Epilogue 1.2

Epilogue 1.2

If her score fell below the cutoff, she had to retake the test without exception. In the first exam, which she had taken without thinking too much about it, Miran received a retest notice. After that, she studied all night, every night. Fortunately, from then on she barely passed the cutoff each time, by the skin of her teeth.

Failing any part of the training could lead to her job offer being revoked, so every day felt like walking on thin ice. She even lost three kilos.

“If our Miran had studied like this in her senior year of high school, she could’ve gone to Seoul National.”

Juran said it half jokingly, half proudly as she brought her late-night snacks.

Miran really had been desperate. This was on a completely different level from her halfhearted attitude toward college entrance exams.

There was no job better suited for a long-distance relationship than being a flight attendant. Even without a tourist visa, she could receive a visa that allowed short-term stays in the United States. That made the job even more appealing.

Being able to travel to New York without paying for plane tickets or hotels.

Miran’s large eyes burned with fierce determination.

To the point where even when Andre came to Korea, she couldn’t relax because she was too anxious about the next day’s test. Seeing that, he postponed all of his scheduled plans and stayed at the hotel to help her study.

As a result, that particular exam was the only one she passed with a high score. It was uncanny, but the exact portions Andre had pointed out as likely exam questions appeared just as he predicted.

When the three months of training finally came to an end, Miran felt reborn.

Her hair was always perfectly swept into an updo, she wore bright red lipstick, and she learned how to walk gracefully in high heels with flawless posture. She learned Western table manners, how to distinguish different types of wine, and even how to make cocktails. Not only in-flight announcements but also water rescue techniques and CPR were part of her training.

And today, at last, the long-awaited OJT (On the Job Training) schedule was posted. Before being assigned to the lineup as a full-fledged flight attendant, trainees followed actual flights to observe and learn. It was the final stage of training, and a test in itself.

Among the new recruits, the European routes like Paris were the most popular choices for OJT. But throughout the entire three months, Miran had only one wish: please, please let her be assigned to New York.

Rumor had it that the New York route was almost always fully booked, making it one of the most demanding assignments. But that didn’t matter. Miran wanted only New York, nothing else.

And this afternoon, her wish finally came true. It felt like a reward for surviving such grueling training. When she received her schedule, she let out a cheer and hopped up and down, only to get scolded by her instructor for losing her composure in public.

Once the computer finished booting and the Windows desktop appeared, Miran clicked the modem icon with practiced ease. The crackling sound of the phone line connecting to the internet washed over her like sweet music.

She snuck a glance at her wristwatch.

A little past 8:30 here meant it was 7:30 am in New York.

Andre lived a disciplined life. By 6:30, he was always up, doing light exercise and showering. After that, he stopped by his study to check his work emails before heading out. So barring anything unusual, he would be at his computer around this time.

As soon as the internet connected, she clicked the ICQ messenger. Quickly, she checked the icon next to Andre’s username.

“Green!”

It meant he was online.

Miran opened a chat window and began typing. She had upgraded from two-finger typing to three fingers not long ago, and she had nearly memorized the keyboard. After sending emails and chatting with Andre every day, it had come naturally.

André: Y

Y was Andre’s habit, even in chat, of using the shortest expression possible instead of typing “Yes.”

Miran giggled.

“Yes.”

She could almost hear his slightly curt, slightly gentle voice in her ears.

Miran: Andre, I’m finally going to New York! I leave 3/24 at 10:30 AM and arrive the same day at 11:50 AM New York time. I get one day of rest, then I depart New York on 3/26 at 1:50 PM.

André: Good. Let’s get married on March 25.

Miran narrowed her eyes, stretched her neck forward like a turtle, and leaned closer to the monitor.

“What… what did he say we should do?”