CHARLOTTE

I can’t just stay in this awkwardness for sixteen hours!

There’s nothing wrong with saying “hello” first.

I mean, it’s good manners, it’s polite, and it’s not like I’m trying to start a conversation or anything, just a little greeting to make myself feel less awkward.

That’s it.

So, I stole a glance at him again.

He was focused on his phone.

Okay, here we go.

“Hi!”

Ignored.

I tried again, louder this time.

“Hello?”

Nothing.

“Hi?”

I waved with a bright smile this time.

Still no response, eyes on the phone.

He totally ignored me?!

God. Kill me. Now.

I swear, I could feel the heat traveling down my neck and up to my ears.

My hand was still hanging in the air, like some sort of weird half-wave, and I couldn’t bring myself to drop it.

I should have kept my mouth shut and kept watching the clouds.

Why did I even open my mouth?

This is painful and embarrassing.

I must’ve looked desperate and not loved at home.

Well, the latter is true.

At this point, I just wish the ground would swallow me whole.

Charlotte, you idiot!

I groaned inwardly and started fiddling with my curly hair. Something I always do when I get anxious. Maybe, just maybe, it would distract me from the awkwardness of this whole situation.

Nope not helping.

I took out a scrunchie to tie it up.

But as I tried to loop the scrunchie around my hair, my fingers fumbled, and it slipped from my grip.

Oh no.

I gasped and froze instantly.

A jump in the air then landed, right in his lap.

My heart was pounding in my chest as I watched him look down at the scrunchie.

Slowly, he reached over and grabbed it, then looked at me with a quick side-eye before finally turning to look at me.

Our eyes met.

Okay, I had suspected he was attractive, but now that I had a proper look—holy hell.

He is hot! Like Wattpad hot!

He got the most attractive neck you could imagine on a man! Seriously, how does someone even have a neck like that?

And don’t get me started on his eyes! Oh, and that pierced thick eyebrow!

Even though he had half of his face covered with a nose mask, I was convinced that it could only get hotter if he did a full face reveal.

Why is he wearing a nose mask anyway?

It’s not like we have some viral disease pandemic going on.

Wait a minute, why am I just staring at him like I have never seen a handsome man before?

He wasn’t saying anything either.

Just… watching me.

Am I supposed to talk first?

What should I say first? Apologize for dropping it or thank him for picking up my scrunchie?

God! I’m so stressed right now.

Then I saw him pull an earbud out of his ear.

Oh! That’s why he didn’t hear me say hello?

He was listening to music.

Well, that explains it.

Silly Charlotte!

“Uh… this is yours, right?” he said, holding my scrunchie between his fingers like it was some rare artifact.

I was not ready for his voice.

I’d been mentally preparing myself for an awkward apology, not for him to sound like he will be the best voice for a dirty talk porn voice over.

What the hell am I thinking?!

“Hello?” His voice came again.

I blinked. “Y-yeah. Thanks,” I stammered, stretching my hand out to take it.

Our fingers brushed, and my heart did this weird skip like it had suddenly become a jumping jack.

He gave me a small nod, then just casually popped the earbud back in and went back to whatever he was listening to.

Okay, cool. Fine.

So, it wasn’t the end of the world. I can do this. Totally chill. I just had an interaction with a ridiculously hot guy and didn’t completely embarrass myself.

I stole a glance at him again and found him staring!

My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly looked down, took my phone and pretended to scroll through it.

Why was he staring at me? Was something on my face?

Where exactly is the passenger who is supposed to sit in the middle?!

Come on, Universe.

Throw me a bone here. Let someone, anyone, occupy the middle seat.

Unfortunately, the flight attendant gave that final headcount nod, the doors were closed.

It was just us!

Which means I am stuck here, next to him.

Great! This is going to be the longest flight of my life.

The flight attendant’s voice came through the speakers.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard. Our flight from Chengdu to New York will take approximately 15 hours and 20 minutes…”

Fifteen. Hours?!

Fifteen hours with him next to me!

The flight attendant’s voice cut into my thoughts.

“We’ll be cruising at an altitude of 35,000 feet…” A short pause, then the safety briefing began.

I wasn’t sure why the safety announcement sounded like a calm warning of doom.

Maybe because my anxiety was already hitting the roof.

I’ve flown before, but it all sounded extra dramatic now that I’m sitting beside someone who makes my heart race just by existing.

I peeked sideways and saw him shifting in his seat, raised a hand to his hair, and—oh.

He tied it up.

His hair into a small ponytail, a few strands falling down his face.

I noticed a dark tattoo inked on the back of his neck. And then on his ears, two silver piercings at the top of his ear and a tiny black one at the earlobe.

Why exactly does he have so many piercings?

But more importantly, why does it suit him so well?!

I mean… it shouldn’t be attractive to me. But it was. God help me, it was.

And then he gave me that look and met my glance.

I blinked and realized he caught me staring again.

This time, there was no defending myself. So I blurted it out.

“Emm… sir, just so you know, I wasn’t trying to flirt with you. The scrunchie was an accident. Completely unintentional.”

Why! Why did I say that?

Did he ask? No.

Was he expecting an explanation? Definitely not.

Do I know how to shut up?

Apparently not!

His pierced right eyebrow lifted slightly, eyes widening in surprise.

And then, in that low, rumbling voice that did things to my nerves, he replied, almost in a whisper.

“O…okay.”

Oh Lord. His voice. Deep, soft, and low enough to warn my sed staved virgin cunt to beware.

Then the plane began to move.

Finally, take-off.

I gripped the armrest, trying not to make it obvious that my soul was already halfway out of my body.

I felt the plane tilt upward, my stomach drop, my throat tighten.

I felt Nauseous.

No. No, no, no.

This can’t happen now. I am not going to hurl next to the hottest guy I’ve ever seen.

“Are you okay?” A voice came, like a soft rumble that rolled straight into my ribcage.

I froze.

That was him?

So my cover-up act was officially a failure, but… he cares enough to ask?

Not so bad after all.

I turned to him slightly, my cheeks burning with embarrassment.

Still, I forced a tiny smile.

“Yeah… just, um, motion sickness. Tha—thanks,” I managed to stammer.

I hated how awkward my voice sounded.

“Yeah, I can relate. I usually try to sleep through it,” he said, leaning back in his seat. “Works better than trying to fight it.” He replied.

Wait a minute.

Is he trying to start a conversation with me?!