#d-15

The holidays are just around the corner and because you would’ve usually spent them all on your own in Linkon, Tara had asked you if you’d like to celebrate together with her family this year instead. You agreed, feeling giddy and excited about the upcoming festivities as this is not your first time celebrating with her, but unfortunately, there happened to be one big problem:

Tara’s family lives a two-hour flight away. 

Which in theory, you think you could’ve withstood if you had gotten to fly together with her, just like always. But that’s not how easy it was going to be, wasn't it: one day before your initial flight, you got a call from your boss, who told you that something in the report you had handed in the night prior was not adding up properly.

So instead of hopping on the same flight with her, you spent another two days re-doing your reports so you could hand them in again - this time, without an issue.

And that itself went well, until you got home and realized that you now had to take that flight alone. Which has been giving you stomachache after stomachache the moment you booked the new flight and had to plan around it. 

You had been contemplating this for the days leading up to the flight: What if you just cancel the plans now and spend Christmas alone in the safety of your home instead? Yes, it maybe wouldn’t be as festive and cheerful as if you got to celebrate with Tara and her extremely loving family, but maybe it’s alright to take that comfort over the absolute anxiety that flight was going to cause you.

The message was already sitting in the text box, your hand hovering above the button to press send, when all of a sudden, you got a call.

A fateful call that is the reason you are currently sitting at the airport despite your initial worries; your luggage already given up at the ticket gate with about an hour left until the terminals are going to open.

“Here”, a cup of coffee is placed into your hands as Sylus sits down next to you, a cup of coffee in his own hand as well, “You’re really alright without any sugar or milk?” 

He opens his hand to reveal the little packages of sugar and milk he has taken from the counter when getting your drinks even though you insisted on having it without. You giggle and shake your head, “No, I’m alright. Thank you, though.”

You really couldn’t believe your eyes when you saw Sylus’ number light up your screen that night. As if he was able to read your mind.

What a mystery man indeed.

When you first met him on that plane a couple of months ago, you never expected for your relationship to turn into this: where you frequently exchange texts, an occasional dinner reservation is made in his name to a fancy restaurant and gifts you never expected would show up on your doorstep along with beautiful written notes. He has stayed over a couple of times as well as he isn’t based in Linkon like you are and you never say no when he asks. Rather, find yourself liking his company a bit too much to tell him.

You aren’t dating per se; it’s something a little bit more than that, you’d assume, given by what you two have done already. However, the conversation just never came up for it, and you had never thought that you needed it yet. You are alright to take your time with him.

After explaining your situation to him, Sylus immediately told you that he would get on that flight with you. He had some business that wasn’t urgent yet, but he was meaning to attend anyway. You told him that if it’s not a bother, you’d like to take him up on that offer as you know you would have otherwise been in big trouble. Sylus tells you that it’s not an issue at all and makes sure to reserve the seat exactly next to yours.

So now, here you two were. 

Because Sylus was coming with you, you decided to stay at a nearby hotel instead, sharing a suit with him there for the days he was free but visit Tara and her family for an early Christmas celebration from the 21st to 24th where Sylus would be away for business. And on the 26th you would fly back with him to Linkon whereas Tara is set to stay for another week until the new years. 

You haven’t fully told her about Sylus yet, only explained that you would be ‘visiting a friend’ on the remaining days you would be there, just because you weren’t sure how she would react to him. It’s not that he was your boyfriend after all, but given the nature of your relationship and the way too luxurious hotel chain you were going to stay at, there’s no doubt Tara would assume him to be some kind of.. sugar daddy or something. And you definitely aren’t ready to have that conversation with your best friend yet.

Once the gates are open, Sylus and you board the plane. Your heart is racing, the little breathing exercises you are working through only help so little but are definitely not enough once the stewardesses start with their pre-flight security announcements and you feel like you want to throw up again. 

“Breathe with me.”, Sylus’ calm voice clears up the fog in your head as he goes to hold your hand, a little squeeze announcing his presence as you follow him along. “You are going to be fine. I’m here with you. I’m not going anywhere.”

You focus on taking a deep breath, the air flowing all the way to the back of your throat and then you pause - count to three - slowly exhaling, making sure to keep it stable and not as shaky with each repetition.

Sylus is breathing with you, squeezing your hand every time you exhale, adding a ‘good’ or ‘that’s right’ each time to encourage you to calm down. 

And by the time the plane has stabilized in the air, you think you can finally think clearly again.

His eyes never stray, his hand doesn’t let yours go and as the two hours go by almost in a flash, you can’t believe how much easier it has gotten, having him by your side. You’re pretty sure you managed to take a quick nap somehow.

-

“I’ll see you on the 25th then”, he murmurs, but his hands haven’t let you go yet. “I’m picking you up from Tara’s, I made a reservation for six.”

“Sounds lovely. I’m looking forward to it.” You give him one last, big squeeze, making him laugh, “So are you going to let me go now, or..?”

He huffs, pressing a faint kiss on your forehead, his deep red eyes staring at you and mustering your face, “Sure, if you want to leave that desperately.”

You pout and he smirks. 

“I’m joking. But come back quickly. I can’t stand to be away from you for such a long time.”