Michael didn't move for a long time.
The glass wall in front of him reflected a version of himself he barely recognized—still, quiet, but completely shaken.
The plane was gone.
Not delayed.
Not boarding.
Gone.
A slow breath left his lips, but it didn't calm anything.
"I was right here…" he muttered under his breath, like saying it out loud might reverse time.
Around him, the airport continued as if nothing had happened. Announcements echoed. People rushed past. Laughter, arguments, footsteps—all blending into noise that felt distant.
Irrelevant.
Michael finally looked down at his phone.
Lucas.
He dialed again.
Still nothing.
"Of course…" he whispered.
Flight mode.
He closed his eyes briefly, pressing his fingers against his forehead.
Think.
That's what he always did.
Think first. Feel later.
But this time… feeling came anyway.
He tried again.
Message.
Where are you?
One tick.
Another message.
I'm at the gate.
One tick.
His jaw tightened slightly.
For the first time in a long time, Michael didn't have control over a situation—and he hated it.
Somewhere above the clouds, Lucas was smiling.
He leaned back in his seat, stretching his legs comfortably, glancing at his phone.
Missed calls.
From Michael.
He chuckled softly.
"Drama king," he muttered under his breath.
He typed quickly:
Relax. I made it. Don't tell me you're already missing me this much.
He hit send.
Then added another:
I'll text you when I land.
He locked his phone, completely at ease.
To him—
Everything was going exactly as planned.
Back at the airport, Michael stared at the message when it finally delivered.
His chest tightened.
I made it.
He swallowed slowly.
Lucas thought he was on his own flight.
Thought everything was fine.
Michael sat down heavily on the nearest empty chair.
For a moment, he considered it.
Saying nothing.
Just… fixing it quietly.
Getting the next flight.
Pretending nothing happened.
But his mind didn't let him rest.
What if there is no next flight today?
What if the scholarship has conditions?
What if this… affects everything?
His grip tightened around his phone.
This wasn't just about missing a plane.
This was about his future.
Everything he had worked for.
He stood up abruptly and walked toward the airline desk.
"Next available flight?" the attendant repeated, typing quickly.
Michael nodded, trying to remain calm.
"Yes. Same destination."
The woman's expression shifted slightly as she read the screen.
Then she looked up.
"I'm sorry, sir."
Michael's stomach dropped.
"The next available seat is in three days."
Silence.
"Three… days?" he repeated slowly.
She nodded apologetically.
"And due to the nature of your ticket, there may be additional charges."
Michael didn't even hear the last part properly.
Three days.
Three days late.
His mind raced.
Orientation.
Registration.
Deadlines.
What if—
"Is there anything earlier?" he asked quickly.
She shook her head.
"Not at the moment."
Michael stepped away slowly.
Everything felt heavier now.
Real.
This wasn't something he could fix in a few hours.
This was damage.
Hours later, Lucas stepped out of the airport in China stretching his arms like he had just stepped into a movie.
"Okay… this is nice," he said to himself, smiling.
He pulled out his phone.
No new messages.
He frowned slightly.
"That's… unusual."
Michael wasn't the type to go quiet.
Not like this.
He typed again:
I've landed. You better not be ignoring me already.
He waited.
Nothing.
A small pause.
Then he shook it off.
"Probably busy being serious somewhere," he said lightly.
But something in his chest shifted.
Just a little.
Back in Nigeria, Michael sat alone in a quiet corner of the airport.
His phone rested in his hand.
Screen on.
Chat open.
Lucas' messages stared back at him.
Relax. I made it.
Michael let out a slow breath.
They couldn't talk freely.
Not really.
Not openly.
Not like normal couples.
Everything had always been careful.
Hidden.
Measured.
And now—
That same secrecy felt like a wall.
Michael started typing.
Lucas, I—
He stopped.
Deleted it.
Started again.
Something happened—
Deleted.
His jaw tightened.
Why was this so hard?
It was simple.
Just say it.
Meanwhile, across the world, Lucas sat on his new bed, staring at his phone.
Now the silence didn't feel normal anymore.
It felt wrong.
He called.
The phone rang.
And rang.
And rang.
No answer.
Lucas sat up straighter.
"Okay… that's not funny anymore."
Back at the airport, Michael closed his eyes briefly.
Then typed.
No overthinking.
No editing.
Just truth.
Lucas… I didn't make the flight.
He stared at the message.
Then hit send.
One tick.
Two ticks.
Delivered.
Michael's heart pounded slowly now.
Not fast.
Heavy.
Like each beat carried weight.
Across the world—
Lucas' phone lit up.
He picked it up instantly.
Read the message.
His expression didn't change at first
Then—
"…what?"
He read it again.
And again.
The smile on his face disappeared completely.
Michael's screen lit up suddenly.
Lucas was typing.
Typing…
Stopped.
Typing again…
Stopped.
Then finally—
A message came in.
What do you mean you didn't make it?
Michael exhaled slightly, about to reply—
When another message came in immediately.
This one shorter.
Colder.
Michael… were you even coming?
And just like that—
For the first time since they chose each other—
doubt entered the relationship.