Apparently, his connecting flight was going to be delayed and passengers were asked to stand by for further announcements. He wanted to swear vehemently because he knew this wasn't usual. But he was already in front of the seat he wanted for himself as he noticed a young woman seated to the left of it. She obviously was one of those passengers made to wait but at least, she seemed lost to her laptop. He glanced at his watch with some irritation - and then curiously, he just couldn't help enjoying a second glance at the lady in front of him. Hmmm, not bad to look at, he said in his mind while pleasant feelings started to creep into his being.
As Language Department Head at the German Cultural Center in Frankfurt, Fred was asked to fly to Manila. He was to coordinate with his counterpart regarding the planned changes in their language program. As it was, there were certain items that turned out to be sensitive and immediately had to be discussed face to face with him... or was it a her? He couldn't wait to know more of the other details of the matter as he had to catch his flight. But he also had to get back to Frankfurt as soon as he could. So now, he had to hope to heaven that this layover wasn't going to last forever.
He tried to settle down on his seat as quietly as he could. Good thing the seats were comfortably wide enough for him to place his own computer bag on the right side of him. He was going to take in as much as he could of his environment but first, he reached for that bar of Snickers inside the left pocket of his jacket. He felt famished. And as he looked up front to make sure that he was indeed at Gate 26, he discovered he had a couple of those bars! Kind of automatically, he turned to the lady on his left who at the precise moment turned to him and met his eyes. Care for some Snickers?, he offered.
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Linda was on her way to Frankfurt. The German Cultural Center there had requested her to please fly over to meet up with her counterpart to discuss certain sensitive items regarding certain proposed changes to their Language Program. She was told that it was he who was supposed to be in Manila to see her but he had to attend an emergency Board Meeting; thus, with much regret, she was asked to go out of her way and take the flight instead. Well, she didn't mind this at all. For personal reasons, she had already flown to Frankfurt once or twice before and she enjoyed herself a lot. She thought it was time she went there again even if only for work purposes -for a change of experience, why not!
Now, she was at this Bangkok airport, ready to enjoy an hour's layover before she boarded her connecting flight to Frankfurt. Curiously, she enjoyed airports for whatever reason. She enjoyed layovers! Well, -for as long as they didn't take hours and hours. She was to board at Gate 25 but seeing how crowded it was at the moment, she had decided to simply sit it out at Gate 26 where there were less people . She was kind of hungry, wanting to enjoy a cup of coffee, at least, but she put it off. I'll get me one later, she thought. She just wanted to take a seat and relax a while. And she opened up her computer.
She was reviewing the documents that she was to go over with this counterpart of hers at the Cultural Center when she noticed a tall man making his way towards where she was seated. He's coming for this vacant seat beside me, she realized. She also couldn't help noticing the look of exasperation on his face. But he is good-looking, she thought. She was surprised at herself. Did I think that?, she chided herself. But he was right in front of her already and her eyes promptly returned to her laptop. Moments after she deduced the guy had settled down, she couldn't help turning to look at him - and found out he was looking at her. He then offered her a bar of Snickers.... her favorite! Oh wow! For some seconds, she tried to deliberate on whether or not it was proper to accept it. But why not? So she extended her hand to receive the chocolate bar as she managed, Why, thanks!
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The moments that followed turned out to be most cordial for both Fred and Linda . It was as if they had long known each other. In between time, they got to know that he was on his way to Manila as she was to Frankfurt. Then after a few minutes into the conversation, an announcement was finally being displayed on the gate monitor: Flight LU 386 departing for Manila at 4:45 pm. That's an hour from now!, Fred said, after glancing at his watch....but I really should've been there by now! Well, my flight departs in a quarter less than an hour,....which is not so bad at all for me!, Linda countered with a smile. And as Fred gazed into her eyes, that smile - he was declaring in his mind, - that smile is taking my breath away! Momentarily, he stood up. Why don't we go have some coffee before we go on our ways, he offered his hand to Linda who took it as she got herself up from her seat. He led her to the nearby Starbucks coffee shop, each slinging his own computer bag on his shoulder.
There had been a lot to talk about over the cup of coffee: .... unrest in the Middle East...same sex marriage... social networking....cars! But to both, the talk seemed peripheral. Rather than the content of the interchange, the anticipation for the pleasure of the other's voice was the priority. The world simply seemed to have vanished, -giving in to the existence of just the coffee and the two of them! So that time simply stood still..... until the announcement from Gate 25 came breaking up the magic of the hour. Passengers for Flight LU 42 departing for Frankfurt had to board now. Slowly, Linda picked up her computer bag, turned to Fred, extending her hand for the farewell shake. It was a pleasure meeting you, she smiled her goodbye. No, no, Fred quickly rejoined, the pleasure was all mine - as he stood to take her hand with a hint of a squeeze.
As if somehow a part of his heart was being torn away, Fred watched Linda make her way towards Gate 25. Then he noticed that she stopped for a little while to answer her cell phone .....kinda looked back to his direction as if to savor a last vision of him ....but later she continued walking toward the line that was forming. After he finally lost sight of Linda, he decided in a matter of fact manner to take a last look at his computer. He wondered if there might have been any development from his office before he joined his own crowd at Gate 26.
There was indeed a message from a frantic-sounding Daniel right there on his screen. Daniel was the office staff temp who took care of personnel travel. It read: Hey Fred, sorry for this mix up but bear with me and please take in the present situation. The CEO had forgotten about my coming in as temp..... and he missed copying me his postponing the Board Emergency Meeting till you came back from the Philippines, ....which explains why I went on booking your flight to Manila....and also thus neglecting to inform you. Problem now is that the Manila office had been informed of this Board Meeting that supposedly kept you here in Frankfurt and consequently have sent your counterpart over here as requested. Apparently, she has just been informed of the communication error and her office is waiting for word from her. Meantime, we need to fix this real quick so won't you please acknowledge this message asap?
Fred couldn't immediately make out what was on his hands right then and there but he had a strange and strong speculative feeling about Linda as he stayed glued to his seat. Then he decided that Frankfurt and Manila just had to wait till there was clarity in these thoughts that now raced through his mind. Gate 26 was presently giving the announcement that Flight LU 386 departing for Manila was now ready to board its passengers. That was his connecting flight. But Fred remained in his seat. Frankfurt and Manila will have to wait, he repeated in his mind, as slowly but surely came clearly to his eyes the sight of Linda in her measured steps coming back towards the Starbucks Cafe. Taking the seat she had left and looking back at those eyes of Fred that were intently probing her own, she took in quite a deep breath. Then the next moment had them both urgently and simultaneously asking: -Were you on your way to the German Cultural-?... only to stop short in pleasant realization ...and break into a soft laughter!
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