Chapter 30: Honey Moon
Zylan noticed that Naomi had finally relaxed; her breathing had steadied, and it was clear she was now asleep. He found himself unexpectedly surprised by this development. She had pushed him beyond his usual limits, unraveling the calm composure he prided himself on. But why? How did she manage to unsettle him so effortlessly? It was a question that lingered in his mind like a haunting melody.
As he lay down and closed his eyes, ready to drift off, he felt her move closer, wrapping her arms around his waist as though he were a soft, comforting presence, like a teddy bear she clung to for solace. He froze for a moment, working to steady himself, before finally allowing his eyes to close. Moments later, he, too, succumbed to sleep’s embrace, unaware of the dreams that awaited him.
Naomi woke up to the sound of the flight attendant’s voice, cutting through the remnants of her slumber.
"Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Zylan. This is to inform you that the flight will be landing in one minute. Please make sure you’re seated securely, either on the bed or in your chair. Thank you," the flight attendant announced in a polite tone.
Mira, fully awake now, felt a wave of unease wash over her. What should she do? Zylan seemed to be asleep, and she couldn’t bring herself to wake him, even as her anxiety grew with the approaching landing. She was unfamiliar with how this particular flight worked; her previous experiences flying with her family to events, celebrity gatherings, and high-profile meetings had been quite different from this one. There were no plush seats or luxurious accommodations on those flights, and certainly no beds.
Suddenly, she felt Zylan pull her into a gentle hug, startling her momentarily. He spoke softly, his voice barely a whisper, "Just hang on to me for a while, okay?" His sleepy tone, rich and soothing, sent Naomi’s heart racing. Oh my goodness. Everything that looked like an insecurity in her became perfection with Zylan. Was he too good to be true? She held her breath and nodded, thinking that maybe he was.
As the plane touched down, she exhaled in relief, realizing she’d been holding her breath the entire time. She was glad it was over, feeling a strange freedom settle within her, a freedom she had not experienced in years. When Zylan finally let go, she felt a hint of awkwardness creeping in. Of course, he’d only hugged her to help her through the landing.
"Thank you," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, before adding a quiet, "Good morning."
Zylan nodded in response, and Naomi rolled her eyes slightly. Why didn’t he just say "good morning" back? Finally, she looked at him, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Why don’t you reply?"