Changi Airport, Singapore
you. I’m not ready. I’m sorry.” The words came out but sounded uncertain. In the mirror, Bella saw an All Nippon Airways flight attendant walk past. She was young, not over twenty, but she looked fourteen. The girl averted her eyes, covered her mouth with her hand and giggled, then closed herself into a washroom stall. Bella studied herself in the mirror. Anybody else would see a young woman in vibrant health, but there were signs of a lifetime in the sun. Her entire face contorted as she squinted, forcing her subtle smile lines around her eyes into furrows. She followed with a big stupid smile, exposing straight, white teeth. Not Hollywood perfect but close. She relaxed, and the parts of her face resumed their place. Bella laughed and spoke up in a theatrical tone, plenty loud enough for the girl to hear, “Gregory, I must marry you. I’m not getting any younger.” She heard another giggle as she exited the washroom.
She walked to an empty chair and called her roommate. “Hi, Zoe. I just landed.”
“How was the Stone Age? Did you meet any swell guys reading Little House on the Prairie?”
Bella answered, “It’s great to hear your voice, too. I'm still in the concourse. I need space from Gregory. Airport security might have to keep him away.”
“Really? You’ve had two weeks off the planet, and you need space? Plus, I might remind you he’s rich… and handsome… and treats you like a goddess… and did I say he’s rich?”
“It was all scheduled for tomorrow. I’d meet him at church and then his choice for brunch. Right now, I’m a mess and have nothing to wear. All my text messages are from him.” Bella recited with disdain, “’I’ll meet you at the airport.’ ‘I need to talk to you.’ ‘I have to leave for Tokyo early.’ ‘Reservations at Corner House…’”
Zoe interrupted, “Buy what you need. They’ve got a million shops there. Use that card he gave you. Did you tell him you arrived?”
“Are you kidding? I think he watched my plane land. The minute the wheels touched the ground he texted, ‘I’ll meet you in baggage.’”
“Oh, I wish I had a fiancé that would meet me at the airport and take me to the most romantic restaurant in the city.”
“He’s not my fiancé.”
“Come on, Bella. Please, show me the ring again. You don’t have to put it on. I just need a glimpse. Face it, two karats in a ring like that? It's pure diamond porn. You’re so lucky.”
“Zoe, I know I should have rejected him when he asked. I thought I did, but when he said, ‘Please, take the ring and think about it…’ Well, it sounded reasonable.” Bella slouched onto the uncomfortable bench, oblivious to the growing number of people around her. “I can’t believe I took it.”
“Bell, there is another option.”
“I’m all ears.”
“Just say yes.”
Bella chided her roommate. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. Now stop being a pest and help me. I’m out of my depth. What do I say? I don’t want to hurt his feelings, but he’s just not the right guy.”
“Okay, you will regret this for the rest of your life, but this is what you need to do…”
Bella found a wall to lean against in the busy terminal and typed. I’m exhausted after my flight. Feeling terrible. I’ve just got to go home and sleep.
A video call from Gregory came in. Zoe said he would do that. Maybe she knew what she was talking about. Bella put on a tired face and tried to appear as ugly as possible. Zoe told her to “try ugly” and added, “It won’t work. You're the girl who can puke on a date and the guy would tell his friends how cute you were.”
Bella answered, placing the phone low and too close. “Hi, I have nothing but carry-on. I’ll meet you at Burger King on level one.” She hung up.
Bella stayed glued to her seat when Gregory walked into the fast-food eatery. A short man with a tray bumped past Bella’s well-dressed suitor. Gregory scowled at the man, who smiled and offered his apology in a language Bella didn’t recognize. A mask strapped across her mouth and nose, and her hand on her beach bag, would have said enough, but she motioned for him to have a seat on the other side of the table. The usual kiss, even a chaste one, would not happen. “If I’m sick, it’s better you keep your distance.” She wore the ugliest oversized t-shirt she could buy at the last minute. It was Kelly green with a picture of a cat and what looked like snowflakes. To top it off, she had bought a truck driver hat and covered up the hair he loved.
Gregory looked shocked. He sat down across from her and said, “Oh, Bella, you look awful. Do you need to see a doctor?”
Zoe didn’t tell her to expect that, but it made her deceit easier. “Gregory, can you get me a Sprite? It might help my stomach.”
“Are you sure? Don’t you just want to get out of here? My Ferrari is with the valet. All I have to do is ring them.”
Zoe’s script was crumbling. Everything that happened from this point forward was her own responsibility. Zoe had said, “No matter what happens, remember two things. Give him back the ring and don’t leave the airport with him.” Bella could do that. Just two things.
“Gregory, thanks for coming to help me. I need a Sprite—and a ton of ice. Please, just get that for me while I find a washroom. Do you mind?”
She struggled just enough to get out of her seat. Gregory watched as she grabbed her stomach. He stood helplessly, and she offered a side-hug. “Hurry now. That line’s getting longer.” She gave Gregory a weak smile as he joined the queue.
“Zoe. I did it.”
Zoe asked, “Did what?”
“I left Gregory.”
“Already! How did you pull that off?”
“Sent him to buy a Sprite and walked off.”
“You're kidding me.”
Bella’s voice lowered. “Now I really feel sick. I’m just going to get a flight out of here.”
Zoe inquired, “What about the ring?”
The blood drained out of Bella’s face. “I slipped it into his jacket pocket when I hugged him.”
“Oh, no.” Zoe’s voice turned serious. “Oh, dear, Bella. What were you thinking?”
A tear flowed down Bella’s cheek. “He’ll be so pissed.” She wiped her face with the oversized sleeve of the t-shirt. “I’m going back. I can take my time and do it right. He’s probably still in line.” She drew in a great breath and exhaled confidence. “I’ve got to go. I’ll call you.”
She wasn’t wearing any makeup but needed to make sure she didn’t look horrible. Bella pulled off her mask and smiled into a mirror in a display case. She took off the hat, freeing her hair to drop across her shoulders and halfway down her back, and pushed the hat into her beach bag. She tossed the ugly green t-shirt into a nearby trash can, revealing her favorite travel blouse, a beige sleeveless top. Bella renewed her posture, shoulders back, chest out, chin up, and in just a few strides, she felt better and maneuvered to the food court.
A sense of relief washed over her. She had come close to ending not only their romance but also their friendship. Now she knew what she must do. She would say she would not marry him but would do it respectfully. As she got closer, she wondered if he might still be in line. It hadn’t been that long. Her dad was right. Take your time and do things right. She had almost wrecked everything. But now she had time, and a genuine smile crossed her face.
A vibration transmitted through her hip pocket, but she ignored it. She had no time to look at messages. She needed to get to Gregory. The long line was still there, but he was not. All the tables were full, and Gregory was gone. A gray-haired custodian mopped up spilled liquid and was shoeing ice cubes into a dustpan. Bella’s heart raced as she looked at the text.
It said, You’ll regret this!