LM0048 Airport

"Attention, ladies and gentlemen, boarding is now open for KLM Flight KL1234 to New York," the announcement echoed over the terminal speakers.

Mizuki paused beside the sleek glass doors of Gate 12, her olive-green jacket catching the soft airport glow. A loosely draped scarf, dark jeans, and well-worn boots completed her understated ensemble. She lifted her gaze from the bustling crowd to the departure board, then glanced at her watch. A long, quiet sigh escaped her as the minutes ticked by.

Yesterday evening, Mizuki's world had shifted. What had begun as a teenage fantasy of running away had taken an unexpected turn. Over dinner, her parents had listened—not with the resistance she'd braced for, but with warm, encouraging smiles. They'd embraced her dream of becoming an author and even backed her decision to journey to Singapore for "inspiration." (Of course, the truth was more complicated: the so-called inspiration was a cover for her secret search for Lizbeth and her daughter—a truth she couldn't risk uttering.)

That night, sleep had eluded her as doubts and wonder swirled in her mind. And then, in a moment of surreal clarity, an email arrived from her father. The subject line read: "Your New Home Awaits." A sleek penthouse apartment—her own—complete with pickup instructions and proof of ownership. Shock and disbelief mingled as she replayed the scene in her head; everything felt like a dream.

Now, as the early morning light filtered through the terminal's high windows, Mizuki's phone buzzed with a text from her parents. Their message was bittersweet—a note of regret for not being there in person, coupled with gentle reminders to stay safe and call upon landing. A small smile curved her lips at the unexpected freedom.

With time to spare, she wandered over to a boutique window display. Arrays of autumn scarves and jackets shimmered in the polished glass. Though they were striking, Mizuki hesitated. Extra luggage was the last thing she needed, especially since she wasn't sure what Singapore's weather had in store. "Nah, maybe I'll just get it there," she muttered, more to herself than anyone else.

Just then, a sudden chill crept up her spine. Her hair prickled, and she stiffened, alert to a sensation of being watched. In the reflection of the shop's glass, she caught sight of a small group: impeccably dressed men gathered around a poised woman. Their presence was undeniable—a cluster of power and mystery. One man at the front, his intense eyes scanning the room like a silent sentinel, seemed to be fixated on her.

Mizuki's heart raced. For a split second, dark possibilities flashed through her mind—kidnappers, traffickers—before she noted the controlled, almost regal demeanor of the group. They exuded the cool detachment of VIPs, not the rough edge of criminal intent. Swiftly, she tore her gaze away, pretending ignorance.

When she dared another furtive glance, the group was already moving away, merging into the flow of suited professionals as if nothing had happened. Relief mingled with a spark of curiosity. A stray thought whispered in her mind: perhaps that commanding gaze belonged to someone from her mother's world—a CEO from the business circles her parents navigated so effortlessly.

With the boarding call still echoing in the background, Mizuki clutched her luggage a bit tighter and stepped forward into the unfolding day. The airport, alive with whispered goodbyes and the hum of anticipation, became a threshold to a new, uncertain adventure—a journey where every step might lead her closer to both a long-held secret and the inspiration she was chasing.

Mizuki sat at the boarding area, her trusted headset on and Spotify softly filling her ears as she waited. The call for boarding echoed overhead when a new presence claimed the seat beside her. A familiar prickle of being watched made her turn—and she nearly dropped her jaw.

There, in the adjacent seat, was a young man with sun-kissed olive skin and dark, wavy hair that, when not tied in a loose ponytail, brushed just past his shoulders.

"P-Pablo? What are you doing here?" she stammered, her eyes wide with surprise.

Pablo let out a soft chuckle as he shook his head. "I could ask you the same thing," he replied, his tone equally bemused.

For a long moment, Mizuki searched his face, hoping for some clue, before a pained groan escaped her.

"I knew it," she muttered. "There must be something up if they're being this nice about me leaving."

At her words, Pablo chuckled again, amusement dancing in his eyes. "At least now I know why my mom suddenly blessed my departure—after throwing a two-day tantrum when I announced I was leaving. She even helped me pack yesterday—it was too good to be true. I should have seen it coming."

"Me neither," Mizuki said flatly. "I told them I wanted to go to Singapore, and they didn't protest—they even bought me an apartment."

Her deadpan delivery prompted Pablo to arch an eyebrow. "Don't tell me… Gemini Bay Residences, penthouse unit?" he said, his tone matching hers as he added with a dry smile. Mizuki's pout answered him, and he let out an exaggerated groan, palm coming to his face. "I knew it. That's why the other unit was snapped up immediately after I bought mine. I was planning to get it too—for an office, so I wouldn't have to share the floor—but they beat me to it."

"Looks like our parents really outdid themselves this time, neighbor," Mizuki declared, patting his shoulder.

In her past life, she and Pablo had lived in the Marina Bay area—a penthouse floor gifted by their parents as a wedding present. When her father handed her the deed to one of the apartment units that night, she hadn't questioned it, assuming he'd purchased it ages ago and was simply giving it to her. She never even wondered why he didn't give her the other half, thinking it was normal since she was alone and didn't need extra space. Never had it occurred to her that in this life, she'd be living there again with Pablo—this time as neighbors rather than husband and wife.

Even though her parents' well-meaning matchmaking had set things in motion, Mizuki found a strange comfort in Pablo's presence. He had been such a significant part of her past, and even if his role in this new life was different, having him around stirred memories of familiarity and security.