Ava's POV
On reaching the airport, I find it in utter chaos as they tried their best to clear the backlog of stranded passengers at the earliest. The European airspace was opened now and all the flights were rescheduled accordingly. People were rejoicing because they could return home to their loved ones and for some like me, they were going to finally reach their destinations. I struggled through the crowd of people waiting in the long queques. Eventually my turn came and I checked in at the counter of my designated flight. Since I had got stranded at a transit stop I would be continuing with the same rescheduled flight. I had placed a call to home after going through the security check in and the necessary customs procedures. Dad was relieved because I was finally going to reach New York without any hitsch.
Sitting down on the seat I had specifically requested for, I looked out of the window of the plane. It was dark outside saved for the brightly lit lights inside the airport.
People had started boarding and were streaming in continuously. Suddenly I saw a familiar face at a distance heading towards the direction of my seat. Not knowing what to do I ducked my head bending it low enough so that he didn't see me.
"Anything wrong dear?" asked the lady sitting beside me. An elegant poised lady with blonde cropped hair was looking at me curiously.
"Oh, I am sorry. Its nothing. Actually I was searching for something."
I replied as I tried to grope around on the floor in vain looking for a nonexistant object. He had already passed by our seats and thankfully he hadn't noticed me. I quickly straightened myself and rummaged through my handbag.
"Found it. It was in my bag. I am so absentminded."
I said a little embarassed by my behaviour. She smiled back at me as she went back to reading her book.
Boarding was completed and after waiting for few more minutes the plane started taxing on the runway. As the flight finally took off I could see us leaving the Schipol airport behind. I sighed giving my last looks to the beautiful city of Amsterdam. A city that will always remain close to my heart for it had given me those precious memories that I will cherish forever.
They served us the evening meals but my appetite was already lost. The lady sitting next to me was really kind and she kept asking me if I was fine seeing my downcast face and because I had hardly eaten anything. I gave the excuse of not being well thankful for her concern.
The flight stewardess had cleared our tables and I was flipping through the pages of the inflight magazine lost in my thoughts again when I heard a familiar voice asking the lady beside me politely.
"Good evening madam. I am sorry to disturb you but I was wondering if you will be kind enough to exchange your seat with mine? I would like to sit with my friend but only if you wouldn't mind."
Min Ho ssi was standing next to our seats. I stared at him open mouthed surprised because I thought he had not seen me. Obviously he knows that you are in the same flight. How can you be so stupid? I mentally slapped myself for being dumb.
"Why of course, young man. Its perfectly fine with me."
The lady was telling him as she got up from the seat.
"The seats are in the front. I have booked both the seats so you wouldn't be uncomfortable. Thank you so much."
He replied in a gracious tone. The kind lady spoke to me before leaving.
"I hope you will feel better now, dear."
She gave me a knowing smile.
Min Ho ssi slipped into the seat beside me. I was perplexed thinking what I will speak to him.
"Ava, were you running away from me?"
He asked me suddenly without looking at me. I couldn't reply immediately. I had clearly ran out of words.
" You know...its just that you have this habit of running away from me?"
He said after a pause like he was remembering. Hearing him say that, I realised that it was actually true. I thought given my history. Whether it was the first time I met him near the fire exit, or yesterday night at the canal bridge or even today when I left without telling him.
" I am sorry Min Ho ssi. The bus was leaving. I should have waited for you."
I replied fumbling with my words giving him a feeble explanation.
"No, its allright. Please don't apologise."
He told me finally and was looking at me now with a sincere smile. I couldn't help smiling back.
I am flipping through the channels searching for something interesting to watch on the flat screen television they had provided on the back of the front seat. Atleast that will keep me occupied. I came across a channel that was showing a movie, an old favorite one I thought remembering it vaguely. The movie was just starting, the opening credits appearing on the screen.
"Are you going to watch that one?" he asked me. I didn't realised that he was also watching my screen.
"Yeah, I think I will watch this one."
I replied as I plugged in the headphones connecting it to the main screen.
"How is the movie? I was thinking of watching one," he asked me again. I wasn't exactly sure if he will enjoy the movie 'Jerry Maguire'. The movie did have a sports theme, I thought.
"I think you can watch it. Its a good movie."
I replied thinking I might not go wrong in recommending it to him.
"Ok. Let me watch it too."
He told me as he shuffled the channels on his screen and placing the headphones on his head.
The movie was playing and the scenes were refreshing my memory of the movie. Watching it again I realised that it was as much fun as before. The part came where Rod(Cuba Gooding Jr.) and his sports agent Jerry(Tom Cruise) have this hilarious telephonic conversation with Rod making Jerry shout the famous line"Show me the money" for him. It was one of the really funny scenes in the movie and I found myself giggling unconsciously. I saw Min Ho ssi grinning as well suppressing a laugh watching the same scene. By the time Rod dances for the crowd in the football field after recovering from an injury while catching a touchdown, both of us are laughing aloud.
During those two hours while watching the movie, it was like both of us were transported into the world of the movie's characters forgetting our own worries and getting lost in their story. It was a funny and heart warming story that highlighted the relationships between all the main characters especially the friendship between Rod and Jerry.
Then the scene started playing. The one I had completely forgotten about. It was one of my all time favorite movie scenes. Its the scene where Jerry flies home to find his wife Dorothy because he wants to celebrate the victory with her. Jerry walks in front of her friends and speaks to her for several minutes convincing her how much he loves and wants her back in his life. Then he utters the iconic statement "You complete me".
I am holding my breath because I knew what was coming next. Dorothy's reply to Jerry interrupting his speech.
"Shut up.."
I repeated the lines along with her,my voice cracking up now with emotions.
"Just shut up. You had me at hello....You had me at hello...."
My voice trailed with her's. Suddenly I am sniffing back my tears which was shamelessly trickling down my face. It was such an emotionally charged romantic scene and watching it tug something deep inside my heart. All the pent up emotions started resurfacing without my knowledge.
"Can you please get me some tissues?"
He was asking the flight stewardess in a low voice.
"Here.....take it."
He told me handing the paper tissues and looking at me intently. I took the tissues and quickly wipe away my tears feeling embarassed because he had seen me crying over a movie scene.
"I am sorry. I got a bit emotional. Thank you."
I replied not looking at him.
"And yeah I know. I watch too many movies."
I added giving him a weak smile and brushing it off.
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Author's note:
Next chapter coming up later today.
Thank you....