Norman scrambled away in panic, his shoes slipping on the smooth concrete as he nearly tripped over his own feet. He didn't look back once as he fled around the corner of the maintenance hangar, disappearing from sight in seconds.

Michael watched him go, then folded his arms across his chest with a satisfied grin. "Now that's the Jayden I know," he said, nodding approvingly. "Strict. Fair. Cold as an iceberg." He demonstrated with his fingers, sketching an imaginary block of ice in the air with exaggerated movements.

Jayden rolled his eyes, exhaling slowly as the last of the anger he'd been holding in dissipated. He ran a hand through his hair, pushing it back from his forehead as he glanced toward the crew building-hoping Jane hadn't noticed him.

"The one in front of Jane..." Michael continued, shaking his head dramatically as he mimicked a soft, gentle expression. "That version of you? Embarrassing. Like watching a lion pretend to be a house cat."

Jayden glanced at his wristwatch-gold and sleek, a stark contrast to the "unemployed" persona he'd been maintaining. "Five minutes left until your meeting with the operations team," he said calmly, though his eyes glinted with mischief. "You're going to be late. I'll report it honestly-and dock your performance score. Maybe even recommend you for retraining."

He shot Michael a look that balanced perfectly between serious and teasing, making Michael's eyes widen in mock horror.

"Oh no, Jayden... you're really burning bridges now?" Michael protested, clutching his chest dramatically. "After I've covered for you so many times?"

"Let me help you, Mr. Torres-"

A voice cut in sharply, making both men freeze.

Jane appeared from behind Michael, gripping a thick wooden stick she'd grabbed from a nearby equipment rack-clearly ready to strike, assuming he was still dealing with Norman. Her hair was slightly windswept, her uniform jacket unbuttoned, her expression fierce and protective.

She raised the stick high-

-and froze mid-motion.

Her eyes landed on Jayden, standing just a few feet away. The stick slowly lowered, her grip loosening as confusion washed over her face.

"...Jayden?" she said, her voice quiet and confused. Her gaze moved between the two men-from Jayden's calm but slightly tense face to Michael's wide-eyed expression. "What are you doing here?"

Jayden stiffened. For once in his life, he had no immediate answer ready. His mind raced through a dozen possible lies, but none of them felt convincing enough. His eyes darted briefly, avoiding hers-

Then suddenly, he turned and smacked Michael's arm hard enough to make him yelp.

"Ow! What the-"

"He asked me to come find him," Jayden said quickly, his voice carrying just enough to sound concerned.

Michael stared at him in disbelief, rubbing his arm as he looked from Jayden's urgent face to Jane's questioning eyes. He could see the silent plea in Jayden's gaze-and knew he had no choice but to play along.

"...Fine," Michael said through clenched teeth, forcing a smile as he turned to Jane. "I... uh... was too scared to go to work alone."

"So I asked him to come get me," Michael continued weakly, scrambling for a better excuse. "Walk with me to my office-you know, for moral support"

Jane blinked, her confusion deepening as she looked between them. "Huh? You're scared?"

Jayden squeezed his shoulder subtly-a silent warning to make it more convincing.

"Actually-" Michael corrected himself quickly, wincing as Jayden's grip tightened. "He came here to apply for a security job. Asked me to help him with the application process."

This time, Jayden turned to him in genuine shock-he'd never mentioned anything about a security job. But he quickly masked it, nodding along as if this had been the plan all along.

Jane crossed her arms, giving Jayden a long, knowing look that made his stomach twist with guilt.

"Oh... really?" she said, her voice light but her eyes sharp as she studied him.

Jayden swallowed hard, forcing a smile that felt more like a grimace. "...That's right. But opportunities are scarce right now. Thought I'd keep busy-maybe learn some new skills."

A few minutes later-

Michael stood with his phone held up like a professional camera, taking "professional" photos of Jayden for his supposed job application. He'd positioned him in front of a plain wall near the security office, adjusting his posture with exaggerated care.

"Stand up straight-no, straighter," Michael instructed, squinting at the screen. "Look serious. Like you mean business."

Jayden stood stiffly, his shoulders squared, his expression flat and unamused. He looked like a statue of a security guard-polite but completely lifeless.

Jane lingered nearby, watching with a small smile playing at her lips. She could tell Jayden was uncomfortable, but she appreciated that he was trying to find work-.

She stepped closer, her hands clasped in front of her. "Mr. Torres," she began, a bit hesitant as she addressed Michael. "About what happened last time...I'm sorry. I misunderstood you. I thought you were part of the problem, but it seems like you've been trying to help all along."

Michael didn't look up, still focused on editing the photos to make them look more "professional." "It's fine," he said casually, though his tone was warmer now. "Think of it as clearing the air. Misunderstandings happen-"

He glanced at Jayden out of the corner of his eye, making Jayden shift uncomfortably.

"And," he added, glancing at her with exaggerated seriousness, "I should be thanking you. If not for this whole job stuff, I'd never get to see Jayden like this."

Jayden shot him a warning look, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Ah-" Jane reacted, slightly confused as she looked from Michael to Jayden.

Michael quickly waved it off, tapping his phone screen. "What I mean is... you know how stubborn he is. He'd rather suffer in silence than let his best friend help. You've given him a reason to reach out-"

Jane turned to Jayden, her expression softening with understanding. She reached out and squeezed his arm lightly.

Michael sniffed dramatically, dabbing at his eyes with his sleeve. "I really feel for him."

Then he turned back to Jane, his expression brightening. "So thank you-for convincing him to take the job. it'll be good for him to stay busy."

"It's nothing," Jane said sincerely, her eyes warm as she looked at Jayden. "Next time you need anything-just come to me directly. I'll do what I can."

"Deal," Michael replied, patting her shoulder lightly. "I won't be polite about it either-you'll be hearing from me often."

He then turned to Jayden, tossing him a set of car keys"Hey, Jayden-remember to park the car properly later. No double-parking near the terminals, okay? Security has been cracking down."

Jayden caught the keys, stunned... But he quickly masked his surprise, nodding respectfully.

"...Got it, Mr. Torres," he said, bowing slightly-playing the part of a humble security perfectly.

Michael bit his lip, barely holding in his laughter as he turned and walked off, calling over his shoulder,

Jayden watched him leave, his eyes narrowing slightly as he muttered under his breath.

Just you wait... I'll make you pay for this.

Michael walked down the tarmac, still chuckling to himself as he scrolled through the photos he had just taken of Jayden. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the concrete, and the smell of jet fuel mixed with fresh cut grass from the nearby median.

"Jayden really fell for Jane this time," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head in equal parts disbelief and amusement. "To please her, he's really going all out... pretending to be some unemployed guy looking for security work. If the board ever found out, they'd have a heart attack."

He paused mid-step, staring at one particular photo on his screen-Jayden standing stiffly against the wall, his expression forced into something resembling professionalism, dressed in a plain gray shirt and jeans he'd clearly dug out just for the occasion.

Michael burst out laughing again, leaning against a nearby equipment cart to steady himself. "The mighty chief pilot reduced to this... unbelievable. Next thing you know, he'll be asking me to teach him how to use a metal detector."

Just then, his phone buzzed with a notification-an email from the scheduling department.

He stopped walking immediately.

His smile faded.

"Oh no..." he whispered, already sensing danger as he saw the subject line: FINAL SCHEDULE - MICHAEL TORRES. "Jayden's too stingy for this..."

An air hostess-Maria, one he'd known for years-approached him, her hands clasped in front of her as she carried a thick manila folder.

"Mr. Torres," she said politely, her smile slightly strained as she handed him the file. "This is your schedule for the month. The chief flight officer asked me to confirm it with you personally-said to make sure you received it today."

"Hmm... okay," Michael replied, slipping his phone into his pocket as he took the file. He flipped it open casually, expecting to see his usual mix of day shifts and occasional overnights.

Then paused.

Then frowned.

Then flipped through the pages faster, his eyes scanning the dates and flight routes.

"...Wait."

His brows furrowed deeply, his jaw tightening as he checked again-then again, as if hoping he'd misread.

Every single day-fully booked, no days off scheduled.

Every single slot-assigned to long-haul routes.

And worse...

"All overnight flights?" he exclaimed, looking up sharply as he stared at the list: Tokyo, Dubai, London-all red-eye departures and early morning arrivals. "Am I being treated like a slave? Did I accidentally sign up for a punishment detail?"

He turned to Maria, confusion written all over his face. "Did they mix up my schedule with someone else's? I've never worked this many overnights in a row."

She gave him a tight, slightly nervous smile, quickly taking the file back from his hands as if afraid he'd tear it in frustration.

"The chief flight officer said," she began carefully, choosing her words with care, "the more capable an officer is... the more work they can handle. He mentioned that you've been performing exceptionally well lately, and that these routes need someone with your experience."

She gave a small, quick nod.

"He believes you can handle it. Good luck, Mr. Torres."

And before he could respond-before he could even ask who had approved this-

She hurried off, her steps quick and determined.

Michael stood there, stunned, watching her disappear around the corner.

"...What does that even mean?" he muttered, pulling out his phone again as realization hit.

Slowly.

Painfully.

His face twisted into a grimace of understanding.

"...Jayden."

He immediately pulled out his phone and began recording a voice note, holding it up to his mouth with dramatic urgency.

"Jayden... I was wrong," he said, his voice thick with fake remorse. "I'll never laugh at you again-never call you a lovesick puppy ever again. Give me one more chance. I'll behave. I'll be a melancholic boy-quiet, respectful, no more jokes."

He hit send.

The message failed to deliver-MESSAGE NOT SENT - RECIPIENT UNAVAILABLE.

Michael stared at the screen, his jaw dropping in disbelief.

"...You've got to be kidding me."

"Fuck!"

He stomped his foot in frustration, making a nearby ground crew member glance over in surprise.

Meanwhile, at the cafeteria...

Jane and Jayden sat opposite each other at a corner table, eating quietly. The cafeteria was nearly empty-most staff had already headed home or to their flights. Jane picked at her salad while scrolling through her phone absentmindedly, occasionally taking a bite of bread.

Then suddenly, her face lit up.

"Wow... look at this!"

She lifted her phone excitedly toward Jayden, the screen displaying her monthly schedule in bright colors.

"My schedule for this month is amazing! All day shifts!" she said, smiling brightly as she pointed to the screen. "Early morning departures, late afternoon arrivals-no overnights at all! Other colleagues have mixed day and night rotations... some are even doing back-to-back red-eyes. I don't even know why mine is this good."

Jayden glanced at the screen briefly-he'd personally approved the schedule himself-then returned calmly to his plate of grilled chicken and vegetables.

"Don't worry," he said smoothly, cutting his chicken into neat pieces. "It's a benefit given to newly married employees. Everyone gets it for the first six months-helps them adjust to married life while keeping up with work."

Jane's eyes widened slightly, her fork pausing halfway to her mouth.

"Really? I didn't know that! Why didn't anyone tell me?"

Her smile grew even wider, lighting up her face as she set her phone down.

"That's great..." she said softly, her voice warm with pleasure. "That means I can go home for dinner every night now. I've missed having proper meals together."

She paused, her cheeks flushing slightly as she added, "...Although the cafeteria has improved a lot lately-it still can't compare to home-cooked meals."

The moment the words left her mouth-

She froze.

Her brain caught up instantly, and she felt heat rise to her ears.

I just said that out loud.

I just admitted I like his cooking. And that I want to eat with him every night.

Her ears turned slightly red as she awkwardly rubbed one of them, focusing intently on her salad as if it were the most interesting thing in the world.

Jayden looked up at her, his fork still in his hand. There was a flicker of genuine surprise in his eyes-followed by something softer, warmer, that made his expression gentler than usual.

Jane avoided his gaze completely, mentally scolding herself. Why would I say that? Will he overthink it? Will he think I'm being too forward?

A brief silence settled between them, broken only by the soft clink of silverware against plates.

Then-

Jayden smiled.

Not his usual composed, polite smile. This one was slower, more genuine-reaching his eyes and making them crinkle slightly at the corners.

"That's right," he said quietly, his voice low and warm. "It's our home."

Jane looked up at him, startled for a second-then forced a small, shy smile that made her eyes sparkle.

"...Yeah. That sounds nice."

They both returned to their food, but the air between them had shifted. Subtly. Warmly. Like a window opening to let in fresh air after a long winter.

Later that night...

Jane sat on the edge of her bed, going through her flight plan for the next day-checking weather patterns, passenger loads, and crew assignments. The bedside lamp cast a warm glow across the room, and her hair was loose around her shoulders, tied back with a simple hair tie.

Her eyes grew heavy as she read through the same paragraph for the third time. She yawned, closing the file and setting it aside on her nightstand with a soft thud.

"Finally..."

She stretched slightly, her arms overhead, before pulling back the covers and preparing to lie down-

Knock. Knock.

The sound was soft but clear, making her pause mid-movement.

"Come in," she said, sitting up straight as she adjusted her pajamas-simple cotton shorts and a t-shirt.

The door opened slowly, and Jayden stepped in.

He was wearing sweatpants and a plain white t-shirt, and he was holding a pillow-hugged tightly against his chest as if it were a shield. His hair was slightly messy, as if he'd been running his hands through it.

Jane blinked, staring at him in confusion.

"...What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice laced with sleepiness and bewilderment. "Is everything okay?"

"Uh..." Jayden began, his voice lower than usual as he shuffled his feet slightly, avoiding her gaze. The pillow he held was clutched so tightly its corners were wrinkled. "Can I come in and sleep with you?"

The question hung in the air, simple but heavy with unspoken meaning. The warm glow from the bedside lamp cast soft shadows across his face, making his expression harder to read.

Jane swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry. She'd been half-asleep a moment ago, but now she was wide awake-every nerve ending in her body tingling with awareness.

For a moment, she said nothing. Her fingers tightened slightly around the edge of her robe-she'd pulled it on over her pajamas when she heard his knock-as her thoughts spiraled.

This is normal... we're married... this was bound to happen sooner or later... this was always the next step...

She inhaled quietly, her chest rising and falling slowly as she forced herself to relax.

"...Sure," she said at last, her voice steady despite the butterflies fluttering in her stomach. She adjusted her robe instinctively, pulling it closed a little tighter as she sat a little straighter against the headboard.

Jayden stepped into the room, closing the door softly behind him. The floorboards creaked gently under his weight-familiar sounds from the months they'd spent living in this house, but now they felt charged with new tension.

Each step he took toward the bed made Jane's heart pound harder against her ribs. Oh, get a grip, Jane, she scolded herself internally. It's not a big deal. People do this every day.

Jayden reached the bedside and carefully placed his pillow down next to hers, adjusting it with unnecessary precision-smoothing the case, tapping it into place-clearly trying to buy time. From the corner of his eye, he stole a quick glance at her, then immediately focused back on the bedding.

Then, slowly, he slipped under the blanket-keeping a respectful distance between them, his body angled slightly away as he lay down on his back. The space between them was easily wide enough for another person to fit comfortably.

Safe.

Too safe.

Jane followed, lying down stiffly on her back, pulling the blanket up to her chin. She kept her hands clasped in her lap, her body rigid as a board.

They both stared at the ceiling.

Silent.

Neither moving.

Neither daring to close the gap. The only sound in the room was the soft hum of the air conditioning and their quiet, measured breathing.

Seconds stretched into minutes.

Then-

Jane turned slightly toward him, her shoulder brushing against the sheets as she shifted.

"Well..." she began, her voice hesitant and barely above a whisper. "You go first."

Jayden turned his head, meeting her eyes for a brief second-his dark gaze warm but uncertain-then quickly looked away, clearly just as unsure of what to do next as she was.

Jane immediately turned back to the ceiling, swallowing nervously as she stared at the same water stain she'd been meaning to have fixed for weeks.

Another pause. Long enough that Jane began to wonder if he'd fallen asleep.

Then-

Jayden shifted. He propped himself slightly on his elbow and leaned toward her, his movement slow and deliberate.

Jane's breath caught in her throat. Her hands clenched into fists under the blanket as she watched him draw closer, his face illuminated by the faint light from the hallway under the door.

His face drew closer.

Slowly.

Carefully.

He lowered his head-

Jane's eyes widened, and instinctively-her hand shot up, pressing her palm gently but firmly over his mouth.

"Wait-" she said quickly, her voice a little too loud in the quiet room as she avoided his gaze.

Jayden blinked in confusion, pulling back slightly as he looked at her hand covering his lips.

"...What?" he asked, his voice muffled slightly before she lowered her hand.

Jane's voice faltered, her cheeks flushing faintly pink even in the dim light. She fidgeted with the edge of the blanket, her eyes fixed on the pillow between them.

"Did you... buy that...?" she trailed off, her words stumbling over each other.

"Buy what?" Jayden asked, his brows knitting together in genuine confusion as he propped himself up fully, looking at her with concern.

Jane's face burned brighter now, and she finally managed to force the words out in a rush.

"I-I mean..." she stammered, still not looking at him. "... you know. My career is just starting-I'm building up my flight hours,... I'm not ready for kids yet..."

The words tumbled out awkwardly, leaving her feeling exposed and foolish.

A beat of silence followed. Jayden sat still for a moment, processing her words-then his expression softened, understanding dawning in his eyes. A quiet, gentle smile formed on his lips.

"Jane," he called gently, reaching out as if to touch her arm then pulling his hand back again.

"...Hmm?" she responded, finally glancing at him-her eyes wide and embarrassed.

"If you're not in a hurry," he said calmly, his voice warm and reassuring, "I can wait. For as long as you need."

She blinked, her confusion clear on her face. "What do you mean?"

Jayden didn't answer immediately. Instead, he leaned closer again-slowly, so she had time to pull away if she wanted to.

Jane froze. Her eyes fluttered shut, bracing herself-her heart hammering against her ribs.

But instead of her lips-

She felt something light. Warm. Gentle.

A kiss. On her forehead. Soft and brief, like a butterfly landing on her skin.

Her eyes opened slowly, her breath catching as she looked up at him. His face was close enough that she could see the faint lines around his eyes, the warmth in his dark gaze.

"Until you're ready," he said quietly, his voice barely more than a whisper. "I won't touch you. I'll wait. We can take this as slow as you need."

Then he smiled-soft and affectionate-and without another word, he shifted back to his side of the bed, pulling the blanket up to his chest as he lay down on his back again. That careful, respectful distance remained between them.

Jane lay there, stunned. Her heart was still racing-but for a completely different reason now. Warmth spread through her chest, unexpected and unfamiliar, making her feel light and a little breathless.

Then-

Her brows furrowed slightly as realization hit her full force.

Damn it...

She pulled the blanket over her face in embarrassment, burrowing into the sheets until only her hair was visible.

I misunderstood everything...

"So when he said 'sleep together'... he really meant just sleep..." she muttered into the fabric, her voice muffled and mortified. She buried herself deeper under the covers, wishing the bed would swallow her whole.

Just then-

A soft beep broke the silence, cutting through the quiet of the room.

Jayden reached for his phone on the nightstand, his movements quiet so as not to disturb her. The screen lit up faintly in the dark, casting a cool blue glow across his face.

A message notification from an unknown number.

His eyes scanned it briefly-then paused. The faint smile that had lingered on his lips faded-just slightly-replaced by an expression that was hard to read in the dim light.

On the screen, a single line read:

"Mandy will be back tomorrow."

Jayden's fingers stilled around the phone, his thumb hovering over the screen as he stared at the words.