Chapter III
694 Words
The business-class cabin was filled with warm light as Daisy stepped inside. She lowered her gaze to check her seat number—3B—then looked up, only to find someone already standing in the aisle right beside her.
Edward.
He turned and smiled as if the universe had just handed him a joke.
“I thought the chances of this happening were close to zero.”
Daisy frowned. “What chances?”
“That we’d be sitting next to each other.”
He pointed to his own seat—3A. Daisy glanced at her boarding pass—3B—and let out a quiet sigh. Of course. Whenever she wanted to be alone, the world always had its own strange sense of humor.
She slid into her seat. Edward helped lift her cabin bag into the overhead compartment without saying much. Daisy gave him a small nod.
A flight attendant offered welcome drinks. Daisy chose orange juice, while Edward picked sparkling water. The cabin felt calm, with soft instrumental music playing in the background.
Daisy turned on her tablet, though her mind drifted. She wanted to read but couldn’t process a single word.
“So you really are a writer?”
Edward’s voice beside her was cautious.
“Yes.” She didn’t look at him. “Just an ordinary writer.”
“Yesterday you said you were pretty well-known.”
Daisy inhaled slowly. Don’t talk too much, Daisy.
“I don’t like talking about my work.”
“All right.” Edward lifted both hands as if surrendering. “I was just curious. You have the aura of someone carrying a lot of stories.”
Daisy glanced at him. “Aura?”
“Mm.” He chuckled softly. “Your eyes. Like you choose which stories you allow to come out.”
Daisy pretended to return to her reading, though the page didn’t move.
As the plane taxied toward the runway, her body tensed. Her fingers gripped the armrest without her noticing. Edward watched her but didn’t comment immediately.
“You don’t like this part, do you?”
“No.” She swallowed. “It’s just… uncomfortable.”
“It’s okay. Once we lift off, the loud part is over.”
His voice—calm and low—was enough to ease her breathing a little.
After the plane stabilized in the air, Edward put on his headphones. Before wearing them fully, he glanced her way.
“I know you’re not the talkative type. So if you want me quiet, just say so.”
Daisy almost laughed. “I’m not asking you to be quiet.”
“Good. I tend to forget to regulate my volume.”
He smiled, then finally put the headphones on.
Daisy looked out the window—white clouds rolled beneath them. Something nudged her, and she found herself speaking again.
“Earlier… about the last name,” she said without turning.
Edward lowered one side of his headphones. “Hm?”
“Cho,” Daisy murmured. “I was… a little surprised you noticed.”
“It’s hard not to notice,” he replied casually. “Your name’s interesting.”
Daisy tilted her head. “Lim is pretty common too.”
“Common,” he admitted, “but still meaningful. Family names always are.”
He said it lightly, without any intention behind it—but somehow it carried a quiet sincerity that reached her.
Daisy flipped a page in her e-book, still reading nothing.
“I’m a fairly private person.”
“That’s fine,” he said quickly. “I don’t mind waiting, if you need time.”
The words were simple. Yet somehow, made her chest feel… strange—light, but deep.
Daisy lowered her gaze. “Thank you.”
Edward smiled—small, but genuine. “You’re welcome.”
The cabin settled into silence, not the kind that made her uneasy.
For the first time, Daisy realized that having someone beside her—someone who wasn’t originally part of her life—didn’t always mean danger.
Sometimes, it was just someone who happened to occupy seat 3A.
And sometimes… coincidences felt a little too perfect.
- Writer
