takes it differently.

“Really?” SunMi perks up happily.

Without much consideration, SunMi links her arm with TaeYeon and snuggles herself closer to the latter as she radiates pure joy. The captain squirms awkwardly, sending apologetic look to the stunned ATC. It took them approximately six days consist of several flirting over the communicator, a note, a phone call, and a whole dinner date to be comfortable and brave enough to link arms with each other and yet SunMi does it easily. All of a sudden, Tiffany is no longer interested in being just a friend anymore.

Extra Baggage Tiffany is restless. After the unfortunate end of her short break, she has gone back to work and inevitably leaving TaeYeon with SunMi. The reluctant look the pilot was sending her before she walked out of the café is the only highlight of the situation. Clearly, TaeYeon is not interested in entertaining the cheerful co-pilot.

But with time, grows understanding... fondness... and then, love... The treacherous voice on the far back of Tiffany’s head whispers for the nth time since she left the two on their own.

Three hours. For three long hours that feels like years, Tiffany is heavily distracted. Three torturous hours combating a mental battle inside her head whilst going about her job managing the planes on autopilot mode. The ATC fully comprehends how absurd, dangerous, unproductive, and so many more negativities it can and has caused her. Yet she can’t stop the jealousy streak from spanning all over her heart and taking over her faculties to twist them into something dark, something she does not recognize.

The green-eyed monster.

The term comes as Tiffany hands over her headset to the night shift’s ATC, fake smile plastered over her lips. The older man replies with a crooked smile of his own and several kind words about job well done, but Tiffany fails to register any of them. Instead, she nods and bids goodnight to her coworkers before leaving the control room. She does not even bother to hide the disappointed downturn on her lips when she steps into the empty hallway. The brown-haired woman had indulged herself in the wistful thinking of TaeYeon waiting for her after her shift to continue their date, in order to ebb the uneasiness knotting in her stomach.

Maybe it was not a date at all. Again with the insecurity. TaeYeon wants to be friends.

Tiffany is aware of the madness she is trapping herself in, but she also acknowledged the advantage of TaeYeon’s request. Being friends is like having a safety-net and the two of them are undoubtedly scared of the prospective of dating then falling apart. Different personalities, upbringings, and demanding job schedules with long hours are some of the things that can put strain on any kind of relationship. They are lucky to have met and somewhat share mutual attraction to each other at all.

The sky is already dark when Tiffany, distracted as she is, manages to board the public bus without any incident. After getting seated, she fishes her phone out of her purse to turn it on. The ride home is a quick one, but she needs to occupy herself with something—anything other than the blonde pilot. Her hope comes crashing in a complete package when the sleek black device buzzes with notification of a new text message, from TaeYeon.

Are you home yet?

I’m going to be within fifteen minutes. Tiffany hesitates for a second before adding, How was your day with SunMi? The brown-haired woman stares at her phone, willing the screen to light up again, for there is no immediate response after a couple of minutes she has sent the message. I’m sorry, forget| She has not finished typing a new message when TaeYeon’s replies come in.

Boring!

I’d rather spend more time with you.

Is it okay?

What is? Tiffany types back, feigning innocent even when the heat creeping up from her chest to her neck is a good indicator of her awareness of what TaeYeon is asking about. Maybe you need to spend more time with her then you’ll find her no longer boring. Lie, but she can’t possibly tell TaeYeon to stay away from SunMi. She is her co-pilot, after all.

I had spent and from now on, will spend more than twelve hours with her.

Every. Single. Day.

Would you like to come to my place? The out of nowhere offer has obviously thrown TaeYeon off because she has not replied yet and Tiffany beats her to it. I didn’t mean right now. How

about Friday night? Still no response and the ATC is getting flustered. I will cook dinner, anything you like, and we can watch movies afterwards...

At this point, it is practically begging plus bribing, but Tiffany has dug in so deep that she can’t see any way out. So far, TaeYeon has always been the one leading whatever relationship they have and it is refreshing for the ATC to be the one taking the first step for a change. She bites her bottom lip nervously as she waits for a reply. A small laugh erupts from her throat when TaeYeon answers with something she does not expect.

You can cook? o_O

At other time, Tiffany will surely scoff at the use of emoticon on text message. She never quite understands how improper combination of letters and symbols can even eloquently convey human’s expression, but she gets it this time. TaeYeon is surprised, and animatedly so. Tiffany can actually picture the pilot’s widened eyes and maybe a slightly dropped jaw.

Yes, I can.

Wow...

Did you expect otherwise?

You just don’t seem like someone who enjoys playing in the kitchen...

I don’t play in the kitchen.

Somewhere inside the airport lodging, TaeYeon rolls her eyes at Tiffany’s literalness but says nothing about it on her next text. Friday night, then.

Do you want me to cook anything particular? Do you have food allergies?

I haven’t eaten home-cooked meal for months now, so I’ll eat everything you dish out. And nuts upset my stomach.

Okay. No nuts.

I’ll bring wine. Red?

Red will do. I’ll see you at eight on Friday night. Tiffany smiles brightly as she finishes her message with Good night, TaeYeon.

Tiffany puts her phone back into her purse when her bus stop comes into view. She still has to walk to her apartment and paying attention to phone while walking is decidedly a hazardous activity she has been against since a very long time ago. She does, however, check the gadget the moment she steps inside her building. As predicted, two messages from TaeYeon once again greet her and her face almost split into two from grinning too wide.

It’s a date!

Good night, my Rapunzel, with a silly, tiny