Chapter Text
“And don’t forget to call us, Nini!” Jasmine, Hanni’s younger sister, reminded her. The older chuckled softly at the screen of her phone. She was sad about having to leave her family—especially Jasmine—behind in Australia while she was off in Korea, but, it was required for her degree so she couldn’t refuse.
“Just because you’re busy doesn’t mean you can skip on family time okay? Now, go ahead with your flight, aren’t you taking off soon?” Her mother butted in, her voice stern but still filled with genuine care and affection.
She rolled her eyes jokingly and mumbling a ‘yeah, yeah’ under her breath. The girl checked the time on her phone, 15 minutes until takeoff. She peeked over the seats in front of her and realized the cabin crew were telling people to put their devices down and put them in airplane mode.
“I can’t believe this is happening,” The Vietnamese thought to herself. She’d never really been alone before, most times she went out was with her family or friends. She wasn’t sure how’d she manage—the last time she was left without company on a family road trip, she was anxious because of how used she’d become to the chaos her family caused. Now, she was gonna be 8,610 kilometers away from her loved ones. (And yes, she looked up how far away Seoul was from Melbourne.)
Hanni smiled and waved goodbye to her family after responding and confirming she had everything she needed. Right after she ended the call with her family, the flight attendant approached her and politely asked if she could lay off the devices until they landed (which was about 12 hours from now). Hanni complied and put her phone away—after doing safety procedures of course.
Unfortunately due to heavy rain at the airport they were at, the flight needed to be delayed until the rain died down so they could take off accordingly. With nothing to do, Hanni leaned her head against the plane window and looked outside.
According to the Aussie, the slow dripping of water against the window and muffled sounds of raindrops was incredibly soothing.
As she continued to look out the glass, Hanni’s breath gradually began to slow down, her eyelids becoming heavier by the second. Sure enough, the girl fell asleep.
~1 hour later~
“Hey,”
“Hey,”
“Hey!”
Pham stirred awaked, a bit surprised by how sudden she’d been woken up.
She looked at the stranger in front of her, hands still rubbing her eyes. Taking a closer look, they appeared to be a girl, same age or maybe older.
While she stared for a second too long, the stranger opened her mouth and appeared to be speaking, though Hanni didn’t catch because of the loud chatter from the other sides of the plane.
“Huh? Sorry I didn’t catch that,” Hanni sat up straight and focused on the words being said by the girl standing before her.
“I was asking if this seat was already taken,” The woman asked, pointing at Hanni’s bag that she forgot to put away. After realizing it was the stranger’s seat, she apologized immediately and placed her bag in the space under her’s.
Hanni watched as the girl put away her luggage carefully, occasionally the girl took glances at the Vietnamese, probably sensing that she was being watched. As the girl sat down and buckled her seatbelt, Pham couldn’t help but notice the stranger’s thick Korean accent when she mumbled out a curse after failing to put the belt in twice.
While the stranger settled in the seat next to Hanni’s , Pham wondered how the woman got on the plane so late, and how the staff let her board anyway.
“Hey,” Hanni turned to face the girl next to her. “I don’t mean to get into your business, but I was wondering… how’d they let you board this flight an hour late?”
“Oh uh… I have my ways?” The stranger replied.
Hanni just looked at her with a confused look and shrugged, which earned her a chuckle from the other girl.
“I’m kidding, crew let me on because they were probably afraid of being scolded by my dad,”
“Why would they be scared of your dad?” Hanni asked.
“Because he’s the pilot,” The girl replied, a smirk tugging on the corners of her lips.
“Your dad’s the pilot? Kim Chang-yong?”
“That’s him.”
Hanni’s eyes widen in amusement and surprise, her head nodding in response. As she looked around while nodding, she noticed a college sweatshirt out of the corner of her eye. ‘Yonsei University’ the logo spelled out.
“Do you go to that college?” Hanni asked
“Huh? Where?” Minji glanced at her, her eyebrows furrowing from confusion.
“I meant the one on your sweatshirt,” The shorter pointed at.
“Oh, uh yeah. I’m actually traveling there right now, why’d you ask?” Minji responded.
“Oh uh nothing. I just thought it was a coincidence, it’s not everyday the person sitting next to you on an airplane is going to the same exact destination as you—let alone the same college right?” Hanni said with a small, but still noticable smile.
“You go to Yonsei University? Coincidence indeed…” The girl’s voice trailed off at the last few words.
“Well, since we’re bound to meet at campus again, should we introduce ourselves?” The stranger asked, smiling—gums showing just ever so slightly, hand reaching out for a shake.
“Good idea, well, I’m Pham Hanni, 21 years old,” Hanni accepted the handshake, gripping the stranger’s hand firmly.
“Same age, and wow, I didn’t take you to be strong.” The woman replied, referring to Hanni’s firm grip on her hand.
Hanni only rolled her eyes and waited for the stranger’s name, still holding onto the bigger—yet soft—hand.
“Well, my name is Minji. Kim Minji,” She squeezed Hanni’s hand gently and shook their hands together. The two girls smiled at each other and giggled softly after Minji jumped in surprise by the engines turning on.
After talking to one another for majority of the flight, both fell asleep, Minji’s head resting on Hanni’s shoulder as she slept.
Maybe this isn’t that bad after all.