You

Coming back to that mansion after eight years felt like walking through a dream left on pause. The front door, with its imposing carved wood, hadn' t changed a bit. The moment I placed my hand on the handle, a wave of nostalgia washed over me.

I stepped in with a strange mix of excitement and apprehension. The echo of my footsteps in the wide foyer made me feel small again, like the girl who once walked out of there with a broken heart. Afternoon light streamed through the tall windows, illuminating specks of dust suspended in the air.

"Isabela!" My mother' s voice rang out before I even saw her. Her face, though touched by time, still radiated the same warmth I remembered. Silver strands now streaked through her hair, but her smile was just as bright.

I ran into her arms and held her tightly. That scent of her perfume, one I had always associated with safety and home, surrounded me instantly.

"My girl… you' ve grown so much!"

When we pulled apart, my eyes searched for my father. He was sitting in the living room in his usual armchair, wearing the stern expression that had always been his signature. His hair was completely white now, making him look more fragile, but the defiance in his gaze remained.

"And who might you be? The same girl who left years ago or a woman who' s forgotten her old father?" he grumbled, though there was a flicker of emotion in his eyes.

I walked over and hugged him too, ignoring his poor attempt at disinterest. "I' m both, Dad."

"Well, what a surprise! I thought they' d never convince you to change airlines," my mother chimed in as we sat down on the couch. "What made you say yes?"

"It was a tough decision. Richard Hayes made me an offer that was hard to refuse... and honestly, I think I needed the change."

"So, Tokyo, huh?" my mother said, trying to sound casual, though I caught a hint of concern in her voice.

"Yes. I' ll be living there," I replied, watching her closely.

"The sky is your real home," my father said, his voice low and steady. "Tokyo will just be where you go to stretch your legs."

I smiled. He was right. "That' s true, Dad. Nothing compares to flying."

Eventually, I went up to my room. Nothing had changed. The old floral bedspread still covered the mattress. I approached the bed and couldn' t help but smile at a familiar figure: Lana, my little dog, was sleeping peacefully in the center.

"Lana!" I whispered, and she lazily opened her eyes before sniffing at me. For a second, she looked confused, but then she began wagging her tail furiously and jumped toward me. Her joy was contagious, and I hugged her as she licked my face with wild affection.

After playing with her for a while, I decided to take a shower. The hot water soothed me, washing away the fatigue of travel. When I returned to the room, Lana had already reclaimed her spot on the bed. I lay down beside her, enveloped in a peace I hadn' t felt in a long time.

As I tossed and turned in bed, memories of the past years paraded through my mind like flashes of film. Eventually, sleep overtook me, with Lana curled up by my side and a smile resting on my lips.

The airport buzzed with the usual mix of urgency and delay. Loudspeakers announced departing flights while passengers, some anxious and others relaxed, moved in every direction. I walked confidently toward the departure terminal, prepared for anything. Still, the familiarity of the place didn' t quite put me at ease. There was something in the air an almost tangible feeling that something important was about to happen.

On my way to the lounge, an attendant approached me.

"Captain Gonzales, please follow me. Someone would like to speak with you."

I followed her into a private meeting room. Inside stood a man in a pristine suit, with the kind of elegance that spoke of authority. I didn' t recognize him, but I inclined my head politely.

"Captain Gonzales, a pleasure to meet you. I' m Surasak Chaiyapong, Director of Private Flight Operations here in Thailand. We' ve been following your career closely, and we believe you' d be the perfect candidate to lead our private jet fleet. The offer includes a highly competitive salary and a number of additional benefits."

I listened attentively, though his words echoed distantly in my mind. It wasn' t the first time someone had tried to lure me away from commercial aviation, but I knew I wasn' t ready to walk away from it yet.

"Mr. Chaiyapong, I appreciate the offer, but my place is with commercial aviation. That' s where I truly belong."

"Captain Gonzales, don' t be too quick to decide. This position still involves flying, but with greater flexibility and less stress. And the compensation is... hard to ignore."

I took a deep breath. I knew it was a fantastic opportunity but I couldn' t accept.

"I' m sorry, but I can' t. I' m committed to my current contract."

His face showed a hint of disappointment, but he nodded respectfully. As I left the room and headed back toward the main terminal, I suddenly saw her.

Kamon.

She was walking toward me with the same effortless elegance as always. My heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, time slowed. Her long black hair fell perfectly over her shoulders, and her tailored outfit accentuated her figure.

As we neared each other, our eyes met. That familiar thump thump erupted in my chest, the kind I hadn' t felt in years. I stopped just as she passed beside me.

"How are you, Miss Srisaku?"

She didn' t answer at first. She just looked at me for several long seconds, silent.

"Cat got your tongue?" I asked, trying to keep my cool.

"No... I just didn' t expect to see you here, Chao Nòk," she replied, her voice calm but piercing.

A flicker of the past rushed through me. I remembered the afternoon I hired a teacher to help me learn Thai. I' d been desperate to know what Chao Nòk meant. When he explained it meant foreigner, I felt a strange mix of anger and confusion.

Back in the present.

"What are you doing here?" I asked at last.

Kamon gave a slight smile. "Closing a deal. You?"

"Work," I said, keeping my tone neutral.

"Who would' ve thought you' d actually graduate?" Kamon teased, her voice laced with irony.

"I' ve always been smart," I replied firmly.

"Or just depressed," she muttered, folding her arms.

"Years have passed, Tuntakamon, but you' re still just as arrogant," I shot back, ready to walk away.

"What does Tuntakamon mean?" she asked behind me.

I smiled as I walked off, hoping to leave my answer hanging in the air—but she didn' t let me go.

"Haven' t we done this already, Isabela?" The way she said my full name undid me.

My heart pounded so hard I was sure she could hear it.

"We' re too old to keep provoking each other, don' t you think?" I said, my voice steady as I met her gaze. Kamon didn' t flinch, only the faintest of smiles curved her lips.

"Excuse me. I have work to do," I continued, not giving her a chance to reply.

Without looking back, I walked toward the pilots' lounge with deliberate steps. I could feel her eyes on me, but I wouldn' t give her the satisfaction of seeing me turn. My chest was tight, and my thoughts complete chaos.

Today' s flight was from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, a short route, but enough to spend a few hours in the sky. Maybe the endless space and the steady hum of the engines would clear my head... though I doubted it.

Kamon' s face kept flashing through my mind. Even after all these years, that girl still managed to shake me. It bothered me. It bothered me more than I cared to admit.

I stepped into the cockpit, greeted the technicians, and went through the checklist. The familiar feel of the controls and the snug fit of the headset gave me a momentary sense of calm. This was my place. Here, everything made sense.

"All set for takeoff, Captain Gonzales," the co-pilot said with a professional smile.

I nodded and took the controls.

"Then let' s proceed."

The engines roared to life as the plane glided down the runway and lifted gracefully into the sky. That moment always made me feel invincible, like I could leave everything behind, if only for a while.

But as we reached cruising altitude, my mind wandered back to Kamon. I remembered how her gaze had stopped me cold... how the subtle curve of her lips had made my pulse race. It was maddening.

I shook my head slightly and focused on the instruments. There was no room for distractions up here. In the sky, only one thing mattered: flying.

With the plane on autopilot and the flight stabilized, I allowed myself a breath. I looked out the window, watching the clouds stretch like a blanket beneath us. Why did it have to be Kamon who could still shake my soul like that?

Maybe, I thought, just maybe... I' d find some peace in Chiang Mai.