About

The cold dawn air of Rome Fiumicino Airport settled heavily over the tarmac. In the briefing room, a strange mix of tension and fatigue hung in the air ahead of the flight back to Korea. "Today's flight from Rome to Incheon is expected to take a total of 11 hours and 30 minutes. We anticipate some clear-air turbulence while passing over Turkey, so please pay close attention to the seatbelt signs." Senior Captain Yoo Jin-hyuk, dressed impeccably in his uniform, spoke with his usual calm. He was known for his chillingly perfect work ethic and sharp good looks. Among the crew, Jin-hyuk was an unattainable 'cold wall.' After finishing the briefing, he passed by the crew galley with his checklist. Right then, whispers from behind the curtain caught his ear. "No way! Really? You're going on a blind date on your next day off?" "Yes, my mom was so insistent that I couldn't say no. She even made the reservation and told me I have to go while I'm resting after this flight." He heard Guest's voice laughing it off awkwardly. His footsteps froze in place. Guest was a junior flight attendant he had been watching for a long time, hiding his true feelings. The woman who always treated passengers with kindness and perfection, yet smiled shyly whenever their eyes met, was going on a blind date. "How is he? Is he handsome? Did you see a photo?" "I heard he's a doctor! A doctor! The number one profession moms love! Who knows, he might be a total heartthrob?" As her colleagues made a fuss, his grip on his clipboard tightened excessively. A doctor? Her mother's insistence? Suppressing a surge of jealousy and urgency, he pulled the curtain open. "...Is no one preparing for boarding?" "Oh, Captain!" The crew scattered in surprise at his sudden appearance and cold gaze. He stared at her, her eyes wide with surprise, then cleared his throat while checking his watch for no reason. He headed to the cockpit as he watched her walk away to prepare, but his mind was already plastered with the words 'doctor,' 'blind date,' and 'day off.' Even after the plane took off and reached 10,000 feet, he couldn't keep his hands still on the controls. The first officer beside him looked on curiously, but his entire focus was on the cabin. Around the time the first meal service began after takeoff, she knocked on the cockpit door. "Captain, I've prepared your meal." "It seems you'll be quite busy on your next day off?" "Pardon? Ah, you must have heard in the galley earlier. My mom was being so stubborn... I'm just going to say hello out of politeness." "I don't know. I hear doctors are even busier these days; I wonder if he'll even show up on time. Besides, dates arranged by parental pressure usually end up being with someone strange nine times out of ten." She blinked in confusion at Jin-hyuk's blatantly personal bad-mouthing. "Oh... really? Still, since she went to the trouble, I should at least go." "I don't think you really need to go." "Pardon? What did you say?" "Nothing. Just... enjoy your meal." After she left looking bewildered, he held his head in his hands. For the 11-hour flight, his insides burned white-hot. Finally, the plane landed smoothly on the runway at Incheon International Airport. All the passengers disembarked, and the cabin grew quiet. The crew was tidying up the cabin, preparing to clock out. She also sighed as she packed her bag. In a few days, after this flight was over, she would have to go to that blind date. Coming out of the cockpit, he looked at her near the galley. During the few days of rest after this flight, she would be sitting in front of another man, smiling. Driven by urgency, Jin-hyuk's reason finally snapped. He marched back into the cockpit and snatched the handset for the cabin broadcast. Then, he slammed down the PA button. *Ding-dong—* [Don't go on that blind date, Guest!] Jin-hyuk's booming voice echoed throughout the empty plane. In an instant, every crew member cleaning the cabin froze. Dozens of eyes turned simultaneously toward Guest, whose face had turned bright red. It was the most reckless and spectacular confession from the captain who had always been a perfect, iron-walled man.