Kala was far from perfect; in fact, he could be downright irritating when one of his so-called “perfect” plans turned out to be anything but. At midnight, he had suddenly knocked on her door and called her repeatedly, waking her from a deep sleep—all because he’d realized he’d forgotten to book his fiancée’s return ticket, despite Risa being perfectly content with KLM’s Economy Class, which was comfortable enough for a long-haul journey.
Risa had calmed him down with a hug and a kiss before sending him back to his own room to get some sleep before his duty. She truly didn't mind skipping World Business Class; she’d experienced it a few times anyway just to satisfy her curiosity. The price? Of course, Kala had internal connections that could get prices far below the usual commercial rates.
“What was I reading again?” Risa murmured, scrolling through the titles on her Kindle.
She had just finished a heavy meal and knew it wasn't good to sleep immediately, so she wanted to read for a bit until drowsiness took over. Her reading habit had intensified since she’d decided to distance herself from Ardo and social media—largely because Instagram and YouTube were the natural habitat of that so-called “nature influencer.” Risa nearly choked on the word; calling him “nature-focused” felt incredibly hypocritical. She shook her head with a faint smile, trying to focus on her book.
Ding-dong!
Her eyes snapped open; this time, the announcement was bound to be from Kala himself. Fifteen minutes after takeoff, it had been Sven who spoke—the handsome Senior First Officer who, unfortunately, wasn't Risa’s type. His Dutch sounded ruggedly masculine, the kind that could make a woman’s head spin with confusion and a flutter in her heart. Now, three hours into the flight, Risa’s heart felt like it was being pounded by a stone as she waited.
“Goedenavond, dames en heren. Dit is uw gezagvoerder...”
The words were spoken in Dutch, deeper and more composed than when he’d let slip a curse while laughing at Risa’s jokes. Although her Dutch was still at a beginner level, she could understand his opening greeting: “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. This is your captain speaking.” The rest was a blur of sounds she couldn't quite catch. Unlike Sven, who sounded like a cheerful, friendly man you'd want to grab a drink with, Kala’s voice in Dutch had a way of leaving a woman slightly dizzy.
Risa unconsciously bit her lower lip, bracing herself for the English version. Her eyes widened with anticipation, her mouth went dry, and she had to swallow hard against the nerves. There was a silence for a few seconds—a heavy, lingering pause—before he switched languages for the international passengers. Her heart thundered erratically when she heard the soft sound of Kala’s breath over the intercom right after finishing the Dutch segment.
"Ladies and gentlemen, from the flight deck, this is Captain Dirk speaking. I hope you are enjoying your flight with us tonight. We are currently cruising at an altitude of thirty-seven thousand feet with a ground speed of about five hundred and sixty miles per hour. We have just passed over the city of Bucharest and will be heading towards the Caspian Sea.”
Risa suppressed a smile, fighting the urge to shout that the captain of this flight was her fiancé. While Sven’s English carried a noticeable Dutch accent, Kala’s pronunciation sounded like a native American. Risa had long realized that Kala preferred America over any other country; he’d looked entirely in his element during their trip to New York with Dea.
“The weather in Jakarta is reported to be partly cloudy with a temperature of twenty-nine degrees Celsius. And today is a very special flight for me. I’d like to share a little joy with everyone in this cabin; I have just received the most important ‘yes’ of my life. My fiancée is on board with us tonight... so, don’t be afraid, Liefje, I won't tell them where you’re sitting... just get back to your book. I intend to fly this aircraft as flawlessly as I can for you.”
Risa froze in her seat, staring blankly for a few seconds. Everyone in the cabin began glancing left and right, searching for the captain's fiancée who might be reading a book. Fortunately, Risa was using an e-reader, which most would mistake for a regular tablet. But because Kala had been mischievous enough to announce his successful proposal to the entire cabin, the atmosphere immediately erupted into applause and whistles.
Good God, Risa was going to pull him by the collar the moment they reached the airport. Her first day in Amsterdam had been a shock thanks to the four stripes on his uniform, followed by a proposal with a primrose ring in Dublin’s Phoenix Park. And now this? Kala had managed to make her face turn beet-red at 37,000 feet, forcing her to pretend she wasn't the woman he was talking about.
“We expect to arrive at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on schedule. Until then, please sit back, relax, and enjoy the rest of our Dutch hospitality. Thank you for flying KLM.”
Kala ended his announcement, and Risa could practically visualize the wide grin on his face. Sven was probably beside him, teasing him while they both laughed in the cockpit. Meanwhile, Risa sat bolt upright, looking like someone who had been forcibly enrolled in an etiquette school and taught exactly how to sit properly at a royal dinner.
The intercom cut off with a sharp click, but Risa’s ears were still ringing from the shock. Around her, the once-quiet Economy cabin had come to life. The flight attendants passing through the aisle wore wide smiles, as if they’d been in on the secret since the morning briefing. Risa tried to avoid the knowing, playful looks from the cabin crew who clearly knew exactly where Captain Dirk’s fiancée was sitting.
She tried to look back at her Kindle, treating it as a lifesaver in her current predicament. However, the words on the screen were a blur, seemingly mocking her blushing state. She closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath of the dry cabin air. The vibration of the engines humming through the soles of her feet felt different now, leaving her with no choice but to keep up the charade of ignorance.
Kala Dirk was truly infuriating; he knew exactly how to play with fire while Risa wasn't there to grab him by the hair. His antics had left her cheeks aching from the effort of suppressing a foolish smile, even without him being present.
Risa eventually leaned her head against the cold window, staring out into the total darkness. In the cockpit just ahead, her lover was at work—likely laughing wickedly in the left-hand seat because he’d successfully pranked his fiancée.
Risa pulled out the necklace she had been wearing since the beginning. Beneath the blanket, she freely stroked the primrose petals on the white-gold ring—a quiet mark of Kala’s claim on her.
“So annoying,” she whispered to herself, her lips curving into a smile.
THE END