Frosty Scent

6 MONTHS LATER

VIENNA CITY AIRPORT

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The atmosphere read 'busy' as people strode in and out of the airport. Some with luggage, others without. Some with kids, partners, or their families, others with no one other than themselves.

The PA system announced flight departures and arrivals, adding to the bustling ambiance.

A certain lady with long chestnut hair plaited into two big straight ropes in a Maryjane style stood out in the crowd.

Holding a phone to her left ear with her left hand, her right hand was occupied with the handle of her trolley luggage as she stood waiting in line to show her passport and ID.

"I've got it all under control, Mother," she said sarcastically, rolling her eyes as she stressed the word 'Mother.'

"I'm not your mother!" a feminine voice from the phone boomed, causing her to jolt in a bit of shame, looking around to see if anyone heard.

She sighed satisfactorily when she saw no one had noticed or looked at her weirdly, then turned her attention back to the voice on the phone.

"Lower your voice, Josey. I'm still in the airport and in line, in fact," she whispered.

"What? Are you ashamed of me, Eileen?!" the voice from the phone yelled, making her chuckle as she lowered the volume of the call before putting it back to her left ear.

"Relax, relax, Josey. When did I ever say I'm ashamed of you?" she tried to coax, still whispering.

"So, why are you whispering if you aren't?" the voice shot back immediately in response, making her sigh exasperatedly without replying. It was better to keep silent than to say something that would cause a fuss.

"So, I've called Joshua and told him to prepare the apartment for you."

"Oh, really? Thanks, Josey," she replied, smiling widely and feeling grateful even though the caller couldn't see her.

"Awwnn, why do I feel like you're smiling gratefully, Eileen?" the caller spoke rather coquettishly, definitely teasing.

"It's not li—"

"Hey, miss, you're up next," a man behind her in the queue interrupted, poking her.

She turned back, sparing the man a glance before nodding with a grateful smile, then moved on to the table, putting the call on hold.

"Your papers, Ma'am," the airport worker asked, stretching forth his hand lazily with a yawn.

Eileen suppressed a smile as she watched him. It must be boring working as someone who scans papers and that's all. One position every day. "Here," she said, handing him the card and papers.

The man first looked at her, staring intently into her green eyes, then back at the papers, more specifically at the ID card. "Kitty?" he asked, raising a brow at her.

Eileen nodded, stretching her mouth into a thin smile that seemed so innocent yet mischievous. "Kitty Greenfield. That's my name," she replied curtly.

The man stared at her green eyes for a moment, not finding any expression suspicious other than utmost sincerity. He sighed, nodding. "Okay, you're all good. Safe trip, Kitty," he said, taking his eyes off her.

Eileen, being as mischievous as ever, then looked down at his uniform and back up to his face. "Safe work too, Evans," she chided and walked away, wheeling her luggage along while the man stared at her back, his eyes wide.

"Did she have to call my name so lovingly?" he muttered under his breath, swallowing hard. Women are sure bewitching. "Next!" he called. "And you better not be a Kitty, I mean, a lady."

Eileen placed the phone back to her ear after taking it off hold. "Hey, Josey, I'd have to hang up now," she said, walking towards the security luggage search area.

"Oh, okay. Safe trip to Mile City and make sure you call me when you get there."

Eileen smiled. "Definitely, Josey. In fact, make sure you round up your work and come along to Mile City soon, okay?"

"Definitely. And oh, Eileen, do not, I repeat, do not take any hasty decisions when you get there," the voice from the phone said, sounding cautious yet concerned.

Eileen's smile widened, her teeth coming into display. "Hehe! Fine, I'll just tell you before taking any hasty decisions. Just do you'd be aware," she said mischievously.

"You—"

Beep!

Eileen ended the call, mischief dancing on her face with the way she smiled and the way her eyes shone. She stared at the phone, her mischievous smile now transcending into a grateful one.

Watching the name 'Josey Boswell' on the screen, she couldn't help but remember how this lady, whom she had barely given attention to years ago, had given her all of her attention in just a year.

Bump!

"Ah," Eileen groaned as her head collided with a hard surface. "Eh?" She tried to look up, but a hand held her forehead tightly, as if trying to restrict her from seeing who it was or from getting too close.

"Respect yourself, Miss, and don't come any closer," the man commanded, and her body fully obliged.

It turned out that while walking and staring at her phone, she had collided with someone. More accurately, she was about to collide, but he had raised his huge hand to grab her head and push it downward, ensuring there was a suitable distance between them.

"How cruel!" she murmured.

The situation made it look like a man trying to hold off his dog from jumping on him. At least, that's how it felt to her.

She let go of her luggage, raising her right hand to push his hand away from her forehead, but like a sonic, the man quickly retracted his hand, avoiding her touch.

"Hmph!" she sighed, getting annoyed. By the time she looked up from the ground, he was gone. Or perhaps, lost in the sea of people, leaving behind only his frosty scent with her.

Eileen stood there for a moment, her heart pounding with a mix of irritation and curiosity. She shook her head, picked up her luggage, and continued on her way, the brief encounter lingering in her thoughts along with a frosty scent.