(Guide Us to) A Million Stars

43

"Did you have a good time here in Vegas, Addy?"

I was sitting in my first class seat pre-takeoff on the way back to Mexico. My sister was busy rummaging through the perks of sitting in this section, the blanket, the slippers, the eye mask, the extended food menu, and the fancy electronics.

"Whoa!" Her eyes bugged out then she turned to me. "Uh...yeah. I had a great time. Fer sure. Thanks for letting me come here. Did you thank Taehyung for me? This whole weekend was awesome!"

I nodded. My thoughts wandered to these last three weekends. They were fun, if I ignored the fact that I wanted more than what Tae offered.

"Did you have a good time, Suni?"

"I...did. I had...a very nice time...here in Las Vegas." I had a hard time forming my words, pained by the complicated feelings of yearning I was experiencing.

"A good time with Taehyung?" she asked with a nudge and a wink. "Gonna see him again soon?"

"Well..." I let out a long sigh.

"Ugh! Oh no! What happened?"

"I don't know. And that's okay." There was a nervous silence as I tried to make it believable. "I'll just wait...until he calls me. Yeah...I'll just wait."

A flight attendant was about to walk by but I got her attention. "Excuse me, can I order something to drink before we take off? An alcoholic beverage?"

Addy glared at me. "It's eleven in the morning."

I dismissed her and looked at the attendant. "How about a mimosa?" she asked.

I nodded and settled back in my seat. My sister was still staring. "Suni, why don't you just ask him?"

"I wish I could."

"It's easy. You just form your mouth to make sounds that come out as words," she said with sass.

"You wouldn't understand, Addy. I might have scared him last time by asking him about our future. So I don't want to do that again."

My mimosa appeared and I thanked the airline attendant. I pulled out my tray table from the side of my chair and placed the champagne/orange juice glass flute on top.

"Be honest, Suni. Did you have a good time here in Vegas?"

I took a sip of my drink. "Honestly? It was...mind blowing. I came here knowing we were just friends with benefits. Every night he took care of me so well and the chemistry we had...felt like it never left. Both mentally and physically. But now here at the end, it's a weird mix of appreciation and enthusiasm and almost being ashamed that I have nothing to show for it." I took another sip and shook my head. "It's a nothing burger."

I gulped down the rest of my champagne as my sister snorted. "Burger?"

"You know what I mean," I said as I wiped some juice off my lips with the back of my hand.

"Actually I don't. If I were you, I would ask him when you'll see him again. You gotta clear your calendar, you know?"

"Maybe I shouldn't even go if he does invite me. This isn't exactly healthy."

"Why not? He's your guilty pleasure. You're still young enough to make bad decisions," she said with a sly wink.

"You may think so. But I wouldn't mind settling down by the time I'm thirty."

The flight attendant appeared again. This time she had a piece of paper in her hand and looked at Addy while clearing her throat. My sister faked being oblivious and told her, "Oh, nothing for me, thanks."