…out of over 7 billion people in the world, can there be two people that have an identical face?...
Yong is on his way to Honolulu International Airport, used to be Jonh Rodgers
Airport, which was named after a World War I naval officer in 1927. This airport project was funded by
the territorial legislature and the Chamber of Commerce, and was the first full
airpot in Hawaii back then. In 1947, this airport was renamed Honolulu Airport,
and the word “International” was added in 1951. Honolulu International Airport
once had the longest runway in the world of 3,992 meters in 1953. Nowadays,
Honolulu International Aiport is one of the busiest airports in the United
States, which receives more than 21 million passengers a year.
Why on earth this airport named after a World War I naval officer, Yong
wonders; and yet he has no any intention to find out the reason behind. Asking
people could be an easy way to get the answer; however, whom should he ask? Just
like him, a random person or passenger might not know the answer. An airport
officer may and may not know the answer. Who cares about the previous name of
the airport anyway! And there are many things and places named after a person’s
name, and the simplest reason maybe to remember the person who maybe had done
something for his country.
The weather is exceptionally hot today, despite the cold morning breeze
from the Pacific Ocean. Yong is in line, waiting to check in Hawaiian Airlines
for his flight back to Thailand. The decision to go back home is very rush, which
is beyond his expectation. He does not plan that he has to visit home so soon,
given his newly opened business. However, since his mother’s constant callings
and the disappearance of Lee, Yong gave in and started to pack his belongings for
a short visit if at all he anticipated.
Yong thinks to himself, if by chance Lee were at this moment in this
airport. If she were, he would have to find out where she were going to so that
he could at once get another ticket to where she were heading. But, this is
impossible. Yong shakes his head to clear his daydream. Lee has disappeared
from this town a few days already, how could she show up here at this airport?
Yong convinces himself. How daydreamer I am! Yong sighs.
“Next please,” a blonde and sea-blue eyed check-in officer calls as Yong
approaches forward. She is in her late twenty with slender built given her
narrow shoulder. She is single. There is no ring visible on her finger.
“Good morning, sir,” the officer greets. “How are you today?”
“Good,” Yong nods.
“May I see your passport and reservation, please?”
Yong hands her his passport and ticket as requested.
“You don’t have any luggage needed to check in, do you?” The officer
inquires.
“No,” Yong shakes his head. “Only this carry-on luggage.”
“I see.” The officer is busy typing something into her computer before
she looks at Yong again. “Here you go, sir,” the officer returns Yong passport
back to him. “You’re ready to go. Please go to Main Overseas Terminal and look
for Gate 7. The gate will be closed 15 minutes before depature time. Do you
have any further question?”
“No. Thank you,” Yong picks up his passport and walks toward the
immigration sign.
After getting through immigration procedure, Yong finds the Diamond Head
Concourse in Main Overseas Terminal, which contains 6 gates from Gate 6 to Gate
11. Yong stops by a coffee counter to get an iced latte to cold off the heat.
While Yong is waiting for his coffee, he sees a young lady in cream-colored shirt
sitting in front of Gate 10, waiting to board. Next to her sits a young man.
They look like friends, and the young lady looks like Lee.
“Your coffee, sir,” a staff calls out.
“Thank you,” Yong says and reaches out his hand to touch the coffee
without looking at the staff.
“Sugar and napkin are over there,” the staff directs his index finger.
“Thanks,” Yong hurries to pick up his carry-on luggage and moves toward
the young lady. When Yong lifts his head and almost walks toward her direction,
she disappears.
How come they
disappear like flash light? Yong asks himself. This can’t be hallucination.
I saw her with my own eyes sitting next to a young man. I can’t daydream two
people at the same time with sober mind. Of course, I can imagine Lee, yet not a
man I have never seen before. My eyes and mind can’t trick me, but how?
“The Hawaiian Airlines Flight 345 from Hawaii to Seoul, South Korea, is
now ready for boarding at Gate 7,” an announcement alerts.
Damn it! Yong sounds angry. Why it has to board now? If I go now and
find out that that girl is not Lee I would miss the flight. But what if she
were Lee then I would miss the chance to find out why she is avoiding me. Yong
stands still when the announcement alerts for second time. At last, Yong
decides against his thought of going to find out about that lady and walks
toward the gate.
If both of us are
destined to be together, fate will bring us to one another! Yong comforts
himself.
to be continued...
