CHAPTER 48 — Departure
The morning sky above the city was still pale when the convoy of black cars rolled toward the private airport terminal.
Unlike the chaos of commercial airports, the private terminal was calm, quiet, and almost surreal.
Glass walls reflected the golden sunrise.
Runway lights still glowed faintly from the night.
Security guards stood near the entrance as the cars stopped one by one.
The doors opened.
Kevin stepped out first.
He stretched his arms dramatically and looked around the enormous runway.
"…Okay," he said slowly.
"This is officially the most ridiculous morning of my life."
Ash stepped out behind him carrying a bag.
"You say that every week."
Kevin pointed toward the runway.
"No, I mean it this time."
Everyone turned.
Two private jets stood waiting on the runway.
Two sleek aircrafts painted in elegant white and silver.
One carried a simple insignia near the door.
C&P.
Care's jet.
The other carried a darker marking.
Trinity Aviation.
Cole's jet.
Kevin stared.
Then slowly turned to the group.
"…I have rich friends."
Joong laughed.
"Just get used to it."
Ben stepped out next, holding a folder filled with hospital documents.
Nova followed him, already scrolling through her tablet.
They were clearly in work mode.
Daisy exited the car last, holding a thin laptop case close to her chest.
She looked slightly pale.
Joong noticed immediately.
"You okay?"
She nodded quickly.
"Yes."
But Joong knew that look.
"You're nervous."
Daisy sighed quietly.
"This conference… there will be doctors from everywhere."
Joong placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"They invited you because you belong there."
Daisy looked at him.
"You really believe that?"
Joong smiled.
"I've believed it since the day you outran half the school with pneumonia."
That made Daisy laugh softly.
Nearby, Lyra and Alex had already started discussing something.
Lyra was staring toward the runway buildings.
"The structural design of the terminal is interesting."
Alex followed her gaze.
"The roof supports are angled to reduce wind resistance."
Lyra crossed her arms thoughtfully.
"London architecture is going to be incredible."
Alex smiled.
"You're not even there yet and you're already studying buildings."
Ash walked past them dragging a suitcase.
"This is why normal people don't travel with architects."
Kevin immediately pointed at her suitcase.
"Speaking of travel."
He grabbed the handle.
"This bag is overweight."
Ash crossed her arms.
"No it isn't."
Kevin lifted it slightly.
"This weighs like a dead body."
"It's clothes."
"No human needs this many clothes."
"You packed three jackets."
"It's London."
"Exactly."
"Exactly what?"
Kevin raised a finger dramatically.
"It rains there."
Ash blinked.
"So you packed jackets?"
Kevin nodded proudly.
"Yes."
Ash stared at him.
"…You're unbelievable."
Meanwhile…
Nova and Ben were standing slightly apart from the chaos.
Their focus was entirely different.
Ben flipped through hospital plans.
"These presentation slides still need the updated surgical data."
Nova nodded while typing on her tablet.
"I already added it."
Ben looked up.
"Good."
Nova leaned slightly closer to the screen.
"And the international expansion proposal?"
Ben nodded.
"Ready."
Nova looked satisfied.
"Perfect."
Their teamwork was quiet.
Precise.
Efficient.
Across the runway…
Two figures stood near the aircraft stairs.
Care and Cole.
They had stepped slightly away from the group's chaos.
The runway stretched wide in front of them.
Wind brushed across the empty airfield.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
They simply watched their friends.
Kevin and Ash arguing.
Lyra pointing at airport architecture.
Alex calmly analyzing structures.
Nova and Ben discussing hospital data.
Daisy nervously checking research notes.
Joong reassuring her.
Cole folded his arms slightly.
"They're going to take over the world one day."
Care glanced toward the group.
"They already are."
Cole looked at her.
"You realize something, right?"
"What?"
He nodded toward the group.
"They follow you."
Care frowned slightly.
"They don't follow anyone."
Cole shook his head.
"Maybe not consciously."
Then he pointed slightly toward the group.
"But when decisions matter…"
"They look at you."
Care didn't answer.
Cole continued.
"And when something goes wrong…"
"They look at me."
Care finally looked at him.
"You're saying we're leaders."
Cole shrugged.
"We've always been."
For a moment they both looked back toward the group again.
Ten people.
Different talents.
Different dreams.
But somehow perfectly balanced.
Finally Kevin's voice shouted across the runway.
"ARE WE FLYING OR STARTING A COMPANY MEETING HERE?"
Cole sighed.
"Chaos."
Care smirked slightly.
They walked back toward the group.
Kevin pointed dramatically at the jets.
"So which one do I get?"
Care spoke first.
"Half of you take mine."
Cole added.
"The rest with me."
Kevin immediately pointed.
"I'm going with the one that has better food."
Ash rolled her eyes.
"Both have chefs."
Kevin froze.
"…This keeps getting better."
Joong laughed.
"Alright. Let's split."
They divided naturally.
Care's Jet
Care
Daisy
Joong
Lyra
Alex
Cole's Jet
Cole
Kevin
Ash
Nova
Ben
The stairs lowered.
Engines hummed softly.
The group began boarding.
Inside Care's Jet
The interior looked more like a luxury living room than an airplane.
Soft leather seats.
A long table.
Large windows.
A quiet golden lighting.
Joong immediately collapsed into a seat.
"Okay this is insane."
Daisy sat beside him nervously reviewing her research notes again.
Joong gently pushed the papers down.
"Stop."
"I need to review."
"You've reviewed them ten times."
"What if I forget something?"
"You won't."
Lyra had already moved to the window.
She was studying the wing structure.
Alex sat across from her.
"You're analyzing the aircraft design."
Lyra shrugged.
"It's impressive engineering."
Alex smiled.
"You're impossible."
Meanwhile Care had taken a seat near the front quietly reading emails.
But every few seconds she glanced toward the group.
Making sure everyone was settled.
Leader instinct.
Inside Cole's Jet
Chaos had already begun.
Kevin opened the mini fridge.
"…Is this champagne?"
Ash smacked his hand.
"It's 9 AM."
Kevin shrugged.
"International travel rules."
Nova ignored them completely.
She was working on her tablet.
Ben sat beside her reviewing hospital reports.
Cole leaned back calmly watching the madness.
Kevin popped open the fridge again.
"Okay but hypothetically…"
Ash groaned.
"No."
Cole smirked.
"Let him."
Kevin pointed at Cole dramatically.
"Thank you!"
Ash shook her head.
"You two are children."
The Flights Begin
Both jets slowly moved across the runway.
Engines roared softly.
Inside the aircrafts conversations faded as everyone looked out the windows.
The jets accelerated.
Faster.
Faster.
Then suddenly—
The ground disappeared beneath them.
They were in the sky.
Hours Later
The flights turned into a mixture of everything.
Business meetings.
Teasing.
Sleeping.
Planning.
Daisy eventually fell asleep with her research notes still in her hand.
Joong carefully moved them aside.
Lyra and Alex spent nearly two hours discussing architectural designs of London hospitals.
Kevin tried convincing Ash that he needed a "London shopping budget."
Nova and Ben finalized hospital presentation slides.
Care quietly reviewed business proposals.
Cole watched the clouds through the window.
Occasionally glancing at the other jet flying parallel in the distance.
Evening
The cabin lights dimmed.
Outside the sky turned dark.
Then the pilot's voice echoed through the cabin speakers.
"Ladies and gentlemen…"
"Prepare for descent."
Everyone slowly looked up.
The pilot continued.
"Welcome to London."
Joong leaned toward the window.
Below them…
A sea of lights spread across the night.
The London skyline.
Tower Bridge glowing across the river.
The city shining like gold.
Daisy whispered softly.
"Wow…"
Lyra stared in fascination.
Alex smiled quietly.
In the other jet Kevin pressed his face against the window.
"…Okay that's beautiful."
Ash nodded slowly.
Nova and Ben looked at the city thoughtfully.
Cole leaned back in his seat.
Watching the lights of London grow closer.
And in the jet flying beside them…
Care quietly looked down at the city as well.
Something about the moment felt important.
Ten friends.
Two jets.
A new city.
A new chapter beginning.
And somewhere in London…
Another group was arriving too.
A group that would soon change everything.