Chapter 2 - Flight

Chants and arguments filled the police headquarter. Jun walked into the headquarter wearing a long umber jacket dress with a black scarf matching her thigh-high stockings and boots; letting her obsidian locks released. Next to her was a man – wearing the usual dark colored turtleneck and a coat, matched with his boots too. Both went to the counter to meet a certain person after passing through the 3 person who were arguing about a thief.

"Yes sir? How may I help you?"

"I am here to make a confirmation for my request last night. My code is 01-7872" He said.

"Ah, yes. You may meet the Korea ambassador." The woman with bun said to them.

Vincent turned around to meet Jun's eyes, showing his dimples to her, he nodded to the woman signaling her to follow him. Jun was only to obey him. She followed him like a duckling follows it mother, until they arrived in front of an azure colored door. The doctor knocked, "Come in." replied from the other side. The door was creaked open, holding Jun's arm; the man entered. Then is Jun. Inside was an old man, wearing a black marble formal suit with a red tie. His hair was light grey and was bald in the middle. Jun could guess that this elder man has stressed himself throughout his career, his face was stern. He looked at them as they entered the room, slowly laying his eyes on the woman. From his strict face, a warm smile immediately formed as both of them offered to sit down.

"You are what he calls 'Jun'?" then the woman nodded.

The man stood up from his sit and pr0ceed to walk on a cabinet, he took out a thick file and went back to the office table. Taking out a form paper swiftly along with a pen, he gently put it on the table and commanded Jun to fill it in – she is going to make a passport and an identity card. The woman frowned as she was told to do so, she needed to fill in: name, birth date, age, nationality and blood type. The ambassador told her to just fill in what she has now; her temporary name and blood type, that is. Right after writing down the name and blood type, she gave the form to the old man. After that, she was given another paper. This time is for her identity card.

Walking out from the tall spruce building into the busy streets. Slowly, the snow starts to dances down to earth. It landed on every person softly. Wrapped around Jun's arm was a transparent blue button file, inside was her complete passport and identity card. The ambassador has prepared a flight for her that will depart on three in the afternoon, today. Despite this happening quickly, Jun was looking forward to step on her homeland; Korea. The other person was happy for her to be able to go back to her home and maybe, will be able to regain all her lost memories. If it is possible that is.

"Well, since you are going home. Why not we have lunch together, my treat." Vincent spoke to the person next to him.

"Sure."

"Right, I've always wanted to go to this restaurant but never had a chance to. Let's have our lunch there." He pointed his finger to a building across the street. La Café – most likely metal chairs and tables was settled outside the cafe, served for the customers. The building was engraved with bronze flower veins climbing from the bottom up to the building which began to rusts, nonetheless there is only several people is in this old-fashioned restaurant.

Jun was going to just cross the street but Vincent stopped her before she could. "It is dangerous, we have to use the zebra cross. There, at the traffic.". The woman only looked at him, emotionlessly.

The sandy haired man only smiled and grabbed Jun's hand, walking casually on the crowded street. They have arrived at the 'street crossing' sign, waiting for the traffic light to be red. Then, they walk to the other side of the building. Trespassers took a glance at them thinking of how great, romantic and perfectly matched spouse they are although they are not. The woman only stared at Vincent who was holding her rosy, slender and cold hand. Without even realizing it, they have arrived at the entrance of the restaurant. Looking it from a closer perspective, Jun can see that the restaurant is quite antique and unique with its old-fashioned features.

The sound of a bell could be heard when the wooden door opened by Vincent. The smell of cinnamon and freshly baked bread wafts to their nose making them drool. Jun observes the restaurant; a counter with the menu's billboard above it, tableware perfectly arranged on the cabinets, bookshelves at the reading corner decorated with a grandfather clock. There is also a gramophone on the corner of the restaurant with its phonograph disc on the shelves which Jun finds it fascinating.

The sandy haired man only smiled at her, then proceeds to go to the counter to order something; Jun follows. Vincent looked up at the menu's billboard while Jun was looking at the cakes, pies and pastries through the transparent glass in front of her. All of them looks delicious and fancy even, she wondered how the frosting would melt in her mouth, letting the sweetness stays in her mouth, adoring every taste. Just thinking about it is mouth-watering. Her gazes were interrupted by Vincent, she's knocked out of her sweet daydream.

"What do you want?" Vincent asks her. Jun stared at a pie; dark orange with some powder was on it.

The man next to her smiles, "You can have anything you want, since today is the last day you will be with me. It's my treat after all." Just hearing that made the woman smile, she pointed her slender finger on a certain pie.

"Then, I'd like to have that, please. And a drink, I'll have the green stuff." She then pointed on the drink that was on the billboard. Vincent could only smile, "Ah, we'd love to have a pumpkin spice pie, two chocolate croissants, one original baguette along with café au lait and milk matcha. We will be having them here."

"That'll be $15.89, sir. Enjoy your meal." Vincent paid for their order then the cashier gave him a tray full of the food that they ordered. Holding his tray, he walked towards to the empty sit next to the entrance door. Jun was told to wait there right after she was done ordering. He gently put down the tray on the table and proceeds to settle himself on a chair opposite to the woman. He cleared his throat and gives the food that Jun ordered to her, the plate clank as he put it in front of her.

Picking up the utensils, the woman sliced some of the pie then took a bite of it. Slowly, she devours and savors every taste; she could taste the savory cinnamon, a hint of nutmeg along with ginger, in the end all the spices sink in with the sweetness of the pumpkin. It was so delicate Jun thought she's in heaven for a moment. The doctor could only smile at the expressions Jun made, slowly, he tears the chocolate croissant and starts to munch – the crispiness of the outside layer could be heard, inside was puff layered with rich and creamy chocolate.

Jun swallowed the pie in her mouth, she looked at the long bread on the table and wondered why the shape is odd. Suddenly something was insert inside her opened mouth – a croissant. She accepts it and slowly chew them, it was sweet. She smiled sweetly at the man who gave her the croissant, in return she took her fork and get a bite piece of the pumpkin spice; feeding the doctor.

"It's delicious." The sandy haired man finally spoke, Jun nodded as a response. She then remembered the drink that she ordered earlier, she took the cup from its saucer and inhale the aromatic smell of the matcha. She took a sip – she identifies each taste slowly, it was quite astringent but the after taste was unpredictable to her. It leaves an alluring sweetness. Both of them enjoys their meal as the gramophone plays a jazz song.

The door was opened wide as 2 people came out from it. Jun, who was very satisfied with the meal she had felt happy. They were right about 'when you are feeling sad or angry, sweets are the best medicine', she smiled with the thought of that. "Vin, I… Thank you for treating me those delicate food." She looked at the man next to her from her sideview, smiling happily.

"Your welcome." Was all he replied as he carries his baguette. Both walks on the cold ground with scattered dead leaves decorating it; making a crunchy sound with every step they took. Vincent checked the watch that was on his wrist – it's 12:38. He was silence for a moment wondering on what to do next as there is still time before they go to the airport. A voice interrupted his musings, it was Jun's.

"What are we going to do now?"

"hmm, ah. Let's go back to my apartment first." He turned around to the opposite direction of where they were walking. Quickly, the woman who was almost left behind follows him. Panting, Jun tried to squeeze between the crowds that is filling the passageway. Every time she was getting closer to Vincent, he just always getting far again which made her irritated. This time, she tried to catch him up. She could see his hand and now they are closer, she grabs the sandy haired man hand swiftly making he stopped his steps.

"Please, slow down." The petite woman was out of breath, slowly she takes a deep breath to normalized her heartbeat.

"Ah, sorry. I got used to that, I thought you could catch me up." His tone was flat. Once Jun got all her breathe, she stands straight. Until that, both continue to walk to Vincent's car where it was parked around the Police Headquarter this early morning.

Entering the room temperature apartment, the sandy haired man takes out a large travel bag; there was old and faded stickers or rather stamps on it. He then walks to his room and came out with loads of woman clothes cradling in his arm, Jun was surprised. His hands move swiftly as he folds the clothes, he's putting in the suitcase, Jun was there – she doesn't know what to do.

"Why–"

"I just thought that, I'd give them to you. I'd love to move on, so please, just accept them." Jun expected that, but how can she take someone's late wife's clothes? She thinks that it is quite inappropriate.

"I appreciate and understand that you are trying to help me since I don't really have any spare clothes; or even anything. But I can't accept such thing, I don't have the gut to do so. So please, do keep them." On the cold ground, she kneeled in front of the doctor who's busy packing the brown shades of garments.

"I insist, please just accept them." His tone was commanding. Jun stared him and let out a sigh.

"Fine, I'll accept them" Jun finally defeated. She doesn't like to be forced, but still, the man seems want to get rid of the clothes so she had no choice. She sat there, gazing down at her hands gripping her coat.

"How am I going to repay you, Vincent." She said those words as if she was whispering but the doctor could still hear it even though they were quite far from each other. The man opposite her frozen for a moment, he then continues to do his work. "Don't worry about it. Now, let's go. We don't want to miss the flight to your homeland soon." He closed the travel bag and stood it up, later both of them stands up and rubs their knees to get rid of dusts. Vincent looked at Jun's mesmerizing dark hazel orbs then looked away – there was nothing dancing inside her eyes, it was emotionless which the doctor couldn't handle.

Leaving the lonely apartment, they head to the parking lot. This time, Vincent took out a different key and clicked a button. 'beep-beep', the sound of a Ford Mustang could be heard – it was Vincent's. Jun was stunned by the car, perfectly polished and bright red in color – it reminds her the color of blood. Not only that she wondered why there is only one passenger seat with only 2 doors to enter the car. She hasn't seen the modernization of vehicle so she wouldn't know, yet.

Vincent goes to the back of the car where the trunk is located, he lifted the luggage then carefully put it inside the trunk. Both sits comfortably inside the car – warmed up by the heater that was on. Vincent turned on the radio, a relaxing jazz music was produced from it relaxes Jun. As soon as the doctor started to drive, Jun fallen asleep by the tunes of the jazz.

Someone was there, a person was it? Jun don't know who it was – a dark, tall silhouette walked towards her along with the sounds of footsteps. Jun was there, but she couldn't move an inch. She is panicking as the anonymous shadow gets closer to her. In a blink of an eye, a pistol was shot – the bullet pierced through in between her eyes. Her eyes were widened, she could feel the unpleasant, sharp pain of the bullet piercing her skull; the last thing she saw was the man's smirk. Eyes shot open, Jun woke up from her nightmare. Cold sweats trickle down from her forehead as she hyperventilates. She touched where the bullet shot through, she could feel the sensation of the pain.

The sandy haired man looked at her, "Are you alright?"

"I am not sure, but I am okay." Slowing down her breathes as she speaks. Vincent could see that Jun must have dream something, it's possible that it was a nightmare referring to how she reacts when she woke up.

"Well, I'm glad you're awake now. I was going to wake you up, we have arrived at the airport. Let's go, we don't want to miss your flight."

Jun noticed that Vincent is kind now. When they were packing, he ignored and literally treated Jun in a cold manner. Jun thought maybe that his mood wasn't that good this morning so she let it slipped. She opened the door and went to the trunk to get her travel suitcase. Once Vincent opened the lock, Jun lift open the trunk and took her travel back – she didn't expect it to be heavy despite having some clothes only.

"Can you handle that?"

"Yes, no problem."

The airport was filled with tourists from different countries, it wasn't fully crowded but sure is lively. Distant families came, hugging each other; Jun wondered if that could happen to her too. Vincent and Jun queued to authorize the woman's ticket. After that, Jun's luggage is brought up to be check by the securities – making sure there is no illegal substance in it. Now, everything is done. All the woman needs to do is to wait for her airplane's gate to be open. Jun was standing at where travelers' tickets and passports to be checked. She was staring at a screen with all the scheduled flights.

"Vin, thank you very much for willing to assist me. I really appreciated it, how am I going to pay you back?" She turned around to meet Vincent's baby blue eyes.

"You're welcome, it is okay. I am sincere in helping you Jun. No need to pay me back." He smiled sweetly at the woman, the woman smiled back. However, Jun noticed that she did thanked him earlier but his reaction was different than now. How odd it was to her.

"Ah, the ambassador told me. When you arrived there, just look for a person holding a banner with your name on it. He'll help you since the ambassador appointed him." He said to Jun.

"Alright."

'Passengers, you may now enter gate number 028' an announcement was made. It is time for the doctor and Jun part.

"I guess it is time for you to go. I hope, one day we could meet again." He offered his hand, Jun took it and both of them were shaking their hands.

"I hope so too. I bid you Farewell, Vin."

"Farewell, Jun." The doctor stared at Jun as she walked away from him, getting farther away, leaving him. He sighed once Jun is out of his sight. 'She didn't look back', he thought.

Taking a step into the airplane's' could make Jun nervous. She was excited and feeling anxious at the same time, she looked for her seat – located at the 6th row, on the ride side, next to the window. Sighing, she looked outside the window; they're still on land waiting for all passengers to arrive. Then, a briefing was presented to them by the flight attendant. It was boring to hear.

Finally, the airplane starts to move. Slowly, it accelerates until it was off the ground. Jun gazed outside the window and could see buildings and cars from up there. Few moments passed, and now they are on the sky – flying. Clouds could be seen from a close eye, it was beautiful. Knowing that this is a long flight, Jun decided to read some magazines that were on pocket of the seats. In the end, she got bored by it and ended up dozing off despite she had slept at the car. The journey took hours to arrive to her homeland – South Korea.