Falling at 30,000 feets

From the far end of the tarmac, Jayden and Michael walked side by side, their pace unhurried-but their attention sharp as they scanned the surrounding activity. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the concrete, and the distant roar of engines filled the air as planes taxied toward runways.

Michael's gaze shifted first, his steps slowing slightly as he spotted movement near the crew building.

"...Look," he muttered, tilting his head slightly toward the scene ahead. "That's Norman-he's talking to Jane."

Jayden followed his line of sight, his jaw tightening the moment he saw them. Ahead, Norman was bowing repeatedly, his shoulders hunched, his posture desperate and almost pitiful. Jane stood before him, her back straight, her arms crossed over her chest-composed but clearly engaged in the conversation, her expression serious and focused.

Jayden's eyes narrowed as he took in the scene, his fingers flexing at his sides. He watched closely-every movement, every shift in posture, every flicker of emotion across Jane's face. She held her ground, her feet planted firmly apart, her gaze steady as she listened to whatever Norman was saying.

Jane wasn't in danger.

She wasn't being cornered.

She was in control.

Only then did Jayden exhale quietly, the tension in his shoulders easing just slightly.

"Go handle that," he said under his breath, his voice low and urgent. "I can't risk exposure right now-"

Michael turned to him, incredulous. "Then why don't you do it yourself? She deserves to know the truth-"

Jayden shook his head, his gaze never leaving Jane. "She can't see me here again. She was already uneasy about me visiting you earlier-"

Michael stared at him, biting back a sharp complaint as he looked from Jayden's tense face to where Jane stood. He knew his friend well enough to understand that this wasn't about cowardice-it was about protecting Jane from more drama, more lies, at least until he could find the right way to tell her everything.

"...You-" he began, then sighed heavily. "Fine. But you owe me big time for this."

Before he could finish, Jayden shoved his shoulder lightly, pushing him forward with a small, grateful nod. "I know. Now go-before he says something he shouldn't."

"Damn you," Michael muttered under his breath, straightening his jacket and adjusting his tie as he walked toward them, making sure his movements looked casual-as if he had just happened to be passing by.

"What do you mean-Captain Blackwood's wife?" Jane asked, her brows drawn together in confusion as she looked down at Norman. "Explain it clearly. I don't know what you're talking about."

"Hey-what's going on here?"

Michael's voice cut in smoothly as he approached, his tone friendly but carrying an undercurrent of authority. He slid easily between Jane and Norman, putting himself between them as if by accident.

Norman turned instantly, his expression shifting from desperation to fear the moment he recognized Michael. His face paled even further, and he took a small step back.

"Norman Badwell," Michael called out, his tone turning sharp as he pulled out his phone and scrolled through something on the screen. "Who would've thought you've harassed over twenty female colleagues over the years? Flight attendants, ground crew, even new pilot trainees-all too scared to speak up because you threatened their careers."

Jane's eyes widened, her mouth slightly open in shock.

"...Twenty?" she repeated, her voice quiet but filled with anger. She looked from Michael's serious face to Norman's crumpled posture, disbelief warring with fury.

"Did you think Aurelia was your personal harem?" Michael continued coldly, his gaze fixed on Norman. "That you could touch and threaten whoever you wanted because you had family connections in the company?"

Jane shook her head in disbelief, anger flashing across her face as " i should've hit you harder"

Michael flicked her a brief side glance, his expression softening just for a moment before he returned to his composed, authoritative demeanor. "I've already contacted HR and legal," he said to her. "They're compiling all the reports now-he'll never work in aviation again, anywhere in the country."

Jane hesitated for a moment, her thoughts still tangled as she looked at Norman-

Twenty victims...

Captain Blackwood's wife...

...Must be a mistake, she murmured inwardly, pushing the thought away. Jayden was unemployed-he'd told her so himself.

"...Alright," she said finally, nodding to Michael. "Thank you for handling this. I'll leave it in your hands."

She cast one last sharp look at Norman-her eyes cold and unforgiving-before turning and walking away, her steps steady despite the whirlwind of thoughts in her head.

Norman remained kneeling on the rough tarmac, trembling as he watched Jane disappear toward the crew building. Slowly, he looked up at Michael, his face streaked with tears and dirt.

But Michael said nothing. He simply looked down at him, his expression unreadable-neither angry nor sympathetic, simply observing.

Then-

A presence moved behind him. Quiet, deliberate steps that barely made a sound on the concrete.

By the time Norman sensed it, it was too late.

Jayden stepped forward and grabbed Norman by the collar, yanking him up with sudden force. The fabric of his shirt strained under Jayden's grip, and Norman gasped, his eyes widening in terror as he met Jayden's gaze.

There was no warmth there. No mercy. Only cold, focused fury that made Norman's blood run cold.

"If I ever see you near Aurelia again," Jayden said, his voice low and deadly, each word enunciated clearly, "or anywhere near her-at the airport, in the city, even on the same street-"

His grip tightened, making Norman choke slightly.

"Losing your job will be the least of your worries. I'll make sure you never work in any industry again. I'll make sure your name is blacklisted everywhere. Do you understand me?"

Norman's lips trembled, his eyes wide with pure fear as recognition finally dawned on his face. "Y-you're-Captain Blackwood...?"

Jayden didn't answer. He just stared at him for a long moment, letting the weight of his words sink in.

Then he shoved him back hard.

"Get lost."

Norman stumbled backward, barely catching himself against a nearby equipment cart.

Norman scrambled away in panic, his shoes slipping on the smooth concrete as he nearly tripped over his own feet. He didn't look back once as he fled around the corner of the maintenance hangar, disappearing from sight in seconds.

Michael watched him go, then folded his arms across his chest with a satisfied grin. "Now that's the Jayden I know," he said, nodding approvingly. "Strict. Fair. Cold as an iceberg." He demonstrated with his fingers, sketching an imaginary block of ice in the air with exaggerated movements.

Jayden rolled his eyes, exhaling slowly as the last of the anger he'd been holding in dissipated. He ran a hand through his hair, pushing it back from his forehead as he glanced toward the crew building-hoping Jane hadn't noticed him.

"The one in front of Jane..." Michael continued, shaking his head dramatically as he mimicked a soft, gentle expression. "That version of you? Embarrassing. Like watching a lion pretend to be a house cat."

Jayden glanced at his wristwatch-gold and sleek, a stark contrast to the "unemployed" persona he'd been maintaining. "Five minutes left until your meeting with the operations team," he said calmly, though his eyes glinted with mischief. "You're going to be late. I'll report it honestly-and dock your performance score. Maybe even recommend you for retraining."

He shot Michael a look that balanced perfectly between serious and teasing, making Michael's eyes widen in mock horror.

"Oh no, Jayden... you're really burning bridges now?" Michael protested, clutching his chest dramatically. "After I've covered for you so many times?"

"Let me help you, Mr. Torres-"

A voice cut in sharply, making both men freeze.

Jane appeared from behind Michael, gripping a thick wooden stick she'd grabbed from a nearby equipment rack-clearly ready to strike, assuming he was still dealing with Norman. Her hair was slightly windswept, her uniform jacket unbuttoned, her expression fierce and protective.

She raised the stick high-

-and froze mid-motion.

Her eyes landed on Jayden, standing just a few feet away. The stick slowly lowered, her grip loosening as confusion washed over her face.

"...Jayden?" she said, her voice quiet and confused. Her gaze moved between the two men-from Jayden's calm but slightly tense face to Michael's wide-eyed expression. "What are you doing here?"

Jayden stiffened. For once in his life, he had no immediate answer ready. His mind raced through a dozen possible lies, but none of them felt convincing enough. His eyes darted briefly, avoiding hers-

Then suddenly, he turned and smacked Michael's arm hard enough to make him yelp.

"Ow! What the-"

"He asked me to come find him," Jayden said quickly, his voice carrying just enough to sound concerned.

Michael stared at him in disbelief, rubbing his arm as he looked from Jayden's urgent face to Jane's questioning eyes. He could see the silent plea in Jayden's gaze-and knew he had no choice but to play along.

"...Fine," Michael said through clenched teeth, forcing a smile as he turned to Jane. "I... uh... was too scared to go to work alone."

"So I asked him to come get me," Michael continued weakly, scrambling for a better excuse. "Walk with me to my office-you know, for moral support"

Jane blinked, her confusion deepening as she looked between them. "Huh? You're scared?"

Jayden squeezed his shoulder subtly-a silent warning to make it more convincing.

"Actually-" Michael corrected himself quickly, wincing as Jayden's grip tightened. "He came here to apply for a security job. Asked me to help him with the application process."

This time, Jayden turned to him in genuine shock-he'd never mentioned anything about a security job. But he quickly masked it, nodding along as if this had been the plan all along.

Jane crossed her arms, giving Jayden a long, knowing look that made his stomach twist with guilt.

"Oh... really?" she said, her voice light but her eyes sharp as she studied him.

Jayden swallowed hard, forcing a smile that felt more like a grimace. "...That's right. But opportunities are scarce right now. Thought I'd keep busy-maybe learn some new skills."

A few minutes later-

Michael stood with his phone held up like a professional camera, taking "professional" photos of Jayden for his supposed job application. He'd positioned him in front of a plain wall near the security office, adjusting his posture with exaggerated care.

"Stand up straight-no, straighter," Michael instructed, squinting at the screen. "Look serious. Like you mean business."

Jayden stood stiffly, his shoulders squared, his expression flat and unamused. He looked like a statue of a security guard-polite but completely lifeless.

Jane lingered nearby, watching with a small smile playing at her lips. She could tell Jayden was uncomfortable, but she appreciated that he was trying to find work-.

She stepped closer, her hands clasped in front of her. "Mr. Torres," she began, a bit hesitant as she addressed Michael. "About what happened last time...I'm sorry. I misunderstood you. I thought you were part of the problem, but it seems like you've been trying to help all along."

Michael didn't look up, still focused on editing the photos to make them look more "professional." "It's fine," he said casually, though his tone was warmer now. "Think of it as clearing the air. Misunderstandings happen-"

He glanced at Jayden out of the corner of his eye, making Jayden shift uncomfortably.

"And," he added, glancing at her with exaggerated seriousness, "I should be thanking you. If not for this whole job stuff, I'd never get to see Jayden like this."

Jayden shot him a warning look, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Ah-" Jane reacted, slightly confused as she looked from Michael to Jayden.

Michael quickly waved it off, tapping his phone screen. "What I mean is... you know how stubborn he is. He'd rather suffer in silence than let his best friend help. You've given him a reason to reach out-"

Jane turned to Jayden, her expression softening with understanding. She reached out and squeezed his arm lightly.

Michael sniffed dramatically, dabbing at his eyes with his sleeve. "I really feel for him."

Then he turned back to Jane, his expression brightening. "So thank you-for convincing him to take the job. it'll be good for him to stay busy."

"It's nothing," Jane said sincerely, her eyes warm as she looked at Jayden. "Next time you need anything-just come to me directly. I'll do what I can."

"Deal," Michael replied, patting her shoulder lightly. "I won't be polite about it either-you'll be hearing from me often."

He then turned to Jayden, tossing him a set of car keys"Hey, Jayden-remember to park the car properly later. No double-parking near the terminals, okay? Security has been cracking down."

Jayden caught the keys, stunned... But he quickly masked his surprise, nodding respectfully.

"...Got it, Mr. Torres," he said, bowing slightly-playing the part of a humble security perfectly.

Michael bit his lip, barely holding in his laughter as he turned and walked off, calling over his shoulder,

Jayden watched him leave, his eyes narrowing slightly as he muttered under his breath.

Just you wait... I'll make you pay for this.

Michael walked down the tarmac, still chuckling to himself as he scrolled through the photos he had just taken of Jayden. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the concrete, and the smell of jet fuel mixed with fresh cut grass from the nearby median.

"Jayden really fell for Jane this time," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head in equal parts disbelief and amusement. "To please her, he's really going all out... pretending to be some unemployed guy looking for security work. If the board ever found out, they'd have a heart attack."

He paused mid-step, staring at one particular photo on his screen-Jayden standing stiffly against the wall, his expression forced into something resembling professionalism, dressed in a plain gray shirt and jeans he'd clearly dug out just for the occasion.

Michael burst out laughing again, leaning against a nearby equipment cart to steady himself. "The mighty chief pilot reduced to this... unbelievable. Next thing you know, he'll be asking me to teach him how to use a metal detector."

Just then, his phone buzzed with a notification-an email from the scheduling department.

He stopped walking immediately.

His smile faded.

"Oh no..." he whispered, already sensing danger as he saw the subject line: FINAL SCHEDULE - MICHAEL TORRES. "Jayden's too stingy for this..."

An air hostess-Maria, one he'd known for years-approached him, her hands clasped in front of her as she carried a thick manila folder.

"Mr. Torres," she said politely, her smile slightly strained as she handed him the file. "This is your schedule for the month. The chief flight officer asked me to confirm it with you personally-said to make sure you received it today."

"Hmm... okay," Michael replied, slipping his phone into his pocket as he took the file. He flipped it open casually, expecting to see his usual mix of day shifts and occasional overnights.

Then paused.

Then frowned.

Then flipped through the pages faster, his eyes scanning the dates and flight routes.

"...Wait."

His brows furrowed deeply, his jaw tightening as he checked again-then again, as if hoping he'd misread.

Every single day-fully booked, no days off scheduled.

Every single slot-assigned to long-haul routes.

And worse...

"All overnight flights?" he exclaimed, looking up sharply as he stared at the list: Tokyo, Dubai, London-all red-eye departures and early morning arrivals. "Am I being treated like a slave? Did I accidentally sign up for a punishment detail?"

He turned to Maria, confusion written all over his face. "Did they mix up my schedule with someone else's? I've never worked this many overnights in a row."

She gave him a tight, slightly nervous smile, quickly taking the file back from his hands as if afraid he'd tear it in frustration.

"The chief flight officer said," she began carefully, choosing her words with care, "the more capable an officer is... the more work they can handle. He mentioned that you've been performing exceptionally well lately, and that these routes need someone with your experience."

She gave a small, quick nod.

"He believes you can handle it. Good luck, Mr. Torres."

And before he could respond-before he could even ask who had approved this-

She hurried off, her steps quick and determined.

Michael stood there, stunned, watching her disappear around the corner.

"...What does that even mean?" he muttered, pulling out his phone again as realization hit.

Slowly.

Painfully.

His face twisted into a grimace of understanding.

"...Jayden."

He immediately pulled out his phone and began recording a voice note, holding it up to his mouth with dramatic urgency.

"Jayden... I was wrong," he said, his voice thick with fake remorse. "I'll never laugh at you again-never call you a lovesick puppy ever again. Give me one more chance. I'll behave. I'll be a melancholic boy-quiet, respectful, no more jokes."

He hit send.

The message failed to deliver-MESSAGE NOT SENT - RECIPIENT UNAVAILABLE.

Michael stared at the screen, his jaw dropping in disbelief.

"...You've got to be kidding me."

"Fuck!"

He stomped his foot in frustration, making a nearby ground crew member glance over in surprise.

Meanwhile, at the cafeteria...

Jane and Jayden sat opposite each other at a corner table, eating quietly. The cafeteria was nearly empty-most staff had already headed home or to their flights. Jane picked at her salad while scrolling through her phone absentmindedly, occasionally taking a bite of bread.

Then suddenly, her face lit up.

"Wow... look at this!"

She lifted her phone excitedly toward Jayden, the screen displaying her monthly schedule in bright colors.

"My schedule for this month is amazing! All day shifts!" she said, smiling brightly as she pointed to the screen. "Early morning departures, late afternoon arrivals-no overnights at all! Other colleagues have mixed day and night rotations... some are even doing back-to-back red-eyes. I don't even know why mine is this good."

Jayden glanced at the screen briefly-he'd personally approved the schedule himself-then returned calmly to his plate of grilled chicken and vegetables.

"Don't worry," he said smoothly, cutting his chicken into neat pieces. "It's a benefit given to newly married employees. Everyone gets it for the first six months-helps them adjust to married life while keeping up with work."

Jane's eyes widened slightly, her fork pausing halfway to her mouth.

"Really? I didn't know that! Why didn't anyone tell me?"

Her smile grew even wider, lighting up her face as she set her phone down.

"That's great..." she said softly, her voice warm with pleasure. "That means I can go home for dinner every night now. I've missed having proper meals together."

She paused, her cheeks flushing slightly as she added, "...Although the cafeteria has improved a lot lately-it still can't compare to home-cooked meals."

The moment the words left her mouth-

She froze.

Her brain caught up instantly, and she felt heat rise to her ears.

I just said that out loud.

I just admitted I like his cooking. And that I want to eat with him every night.

Her ears turned slightly red as she awkwardly rubbed one of them, focusing intently on her salad as if it were the most interesting thing in the world.

Jayden looked up at her, his fork still in his hand. There was a flicker of genuine surprise in his eyes-followed by something softer, warmer, that made his expression gentler than usual.

Jane avoided his gaze completely, mentally scolding herself. Why would I say that? Will he overthink it? Will he think I'm being too forward?

A brief silence settled between them, broken only by the soft clink of silverware against plates.

Then-

Jayden smiled.

Not his usual composed, polite smile. This one was slower, more genuine-reaching his eyes and making them crinkle slightly at the corners.

"That's right," he said quietly, his voice low and warm. "It's our home."

Jane looked up at him, startled for a second-then forced a small, shy smile that made her eyes sparkle.

"...Yeah. That sounds nice."

They both returned to their food, but the air between them had shifted. Subtly. Warmly. Like a window opening to let in fresh air after a long winter.

Later that night...

Jane sat on the edge of her bed, going through her flight plan for the next day-checking weather patterns, passenger loads, and crew assignments. The bedside lamp cast a warm glow across the room, and her hair was loose around her shoulders, tied back with a simple hair tie.

Her eyes grew heavy as she read through the same paragraph for the third time. She yawned, closing the file and setting it aside on her nightstand with a soft thud.

"Finally..."

She stretched slightly, her arms overhead, before pulling back the covers and preparing to lie down-

Knock. Knock.

The sound was soft but clear, making her pause mid-movement.

"Come in," she said, sitting up straight as she adjusted her pajamas-simple cotton shorts and a t-shirt.

The door opened slowly, and Jayden stepped in.

He was wearing sweatpants and a plain white t-shirt, and he was holding a pillow-hugged tightly against his chest as if it were a shield. His hair was slightly messy, as if he'd been running his hands through it.

Jane blinked, staring at him in confusion.

"...What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice laced with sleepiness and bewilderment. "Is everything okay?"