The air at Changi Airport buzzed with the electric hum of anticipation, a mosaic of hurried footsteps and rolling suitcases echoing through the cavernous terminal. Jun stood near the check-in counter for their flight to Hong Kong, his backpack slung carelessly over one shoulder, trying to look casual while his eyes darted between his two travel companions. Nicole, his longtime friend and perpetual tormentor, was animatedly scrolling through her phone, her laughter cutting through the din like a sharp bell. Beside her stood Angeline, Nicole’s mother, a woman whose very presence seemed to command the space around her. At forty-two, Angeline was a vision of poised authority, her fitted travel outfit—a sleek black tank top and high-waisted leggings—clinging to her thick thighs and curvy backside in a way that made Jun’s throat go dry. But her stern expression, lips pressed into a thin line as she reviewed their boarding passes, was a fortress wall he dared not scale.
“Oi, Jun, stop staring into space like some lost puppy,” Nicole’s voice sliced through his thoughts, her tone dripping with playful malice. She sidled up to him, her elbow nudging his ribs. “Or are those pervy puppy eyes locked on something—or someone—specific?” She tilted her head toward Angeline, who remained blissfully oblivious, her focus on the luggage tags as if they held the secrets of the universe.
Jun’s face heated, and he rubbed the back of his neck, fumbling for a defense. “What? No, I’m just… checking the departure board. Making sure we’re on time.”
Nicole snorted, her dark eyes glinting with mischief. “Sure, lah. Checking the board. Not checking out my mum’s… assets. You’re about as subtle as a sledgehammer, you know that?”
“Shut up, Nic,” he muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets, though his gaze betrayed him, flickering back to Angeline as she bent slightly to adjust a strap on her suitcase. The way the fabric stretched over her curves was a silent siren call, and he hated himself for noticing.
At the boarding gate, Jun maneuvered himself with the precision of a chess player, lingering just behind Angeline as she stooped to rearrange her carry-on. The view was… distracting, to say the least. Her leggings left little to the imagination, and he felt a pang of guilt even as his pulse quickened. He forced himself to look away, only to catch Nicole’s knowing smirk from a few paces ahead. She wagged a finger at him, mouthing, “Caught you,” before turning back with a dramatic eye-roll.
The universe, it seemed, had a cruel sense of humor. A mix-up with Nicole’s seat assignment on the plane landed Jun right next to Angeline, while Nicole was relegated a few rows ahead. As he settled into the narrow seat, the proximity to Angeline felt like both a gift and a curse. Her perfume—a subtle blend of jasmine and something earthier—filled the space between them, and he shifted uncomfortably, hyper-aware of every inch separating them. Or rather, the lack thereof.
Angeline turned to him, her sharp gaze pinning him in place before he could even think of a greeting. “Listen up, Jun,” she began, her voice low and commanding, each word a deliberate strike. “This trip is for relaxation, not for you to act like some scatterbrained boy who can’t keep his head on straight. I expect you to behave. No nonsense, understand?”
Jun blinked, his tongue suddenly leaden. “Y-Yes, Mdm Angeline. I mean, of course. No nonsense. Got it.”
She arched a perfectly shaped brow, her lips curling into a faint, unimpressed smirk. “Good. I’m not here to babysit you. Keep up, or I’ll leave you behind in Hong Kong to fend for yourself.”
He nodded dumbly, the heat of her authority washing over him like a tidal wave. Before he could muster a witty comeback, the plane hit a patch of turbulence, jostling them in their seats. Angeline’s thigh brushed against his, a fleeting but electric contact that sent a jolt through his system. She didn’t seem to notice, her attention buried in a glossy travel magazine, but Jun felt the warmth linger, his mind racing with thoughts he knew he shouldn’t entertain.
From a few rows ahead, Nicole twisted in her seat, her grin wicked as she caught his flustered expression. “Oi, don’t drool on my mum, you creep!” she called out in a loud whisper, drawing a few curious glances from nearby passengers. Jun sank lower in his seat, wishing he could disappear into the upholstery.
Trying to salvage some semblance of dignity, he cleared his throat and attempted small talk. “So, uh, Mdm Angeline, have you been to Hong Kong before?”
She didn’t look up from her magazine, her tone clipped. “Yes. Many times. Business trips.”
“Oh, cool. Any favorite spots?”
“Dim sum places. Not that you’d appreciate them. You look like you survive on instant noodles.” Her eyes flicked to him briefly, a glint of dry humor in them before she returned to her reading.
Jun chuckled nervously, unsure if that was a jab or a jest. “Hey, I can appreciate good food. Maybe you can show me a spot or two?”
“We’ll see,” she replied curtly, shutting down the conversation with the finality of a gavel. Her unapproachable demeanor only fueled his curiosity, a forbidden fruit dangling just out of reach.
Mid-flight, as the cabin lights dimmed, Angeline’s head tilted slightly toward him, her breathing evening out as sleep claimed her. Jun couldn’t help himself—his eyes traced the delicate line of her jaw, the curve of her neckline where her tank top dipped just enough to hint at what lay beneath. Up close, she was even more striking, her sternness softened by the vulnerability of slumber. His chest tightened with a mix of guilt and desire, Nicole’s teasing words echoing in his mind. She’s my best friend’s mum, for God’s sake. Get a grip, Jun.
As if on cue, a balled-up napkin sailed through the air, smacking him square on the forehead. Nicole’s face popped up over the seatback, her grin pure evil as she mouthed, “You’re hopeless!” before ducking back down with a stifled giggle.
Jun rubbed his forehead, muttering under his breath, but his gaze inevitably drifted back to Angeline. That was, until the plane began its descent, and she stirred awake, her dark eyes snapping open to catch him mid-stare. Her brow furrowed, and her voice cut through the hum of the engines like a blade. “Focus on the landing, not on me, lah! What’s wrong with you?”
“I-I’m sorry, Mdm Angeline, I was just—” he stammered, his face burning hotter than the Singapore sun.
She huffed, crossing her arms and turning away, her posture radiating disapproval. “Save it. Just don’t make this trip more awkward than it needs to be.”
Intimidated and intrigued in equal measure, Jun nodded, his mind already spinning with ways to crack through her icy exterior. As the trio disembarked in Hong Kong, the humid air of the city wrapping around them, he lagged a step behind, watching Angeline’s confident stride. Nicole shot him a sidelong glance, her smirk promising endless ribbing, but Jun barely noticed. His thoughts were elsewhere—on the forbidden allure of Angeline, and the dangerous game he was already itching to play.
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