Tobi and Kyle sat side by side in the plush comfort of their business class seats, the soft hum of the plane providing a steady, rhythmic backdrop. A few rows ahead, Euan and Andrew were seated, slightly angled to the right, just within Tobi's peripheral view. She couldn't help but glance at them, her curiosity piqued. Something about their dynamic felt off, like a riddle she was itching to solve, a mystery she was drawn to despite herself.
Kyle, on the other hand, had settled into his seat, his head pressed back against the cushion. His eyes were half-lidded as he turned toward the window, already preparing for the long flight ahead. He exhaled deeply, his body relaxing into the seat, signaling his intent to nap. But Tobi, ever the restless one, wasn't about to let that happen just yet.
She leaned in closer, her breath warm against his ear, her voice a soft whisper. "Look at them. Aren't they so weird?" She couldn't tear her gaze away, her eyes scanning Euan and Andrew's subtle interactions, searching for something, anything that might explain the tension she sensed.
Kyle remained still, his eyes closed for a moment longer, his lips barely twitching with restrained patience. He exhaled slowly, as if mustering the energy to respond, then opened his eyes and turned his head just enough to meet her gaze. His voice was low, steady, but tinged with a thread of weariness.
"Tobi," he murmured, barely masking the exhaustion in his tone, "can you stop prying into other people's business?"
She pulled back slightly, her brow furrowing in surprise. "What?" she hissed, her voice rising a notch despite her attempt to keep it quiet. "I'm telling you, something's off with them. Can't you see it?" Her eyes darted back to Euan and Andrew, her gaze sharp, as if looking for some crack in their façade that would reveal their hidden truths.
Kyle raised an eyebrow, his head now fully turned toward her. He studied her for a moment, his expression a mix of exasperation and amusement, the exhaustion in his eyes obvious. After a beat, he sighed again, this time with more weight, as though the conversation was already wearing on him.
"And I'm telling you," he replied, his voice dropping to a teasing whisper, "if you don't stop poking your nose into their business and staying up all night doing it, you're going to look ugly by the time we land in Korea." His lips curled into a slight smirk, and he turned his attention back to the window, his tone light but full of finality.
Tobi's mouth fell open, her disbelief palpable. "Ugly?" she scoffed, her voice sharp as she whipped her head toward him, her eyes narrowing in offense. She crossed her arms tightly over her chest, clearly irritated by how easily he dismissed her concerns. "You didn't just say that."
Kyle smirked, eyes still closed, already slipping back into the rhythm of the plane's hum. "You heard me," he mumbled, his voice muffled by the cushion of the seat. "Get some sleep, Tobi. Or don't. But I'm napping."
***
The long flight from America to Korea had finally ended, and as soon as Tobi and Kyle stepped off the plane and into the bustling airport, her eyes immediately began scanning the crowd. The echo of announcements and the shuffle of tired passengers filled the arrival hall, but Tobi's attention was elsewhere. She darted glances left and right, her eyes flickering with impatience as she searched for any sign of Andrew and Euan among the sea of travelers. Every few steps, her head swiveled, her steps slowing as she tried to catch a glimpse of them, her curiosity barely contained.
"Are you serious right now?" Kyle's voice broke through her focus, sharp with annoyance. He dragged his suitcase alongside her, his movements heavy with frustration. He shook his head, exhaling a sharp sigh. "Tobi, would you stop looking around like a lost puppy and just focus on walking?"
Tobi's eyes didn't leave the crowd, though her lips pressed together in a tight line. "I just want to see if I can spot them. Andrew, Euan... maybe James," she muttered, her voice quiet but insistent, her steps faltering again as she slowed to take in more of the crowd.
Kyle sighed heavily, his patience stretched thin. "They're probably already ahead of us or went through another exit," he said, his tone flat. "We're not going to bump into them like this."
Still unconvinced, Tobi continued her search, her gaze skimming over the passengers, her steps increasingly distracted. The large signs for baggage claim and customs loomed ahead, but she barely registered them, her mind focused on the people moving in all directions.
Kyle stopped abruptly, his arm shooting out to block her path. "Tobi. Seriously. You need to stop," he said, his voice firm, his eyes narrowing. "Focus on walking to the exit before we get lost in this maze."
Tobi rolled her eyes, huffing in frustration, but still she gave one last lingering glance around the busy terminal before reluctantly falling into step beside him. "Fine, fine. But I swear, I'll find them before we leave," she muttered under her breath, her tone half-defiant, half-resigned.
Kyle raised an eyebrow, a teasing smirk tugging at his lips. "If you spent half the energy walking as you do spying on people," he said, his voice rich with dry amusement, "we'd already be at the exit gate by now. Youn-Jae is probably wondering where the hell we are."
Tobi shot him a sideways glare, her frustration bubbling just under the surface. Her brow furrowed as she adjusted her pace to keep up with him. "I'm not spying," she huffed, though her eyes were already darting again, searching the crowd. "I'm just... checking."
Kyle let out a soft, exasperated chuckle, shaking his head as he pulled his suitcase with a steady, deliberate pace. "Yeah, 'checking,'" he echoed, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "More like obsessing. Look, they'll find us if they're around. You don't have to play detective."
Tobi's lips tightened, her gaze flicking once more over the crowd. "I just don't like not knowing where they are. What if—"
Kyle cut her off, placing a gentle but firm hand on her arm, halting her in her tracks. His gaze softened, but there was still an underlying current of frustration. "Tobi," he said, his voice low and steady, "we've been traveling for hours. You're tired, I'm tired, and Andrew and Euan can take care of themselves. Youn-Jae's waiting, and the last thing we need is you wandering off."
Tobi blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the seriousness in his tone. She exhaled slowly, her shoulders dropping as the tension in her body eased. Still, her eyes betrayed her, flickering with curiosity as she glanced back at the crowd. "Fine," she muttered, though her resignation came with a hint of reluctance. "I'll let it go."
Kyle's smirk returned, his eyes glinting with playful mischief. "Good. Now, let's get to Youn before he thinks we've abandoned him. Who knows what kind of 'welcome' we'll get if we're any later."
Outside the exit doors, Youn-Jae stood casually, his hands buried deep in the pockets of his long black coat. The faint hum of cars from the pick-up lane echoed behind him, but his gaze was fixed on the crowd. As soon as his eyes landed on Tobi and Kyle emerging from the terminal, a light smile tugged at the corner of his lips, and he raised a hand in a subtle wave to catch their attention.
Kyle was the first to notice, his face breaking into a wide grin as he quickened his pace. "Hey, Youn!" he greeted, his voice warm and familiar, his steps confident as he approached.
Tobi, lagging slightly behind, was still scanning the area, her gaze darting from one side of the bustling area to the other. But as soon as she spotted Youn-Jae, she smirked teasingly, her lips curling up mischievously. "Hi, Youn!" she called out with playful energy, her voice ringing with a touch of impish excitement.
Youn-Jae raised an eyebrow, tilting his head slightly as he observed her. "Why did it take you both so long to get outside?" he asked, his voice calm, though there was a faint note of amusement in it.
Kyle laughed lightly, shrugging as he gestured toward Tobi, who was still distracted. Her head swiveled again, more discreetly this time, as she resumed scanning the crowd, making sure Kyle didn't notice her subtle movements. Meanwhile, Kyle and Youn-Jae fell easily into casual conversation, discussing the flight and the drive ahead, the steady rhythm of their banter a familiar comfort.
Moments later, Tobi's eyes narrowed in concentration as she finally spotted Andrew and Euan, far across the pick-up area. They were too far away to call out to, hidden behind the throng of passengers and vehicles. She could see Andrew standing near a car, holding the door open as he helped Euan inside, his hand gently placed on Euan's head to protect it from bumping into the car frame. James was already seated in the front passenger seat, waiting.
"Gotcha!" Tobi blurted out suddenly, her excitement bursting through.
Youn-Jae jumped slightly at her outburst, his calm expression breaking into mild surprise. "What's wrong with you?" he asked, half-annoyed, half-amused, his eyebrows knitting together.
Kyle let out a long, exasperated sigh, shaking his head. "Hayys... Tobi, you're impossible."
Undeterred, Tobi quickly explained, her voice full of excitement. "Youn! There's Andrew and his lover!" She pointed eagerly toward the distant car, her enthusiasm palpable.
Youn-Jae followed her pointed finger, his eyes briefly flickering toward Andrew and Euan. Though not particularly interested, he humored her with a glance. He saw Andrew helping Euan into the car, the gesture tender and protective. James, as usual, was relaxed in the front seat.
Tobi snapped her fingers in mock frustration. "Gosh! You didn't even take a proper look at Euan!" she complained, her voice tinged with disappointment at Youn-Jae's lack of enthusiasm.
Kyle rolled his eyes, his patience wearing thin. "Tobi, Youn-Jae doesn't care about Andrew's relationship. You know that."
"Exactly," Youn-Jae chimed in, turning back to Kyle without a second glance toward the car. "I'm not interested in prying into my nephew's personal life."
With that, the conversation shifted back to Kyle and Youn-Jae, the two of them slipping easily into their usual rhythm of casual banter. But Tobi's attention remained fixed on the car. She watched as it pulled away, Andrew, Euan, and James disappearing into the steady stream of traffic, her curiosity still simmering beneath the surface.
The story doesn't end here...
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