The word "Delayed" on the screens at the gate in Frankfurt glowed repeatedly. Every chair was occupied by weary travelers, most of us facing a Friday night connection back home to Hamburg, thwarted by the brewing storm. My attempt to lose myself in a book failed; my whole body ached and I desperately wanted to go home.
I had clapped eyes on a flight attendant who was probably on her way home too. She was in uniform: dark blue skirt with yellow accents, a white shirt and a yellow scarf around her neck, and she looked tired. Her hair was bleach-blonde and straight, cut on jaw-length, and her striking eyes were piercing blue.
She noticed me despite my best efforts not to seem like a creep. "This is a mess," she muttered in English, likely having overheard my earlier phone call conducted in fractured German
"Yeah, tell me about it," I replied, my voice low.
She glanced over and smiled. "Heading to Hamburg too?" she said, pronouncing the name of the city in her native accent.
"Yep," I responded. "Finn. Nice to meet you, too."
"Lena," she responded. "Where are you from?" she added after studying me for a brief moment.
"Denmark. Close to the border."
"Interesting, yet you don't speak German fluently." she said. "And where were you?"
Her tone about the my lack of German skills was slightly condescending
"Valencia," I replied. "A work trip. And you?"
"Long-haul flights are my usual route," she said, rubbing her temples. "Osaka this time. Just heading home for the weekend."
"You must be exhausted."
She scoffed softly. "Yes. But short-haul wouldn't allow me to live in Hamburg."
"A brief silence settled between us. Then, her tone remaining conversational, she inquired, "So, what line of work brings you to Spain?"
"Engineering," I said, keeping it vague. "We are involved in a large project near Valencia."
"That sounds intense," she said, a slight furrow in her brow.
"It has its moments," I admitted. "But I'm on health-and-safety. So, I'm typically swamped in paperwork."
"I understand," she replied. "Every role with responsibility comes with its own set of challenges."
"What about you?" I asked, redirecting the conversation. "Japan's a long way. How many countries have you visited?"
She sighed, a hint of weariness in her voice. "Many of them, mostly in Asia though. But our stays are usually brief."
I chuckled. "I can imagine. You must see some interesting things, though. New cities, sights, local food."
"Interesting is one word for it," she said, a wry smile on her lips. "Mostly, it's just a lot of people in a confined space, all wanting to get somewhere else."
"Sounds intense," I echoed, mirroring her earlier choice of words
"It has its moments," she replied. "Long hours, demanding passengers, the usual stress."
The low hum of the airport faded into background noise that didn't seem to have an effect on our conversation. To be honest, speaking to Lena brought an injection of energy into my otherwise tired body and mind. She told me how she first thought that the flight attendant job was a temporary fix, a stopgap until she secured a position in her field--she said she had a degree in French literature--but it had become permanent as it offered flexibility and the pay was substantially better than any teaching opportunity She also asked me spot-on questions about my job as a site engineer, which made me wonder whether she used to date someone in my field.
Then she shifted, her eyes widening slightly.
"Oh, damn," she murmured, her gaze scanning the floor. "Think I just lost an earring."
There was no sound, as the background noise covered everything but I saw the small glint of silver near her feet.
"Here," I offered, already beginning to bend down. "Allow me."
As I drew closer, a subtle, warm floral scent reached me, a striking contrast to the sterile air of the terminal.
I went down to one knee and my eyes were drawn to her legs, with the beautifully shaped calves covered in dark, semi-opaque tights. Her shoes, high-heeled but with a practical square heel; her outfit was simple--her comfort was the priority--yet it had an elegance that brought butterflies in my stomach.
The whole moment lasted a few seconds until I found the small silver earring. "Here you go," I said, my voice a little rougher than intended.
She took it, her fingers touching mine momentarily. "Thanks," she said, her eyes meeting mine. "You're a lifesaver."
There was something in her gaze that I couldn't properly decipher. A spark, maybe? Or just gratitude? I couldn't tell. But it was enough to make my pulse quicken. I reckoned she noticed my reaction when I approached her but that didn't mean anything; she could simply enjoy my interest without returning it.
Then came the announcement, cold and final, confirmed our worst fears; our flight had been cancelled and we were prompted to head to the passenger assistant counters for rebooking. A collective sigh, heavy with resignation, swept through the gate. Yet, I couldn't help but admire the stoic restraint of the German travelers, even in the face of this disruption.
Lena tapped her feet on the floor. "Just my luck," she muttered.
"Well," I said, trying to inject a note of optimism, "at least they're offering accommodation."
A frazzled airline employee, her voice strained, with dark rings around her eyes, confirmed the details: a nearby hotel, vouchers, and a shuttle bus.
The hotel was, as expected, functional. Clean, but nothing to write home about. We stood in the lobby, waiting endlessly for our room assignments. The air was thick with the shared exhaustion of stranded travelers and the exhausted receptionists who couldn't wait for their shift to come to an end.
"Well," I said, a touch of awkwardness creeping into my voice, "at least it's a bed."
"Definitely," Lena agreed.
The hotel clerk, clearly overwhelmed, finally handed us our key cards. "Rooms 302 and 314," she said, her voice flat.
As we were walking towards the elevators, I felt a surge of something. An opportunity? A risk? I badly wanted to ask her to dinner, to prolong the connection we'd formed at the airport. But the words couldn't seem to come out of mouth
"Well," I began, then trailed off, unsure how to proceed.
Lena turned to me, with a raised eyebrow. "Yeah?"
I hesitated, then opted for a safe, albeit lame, farewell. "Just good night," I said, forcing a smile. "Get some rest."
"You too," Lena replied, her smile widening slightly. Then, she paused, as if considering something. "Actually," she said, her voice a touch lower, " Pick me up in half an hour. Room 314."
I blinked, surprised. "Pick you up?"