When the taxi pulled over, Yeh got out first, went directly to the trunk to take out the luggage.
Lin stepped out from the other side and followed. They walked toward check-in side by side, their pace aligning without effort—neither waiting, neither moving ahead.
Check-in didn't take long.
Once it was done, everything simplified—only the path toward security check remained.
They stopped just before the entrance. One more step, and they would have to part. Time stretched just enough for something to surface—and be held back.
Yeh spoke first.
"Let's hug."
Her tone was easy, almost light. "Safe travels. Have a good trip."
It came out too smoothly, as if she had rehearsed it, or maybe hadn't thought about it at all.
Lin froze for a brief second.
She looked at Yeh, and in that moment, something became clear—
this was the first time Yeh had moved toward her on her own.
Not a response, not something she allowed, but a choice.
Lin smiled almost immediately.
She stepped forward without hesitation.
They hugged.
It wasn't long, but it was real. No lingering, no attempt to stretch it further—just something that landed exactly where it needed to.
Not quite intimacy, not just politeness.
More like a quiet acknowledgment—
they no longer needed to avoid each other.
Lin's hand rested against Yeh's back, restrained but not distant; Yeh didn't pull away, her body relaxed, without that familiar instinct to tighten.
When they let go, both of them felt lighter.
As if something unspoken had finally been set down between them.
"See you in Bangkok," Lin said.
Her voice was steady, giving the moment a natural continuation.
Yeh nodded. "See you in Bangkok."
Lin turned and walked toward security check. At the entrance, she glanced back.
Yeh was still standing there watching her.
And in that moment, Lin knew—
Yeh might not have figured out her feelings yet, might not sure if she's into woman, but one thing was certain that she was not pushed outside of Yeh.
And Yeh, standing there as Lin disappeared into the crowd, felt none of the old tension about boundaries. She didn't analyze the hug, didn't rush to define it.
She only realized that she was already looking forward to seeing Lin again.