Page 8 of Summer Haze & Tokyo Craze

God, I’m so fucking tired. I picked this flight because it would arrive in the afternoon – the perfect time to get to the hotel and just sleep off the flight, then wake up the next day free of jetlag. And that’s exactly what I’m going to do.

And not suffering from jetlag during the conference is going to feel so great, even if it makes me feel like I’ve been chewed on and thrown up right now.

Right. The conference.

I fish my phone out of my bag and message Felix. He should be getting ready for his own flight soon as well, and I want to check in with him before he boards.

Lily: Landed. Waiting for baggage right now.

Felix: Good. Hope the flight was bearable.

A grin tugs at my lips when he answers immediately. Looks like someone is bored at the airport.

Felix: If it’s any consolation, I was downgraded as well.

The grin quickly drops off my face and I grow even more irritated than I did when they announced my downgrade.

Damn. I wish I could just not keep promises at my work without consequences and just telling people to deal with it. Unreal. Before I know it, I’ve got my chat with Millie and Kayla pulled up, my fingers flying over the screen.

Lily: Guys, any chance we can get the jet for our return?

The eye-rolling gif I send along perfectly captures my annoyance and I do the same in real life, noting Adam’s amused glance. I don’t care though. This is an important matter.

Millie: When is it again?

Kayla also seems to be online, so I guess they have a break on their music video shoot. Pulling up my calendar, I confirm the date before Ilet them know.

Millie: That should be fine

Kayla: Are you and Felix going back on the same day?

Lily: I think Felix’s flight back is a day earlier than mine but I’ll check in with him once he’s landed.

Millie sends a gif of a dog saluting and I close the chat to slide my phone back into my pocket.

Wonderful. The prospect of being able to take the company private jet on our flight back manages to lift my spirits and I feel a bit more awake all of a sudden. My shoulders sag when I lift my head and don’t find a trace of my suitcase yet, even though the luggage belt is almost full now.

Adam doesn’t make a move to fetch one of the suitcases either, leaning his back against the wall and letting his eyes roam over the room and other passengers. I wordlessly join him and we wait, and wait, and wait, both trailing after our own thoughts as we watch people grab their suitcases off the belt and trudge off to customs.

“I’m going to get myself a drink,” I finally tell him and lift my back off the wall. “Would you like something as well?”

He turns his head and looks at me, raising his eyebrow before he replies: “Sure. I don’t have any cash for the vending machine, though. Didn’t manage to exchange anything before I came.”

I roll my eyes and raise my eyebrow right back.

“I expect those two dollars back with interest,” I say jokingly and shake my head at him. “My treat.”

“Thank you, Lily. If they have it, coffee would be lovely.”

I nod and head to the machine, where I get myself a cold green tea to wake up and him an iced coffee. I hand it to him as I scan the suitcases on the belt again. We are down to the last 10 people standing here, and I’m slowly but surely losing hope of seeing my dark blue suitcase turn up.

“God damn it,” I curse when the last suitcase is taken off the belt and we, along with four other passengers, remain without our luggage. “Fuck,” I mutter under my breath and fight the urge to hit my forehead against the wall. Why does everything have to go wrong today?

“Do you think they lost ours?” Adam asks, and I pinch the bridge of my nose and close my eyes for a deep breath before I reply.

“Oh wait.” He perks up as one more suitcase appears and happily struts forward to take it off the belt. Of course, his would suddenly appear out of thin air.

“Excuse me.” I turn to one of the officers patrolling the area. “Are there any other suitcases coming?”

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