Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered

One

'Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Incheon Airport. Local time is 8:41 PM and the temperature is 9°C. For your safety and comfort, please remain seated with your belt fastened until the captain...' As the sound from one of the flight attendants filled the whole cabin, he glanced toward the window next to him with a wide grin.

Traveling from one country to another surely is a thing for a film producer-director like him. But it has always been nice to be home. After spending 2 months at Mazatlán and 3 months at Havana, Bin definitely couldn't help but get excited. Besides after almost 24-hour flights plus 4 hours layover at New York, he was glad that his feet steadily touching the ground again.

Unlike Mazatlán and Havana, Seoul was in the middle of winter that evening. So, the first thing he does after the bell dings; indicating that the seat belt can be removed was putting on a parka.

Already used to the warm breeze of Havana, the winter blast made him sighing with exaggeration as soon as he stepping out of the airplane. Although he was glad to be back, sometimes winter could be a real pain in the ass. Especially when you just spent almost half a year at places where it's sunny all year long.

On the way to the immigration check, he took the long-moving sidewalk behind a group of people that looks like college students on vacation. Overheard the conversations in a foreign language, but Bin was staring into the distance. Looking over the glass window where the aircraft's line-up.

Thoughts about the next few weeks where he'd have normal working hours, taking breaks between his works obviously made the producer enthusiastic.

The immigration check was short and quick and he went straight to take the baggage with ease. As Bin waited, he turned his phone on. And at once, notifications continuously appearing on the screen. He put back the phone on the side pocket of his parka; waiting for all of the notifications to fully disappear when someone patted him on the back. 'Bin hyeong! It's been a long time!'

Turning around to see who it was, Bin saw the other person shaking his head slightly while smiling in happy disbelief. With a booming laugh, he pulled the other person into a light hug, 'Heungmin-ah! Wow, it's been...like what? Seven or eight years? You've finally become a pilot!'

Son Heungmin chuckling lightly as he covering the mouth with his hand, 'Eventually yes. And Hyeong, I've seen all of your movies. All of them are great and I really enjoyed them. I always bragged about you being the Hyeong I've known for a long time to my friends. Did you just come back from New York?'

Hearing that from Heungmin, Bin couldn't help but let out a peal of unrestrained laughter, 'Yes, I've just come back from long filming. You should come to the movie premiere next time!'

They talked for a moment and exchanging phone numbers; promising to get a drink sometime, before parting their ways because Heungmin has a short-haul flight to Vladivostok afterward.

He was genuinely happy to see Heungmin again after such a long time. Although the circumstances were rather distressing for Bin the last time they met, still, it was nice to see an old friend from your hometown. It would be a big lie if he said that 'her name' didn't pop into his head once he saw Heungmin. Heungmin was her younger brother after all.

And honestly, it was hard to hear her name when he hasn't seen her in so long.

It was apparent among Bin's closest friends and family that this whole topic was off-limits. There was this unspoken agreement that anything related to her was practically illicit. But somehow when his older sister asked him this time about what took him so long, Bin gave her an honest answer. 'Guess who I just ran into earlier? I met Heungmin.'