#Side Story 12
By the time I arrived in London, having never rested during the long-distance flight and being tormented by Saheon hyung during break times, all my energy was drained.
I don’t properly remember in what state of mind I helped passengers disembark and collected luggage to come to the hotel. As the youngest flight attendant, I received my room assignment last and blankly watched the purser give closing remarks.
“Thank you all for your hard work on today’s flight. Shall we have breakfast together? Let’s eat at the hotel restaurant. How about meeting at the restaurant at 8:30 tomorrow morning?”
I, who was barely holding up due to exhaustion, came to my senses when someone patted my side. I forced my half-closed eyelids open and wearily looked at the person who had tapped my side. It was the senior who had sat with me on the bus to the airport today.
Wondering what was going on, I turned my head to find all the flight attendants looking at me. I managed to recall the purser’s last words and answer not too late.
“…I’ll make the reservation.”
“Alright. Thank you.”
“The youngest has good sense.”
Customary praises followed. The purser, who smiled lightly, dismissed the gathering.
“Then I’ll see you all tomorrow. Good work everyone.”
“Good work!”
The loud voices drew the attention of people at the front desk. I bowed deeply to each senior, saying they had worked hard. I gave a separate greeting to the senior who had helped me come to my senses earlier.
“Thank you for earlier, senior.”
“It’s nothing. Don’t mention it.”
The senior replied, blushing slightly. We followed the other flight attendants towards the elevators. As there were many crew members from today’s flight, the team decided to split into two groups to take the elevator.
I pressed the open button for the elevator and waited for all the split team members to board. As each person entered, I heard them say thanks. Even in my exhaustion, I showed a mechanical smile and bowed my head in response to their thanks.
Not everyone was assigned to the same floor, so the elevator stopped intermittently. The last ones remaining in the elevator were me and the senior.
I could feel glances occasionally looking at me from the side. The atmosphere seemed awkward with just the two of us left. I was on the verge of passing out, but I forced out some energy.
“You’re in room 1403, right senior?”
“Yes, that’s right. What about you, Cheongmyeong-ssi?”
“I’m in 1405.”
“Oh. We can go together tomorrow then.”
“I suppose so.”
I responded half-heartedly. Just then, the elevator arrived with a ding. The senior and I walked side by side, continuing our conversation.
“By the way, Cheongmyeong-ssi. Did you come to the bunker during rest time today? When I woke up, you weren’t there…”
“Ah… I had too much coffee so I couldn’t sleep, so I went out for a bit, but then passengers called… I just worked.”
I awkwardly offered an excuse mixing lies and truth. Even though I stumbled over my words, it seemed quite plausible. It seemed to have worked on the senior as well.
“Oh no. Get some rest as soon as you get in.”
“Thank you.”
Before we knew it, we had arrived at our respective room doors. The senior, holding the key card in her right hand, gripped her carrier tightly with the other hand and continued speaking in a whisper.
“Um, Cheongmyeong-ssi… This might seem out of the blue, but…”
“Yes?”
“Um… By any chance… Do you have a girlfriend…”
At that moment, the door to room 1404 opened. The senior quickly shut her mouth. Then, unable to hide her slightly flustered expression, she smiled brightly and greeted.
“Hello, Captain.”
“Hello.”
From my side, I could only see the door suddenly opening, so I realized it was Saheon hyung in room 1404 only after hearing his voice. Saheon hyung, still in his uniform, poked his head out the door. For some reason, he had a grumpy face.
“Well then, I’ll be going in. Rest well, Cheongmyeong-ssi.”
“Yes. You rest well too, senior.”
“Rest well.”
After receiving greetings from Saheon hyung as well, the senior went into her room. Silence fell. I swallowed hard. Without realizing it, I had taken a few steps back, but when I heard Saheon hyung calling me, I abandoned my carrier and ran.
I didn’t know why. The thought that I had to get away from Saheon hyung dominated my mind.
“Cheongmyeong-ah. Cheongmyeong, Lee Cheongmyeong-ssi!”
Saheon hyung, who had called me in a low voice, seemed a bit flustered and changed his form of address. Suddenly, a chase began in the hallway.
The short chase ended when I reached a dead end. Saheon hyung’s arm wrapped around my waist as if snatching me. With an “oof,” I was pulled back and ended up being embraced by Saheon hyung.
“Why are you running away.”
Saheon hyung’s voice, roughened perhaps due to the sudden chase, captured my ear. I too, panting, tried to break free from the familiar warmth embracing me from behind.
“Let go!”
“What’s wrong, baby… Hey! Lee Cheongmyeong!”
I attempted a second escape. I could feel Saheon hyung looking at me in bewilderment as I darted away. But soon, he regained his senses and chased after me at an surprisingly fast speed. The sound of cutting through the air was so intense that I was afraid to look back.
I hurriedly placed the key card against the door lock. The door opened with a beep. At the same time, Saheon hyung’s hand overlapped mine on the door handle. I let out a “heek” sound and trembled violently. Saheon hyung muttered menacingly.
“Why are you running away.”
“Ah, no…”
“Is it because you peed in front of me? Haven’t I seen that once or twice before?”
Having the truth figured out, I wanted to cover my ears out of embarrassment right there. Trembling, I asserted timidly.
“I’m going in.”
“Let’s go together.”
“N-no…”
“If you don’t let me in, I’m going to shout here that you wet yourself.”
Saheon hyung seemed truly crazy. Seeing his serious eyes, I strongly felt that he might really do it. As I trembled and hesitated, Saheon hyung opened his lips.
“Flight attendant Lee Cheongmyeong…!”
“Okay! Okay!”
I hurriedly stopped hyung’s words. My face was bright red. Saheon hyung’s lips closed, forming a mischievous curve.
In the end, I had no choice but to enter the room with Saheon hyung. When I dejectedly inserted the key card, the lights in the room came on. I dragged my carrier in and flopped face-down on the bed gloomily.
“You should wash up before sleeping.”
“…My head hurts.”
My voice came out muffled as my face was buried in the pillow. I felt Saheon hyung approach and sit on the edge of the bed. A gentle hand stroked my back.
“Why did you run away earlier? Was it really because you peed?”
“…Please stop saying that…”
Saheon hyung’s hand traveled up my back and started playing with my hair. Since I had no more reason to go out, I let hyung mess up my hair as he pleased.
“It’s okay. You’re still a baby, that’s why.”
Aaagh! I covered my ears with the pillow. I heard Saheon hyung laughing playfully. Memories of what happened on the plane floated hazily. I was still embarrassed, but it seemed to be just a source of amusement for Saheon hyung.
“Alright, alright. I won’t tease you anymore, our baby. You shouldn’t run away again.”
Saheon hyung flopped down on top of me, trapping me. I let out a groan, enduring the discomfort. Hyung kissed my now puffy cheeks a few times with a grumpy expression, then hugged my body and half-rolled over.
I ended up lying on my back, cradled in hyung’s arms, looking at the ceiling. Saheon hyung, still holding my waist tightly with both arms, casually asked in an understated way.
“Our baby is quite popular, huh?”
“…Me?”
“What was with that flight attendant earlier?”
It seemed he had heard everything. I briefly wondered if the hotel had poor soundproofing, but when Saheon hyung bit my earlobe, I had to snap out of my thoughts.
“Since we’re next door, she was saying let’s go eat breakfast together… Oh right. I need to make a reservation for the hotel breakfast.”
“Breakfast reservation?”
“Yeah. But I’m too lazy. Sleepy…”
A yawn came out. I yawned hugely, my mouth stretching wide. Tears welled up slightly. I wriggled out of hyung’s arms to adjust to a more comfortable position.
“You should change clothes before sleeping.”
I made a “uuung” sound in response, but my eyes were already half-closed and drowsy. Saheon hyung laughed softly.
“I’ll do it for you.”
Hyung’s hands moved towards my necktie. The lavender necktie that had been choking my neck slipped off smoothly. As Saheon hyung’s assistance was quite comfortable, I completely closed my drowsy eyes. Hyung’s hands started unbuttoning my shirt one by one.
“Didn’t you say you had to make a breakfast reservation?”
“Mmm…”
“If you’re tired, should I do it for you?”
“…Yeah…”
The buttons were completely undone. Saheon hyung skillfully removed my shirt and the undershirt I was wearing beneath. I followed Saheon hyung’s movements almost like a paper doll.
After neatly folding the shirt and placing it on the side table, Saheon hyung’s hands now moved to my belt. He undid the belt I had hastily fastened, and after completely removing my pants, I was left in my underwear.
The air touching my skin was a bit chilly. It must be because we were in London. After folding my pants as well, Saheon hyung got up from the bed for a moment and went somewhere.
He was probably going to get a robe. I waited for the gentle touch to continue with my heavy eyelids closed.
As I expected, Saheon hyung returned with a snow-white bathrobe. Sitting back on the bed, Saheon hyung’s hands moved towards my drawers. Not having the habit of sleeping without clothes, I wearily opened my eyes.
“I’ll do it from here.”
“Stay still.”
Thinking about it again, it was strange that Saheon hyung was trying to remove everything even though he knew my sleeping habits and pajama preferences. But my tired brain couldn’t delve too deeply into it.
