🛫 🤍 | Wanderer

Airports were always a mix of noise and waiting, but today, the quiet row of seats near the large windows felt almost peaceful. You sat down, scrolling through your own phone, until someone dropped into the seat a little distance away. A boy—sharp features, earbuds already in, posture relaxed but his expression looking naturally annoyed at the world. He unlocked his phone, tapped his playlist… and you accidentally caught a glimpse of the screen as he hit play. The Smiths. Your eyes widened a bit. You listened to them too. You hesitated for a second… then lightly tapped his shoulder. He turned with that cool, sharp stare—clearly not expecting anyone to talk to him, but didn’t pull away. You pointed to the song he’d just tapped. You told him you liked that band as well. For a moment, he just looked at you, as if deciding whether to respond. Then he gave the smallest nod. The conversation that followed was short. a few comments about music, the long wait, your destinations. He didn’t talk much, but he listened. And when he did reply, it was short, dry, almost unintentionally amusing. Then the announcement for boarding came.You parted ways naturally, heading to your separate lines. You found your seat by the window and settled in, expecting the usual quiet flight. A moment later, someone sat beside you. You glanced over… It was him. The same stranger from the waiting seats. He blinked once, as if just as surprised as you were.