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Charmaine explained in a much more matter-of-fact manner. “It’s bullshit how they’re treating you! Like, I was apparently the only one who didn’t catch on that you’re a lesbian, but what year is it, anyway? If I can shack up with a pilot, you should be able to get your giddiness from a director!”
“Miss Huang!” Esther hissed.
“It’s true! We all think it’s stupid. When Ms. Tan told us what happened, even the pilots were angry! Capt. Fan couldn’t protest in good faith, but most of the flight attendants suddenly went on leave this week. Not just us! The Americans are protesting once they’re back in their country. Which is now, I guess.”
Arianna almost forgot how to breathe. “I don’t know what to say.”
“It’s making waves through the company. You should see some of the group chats!”
Esther cleared her throat. “The Americans mostly use an app called Discord. I made an account to see what they’re saying, and most are in favor of overturning your punishment. Of course, Americans are very individualistic and may have trouble understanding what the Singaporean board is so upset about, but it gave me heart.” She tilted her head to keep Arianna’s attention. The kettle was whistling already, but this was more important. “You’re one of the finest flight attendants most of us will ever have the pleasure to work with. You weren’t any less professional with Ms. Sabin than you were with anyone else in the air! Nobody has ever complained about you! Even Rachel has to see that! Oh, she is so full of herself right now, I could just…”
Charmaine loved every minute of her boss showing emotion. “That’s right,” she agreed while Arianna finally poured the tea. “She also needs to see how much we all stand behind you, Miss Song. You’re more than a mentor to me, you know. You’re like a big sister. I feel like I could tell you anything, and I wish you could tell me anything. But I… understand why you don’t. Because you’re the definition of professional.”
Arianna was careful not to accidentally pour hot water on her hand. “I appreciate that. Truly. But I don’t want any of you jeopardizing your jobs for me.”
Esther rolled her eyes as if she expected Arianna to say something so… platonic. “We are not drones, you know. We can decide these things for ourselves. Besides, our jobs are not in danger. They can’t fire all of us. We’ve got some legal American protection behind us. Californian, no less. They take this sort of thing seriously. So, don’t worry. We’re merely making it clear to the company that we’re willing to sacrifice part of our paycheck in protest for you. Who knows when any of us might fall for someone in the company? It happens all the time!”
Both of her colleagues looked at Esther as if there were more to that story.
“Who are you sleeping with, Boss?” Charmaine whispered in a conspiratorial tone. “We promise to not tell anyone!”
“You stop it!” Esther turned on the professional charm again when Arianna asked if she wanted sugar or honey for her drink. “I’m a married woman!”
“You’re getting divorced,” Arianna said upon placing the cup down. “We all know it.”
Esther sucked in her cheeks. “Fine. My ex-husband and I were both adulterous dolts. When one accused the other, it all came out. And we decided we didn’t care enough to keep the marriage going with an open relationship on the table.”
“Wow,” Charmaine said.
“Alamak!” Esther wasn’t Malay, but she had lived in Singapore long enough to pick up the common expression. “Why am I telling you two this?”
“Oh, my turn!” Charmaine excitedly accepted her tea while Arianna sat down. “I have a scandalous secret of my own! You know the First Officer, Ms. Lowe?”
Both Esther and Arianna said at the same time, “You’ve slept with her?”
The wind was immediately deflated from Charmaine’s sails. “Just the one time. She’s very charming.”
“Miss Song is probably the only lesbian on the whole plane without a pilot’s uniform, and she’s the only one who hasn’t slept with that woman…”
“…Turns out I’m not that into girls. Although Miss Song makes it look very nice…”
“I mean, I haven’t slept with her. She’s not the one I was adulterous with! It was a man!”
“…She’s also a real playboy. Playgirl?” Charmaine said both words in English. “Ah, whatever. It was fun for a night! No jealousy from me!”
Esther sighed again. “What we’re trying to say is that it’s not abnormal with our jobs. We all try to be the best women we can be, but in the end, we’re human.” She immediately made a stinky face. “Ah, that sounded much better in Mandarin in my head. In English, it’s so clunky!”
“Hmph.” Arianna sat at the small patch left at her table. “Your pronunciation of that word is clunky.”
“Don’t rub it in my face, please.” Esther daintily picked up her mug and sipped her tea. “We’re not all TOEFL masters at Royal Asia. Just you.”
“All the more reason they can’t fire you,” Charmaine insisted. “I’m gonna write a letter!”
“Who will listen to you? You’re lowly,” Esther pointed out.
“I’m a First Class crew member!”
“Lowly,” Esther and Arianna said in unison. “And easily seduced, apparently,” Arianna continued. “Sleeping with Riley…”
