The day of our departure finally arrived. Maki and I stood side by side at the airport. We were surrounded by the buzz of travelers rushing to catch their flights. The giant screens above us displayed rows of destinations…
Maki kept looking at me, her expression heavy with sadness…
Maki asked quietly, her voice barely audible for the fuzz around us, "Are you sure you need to go for a whole month??..."
I smiled and pulled her close, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "It's just a month, Maki... I will make up for it when I get back... I promise..."
Maki gave a small nod and said in a sad voice, "It just… it feels too soon. We barely got married, and now you're already leaving…."
"I know," I whispered. "But it's just one last adventure with the guys..."
Maki's lips pursed into a pout, her arms tightening around me like she didn't want to let me go. "You better not forget you're married, Shin. No flirting. …."
"Not even a little?!..." I teased, hoping to lighten the mood.
Maki shot me a death glare, though I could see the hint of a smile playing at the corner of her lips. "Don't push your luck…."
Just as Maki opened her mouth to say something more, Joseph and Abdul came with ridiculous grins on their faces. Joseph held two cups of coffee in his hands, one of which he handed to me.
"Alright, lovebirds, time to say your teary goodbyes," Joseph said with a wink. "We've got to go now, Shin... Hot Russian girls are waiting for us…"
Maki shot a death glare in Joseph's direction…
Joseph raised her hand in surrender and said, "Just kidding..."
Abdul nudged him, rolling his eyes. "Try not to ruin our journey before it even starts, Joseph…."
Joseph grinned. "Making things worse is my specialty."
I kissed Maki one last time. I could see the sadness in her eyes. "I'll call, okay?" I promised.
Maki gave me a small nod and said with unshed tears in her eyes. "You better…."
She watched as I reluctantly turned away, following Joseph and Abdul toward the security gate. I kind of felt sad when I glanced back over my shoulder one last time, catching sight of Maki standing alone in the crowded terminal. She raised a hand in a small, sad wave…
But Joseph didn't let me dwell on it for long.
The moment we cleared security, Joseph wrapped an arm around my shoulders, grinning ear to ear. "Alright, Shin!!! You're free for a whole month. No responsibilities. No curfews. Just you, me, and Abdul—living our best life for a month…."
Abdul smirked. "We're not exactly living our best life. It's just two countries, Joseph…."
"Two legendary countries," Joseph corrected, wagging a finger. "Russia and Egypt! Have you ever heard of a more perfect combination??!!"
We made our way to the boarding gate, chatting and laughing like schoolboys. Joseph launched into a ridiculous story about how he once convinced a customs officer that his suitcase full of alchohol was a "medical necessity…."
Abdul shook his head, grinning. "How are you still allowed to fly?"
Joseph replied with a wink, "Pure charisma…"
The three of us burst into laughter, lost in the fun of the moment. For a while, I forgot about the sad look Maki had given me at the gate... In the whirlwind of excitement, it felt like I was just a guy on an adventure with two of his best buddies… totally free from everything…
At one point, Joseph nudged me with a sly grin. "You know what shin!!! For a moment you looked like you forgot you're married…."
I blinked, the realization hitting me. He wasn't entirely wrong. In the midst of our laughter, the fact that I had a wife waiting for me at home had slipped from my mind.
"Maybe I did," I admitted, a little sheepishly.
Abdul raised an eyebrow. "Hope Maki doesn't find out. She might not let you come back…"
Joseph snorted. "If she does find out, I'm going to be first in line to watch that drama unfold…."
We laughed again, the sound echoing through the terminal as we boarded our flight. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew that Maki probably wouldn't be so happy after knowing that I nearly forgot about her. But for now, I was caught in the excitement of a long-awaited adventure.
As the plane taxied down the runway, I leaned back in my seat, getting comfortable. The guilt about leaving Maki behind still gnawed at me. But Joseph's jokes and Abdul's presence helped me drown out the nagging voice in the back of my mind…
"You ready for this?" Joseph asked from the seat beside me, already flipping through the buttons on his seat…
I gave him a small smile. "Yeah. I think I am..."
"Good…" Abdul said from the back seat, adjusting his headphones. "Because once we land, I'm not dealing with any regret nonsense… We're here to have fun…."
For the next month, it would be just us—no instructors, no drills, no responsibilities. Just three friends making the best use of the time before the universe called us away…
And somewhere in the back of my mind, I made a silent promise: I'd make it up to Maki when I returned….
But for now, the adventure was just beginning…
We landed in Moscow, the air crisp and biting. The air carried the scent of snow and winter. The streets sparkled with holiday lights strung between buildings, and the faint hum of laughter and music echoed from nearby bars. We had arrived just before a local celebration. So, the entire city was decorated in a festive vibe...
Joseph stretched out his hands as soon as we stepped out of the airport. "Ah, Russia!!! Home of vodka, great music, and... legendary pubs… not to mention… hot cheeks… We're going to make so many memories, boys..."
"Or get ourselves arrested because of you…" Abdul muttered, adjusting his scarf against the cold.
"Hey!! What the fuck did I even do?!...." Joseph replied, grinning. "This month is about freedom. And freedom comes with risks…."
As we wandered through the lively streets of Moscow, the cold air bit at our faces. The buildings around us were a beautiful blend of old and modern architecture, and the famous Red Square felt almost surreal…
Joseph walked a few paces ahead, spinning a small Russian souvenir keychain on his finger. "Alright, listen up, comrades…" he said in his best over-the-top Russian accent, "today's mission is clear: sightsee during the day, get extremely questionable souvenirs, and hit a pub tonight..."
Abdul rolled his eyes, stuffing his gloved hands into his coat pockets. "Do you ever stop with the plans that end with a disaster??!!..."
"Nope…." Joseph said with a grin. "That's my specialty…."
I shook my head, laughing. "At least try not to get us thrown out of Russia or get arrested by police, Joseph. I kind of like this place…"
Joseph turned dramatically on his heel to face us, nearly slipping on the icy street. "Thrown out?! Please… They love me here… I have a Russian soul..."
Abdul snorted. "First of all, you are from America. And second, your soul is more like... expired vodka…."
"Oh, big words from Mr. 'I drink nothing but water…'" Joseph shot back, grinning. "Don't worry, Abdul. We'll corrupt you by the end of this trip…"
"Good luck with that, buddy…." Abdul said, adjusting his scarf.
When we reached St. Basil's Cathedral, we all stared in awe for a moment. The domes looked beautiful like something out of a fairy tale…. The cold wind blew snowflakes around us, giving the entire place a magical vibe.
"This place is cool…" I said, pulling my phone out to take a picture…
Joseph sidled up beside me, smirking. "Come on, Shin. Loosen up, buddy!! Let's make this trip memorable…."
Before I could say anything, Joseph threw his arm around my shoulder and yanked Abdul into the frame. "Group selfie!!! On three, everyone make the stupidest face you can…."
Abdul blinked. "Wait…. what?!!"
"Three!" Joseph shouted, completely ignoring Abdul's confusion.
We all made absurd faces (well, Abdul looked a bit annoyed, which was funny in itself), and Joseph snapped the picture. "Perfect…" he said, grinning as he checked the photo. "That's going on Instagram…."
After taking some selfies, we went to a nearby market filled with small shops selling souvenirs. Joseph immediately went toward a rack of absurd, oversized Russian hats.
"Oh, man…" Joseph said, after putting on one of the fluffy hats on his head. "How do I look?? Dashing?! Presidential? Don't I look like a hero?!..."
"You look like an idiot…" Abdul said flatly.
"Exactly what I was going for…" Joseph replied, giving a thumbs-up. He then shoved a hat into my hands. "Shin, you gotta wear this…"
I asked, holding up the massive fur hat, "Why??"
"Because," Joseph grinned, "it's fun…."
Before I could argue, Joseph took out his phone and snapped another picture. "There! Another masterpiece. Look at you, Shin. Russian style looks good on you..."
As we walked through Red Square, the festive atmosphere made Joseph even more hyper than usual. A group of locals was dancing to live music near a small holiday market, and Joseph's eyes lit up with excitement after seeing it…
"Boys, I have a new mission…" he declared. "We're going to teach Abdul how to dance…."
"No... no…no…" Abdul said immediately.
"Yes," Joseph countered, grabbing Abdul by the wrist. "It's definitely happening…"
I couldn't help but laugh as Joseph tried to get Abdul to dance. Joseph twirled dramatically, nearly tripping on the icy ground, while Abdul stood stiff as cardboard…
"Come on, Abdul," Joseph exclaimed. "Have fun little!!! You can't just fix spaceships your whole life..."
"I prefer spaceships," Abdul muttered, but even he couldn't fully suppress his laughter.
After wandering around the city, we found a street vendor selling steaming hot chebureki—deep-fried pastries stuffed with meat and cheese…
"This," between bites I said, "might be the best thing I've ever eaten in a long time…."
I said in a joking manner. "If I could marry food, I'd marry this pastry…"
"Don't let Maki hear you say that," Abdul deadpanned. "She might actually replace you with a cheburek."
I grinned. "It would make a great husband. Just imagine—warm, flaky, delicious..."
Abdul shook his head, biting into his own pastry. "Your priorities are completely out of order..."
As we finished our food, Joseph clapped his hands together. "Alright, boys. That was just the warm-up. Now we hit the pub..."
Abdul sighed. "I knew this was coming…."
"Don't worry," Joseph said, slinging an arm around Abdul's shoulders. "We will behave. Well, Shin will behave. Probably..."
And with that, we set off into the Moscow night, ready for whatever chaos awaited us at the next stop on our adventure…
The air was warm inside the pub. As soon as we stepped inside, the rich smell of grilled meat and beer hit us. The wooden floors creaked underfoot, and the chatter of locals filled the cozy space. Joseph was grinning ear to ear…
"This…" he declared, throwing his arms wide, "is where legends are made…"
"Legends? Or bad decisions??!" Abdul asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Why not both?" Joseph said with a wink.
As we went inside one of the bars, the bartender… a stunning woman with striking green eyes and blonde hair… came towards us. She gave us a mischievous smile….
In a thick Russian accent, she said, "Welcome…What can I get for you handsome men?!"
Before I could say a word, Joseph was already nudging me hard enough to nearly knock me off. "Oh, this one here?!..." Joseph said, pointing at me with exaggerated flair. "He's our team's MVP. Look at him—adorable, isn't he?!..."
My face instantly turned red, and I shot Joseph a glare. "Shut up, Joseph..."
The bartender's smile widened, and she leaned closer to me, her eyes twinkling. "Oh, you are adorable," she purred. "Like... how do you say... little snow bunny."
Joseph immediately burst out laughing. "Snow bunny! That's it! That's your new nickname, Shin..."
I groaned, burying my face in my hands. "This is a nightmare..."
Abdul took a sip of water, looking far too entertained. "A very entertaining nightmare…"
Before I could escape, the bartender gently grabbed my chin, turning my face toward her. "You are kind of cute…" she whispered. Then, with a playful glint in her eye, she leaned in and kissed my cheek. "For good luck…" she said with a wink.
Joseph's eyes widened in a playful shock. He whipped out his phone faster than I'd ever seen. "Oh my god, this is GOLD!!!"
Click. Record.
"Smile for the camera, Snow Bunny!" Joseph announced as he recorded me with the bartender grinning beside me.
"Joseph, stop recording!!" I hissed, trying to hide my face, which only made me look guiltier…
"Sorry, Shin…" Joseph said, grinning devilishly. "This needs to be documented for historical purposes…."
The bartender blew a playful kiss toward the camera. "You have good friends. Very supportive…"
"Supportive?! My ass…." I sputtered, my face turning red. "These are the opposite of good friends…"
"Opposite of good friends?!" Joseph gasped dramatically, clutching his chest. "How dare you, Snow Bunny?! I'm your best friend..."
"Best friend my ass…" I muttered while trying my best not to laugh.
Abdul, ever the calm one, gave Joseph a flat look. "You do realize Maki is going to kill him when she sees this, right?!..."
Joseph grinned even wider. "That's the best part. I'm counting on it…"
"Great…" I groaned. "You're both complicit in my murder."
The bartender giggled, clearly enjoying the show. "Your wife is lucky…." she said with a smile. "You are very charming…."
Abdul snorted. "Charming? More like hopeless."
Joseph kept recording, panning the camera between me and the bartender like he was directing a movie. "Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you: Shin Takamiya… heartthrob of Russia!!!"
"Joseph, I swear…."
Before I could finish, he zoomed in dramatically on my red face. "Look at him, folks!! That's the look of a man who knows he's done for…."
Abdul leaned against the bar, sipping his water. "You know, it's not fair… How come the bartender only kissed Shin?! I've been sitting here quietly, minding my business, being polite…"
Joseph clapped a hand on Abdul's shoulder, barely containing his laughter. "You're missing the point, Abdul. It's not about being polite. It's about being Shin. You just don't have the Snow Bunny magic…."
Abdul gave him a deadpan look. "If I hear the phrase 'Snow Bunny magic' again, I'm leaving…."
"Aw, come on," Joseph said, still grinning. "You're just jealous…"
Abdul sighed while shaking his head. "Jealous? No… I'm actually concerned for Shin's safety??..."
Joseph winked at the camera. "Concerned that Maki's going to murder him? You bet..."
I finally managed to snatch Joseph's phone out of his hand and stopped the recording...
"That's enough…" I grumbled, deleting the video.
"Too late!!" Joseph sang. "It's already backed up to the cloud..."
I stared at him in disbelief. "You mother fucker backed it up?!..."
"Gotta preserve the memories, Shin…", Joseph said smugly.
Abdul patted my shoulder sympathetically. "I think we should start preparing for your funeral…..."
I groaned, resting my head on the bar. "Why did I even come to this trip?!...."
The bartender leaned closer, smiling warmly. "Because you have good friends. And you needed a break…Don't you…."
"Yeah," I muttered, side-eyeing Joseph and Abdul. "A break from these idiots…"
We spent the rest of the night laughing and chatting over drinks (Soda and water for Abdul).
Every time I tried to change the topic; Joseph would make some ridiculous remark about "Snow Bunny Shin…"
"I can already picture the headlines…" Joseph said, raising his sunglasses. "Astronaut in Training Wins Hearts Worldwide—One Pub at a Time..."
"You're an idiot…" I muttered, but I also couldn't stop laughing.
Abdul shook his head, a rare smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I should've stayed in the hotel..."
"Too late now," Joseph said. "You're in this chaos together with us, buddy…."
And just like that, the night blurred into a series of jokes, laughter, and ridiculous moments that we knew we'd remember forever—whether I wanted to or not.
TO BE CONTINUED