91 The Japan Trip 3 (2/2)
”Kyoto… Kyoto…” Xiu Ling mumbled to herself as she raised her head up to check the board that listed the gate and boarding time for the different flights.
”It's Gate 3,” Joann supplied. Joann had seen the details because she had spare time to waste while waiting for Xiu Ling to arrive. ”But, let us go to the check-in and security counter first. God, I hope the queue at security isn't long.”
Unfortunately, the queue at security was long and it would seem like they would need to spend at least 1 hour in queue before they could get on the plane. Joann dreaded this. She wondered what kind of hard-to-answer question people might approach her with or what unsavory things the public might say about her behind her back.
Xiu Ling sensed the discomfort in her friend and she offered, ”Joann, how about you go back to the café and I'll line up for you. I'll message you when it's about our turn.”
Joann appreciated the gesture but if she couldn't face something like a small scandal, then she wouldn't be the superstar she was that day. ”Thank you, Xiu Ling but I'll be fine.”
”How about we go to the check-in counter for our flight first? The line at the counter doesn't seem that long. Perhaps when we're done with that and when we return, the line at security wouldn't be that long anymore,” Xiu Ling said but she knew the hope was an empty one. The line at the security would only get longer as more people passed through the check-in counters.
”Okay.” Joann accepted Xiu Ling's suggestion and they both moved to the check-in counter for their airline.
Xiu Ling arrived first and Joann stood behind her. Xiu Ling handed her plane tickets and other necessary documents to the man behind the counter and proceeded to place her suitcase on the conveyer belt for tagging.
The man looked at Xiu Ling's ticket and he keyed in the corresponding information in his computer. As he read the information that appeared on screen, the frown between the man's brows deepened.
Xiu Ling noticed this and she wondered what was wrong. Just as she was about to ask the man about it, the man leaned back to whisper something into his co-worker's ear and the latter proceeded to take Xiu Ling's off the conveyer belt.
However, instead of handing it back to Xiu Ling, the worker just took it away. He carried the suitcase round the corner and seemed to disappear into the belly of the airport.
”Hey!” Xiu Ling had just cried out in panic when the man at the counter stood up from his seat and said in a firm yet polite tone, ”Miss Xiu Ling, do you mind coming with me?”