"You received an invitation from her too?" Rina asked, the familiar tone of concern in her message.
"Don't go, I'm telling you," Yuna warned, the words almost too firm.
"That's right," Rina chimed in, "She ended your friendship two years ago already. Why would she invite you now?"
I stared at the screen, the memories flooding back. Amélie and I hadn't spoken since that fallout. The one that left a wound I hadn't even realized I was still carrying. Two years, and here she is, sending an invitation like nothing had happened.
"I'm not going," Yuna said. "I have a different flight destination anyway. I'm not going there just to see her face."
"Me either," Rina added, and I could almost hear the finality in her words.
They are right. Why should I go? Why open old wounds for someone who had left me behind so easily? It didn't make sense. I could feel the tension building in my chest, but at the same time, a part of me—deep down—wondered why she had reached out after all this time.
Still, I didn't want to think about it. I didn't need that kind of complication in my life right now. I had enough going on, with work, and with everything else. So, I ignored Amélie's message and focused on what was in front of me. Work. A flight. The things I could control. It was easier that way.
After a long day of work, I was caught off guard when we were all called into an unexpected meeting. I had no idea what it was about, but I followed the others into the room, curiosity bubbling in my chest.
As I stepped inside, I saw Mrs. Lee, our flight operations manager, standing at the front with Captain Kim beside her. A few other cabin crew members were there, along with a representative from ground services and someone from customer service. The room was filled with that professional, slightly tense atmosphere that always accompanied these kinds of meetings. Everyone seemed to be focused, but no one was saying much yet.
Mrs. Lee wasted no time diving into the agenda. The conversation quickly shifted to logistics—special requests from passengers, security arrangements, and other specific requirements we needed to keep in mind for the upcoming flight. Everything seemed routine, but there was one thing that stood out: she didn't mention who the VIP passengers were.
It was odd. Normally, we would be given details about who the VIPs were, especially when it came to making arrangements for their comfort or safety. But she said nothing.
My eyes flicked around the room, looking for any signs, any clues. Maybe it was a private matter, or maybe the VIPs had asked for discretion. I could feel the tension in the air, though. Something about it didn't sit right with me.
"Is there anything we should specifically prepare for?" one of the other crew members asked, breaking the silence.
Mrs. Lee looked around the room, her expression unreadable. "Just be on alert, as always. The usual precautions. We will handle the details on the day of the flight," she said, but her words didn't quite reassure me.
As Mrs. Lee continued talking, the realization hit me—we're heading to Paris.
I glanced around the room to see if anyone else had caught on to the significance of the destination, but everyone seemed too focused on the specifics of the logistics to react.
Paris. That place had always been more than just a city to me. It held memories I wasn't ready to confront yet. And now, here I was, going back there, with no warning or preparation for the emotions that would resurface.
The rest of the meeting blurred as I tried to wrap my mind around the idea. Mrs. Lee was still speaking about preparations, and I was only half-listening now. My mind kept going back to Paris—those two years ago, and everything that happened there. The connection with that man, the way everything felt so intense and fleeting, and how I'd never been able to let go of the idea of seeing him again.
I snapped myself back to the present as Mrs. Lee finished outlining the procedures for the flight. She gave us a final reminder to stay sharp and follow protocol for VIP passengers, but she still hadn't shared any details about who we'd be flying.
The day had finally arrived. I woke up at 3 AM, my heart racing as I glanced at the time. There was no way I could afford to be late. The flight was set to depart at 6 AM, and with it being such a long journey—11 hours—I knew it would be a draining day.
I rushed through my morning routine, barely giving myself time to think about anything other than getting to the airport. By the time I arrived, I was relieved to see that I wasn't late. The airport was still buzzing with early morning activity, but the VIPs hadn't arrived yet. That gave me just enough time to gather myself and get prepared for whatever was to come.
Mrs. Lee approached the group of us, her expression serious as she reminded us of everything we'd discussed during the meeting. I was half-focused, my mind still hazy from the early start, when she suddenly turned toward me.
"Hyorin," she said, her voice sharp and clear. "You will be in charge of the first-class passengers. There are only two of them, so I expect you to do well."
I froze. "But why me, Mrs. Lee?" I asked, my voice faltering slightly.
"They requested for you," she replied, her tone leaving no room for further questioning. "That's the only thing I can tell you."
I blinked, feeling all eyes on me. The rest of the crew members exchanged surprised glances, clearly caught off guard. There was a moment of stunned silence before they went back to their preparations. I couldn't shake the unease swirling in my stomach. Why would they request me?
"But—" I started to protest, unsure what to say next, when suddenly, the VIPs arrived.
The doors to the arrival area opened, and I couldn't stop my gaze from darting toward the group of people walking toward us.
My breath hitched when I saw the figure in the middle. There, standing among them, was a familiar face. A face I hadn't seen in two years.THE MAN FROM PARIS?!
The moment I spotted him, my heart skipped a beat. I tried to keep my composure, but I could feel the familiar fluttering sensation in my chest—the same one I had felt two years ago when I first met him in Paris.
The whispers around me started almost immediately, as if everyone else could sense it too. "Look at that guy, he's hot." "He's handsome." "Is he a model?"
Their voices faded into the background as I locked eyes with him for the briefest of moments. He didn't seem to notice me at first, too busy engaging with the other VIPs and their team. But I couldn't look away, not when every part of me was so drawn to him, the way I had been back then.
My mind raced. What is he doing here? I had pushed the thought of him to the back of my mind, buried it beneath everything else that had happened, but now he is right in front of me, and I couldn't seem to shake the strange pull I felt toward him.
I could hear the crew members still whispering behind me, but I barely registered their words. My heart was pounding too loudly in my chest.
"Hyorin, focus," Mrs. Lee's voice cut through my thoughts sharply, pulling me back to reality. I turned to her, trying to steady my breath.
I had a job to do. The man from Paris is now a VIP passenger in my charge, and no matter what was going through my mind, I couldn't let that distract me. Not today.
I walked up to the group, my heart racing in my chest, trying to keep my voice steady and professional despite the overwhelming flood of emotions. I greeted them, offering a polite smile and a nod, my mind buzzing as I assisted them with their needs.
As I moved around the group, it was hard not to notice the way the other VIPs seemed to treat him with a certain level of respect—almost reverence. They spoke to him with deference, and his presence commanded attention, even in the bustle of the airport. Who is he? I couldn't help but wonder.
Could he be a CEO? Or some other high-profile business figure? I had no idea, but the way the rest of the passengers reacted to him told me he is someone important.
As the time passed, my task became more urgent. The moment I saw him step into the first-class cabin, my stomach dropped. He's in my charge? The man who had haunted my thoughts for two years, the one I had never expected to see again, is now seated in the very section I was responsible for.
I tried to keep my composure, but the pressure hit me all at once. My heart was pounding in my ears, and I had to fight the urge to glance at him every few seconds.
I had a job to do. This isn't about me, or whatever strange pull I felt toward him. This is about professionalism, and I couldn't afford to let my personal feelings cloud it. I took a deep breath, reminding myself that I was trained for moments like this. He might be a VIP, but I had done this job countless times before.
The flight passed in a blur. I did my best to focus on my duties, trying to keep my distance from him, though it was hard not to notice the stillness around him. I could barely bring myself to look at him—every time I did, I felt a nervous flutter in my chest, and I quickly shifted my attention elsewhere.
He didn't make it easy. He was quiet, hardly speaking to anyone, and when he wasn't asleep, he was buried in his books or glued to his iPad. There was an air of calm around him, almost like he was in a world of his own, untouched by the usual turbulence of the flight.
The man beside him called him Mr. Yi whenever he addressed him, and I couldn't help but latch onto that. Yi. His surname was Yi. That was something. It wasn't much, but it was a start. My mind wandered to the question that had been lingering since the moment I saw him earlier: What's his first name?
I wasn't sure why I cared so much, but something about him—his quiet demeanor, the way the others seemed to defer to him—made me want to know more.
Author's Pov:
The plane had finally landed in Paris, the time showing 8 AM. The VIP passengers began to disembark, each one walking with an air of importance. As the last of them made their way off the plane, a well-dressed man approached Captain Kim. With a respectful smile, he shook Captain Kim's hand and spoke.
"Thank you for the smooth flight," the man said, his voice warm and sincere.
Captain Kim nodded with a smile. "It was our pleasure. Thank you for flying with us."
After a brief exchange, the man glanced over at the crew and spoke again, his tone more casual. "Alright, you have until 8 PM before we meet up again. You all have some free time today. Feel free to go shopping, explore, or do whatever you'd like, but just be sure to be back before 7 PM."
With a final nod, the man left, walking away with the same calm demeanor he had carried throughout the flight.
Captain Kim turned to the rest of the crew, his voice now carrying the official message. "Alright, you heard him. We've got some time. You can all go enjoy Paris, but make sure you're back before 7 PM so we can prepare for the passengers. Don't forget, we still have work to do later."
The crew nodded eagerly, grateful for the break. They quickly gathered their things and headed out, knowing they had several hours of free time ahead before they needed to be back.
After the conversation with Captain Kim, the crew members made their way to the hotel that the company had prepared for them. It was a welcome break after the long flight. The hotel, a sleek and modern building, felt like an oasis compared to the busy airport.
Each crew member headed to their designated rooms to drop off their luggage and take a moment to rest before the long hours of waiting ahead. Hyorin, feeling the weight of the flight and the long journey, took her time unpacking in her room. She neatly folded her uniform and stashed it in the closet, then began organizing her toiletries and other personal items on the bathroom counter.
She was trying to get comfortable in the quiet room when, suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Before she could answer, the door swung open, and a few of the other flight attendants, grinning from ear to ear, walked in. Their excitement was palpable.
"Hyorinnnnnn!" one of them squealed, her voice full of energy.
Hyorin blinked in surprise, looking up from her suitcase. "Why are you guys here?"
"Did you get his name?" another flight attendant asked eagerly, her eyes wide with curiosity.
"Who?" Hyorin replied, though she already knew exactly who they meant—Mr. Yi, the handsome man who had sat in first class.
"The handsome guy!" one of them said, practically bouncing on her feet. "You know, the one in first class."
Hyorin let out a small laugh, trying to play it cool, but she could feel the flush creeping up her neck. "Oh, him?" she asked, even though she was already blushing.
"Yes! He's so handsome, I swear," another flight attendant chimed in. "I've never seen anyone like him before!"
"I know!" another added, her voice almost in awe. "He was so quiet, but he just exudes something, you know? Like, you could just feel he was someone important."
Hyorin nodded, feeling her heart flutter slightly. She tried to keep her composure, but it was hard not to let her mind wander to the few brief moments she had shared with him. "Well, yeah, he was quiet, but you know we can't ask passengers for their names unless it's necessary."
"I know, I know," one of the attendants said, waving her hand dismissively. "But did you see the cars that picked them up? Luxurious! He's definitely someone important. Is he a CEO or something?"
Hyorin tried to focus on unpacking, but her attention kept drifting back to their conversation. "I don't know…" she said, her voice trailing off. "I mean, he looked rich, but we don't really know much about our passengers unless they tell us."
"Do you think he's married?" one of the attendants asked, clearly daydreaming.
"Yeah," another agreed, "and if he is, that woman is so lucky. Can you imagine?"
At that moment, another attendant glanced at Hyorin with a teasing smile. "But didn't Mrs. Lee say that they requested for you?"
Hyorin froze for a split second. That comment hit her like a punch to the gut. She hadn't thought much of it at the time, but now, hearing it out loud, she couldn't help but wonder—could it really be? Had Mr. Yi specifically requested her? She didn't want to get her hopes up, but it was hard to ignore the flutter in her chest.
The other attendants turned their attention to her, their gazes sharp and curious. "Are you keeping something from us, Hyorin?" one of them teased, raising an eyebrow.
Hyorin quickly shook her head, trying to dismiss the thought. "No, of course not," she said, letting out a small, nervous laugh. "I'm not that pretty to be liked by someone like him."
The attendants exchanged looks, clearly not convinced. "Yeah, he's on another level," one of them said with a sigh. "We probably live in different worlds."
"True," another agreed, "but even so, he might be stunning, but there are a lot of other handsome guys on this flight too."
The group's attention shifted to the other passengers, and Hyorin tried to focus on their chatter, but her mind kept returning to Mr. Yi. There were ten men in suits sitting in business class, and two women. Then, there was Mr. Yi, and the other man who had been in first class with him.
But why had she been chosen to be in charge of first class? It was just too strange. She couldn't stop wondering if maybe—just maybe—he had requested her, but she didn't want to entertain the thought too much. There was no way that could be true, right?
Still, as her heart raced and a soft blush colored her cheeks at the very thought of him, Hyorin couldn't help but hope.
After getting some much-needed rest at the hotel, Hyorin decided to take the afternoon to explore Paris. The weather was perfect, with the sun shining brightly over the city's charming streets. She wandered through local shops, tasting pastries and picking up souvenirs for her parents—small things that reminded her of this beautiful city.
As she stepped out of a boutique, bags in hand, she was startled by a familiar voice calling her name.
"Hyorin?"
She turned, surprised to see a group of her university classmates standing there. She hadn't expected to run into them here.
"Hyorin?" one of the girls repeated, her tone a little uncertain.
Hyorin blinked and offered a small smile, though her heart was racing. "Oh… hey, what are you guys doing here?" she asked, trying to mask the surprise in her voice.
One of the girls grinned. "Are you here to attend Amélie's birthday too?"
The mention of Amélie's name immediately caused Hyorin's heart to drop. She hadn't expected this reminder. A few days ago, Amélie had invited her to the birthday celebration, but Hyorin hadn't responded. She didn't want to deal with the emotions that invitation stirred up, and so she had left it unanswered. Now, hearing about it again, the unresolved feelings from two years ago surged to the surface.
The last time she had attended Amélie's birthday, things had ended horribly. The argument that day had been unexpected and intense. What had started as a small disagreement between them quickly escalated, and Hyorin found herself at the center of a confrontation she hadn't been ready for. Since that day, the rift between her and Amélie had never truly healed.
"Uh…" Hyorin trailed off, her mind trying to catch up. "I didn't know it was today…" she managed to say, though the words felt hollow.
"Oh, you didn't? Well, we're all going to be there," one of the girls said with a casual smile. "I thought you and Amélie had made up after last time. You're still coming, right?"
Hyorin stiffened slightly, trying to hold back the wave of frustration and hurt from those past memories. She hadn't made up with Amélie—not really. They hadn't even spoken since that fight, and even though the invitation had been extended, it felt more like a formality than a true desire to reconnect.
"I... I'm not sure," Hyorin replied quietly, her voice betraying a hint of uncertainty.
"Oh, come on! Don't be shy. It's at 5 PM, at L'Arc Paris. Amélie will be waiting for you! Make sure you come," the girl added, smiling before the group waved and walked away.
Hyorin stood there, the weight of the invitation hanging in the air, and she couldn't help but feel the sting of the past resurface. She had been invited, yes, but after everything that happened—after the argument with Amélie, the hurt, the awkwardness—she wasn't sure what to do.
The thought of going to the party stirred up so many emotions. Part of her wanted to go, to face Amélie and see if they could finally resolve their differences. But another part of her wasn't ready to relive the anger and frustration that had torn them apart the last time. Could she really just show up like nothing had happened?
With a deep breath, Hyorin turned back toward the hotel. The invitation lingered in her mind, but she wasn't sure what decision she'd make.
It was only 4 PM, and Hyorin felt the nerves kicking in as she looked at herself in the mirror. She had decided to attend Amélie's birthday party, hoping that maybe, just maybe, it would be a chance to settle things between them. She dressed carefully, choosing a simple yet elegant dress that made her feel confident but not over-the-top. She didn't know what to expect, but she knew she needed to face Amélie, even if it was a little daunting.
As she stepped out of her room, she crossed paths with Captain Kim in the hallway.
"Where are you going?" Captain Kim asked, his voice warm, but his tone curious.
Hyorin hesitated for a moment, but then answered, trying to sound more confident than she felt.
"I'm going to attend a birthday party, don't worry, Captain. I'll make sure to be back before 7 PM."
Captain Kim smiled. "That's good. You look pretty in that dress, by the way."
Hyorin blushed at his compliment, feeling a little shy but grateful. "Thank you. How about you, Captain? Where are you going?" she asked, trying to divert the attention away from herself.
"Oh, my wife asked me to buy something, so I'm on my way to get it," he replied casually, a fond smile tugging at his lips. "I'll make sure to be quick."
Hyorin smiled. "That's sweet. Well, I'll be leaving now, Captain," she said as she turned toward the elevator.
"Take care," Captain Kim called out as they both entered the elevator. As the doors closed, Hyorin couldn't help but think that she might actually be nervous for the evening ahead. But she had made the decision to go, and now there was no turning back.
As she exited the hotel, her mind raced with thoughts of Amélie, the argument, and whether things could ever be the same. She was so lost in thought that she didn't notice a figure walking toward her until it was too late.
Bump!
Hyorin stumbled slightly as she bumped into a guy, nearly losing her balance. She looked up, startled. The man barely seemed to notice, muttering an apology, but there was something careless about the way he moved. As she steadied herself, she couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed. Her heart was still racing from the encounter as she continued on her way, trying to shake off the nerves.
As Hyorin stepped into L'Arc Paris, she immediately felt the contrast between the quiet streets of the city and the vibrant, buzzing atmosphere inside. The music was loud, the bass pulsing through the floor, and the entire club seemed alive with energy. People dressed in stylish, fashionable party outfits sipped cocktails, chatting and laughing with friends, their expensive tastes on full display.
The flashing lights in rhythm with the beats cast a glowing haze over the crowd, giving the scene an almost surreal, high-end vibe.
Hyorin paused for a moment as she took in the lavish surroundings. This world of extravagant parties, champagne glasses, and designer brands was unfamiliar to her. The outfit she had chosen—simple, elegant, and understated—felt out of place compared to the bold, attention-grabbing party clothes surrounding her. But she was here now, hoping to find some resolution with Amélie and leave the past behind.
As she walked further into the venue, heads turned her way. It wasn't just because of her beauty; it was more the fact that no one had expected her to show up. After the fallout two years ago, when she had argued with Amélie at her birthday party, no one thought she'd be back. Yet, here she was.
Her classmates, the ones she had met earlier in the afternoon, were the first to spot her. They looked genuinely happy to see her, though there was a certain curiosity in their eyes. They led her to their table, where everyone was laughing and chatting in a lively mix of French and English.
"Come on, Hyorin! Have some wine!" one of them called, handing her a glass.
Hyorin hesitated, feeling slightly uneasy. "No, I'm fine. I have a flight later, so I can't drink," she replied, trying to maintain her composure.
"Oh, we have our pretty, hardworking flight attendant here!" one of the guys teased, making the others laugh.
The playful tone made Hyorin feel a little more self-conscious. Though their words were meant to be lighthearted, she could sense a bit of underlying tension. One guy, in particular, kept glancing at her, his gaze lingering longer than necessary, obviously struck by her beauty. Hyorin shifted uncomfortably in her seat, not quite sure how to respond to his attention.
A few minutes later, the door swung open, and the room's energy shifted. Everyone turned toward the entrance, and a wave of excitement spread through the crowd.