37. Chapter 37

With a heavy heart, Jayna made her way through the terminal. It should have been a triumphal return home as Merathlon champion and freshly minted minor celebrity.

Instead, it felt like a walk of shame.

Bright, cheery colors throughout the airport contrasted sharply with her dark, sour mood. The airport was full of tourists, all smiles and laughter at the end of their wonderful Manutai holiday.

Jayna hated them.

As she approached her boarding gate, the growing crowd threatened to overwhelm her. Too many people. Too much noise. Too much chaos.

Too much happiness and joy for a bitter, heartbroken mermaid.

A woman in a bright purple floral dress and nametag bearing the Pasifika Airline logo approached her. "Jayna Cooper?" she said.

Jayna nodded warily, uncertain if this woman's recognition of her was simply professional or if she had seen the streams of her meltdown at the Jubilee ball.

The woman had a medium build and deep brown eyes. Her curly black hair was cut short, and her bright friendly smile looked genuine. She gestured to a door at the edge of the waiting area. "Follow me, please."

To her surprise, the woman escorted her past the other passengers and directly onto the jetway. Jayna hesitated. Her last-minute ticket purchase came with end-of-the-line boarding.

The agent turned and beckoned. "This way, please."

Jayna had never traveled on one of the massive intercontinental flying wings before. She looked around in awe as she stepped onto the plane. The cabin was enormous, with a high ceiling and wide rows of seating that narrowed towards the front and looked more like a small theater than the interior of an aircraft.

Jayna had booked a seat near the back, as it was one of the only spots available. But the attendant led her to the front of the plane and opened a small door. "Here we are. Suite 4."

Confused, Jayna pulled up her flight confirmation. "I don't have a suite. I'm in seat T-19."

The attendant ignored the confirmation and scanned Jayna's face with her pad. "You are Jayna Cooper, right?"

"Yes."

The woman's broad professional smile returned. "Then you are in Suite 4."

It struck Jayna that Emmaline must've somehow gotten her ticket upgraded. Her jaw tightened in anger. She didn't want anything else from Emmaline or Sid.

But she was too tired to hold onto her frustration, and it quickly ebbed away, leaving her feeling resigned. She didn't have the energy to fight against an upgrade. Besides, it was going to be a long flight, and she could really use the solitude the suite would provide.

After Jayna sat down, the attendant showed her how to turn the seat into a bed and how to switch the display wall between the various modes, which included a front facing camera and an overhead view showing their large flying wing from above.

"If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask," the agent said.

Jayna mustered her best smile. "Thank you."

The attendant had left the display wall in video mode, showing scenes out and about in Manutai. Jayna only paid a little attention to the display until it showed the pool at Kingdom of Tangaroa. As she gave her attention to the display, she realized the video was highlights of the Merathlon, including her triumphant win.

When the stream showed Kalani scooping her from the water, the amazing feeling of winning the Merathlon flooded through her.

Then the stream shifted to the Jubilee beach party, and Jayna realized this stream was a compilation of Jubilee highlights. And that, of course, reminded her of the kiss she and Sid had shared on the beach. What a fool she had been.

With a flash of panic, Jayna realized the stream would show the Jubilee Ball any moment, and while she doubted that the highlight reel would include the lowlight of her fight with Sid, the memory was still far too raw.

Jayna mashed her finger on the control pad, trying desperately to turn off the display. Instead, the wall of her suite seemed to disappear as the display switched to the front-facing camera.

After the initial shock, she was surprised at how soothing it was to watch the rain pour down in the darkness. She dimmed her cabin lights, laid her seat out flat, and allowed her tears to fall along with the rain.