Completely Unprecedented
Her mind was filled with a plethora of thoughts as she watched the man slowly approach her. He caught her attention with his crisp suit and his stunning ocean-blue eyes.
Nevertheless, his announcement that she was seated in the wrong place caught her completely defenseless. Her confidence in her reading of the number was high. In reality, the situation was not nearly as intricate as she had expected.
Following Her Heart
Janice Walker materialized her lifelong dream of serving in the military, leaving everything behind to make it her reality. Despite her ambitions and determination, a harsh reality proved to be far more challenging than she had anticipated.
She was beyond excited to return home after venturing to The Netherlands for her very first international training session.
Foreign Preparations
The Netherlands wasn't an accommodating place for Janice to be. Her daily training sessions left her entirely drained of energy, so she hardly had enough time or energy to catch up with her parents. Her energy was depleted by early mornings and long hours; she desired nothing more than a good, long night of uninterrupted sleep.
It was no deterrent for Janice to persevere despite the unexpected difficulties of the training.
Serious Affairs
In The Netherlands, Janice underwent some of the most challenging training of her life. The woman never backed down from any challenge or criticism, no matter how far she had ran or how many obstacles she was presented with.
Even for someone tough as nails as she was, the training was no joke. Janice faced moments when passing seemed like an unachievable task, despite being in excellent physical shape for the majority of her.
Immense Stamina
During her training in The Netherlands, Janice's body was pushed to its furthest limits. As she lifted her gear, her shoulders throbbed with pain, her sunburned skin was sensitive, and her muscles burned like fire. In anticipation of being back in her own bed, she eagerly awaited the end of the training.
She was, however, awaiting an unexpected challenge.
Moments Before Departure
Despite only having three hours left until her departure, Janice had finished all her preparations except packing. In spite of her diligent preparation, she wasn't particularly looking forward to the long flight.
In spite of her dislike of flying, she would tolerate it. This particular flight would be long and unpredictable.
Hours Couped Up
The thought of a long flight in cramped seats with insufficient personal space rained down on Janice's spirits. Her mood sank further when she considered the unappetizing on-board meals. The promise of a home-cooked meal from her loving mother and a playful game with her father kept her going.
Janice's dream came at a dire price, and she would pay every cent.
Flawed Seating
Despite having access to all the amenities, Janice's extremely far back, assigned seat was far from perfect. It seemed like waiting in line would take an eternity, and getting off would be just as cumbersome.
She, in any case, sat in her less-than-ideal seat, knowing not what lay before her.
Forced For Choice
Janice knew she had no choice but to take it, despite its less-than-ideal seat placement. As long as she got there, she would sit anywhere and endure anything. The prospect of being stationed outside the US and exploring the world sparked her extreme enthusiasm.
Her perspective changed entirely as a result of this fateful trip, however. Was this flight what she needed to completely change her mind?
All Downhill From Here
Janice's airport departure was frantic. As soon as she grabbed her belongings and called for a cab, everything went wrong. As she had reached the weight limit, she had to take her gear as hand luggage after checking her bags.
In hopes of a smooth journey, she tossed her gear over her shoulder at the departure gate.
Endless Wait
Janice knew she had arrived early, but the wait to start boarding felt like it took an eternity. She was checking her watch every five minutes. And because of that, she failed to notice what was going on around her.
Someone had their eyes set on her, and this person was out to change her plans completely.
Shuffling Onto The Plane
The boarding call finally came, and Janice shot up. She tried to get in the line as quickly as possible, but many others beat her to it.
They slowly started moving, with each person having their passport checked before shuffling onto the plane. But Janice was still blissfully unaware of what was happening a few feet away from her.
Longing Glance
As Janice got on the plane, she longingly glanced into the business class section. All the passengers were already seated, and those chairs looked so comfortable.
How Janice wished she could experience that for once in her life. The comfort those seats promised to offer was exactly what her exhausted body needed. With a sigh, Janice continued.
Her Reserved Seat
She made her way into the economy class and waited for the people in the queue in front of her to find their respective seats. Janice’s seat was reserved, though, and she knew exactly where she needed to go.
She looked over to her seat and saw that there were still a whole lot of people blocking her way. But there was one person who would stand out above the rest.
All The Way At The Back
Janice’s seat was right at the back. Not a few rows from the back or a few seats between her and the staff area. She was right there in the last window seat the plane had to offer.
So she would have to wait a while since all the people in front of her were seated in other parts of the plane. And they all had hand luggage that needed to be put away before they could clear the aisle.
Getting Looks
As Janice waited to get to her seat, she realized that a lot of the people who were already seated were looking at her. Eyes were roaming over her like she had done something wrong, and she couldn’t help but wonder what that could’ve been.
But there was something else as well. Something that would confuse Janice even more.
Secretive Whispers
The people who were looking at her would whisper amongst themselves like they had some kind of secret to share with the world.
Janice knew it had something to do with her. She could feel it in every fiber of her being. But she had no idea what was going on. What did these people see that she didn’t?
She Knew Why
Feeling self-conscious, Janice looked down and realized that she was still wearing her military uniform. That was when all the pieces began falling into place.
She would often see her father getting the same treatment when he went out with his uniform on. But what she didn’t know was that her uniform would affect her entire flight.
Ignoring Them
Janice decided to ignore the looks she was getting. Her father had always told her that it was the best way to deal with things. And during her training, she had become a pro at blocking out the unnecessary information.
But Janice forgot about another important part of her training. She forgot to look out for the little signals that were hiding around her.
Waiting Patiently
Janice patiently waited, only shuffling forward whenever someone managed to take their seat. And after what seemed like an eternity, she finally managed to get to hers.
She put her gear into the overhead compartment and sank down in her chair. Now that she had finally boarded, she could feel her excitement creeping in. But it would be short-lived.
An Unexpected Delay
Janice was starting to lose her patience. She looked down at her watch for what must’ve been the hundredth time.
There was clearly a delay with their flight, as it should’ve lifted off over ten minutes ago. But they were still grounded, and no one told them why they were being delayed. Janice looked around, hoping to find the answer.
What Could’ve Caused It?
She looked out the window, knowing that bad weather often caused delays. But the sky was crystal clear. There wasn’t a cloud in sight.
So she turned her attention to the aisle to see if one of the passengers might’ve been delayed. But no one was coming in, and all the seats were full. She had no idea that the delay had happened because of her.
Looking For An Attendant
Janice stuck her head into the aisle with the hope of finding a flight attendant so she could ask what was happening. But surprisingly, there was no one there.
Even the staff area was empty, which was rather strange since the flight attendants should be busy preparing for lift-off. Janice looked up the aisle then, and what she saw left her with scattered thoughts.
Grabbing Her Attention
As Janice’s eyes roamed along the aisle, something caught her attention. There was a figure standing between the business class and economy class, and it didn’t belong to a flight attendant.
Janice didn’t know who it was. But the figure belonged to the person who had been watching her ever since she checked in at the airport.
A Gorgeous Man
His body grew larger as he walked down the aisle. And for the first time in a long-time, Janice felt herself being intimidated by his presence. Yet, she couldn’t drag her eyes away.
There was something about the gorgeous man that forced her to look. Was it his messy black hair? Or those piercing blue eyes? She simply didn’t know.
Admiring Him
But she allowed her gaze to linger. Taking in his strong frame and the aura of pride that followed him, she concluded that he must’ve been lost.
However, the man was there with a purpose, and Janice was at the center of it. He’d watched her for hours, but why? What did he want from the young woman?
Expensive Suit
Janice looked him up and down before turning her attention to his suit. It was expensive. She could spot that from a mile away - most likely Armani, if not something more pricey.
From his suit, she concluded that a man like him must drive an elegant yet expensive car—something like a Maserati or a high-class Mercedes.
Business-Like Demeanor
She then focused on his chiseled face and the way he carried himself. There wasn’t a hint of a smile, and even though his eyes were bright, they had no sparkle.
He carried himself like a rich businessman, which meant he probably held a position as a CEO or something along those lines. What was a man like him doing in economy class?
Not The Economy Class Type
It was clear that he wasn’t the type of person who would book a seat in that section of the plane. He would most likely book a seat in first or business class. Did his secretary make some kind of mistake?
So many things were crossing Janice’s mind, but she wasn’t anywhere near the truth.
Slow, Deliberate Movements
The man was moving slowly, almost as if he wanted to intimidate everyone who laid eyes on him. And it was working.
Every person he passed retreated into their seats, and Janice could imagine why. The guy had a menacing look on his face that would send a chill down anyone's spine. Whoever he was looking for definitely wouldn’t have an easy way out.
Blue Eyes Locked On Her
Janice shifted in her seat as the man’s bright blue eyes fell on her. She was trapped in his gaze with no way out.
His lips curled into a menacing smile, sending that chill she had been thinking about down her spine. She was his target. It was becoming more clear with every second he looked at her.
Thoughts Evaporate
Janice tried to maintain her composure. It was something she had gotten used to over the last few weeks. But with each step he took toward her, her thoughts melted away.
It was like she was trapped in his spell. And she wasn’t really sure how that would turn out. But she wasn’t ready to escape either.
Training Fades Away
He was about halfway through now, and Janice seemed to have forgotten everything she had learned in her training. The cool, calm, and collected stuff went right out the window.
The same went for observation and classification. She should’ve picked up on the man’s intentions by now. But she could hardly put a straight thought together.
A Vulnerability Like No Other
Janice felt like the man was tearing down every single defense she had put up. All the walls she had built to take the pressure off her training were gone.
She felt vulnerable, and she wasn’t sure if she liked it or not. There were just so many confusing emotions for her to work through at that point.
Idle Thoughts
On the one hand, she was wondering what this mysterious man could possibly want from a woman like her. But on the other hand…
Janice couldn’t stop herself from wondering what it would be like to go out with a man like him. She was sure women fought over him. And that wasn’t something she would usually be interested in. But to have a chance with him…
Nervous Or Cautious?
Janice was in a state of utter confusion. She had no idea if this man was making her nervous or if her instincts were screaming for her to take a cautious approach when it came to him.
But her time of wondering what he was up to was coming to an end. He was at the end of the plane, and it was only a matter of time before his true intentions were revealed.
Stopping At Her Seat
The man stopped at Janice’s seat. She averted her gaze, unsure of what to make of the situation. But when he cleared his throat, she knew she couldn’t hide.
Suddenly, her mind started working again, and it was in overdrive. Plus, she felt like an emotional wreck who didn’t know what was up or what was down.
Unsure Of What To Think
Now that he was standing next to her seat, she knew for a fact that he was there for her. But why? Many men had hit on her before, and she wondered if that might be the case this time around.
But Janice had no idea what the man was about to do. And when he was done, she’d be completely speechless.
Whiskey-Laced Voice
The man leaned down and said, “You’re in my seat.” His whiskey-laced voice instantly made her blush. And with her mind being all over the place, Janice didn’t really register what he said.
She was just too flabbergasted to realize what was actually going on. But it wouldn’t take her too long to realize that she had the wrong idea about everything.
The Moment Of Truth
“Ma’am?” the man said with a look of utter confusion. “You must’ve read your ticket wrong because this seat is assigned to me.”
Janice’s brows furrowed in confusion as the man’s words tried to pierce through the fog that was clouding her exhausted mind. But with the state she was in, it wasn’t too easy to understand him.
It Took A Moment
It took a few moments for his words to sink in, and when they did, Janice was even more confused. She looked up at her seat number, and the sight confused her even more.
She was 100% sure that she was in the right seat. So he must be the one who’s making a mistake.
What Did He Mean?
But Janice was frazzled and tired, so she wouldn’t just insist on something that she wasn’t sure about. She needed to check before she spoke up.
Janice pulled out her ticket and squinted as she looked at her seat number. It seemed right, but she still wasn’t willing to risk it. So she took an extra measure, just in case.
Her Ticket Was Clear
Janice got up and pressed her ticket against the overhead compartment where her seat number was written. She was right. Both of them said 22 A.
“I think you might be mistaken,” Janice said, trying to sound as calm as possible. But that was no easy feat, especially not when her heart was pounding against her chest.
There Had To Be A Mistake
“Then someone must’ve messed up at the office,” the man said with a smile. “Because these lovely ladies assured me that this was my seat.”
The man motioned to the two air hostesses who were standing behind him. Janice looked past him and saw the air hostess who had directed her to the very seat she was in.
The Flight Attendants
The flight attendants eagerly nodded, agreeing with the man. By that point, Janice didn’t know what else to say or do.
Her ticket clearly stated that it was her seat. But she also knew airlines, and she knew that they had no problem with double booking seats. If that was the case, she had the short stick in the situation.
She Didn’t Understand
“If that’s the case, where do you expect me to sit?” Janice asked as she moved out of the seat. Even though she didn’t mean to, she gave the man a murderous look.
She knew it wasn’t his fault, but she couldn’t help it. If it weren’t for his looks and the wads of cash he obviously had, she would’ve been able to stay in her seat.
He Clarifies
“Oh, you seem to have misunderstood me. I was just joking about the seat mix-up,” the man said with a dazzling smile. “I’m giving you my seat. The one in business class.”
Janice’s eyes grew wide. “It’s the least I can do to thank you for all you have done for our country and what you continue to do,” he added, catching her completely off guard.
Speechless
Janice was speechless. She had never expected anything like this to happen to her, of all people.
She politely refused the man’s offer since she didn’t feel like she deserved it and returned to her seat. But the man wasn’t going to take no for an answer. He pulled her back up and took her bag out of the overhead compartment.
Escorted To His Seat
After that, the flight attendants escorted Janice to the man’s seat in business class. She was still in a daze. It felt like she was in a dream, but the pain in her body reminded her that she wasn’t.
As soon as she walked into business class, Janice gasped. It looked just as luxurious as she thought it would. And those seats promised to take good care of her aching body.
It Felt Amazing
Janice put her bag away and slowly sank into the thick, oversized chair that she had received as a gift. It was everything she could’ve dreamed of and more.
The air hostesses showered her with drinks, and the plane finally lifted off. It was the most amazing thing Janice had ever experienced, but there was something about it that didn’t feel right.
But It Wasn’t Right
Janice loved the way it felt to be in business class, but it didn’t seem fair. That man had paid for his seat because he didn’t want to be in economy class.
Yet, he was sitting there, his massive body cramped into a seat that was far too small for a man his size. And he did it so she could be comfortable.
She Had To Repay Him
She knew she had to repay him in some way, but she had no idea how. She would’ve given him his seat back in an instant, but she knew he would refuse.
There had to be something else, though. Something that would show him how much she appreciated the gesture. But what could that possibly be?
What Could She Do?
Janice thought of every possible scenario. She wanted to reimburse him for the fair, but she could never afford that.
She tried sending him a glass of champagne, but the air hostesses said it was against the rules. So she was running out of options pretty fast. But just as Janice was about to give up, an idea struck her.
A Note
Janice pulled out her notebook and wrote the man a note. She expressed her gratitude and asked the man to use the $20 note she had attached to buy himself a drink.
When she was done, she asked the air hostess to deliver the note to the man. She knew it wasn’t much, but it was the least she could do.
Surprising Response
A little while later, the air hostess returned with a note from the man. Janice was confused. She wasn’t expecting him to respond.
But when she opened the note, she was even more stunned. He had returned her money and wrote her a reply. What he said was something she would only ever have dreamed of.
An Offer She Can’t Refuse
The man said that he had another proposition in mind. If Janice really wanted to repay him, she could meet him for dinner once their flight landed.
She couldn’t help but smile as she admired the note. Was he actually asking her out on a date? She was ecstatic and wrote back to accept his offer.
Later That Night
When the flight touched down in New York, Janice was a nervous wreck. She agreed to meet the handsome man even though she wasn’t even dressed up. As soon as she got her bags, she rushed to the bathroom and got changed.
After that, she met the man for dinner, and the two of them instantly fell for each other. But the man’s good deeds didn’t go unnoticed.
What They Didn’t Know
What neither of them knew was that there was a woman in the business class cabin who had seen it all. She heard the man talking to the air hostesses, and she saw the notes the couple shared.
And she wanted the world to know how kind the mysterious man truly was. So she decided to act on Janice’s behalf.
Keen Observations
She had taken photos of everything that took place, and when they landed, she posted those photos along with the story on social media.
Within an hour, their story had been shared over 4,000 times. The mysterious man got the recognition Janice wanted him to get. But neither of them knew anything about it.
Gratitude
The woman’s inbox was flooded with responses from people who applauded the man for what he did. Many of those people had friends or family members who were in the military.
And they wanted to show their gratitude in any way they could because they hoped more people would be as kind and caring as he was.
In order to protect the privacy of those depicted, some names, locations, and identifying characteristics have been changed and are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblances to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.