CHAPTER 1

"Ms. Sandejas, get the first aid kit!" The pilot shouted to me.

I immediately acted and ran into the small room where emergency kits are stocked. I immediately searched every corner inside until I saw a box with a red cross on its cover and a "first aid" was written on it. 

I quickly picked it up and ran again to attend the woman who fainted a while ago. She is laying in the crowded passage space. According to her brother, she had a heart problem and didn’t have a pulse for almost two minutes. She isn’t breathing anymore.

I immediately handed the first aid kit to the pilot and he fastly accepted it.

After more than half an hour of reviving the woman, she finally came to her senses. She’s barely opening her eyes and it was obvious that she didn't know what was happening around her.

The woman was placed on the stretcher and was sent to a room that was intended for passengers that in need of medical attention. She was then transferred to a comfortable bed.

"Why did she faint?" The co-pilot asked.

"Based on the statement of her brother who was sitting next to her, she is afraid of heights. She is not a fan of riding a plane, but it so happens that she opened the window near her and looked down which frightened her and triggered her heart condition." I answered.

My coworker and I are standing close to each other while the plane pilot is standing next to the woman’s head who’s lying lifelessly on the bed.

I noticed that the pilot understood what was I saying.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk!" Their co-pilot even shook his head at what I said. "You guys take care of her 'til we land, okay?!" He ordered.

We both nodded. "Yes, captain!" We answered.

He then left the room.

Me and my co-worker looked at each other. Suddenly, she laughed, enough for me to hear it.

"The courage to look down knowing that she's a one hella coward". My co-worker whispered to me.

"'Don't make any noise. Someone might hear you. Also, don't be like that. She’s still our passenger and we should treat them right. Don’t say something like that. Let's just get back to work". I told to my co-worker bluntly.

"Tsk!" She tsked and then rolled her eyeballs. She crossed her arms over her chest and then walked out of the room. She even slightly hit my shoulder as she passed by.

“She really has a bad attitude”. I whispered and shook my head.

***

"Good evening, everyone!! This is your flight attendant, Dahliah Reign Sandejas. We are happy to announce that we have already landed at ALCO's International Airline in Cordi Crisolo Philippines. Thank you for choosing us to fly with all of you. If you need anything, you can freely ask us. Within ten minutes, all passengers will be leaving the plane. We are hoping to fly with you soon. Thank you and have a safe way home!”' After I said that, I immediately lowered the microphone and then turned to my  fellow flight attendant who was sitting in a chair with her eyes closed. Her elbows rest on the armrest of the chair and her face is resting on her palm. 

Her face looks so tired because of the trip.

We travel for more than twelve hours, they deliver and pick up passengers and they don't even have rest or sleep because they assist passengers from time to time who ask for help or assistance from them.

I patted her shoulder. "Hey, Jean ! Wake up!" I said at once and shaked her shoulder. She opened her eyes slightly and slowly turned to me.

"We already landed. You’re the one to open the door". I informed her.

My co-worker who is also my great friend rubbed her eyes slightly, just right so as not to damage the makeup on her face. "Okay!" She only said and then she stood up and straightened her messy uniform and then plastered a wide smile on her lips even though it was obvious that she was tired in her slightly reddened eyes.

When Jean got out of the small room where they were resting, I sat in the chair Jean had been sitting in.

I rubbed my nape and hips. I could feel the pain in my body. I rarely sat throughout the trip.

I closed my eyes for a few seconds then took a deep breath before standing up and exiting our small resting room.

***

We are now in our supervisor's office. More than thirty cabin crews sat on long chairs in the office and is waiting for him. After our work earlier, we were on our way home when our supervisor suddenly called us for an unknown reason. Obviously, we all feel so odd because our supervisor won't just call us for nothing. Je only calls us if there are any passenger’s issues that need to be addressed.

"Why did he called us?" I heard the question of the one sitting next to me. She is  talking to the crew who’s closed to her

"Maybe there's a problem again and he’s about to rebuke us". She sarcastically answered. The person next to her just fell silent. 

I heard faint whispers from my co-workers but I just remained silent and was no longer curious about whatever they said.

We all stood up when the one we had been waiting for entered his own office.

"Good evening, sir!" We all greeted him and then slightly bowed our head.

"Good evening! Take your seats. I have an important announcement for y'll". He then straightened up and sat down at his table in front of us.

We obeyed his orders but there was a look of astonishment on our faces.

He was holding a brown envelope. He opened it and pulled out a paper then looked at it for a moment then immediately turned to us with a sweet smile on his lips. It presented the paper to us even though we could not read what is written on it.

"Congratulations, everyone! The board of directors approved your one month vacation request. Everyone’s vacations will start tomorrow". There was no flaky announcement by our supervisor.

Unbelievably, my companions applauded and slightly screamed while I smiled and also applauded with joy.

Finally, after one and a half years of straight working and without any vacation, we will now be able to relax for even a month.

In our work, it is difficult to ask for a leave or vacation because the board is too strict. They don't want to be lacking in people at work, as if they are going to lack in the hundreds numbers of their cabin crews.

When we got out of their supervisor's office, I heard the whispers of my colleagues. They were already planning on where to spend their one month vacation.

I was slipping my bag over my shoulder when suddenly someone slapped my other arm so I turned around. Jean's happy face flashed at hee. Tiredness is no longer visible on her pretty face.

"Let's go out together." Jean said while smiling. I just nodded in response.

"So, where are you going to spend your vacation?" Jean asked.

I shrugged. "I still don’t know." I honestly answered 

"Ha?! Are you serious? And what are you going to do in a month?!" Jean frowned.

I shrugged again. "I don't have any plan yet." I said.

"How about you come with us? Ellen and I planned to take a vacation at an exclusive resort". She said, referring to one of their co-workers. I raised an eyebrow when she emphasized the words "exclusive resort". "To be exact, we still have one gift card that Ellen and I got. There were three of them. I'll just give it to you. We will only be paying 60% of the three weeks stay."

"When did you get those gift cards?" I frowned while asking.

"Last year." Jean answered. "We have been really trying to get into that resort for a long time. That place is too expensive. You really have to pay almost a million just to enter that resort. And take note, that’s only for one person. That is why only the rich people can enter that place." She explained.

"What kind of resort is that?" I asked in astonishment.

“Girl, this resort is super beautiful. I swear. There are a lot of hot dudes in that area and you can have sex with them whenever you want without anyone judging you." Jean whispered. My eyes widened as I turned to her. There was a wide smile on her lips or maybe she is smirking?!

"A-Are you serious?" K asked incredulously.

She nodded. "Uh-huh!" She happily respond.

“I’ll pass. I don't like places like that." I said. Jean's face suddenly wrinkled and then she slapped my shoulder lightly.

“Don’t be like that! Don’t act innocent! As far as I can remember, I saw a vibrator under your bed.” I felt when my cheeks suddenly turned red at what she said. I remembered that embarrassment again. "And that place is not just about sex. You can skip the sex part though. That place has a lot of good services too. That is why it will be worth your money for their services. But it will still be way more worth it if there’s sex. ” She explained.

I shook my head slightly. "I'll think about it first. I still have to pay a lot more important expenses. I'm also applying for a part-time job for a month. Or, maybe I'll just spend my vacation in our province. I could save lots of money by that." I then smiled sparingly. I also has no plans to do so. That place is kind a scary though. I may not be able to cope in that place easily. It may sound overreacting but I doesn’t really like places like that. 

"You’re being a killer joy again. All right, just like this. I'll pay half of what you should pay. Now, you only have to pay 30% of your stay. You should agree with that offer by now! You're putting yourself on too much work. You don't get paid enough for that. Give yourself a break! Look at yourself in the mirror. Makeup is the only thing that accentuates your face. I assure you, you will really enjoy your stay in that resort." She said and then screamed a little bit after the last sentence.

They were finally out of the airline.

Jean immediately waved her hand to call the taxi. The taxi then stopped in front of us.

Jean slightly shook my shoulder. “Call me when you already have your decision, okay? Don’t make me wait for long. I hate waiting."

I nodded. "Okay".

Jean opened the door on the backseat of the taxi but she squeezed my palm first. "I'll wait for your call, okay?!"

I nodded again. "Hmm."

My friend got into the taxi. I pressed my face to the window then waved from there. "Take care." I said. The window wasn't tinted so I could see her waving back at me.

Then the taxi started moving. I glanced at it until it disappeared from my sight.

I also looked for a taxi. Then got on and said my address.

Me and Jean were living in different directions so we could not take the same taxi together.

After about an hour's drive, the taxi stopped in front of a six-storey apartment where I lived.

After paying the driver, I got out of the taxi and walked straight into the apartment with the door always open on the front side.

My room is on the third floor. I took a walk up to the third floor because I already really wanted to rest. I haven't had dinner yet and I am not hungry either.

I couldn’t hear any noise around but only the sound my every step made. Everybody must already be asleep.