There's something really soothing yet terrifying of watching the clouds from above. It's frees you like you're above everything and scares you like you're away from everything. It's both comforting and disturbing.
Nayeon releases a soft breath as Jeongyeon snuggles into her side in her sleep. Another song begins to play on her iPad. John Legend's soulful fills her ears and Chaeyoung and Mina walk in her line of vision.
Cause all of me loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
Chaeyoung whispers something in Mina's ears and she shakes her head laughing. They're carrying couple of drinks in their hand and as they pass by her, Chaeyoung winks at Nayeon because Jeongyeon is almost laying on top of her.
Chaeyoung settles down on her seat and looks at Mina who looks as ethereal as ever sitting next to the window basking in the morning sun. She mentally thanks Nayeon because she's the one who is supposed to sit next to Mina according to the seating plan but Nayeon came to her and suggested she swaps seats if she wants to initiate Operation Michaeng.
Chaeyoung is taken back at first because Nayeon has been reluctant about helping her, she understands why she wanted to switch places when she sees that Jeongyeon is her seating partner.
Nayeon can deny it as much as she wants but the truth is plain and obvious for everyone to see, she's whipped for Jeongyeon.
Mina hasn't taken her eyes off her phone and even though Chaeyoung tries to flirt with her as Nayeon suggested, nothing seems to be working.
"You look really pretty today."
Mina smiles.
"And sitting here in the clouds I feel like I'm seeing an angel. "
Google had said this is a good pick up line and can show your intentions and take you out of the miserable friend zone.
"Thank you?" Mina smiles politely once more and goes back to her game.
Chaeyoung leans back into her seat with an annoyed sigh. She drags Jeongyeon by her collar and asks her to switch places an hour into the ride.
Nayeon's patience is running thin with Chaeyoung.
"That's a cheesy pick up line. She's going to think you're just being playful. You need a line that's more to her taste."
Chaeyoung pouts.
Nayeon doesn't know how she ended up here. She really needs to learn to put her foot down and say no. Because she's sitting next to Mina and Mina is looking at her with a confused expression on her face.
"Chaeyoung and Jeongyeon are trying to write a song together." Nayeon offers as an explanation as to why they've switched places.
"A song about?"
"About the first stages of love and the difficulties of asking someone out."
"That explains why Chaeyoung used a pick line on me earlier." She quits the game on her phone and stares out at the window at the light peeking through the clouds.
"Did it work?"
"No," She chuckles, "It was cheesy."
Nayeon nods with a smile. That's exactly what she told Chaeyoung. She wrecks her brain on how to ask Mina what kind of lines work on her without exposing Chaeyoung but she can't think of anything and it's making her frustrated, so she just comes right out and asks Mina directly.
"So what kind of lines work on you?"
Mina turns to look at her. If she's fazed by the random question she doesn't show it, there's a pleasant smile on her face as always. "Anything that's honest." She says softly.
They sit in companionable silence after that , Mina immersed in another game and Nayeon listening to her music. Nayeon is still thinking about what Mina said about honest pick up lines and wants to test it.
So sometimes later when the younger girl asks if she wants to swap the window seat with her because the morning view is glorious through the window, Nayeon sees her opening and looks at Mina for a long second. "No, my view is better."
The faint blush she gets in return tells her Mina wasn't lying about what works on her.
She corners Chaeyoung near the toilet and tells her, "Compliment her but be natural about it. Trust your inner flirt, not the google article about 101 lines that work on women. "
Chaeyoung opens her mouth to defend herself. Nayeon cuts her off.
"Don't bother denying it."
Chaeyoung deflates. She did take her line from an article titled Beginners guide to flirt, guaranteed lines that work.
The rest of the plane ride goes without a hitch. Chaeyoung tries to pay attention to every single word Mina says and store the information at the back of her head. Nayeon spends her time annoying the other members with Jeongyeon.
Ten hours later they're standing in front of their private villa next to a private beach that's fully secluded and away from the public eye.
Just the kind of place they need to unwind, just the kind of place the stars in their fate have chosen so love can find its way.