Chapter 1 - Code Zulu Alpha? (1/2)

Year 2019

Day 1

6:00 AM

*tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap*

I was tapping on my phone, eyeing every person that walks by, checking each one, careful not to miss my friend I was waiting for. I'm at an airport, rows of large white tiles adorned the floor, a long glass wall separates me from the people coming and going. A few stores at my right side is selling clothes, souvenirs, food, toys and even a few items for comfort on the flight. On my left side, walking on a few steps, seems to be the area where authorized personnel can only come in and it's guarded by two security guards with one carrying a rifle while the other one has a shotgun slung on his back. The person with the shotgun also has a leash on his hand and a German Shepherd lies down on his feet, seemingly relaxed but it's eyes just darts around, looking at people passing by.

*vibrate* *vibrate*

I felt a buzz on my hand that was holding my phone, as I face the screen, a call from my aunt pops up and as I was about to answer it, it stops and a missed call notification pops up followed by a text that says:

”Heyo! I know u don' lyk to ans cals so I txt u pz plz buy me tjos sweet peenut thins u used to buy wit de nips on it! O! Ths is Aya!”

Investigating the sender's text, it was probably my little cousin. Considering all the spelling errors, I replied:

”You're talking about 'Trailmix', right? I'll buy a bag and those are not 'Nips' they're 'M&Ms' by the way.”

I stood up and I started walking towards the store and I noticed someone familiar. She's wearing a flight attendant uniform and she's carrying on her lap a small red bag with a cross sign on it. On her table, a large cup of coffee sits with an eaten cake while the fork with pink bits on it is placed on the side of it.

I remember her from my high school.

I could say that we're good friends back then, we used to compete for our grades a while back and some other things. She's very beautiful I'd admit, even now. Most of my classmates, even from other sections used to try to ask her out, but she seems disinterested at the time and was more focused on studying.

I walked past her since the candy store is the one further from the coffee shop. I contemplated on greeting her, but I think she won't remember me because It's been years since we last met.

”She might not remember me. It's good seeing her though.” I said to myself.

However, as I begin to push the glass door, I saw her reflection behind me then I felt a couple taps in my back and then I heard her voice, ”Hey! Sky, right? Remember me?” she said.

As I turned around to face her, she removed her cap and her black hair flows through her shoulders and she pointed to herself, ”It's me, Kaley!” she said while smiling brightly.

”Oh, Hi! Ahaha… I thou-” before I even got to finish my sentence, she leans close to me and she squints.

”Stop doing that! I know what you're doing; you have the best memory out of all the people I know.” she said.

I scratched my nose as she continued, ”I saw you look at me earlier, I'm pretty sure you thought that I wouldn't remember or recognize you earlier, am I right?”

I pursed my lips to a smile, ”She read me like a book.” I said to myself.

After a chuckle, she continued, ”I got that right huh? What are you buying here? Is it those dried cranberries you used to munch on back then?”

I replied, ”Sort of, I'm getting a bag of 'Trailmix' for my cousin at home, and yeah, now that you mention it, I'm also getting a bag of those cranberries. It has been a while since I have eaten those.”

”That reminds me, still eating those strawberry shortcakes huh?” I added then I noticed she bit her lower lip into a smile, sort of embarrassed or maybe happy that I also remembered what she liked from back then. She linked her arm with mine then she pushed the door in front us towards the store.

”Let me join you then, I'm gonna grab some things too before I head back.” She said.

We began to walk towards where the baskets are located and I grabbed a basket. We began walking to the aisles looking for the stuff I'd like to buy.

Then she said, ”So, I'm pretty sure you won't talk unless I start, so, how's life been treating you? I remember you said that you wanted to be a programmer?”

I nodded and said, ”Yeah, I've become one but in the end, I've only worked for a few years then I decided to continue the family business. How about you though? I remembered you were studying to be a nurse, what happened? The uniform suits you though.”