For the first time in her life, Maira experienced being on an airplane. In her twenty-one years, she had only known one city in Indonesia. The dream of continuing her life in a new place or even just going on a holiday had always been suppressed due to her parents' restrictions. Now, unexpectedly, her first journey was taking her abroad-to England. Not for a holiday, but to pursue education and work. Today was an extraordinary day for Maira, filled with excitement and almost uncontrollable happiness. Although it was her first flight, Maira's nervousness only lingered at the beginning. After an hour in the plane, she began to feel comfortable, especially when imagining the new life that awaited her. Sitting in a first-class window seat provided a unique comfort. The eighteen-hour journey felt long. Maira spent most of her time sleeping-a habit deeply ingrained in her. She could fall asleep anywhere. The rest of the time, she spent eating and reading a book. Unbeknownst to her, a man was observing her. Nathaniel Alexander Pierce, a talented young football player of Dutch-Indonesian descent, sat in the same row. Although Maira was a complete stranger to him, Nathan's attention had been drawn to her from the very beginning. At that moment, he didn't even know her name. Yet, something about her intrigued him, leading him to suspect that this might be Maira's first flight. A few hours earlier at the airport, Maira had already caught Nathan's eye when a woman carrying a toddler dropped her belongings in the check-in line. The baby's cries added to the commotion, but without hesitation, Maira, who was also in line, quickly rushed to help the woman. "It's okay, ma'am. Calm your baby, he must be startled," said Maira, helping the woman up and gently rubbing the baby's arm. "I'll help gather your things," Maira continued, picking up the fallen items. Nathan had also helped, unnoticed by Maira. Together, they carried the woman's belongings back to the line. "Thank you for helping, and sorry you lost your place in line," the woman said sincerely. "It's no problem," Maira replied with a warm smile. "No problem; it can happen anytime," Nathan added with a thick Dutch accent. After completing the check-in and baggage screening, Maira parted ways with the woman and the toddler. Nervousness resurfaced as she approached the plane's entrance. Although she tried to hide her feelings, her expression and movements revealed her anxiety. Once inside the plane, Maira didn't realize that Nathan had been right behind her and that their seats were next to each other. However, Maira was too immersed in her nerves and anticipation of her first flight. As the plane was about to land in London, Maira was still asleep. Nathan wanted to wake her to avoid startling her during turbulence, but before he could, the pilot's announcement woke Maira. Her face briefly showed surprise, but her smile soon bloomed when she realized she was about to arrive in London. The night view of London from the airplane window mesmerized Maira to the point of near tears. Once the plane landed, Maira followed the flight attendants' directions and hurried out. In the waiting area, Uncle Anton and his twin daughters, Hanna and Hanni, were already waiting. As soon as she saw them, Maira ran, calling out, "Uncle Anton!" "Mairaaa!" Uncle Anton replied enthusiastically. "Kak Maira is here!" he announced to his twins. Hanna and Hanni immediately hugged her tightly. "We missed you, Kak Maira!" "Oh, I missed you too, guys!" Maira responded lovingly. The last time they met was four years ago when Uncle Anton's family visited Indonesia. To Hanna and Hanni, Maira wasn't just a cousin but like an older sister. "How was your flight?" Uncle Anton asked. "It was fine. I even felt comfortable sleeping during the flight," Maira replied, smiling, then approached to salim with Uncle Anton. After greetings, Uncle Anton asked Hanna and Hanni to follow the Indonesian tradition of salim (a respectful gesture) with Maira, a custom he maintained even though they lived in London. Uncle Anton, married to an English woman, upheld Indonesian cultural values within his family. "Where's Aunt Claire, Uncle?" Maira asked. "Auntie Claire is waiting at home. Max didn't want to leave his big toys at home.," Uncle Anton replied, shaking his head at the thought of his two-year-old son. "Oh, I see. I miss Auntie Claire and can't wait to see Max!" Maira said, hopeful. "Of course, let's go home!" Uncle Anton replied. "Hanna, Hanni, please take Kak Maira to the car. She must be tired. I'll get her luggage," he instructed. "Okay, Papa!" Hanna and Hanni replied enthusiastically. As they walked to the car, Maira held her cousins' hands. Suddenly, Hanni let go, looking toward a funny clown in the corner of the airport. "Kak Maira, can I take a picture with that clown, please?" she asked eagerly. Maira nodded with a smile. "Yes, of course." Hanni ran off. But in the crowd, she bumped into a man and...
Chapter 1 A New Life Begins
For the first time in her life, Maira experienced being on an airplane. In her twenty-one years, she had only known one city in Indonesia. The dream of continuing her life in a new place or even just going on a holiday had always been suppressed due to her parents' restrictions. Now, unexpectedly, her first journey was taking her abroad to England. Not for a holiday, but to pursue education and work. Today was an extraordinary day for Maira, filled with excitement and almost uncontrollable happiness.
Although it was her first flight, Maira's nervousness only lingered at the beginning. After an hour in the plane, she began to feel comfortable, especially when imagining the new life that awaited her. Sitting in a first-class window seat provided a unique comfort.
The eighteen-hour journey felt long. Maira spent most of her time sleeping - a habit deeply ingrained in her. She could fall asleep anywhere. The rest of the time, she spent eating and reading a book. Unbeknownst to her, a man was observing her. Nathaniel Alexander Pierce, a talented young football player of British-Indonesian descent, sat in the same row.
Although Maira was a complete stranger to him, Nathan's attention had been drawn to her from the very beginning. At that moment, he didn't even know her name. Yet, something about her intrigued him, leading him to suspect that this might be Maira's first flight. A few hours earlier at the airport, Maira had already caught Nathan's eye when a woman carrying a toddler dropped her belongings in the check-in line. The baby's cries added to the commotion, but without hesitation, Maira, who was also in line, quickly rushed to help the woman.
"It's okay, ma'am. Calm your baby, he must be startled," said Maira, helping the woman up and gently rubbing the baby's arm.
"I'll help gather your things," Maira continued, picking up the fallen items.
Nathan had also helped, unnoticed by Maira. Together, they carried the woman's belongings back to the line. "Thank you for helping, and sorry you lost your place in line," the woman said sincerely.
"It's no problem," Maira replied with a warm smile.
"No problem; it can happen anytime," Nathan added with a thick British accent.
After completing the check-in and baggage screening, Maira parted ways with the woman and the toddler. Nervousness resurfaced as she approached the plane's entrance. Although she tried to hide her feelings, her expression and movements revealed her anxiety. Once inside the plane, Maira didn't realize that Nathan had been right behind her and that their seats were next to each other. However, Maira was too immersed in her nerves and anticipation of her first flight.
As the plane was about to land in London, Maira was still asleep. Nathan wanted to wake her to avoid startling her during turbulence, but before he could, the pilot's announcement woke Maira. Her face briefly showed surprise, but her smile soon bloomed when she realized she was about to arrive in London. The night view of London from the airplane window mesmerized Maira to the point of near tears.
Once the plane landed, Maira followed the flight attendants' directions and hurried out. In the waiting area, Uncle Anton and his twin daughters, Hanna and Hanni, were already waiting. As soon as she saw them, Maira ran, calling out, "Uncle Anton!"
"Mairaaa!" Uncle Anton replied enthusiastically.
"Kak Maira is here!" he announced to his twins.
Hanna and Hanni immediately hugged her tightly. "We missed you, Kak Maira!"
"Oh, I missed you too, guys!" Maira responded lovingly.
The last time they met was four years ago when Uncle Anton's family visited Indonesia. To Hanna and Hanni, Maira wasn't just a cousin but like an older sister.
"How was your flight?" Uncle Anton asked.
"It was fine. I even felt comfortable sleeping during the flight," Maira replied, smiling, then approached to salim with Uncle Anton.
After greetings, Uncle Anton asked Hanna and Hanni to follow the Indonesian tradition of salim (a respectful gesture) with Maira, a custom he maintained even though they lived in London. Uncle Anton, married to an English woman, upheld Indonesian cultural values within his family.
"Where's Aunt Claire, Uncle?" Maira asked.
"Auntie Claire is waiting at home. Max didn't want to leave his big toys at home.," Uncle Anton replied, shaking his head at the thought of his two-year-old son.
"Oh, I see. I miss Auntie Claire and can't wait to see Max!" Maira said, hopeful.
"Of course, let's go home!" Uncle Anton replied.
"Hanna, Hanni, please take Kak Maira to the car. She must be tired. I'll get her luggage," he instructed.
"Okay, Papa!" Hanna and Hanni replied enthusiastically.
As they walked to the car, Maira held her cousins' hands. Suddenly, Hanni let go, looking toward a funny clown in the corner of the airport. "Kak Maira, can I take a picture with that clown, please?" she asked eagerly.
Maira nodded with a smile. "Yes, of course." Hanni ran off. But in the crowd, she bumped into a man and almost fell. Luckily, he caught her just in time.
Seeing this, Maira rushed over. "Hanni, are you okay?" she asked worriedly.
"I'm okay, Kak Maira," Hanni replied with a regretful face.
Maira sighed in relief. "You can't run like that in a public area, okay?" she said gently but firmly.
Hanni nodded. "Okay."
"Now, apologize to the person you bumped into and thank him because he also saved you," Maira instructed.
As Maira stood and turned to apologize, she was shocked to see the man in front of her. "Nathan?" she exclaimed, surprised.