Charles's face was calm when he dropped that bomb of a question.
Me, of course, I couldn't stay just as calm. I only tried my best to look calm.
"Can you please say that again?" I asked, still smiling.
"Do you have a boyfriend?" he repeated, calm as ever.
So my ears were still good.
But why on earth would he even ask such a thing all of a sudden?
All this time, I thought he wasn't into women.
I mean, everyone in S Country knew that Charles Kosonen, though already 38 this year, had never married. Some said he couldn't get off the fun ride of being single. Others said his standards were so high no woman could tick all his boxes.
As for me, I was into boys' love novels during my high school years, so I'd come up with some slightly different theories instead. But now that Charles had dropped the question directly onto my face like that, I couldn't possibly assume he only asked for fun.
"Yes, Mr. Kosonen," I replied. "I have a boyfriend." My boyfriend just happened to cheat on me, but I'd rather leave that shameful part out.
Charles gave no visible reaction.
For a moment, the air suddenly felt awkward.
"May I serve you a welcome drink?" I asked. "Today we have watermelon juice, lemon ju—"
"No need," he cut me off, his gaze turning back to the laptop.
My face stiffened.
I knew my fate right then and there.
Goodbye, bonuses.
With a final smile at the guy, I returned to the galley to prepare the meals.
Soon, a soft 'ding' came and the service light turned blue. I was busy with the plates, so the purser went to answer it for me.
A moment later, she hurried back and said, "Kaija, write down your phone number."
I frowned at her. "What? My number? Why?"
"Just write it down," she repeated, handing me a sticky note and a pen.
I had other tasks so I had no time to argue. Once I wrote it down, she left the galley again.
Why would my purser suddenly ask for something so trivial after answering a passenger's service call? The day only seemed to get weirder by the minute.
At least Charles Kosonen was indeed the quiet sort of VVIP. Throughout the flight, whenever I passed by his seat or checked on him through the tiny gap from the galley, his face stayed calm, his attention fixed on his laptop. When we landed, though he'd left his bags for me to put up at the beginning, he took them out himself, then left the plane just as quickly and coolly as how he'd arrived.
Now that both flights were done, I couldn't care less anymore. I had a more pressing problem called Niklas and Marja on my mind.
I arrived at Blue Dreams Café at 5:00 PM, dressed head to toe in black, face mask and sunglasses on.
Way too early, I know. But I'd been dead anxious since I left the airport. I only went home to change into this stalker outfit before heading here. Plus, I knew Marja was the kind who'd always arrive earlier than the agreed time. If they were to meet at 6, she'd show up at 5:45.
To my surprise, around 5:40 PM, Niklas walked in. He chose the table just in front of mine.
Blood drained from my face the moment I recognized him. He was always late on dates with me. And yet, he had come early for Marja.
Five minutes later, the front door opened again. The girl I'd known since kindergarten had arrived, early as ever.
"Marja, baby," Niklas called her over and gave her a kiss.
"Niklas!" Marja kissed him back. "You're sure Kaija doesn't know this place?"
"She doesn't," Niklas said. "She's working today. Still really into that lowly job."
"Aw, I feel bad for her. I know she needs the money, but pushing trolleys and serving people coffee on a plane? I don't know how she even puts up with that."
"She couldn't be as awesome as you, baby. You made it to the cover of Dazzle magazine again."
"Stop, you're making me shy again."
And of course, they kissed again.
I dug my nails tightly into the flesh of my palm, the face mask puffing as my breaths grew heavier.
Did I see this scenario coming? No.
Had there been signs? Yes.
Since I started this job, Niklas had gone cold on me.
Sex with him, which was never really that enjoyable, only became more straightforward and painful. No foreplay, no cuddling. Only getting right to the main act and excessive pounding that left me sore for days.
On top of that, we fought. A lot.
He'd already fought with me every day when I first told him I'd apply.
In S Country, this job paid four times more than any other jobs available to a 22-year-old fresh out of a Hospitality degree like mine. I'd got the height, the look, the degree they wanted. I needed the money to pay off my college debt. Everything just made sense to me.
But somehow, Niklas had found this to be, in his words, an indecent job. He said sooner or later I'd cheat on him with some old pilot if I spent all day walking around, bending and kneeling in that tight flight attendant dress.
Apparently, he'd decided to take the initiative and cheat on me first, and it seemed my supermodel friend Marja was exactly his taste.
As for why I hadn't gone straight to them to expose them and make a scene... By then, my entire body was still cold and shaking. I didn't know how I could possibly face them both in that state.
I took a few deep breaths to steady myself.
Then I pulled out my phone, and started snapping photos.
That's right, give her a kiss. Good job, baby. Now kiss him back and squeeze him. That's another great shot.
Soon, I had a hundred photos or so of Niklas and Marja kissing, laughing, cuddling and squeezing on my phone. I wondered what kind of face Niklas would make when I showed these to him.
I composed a text and hit send.
"Baby, I miss you. Let's meet tomorrow at 6 PM! Blue Dreams Café."
Of course, Niklas was too busy cuddling Marja to check the phone, so I let them be.
I saved a backup of the photos and left the café shortly after.
As I walked aimlessly, some tears fell, but I quickly wiped them away. The pain actually came more from me feeling sorry for myself — for being treated like that, after having put them first in all the major decisions I'd made — rather than from the fact that the man I loved had loved someone else.
I was about to lock the phone when someone called. It was a stranger's number. I answered it anyway. Probably some delivery guy.
"Hello?"
A cold, mature male voice came from the other end. "Is this Kaija's number?"
"Yep, who's this?"
"This is Charles Kosonen. I was on your flight today, Kaija."