I went on, counting on my fingers. “We’ve had endless coughing, a movie blasting without headphones, crumbs all over me, and now…” I pointed to Vespera on Torin’s lap, “this nonsense.”

Torin’s face turned red. “We’re newlyweds!” he protested. “We just want to sit together.”

The stewardess’s polite mask slipped, showing a hint of irritation. “I understand you’re celebrating, but there are rules.”

Vespera batted her eyes. “Can’t you make an exception? It’s our special day.”

I couldn’t resist. “It’s been their ‘special day’ for the last hour,” I said dryly.

The stewardess straightened. “I’m sorry, but it’s against policy for an adult to sit on another’s lap. It’s a safety issue.”

Torin’s smug grin faded. “But—”

“No buts,” she cut him off. “And since you didn’t pay for this upgraded seat, you need to follow the rules.”

I bit my lip to hide a smile. This was getting good.

The stewardess turned to Vespera. “Ma’am, please return to your original seat.”

Vespera’s eyes widened. “You’re serious? We’re married!”

“Congratulations,” the stewardess said, her tone final. “But marriage doesn’t exempt you from safety rules. Back to your seat.”

Torin tried again. “We’re sorry if we disturbed anyone. We’ll be quiet, promise.”

She shook her head. “Not enough. Due to your behavior, you both need to move to economy.”

Torin’s face paled. “Both of us? But I paid—”

“You were upgraded as a courtesy,” she interrupted. “A courtesy you’ve misused. Gather your things.”

As Torin and Vespera grabbed their belongings, I heard them whispering angrily.

“This is your fault,” Vespera hissed.

“My fault? You’re the one who—” Torin started.

“Enough,” the stewardess said. “Move to the back.”

As they shuffled past, avoiding my eyes, I couldn’t resist. “Enjoy your honeymoon,” I said, giving a little wave.

Torin’s glare could’ve burned a hole through me, but I just smiled and settled into my seat, now blissfully quiet.

The stewardess turned to me. “Anything else you need, ma’am?”

I smiled, feeling like I’d won a small victory. “Just some peace. Maybe a drink to celebrate?”

She nodded and walked off, and I felt a twinge of guilt. Had I been too harsh? No, they’d earned this.

The man across the aisle gave me a thumbs-up. “Nicely done,” he chuckled. “Reminds me of my first marriage. We were young and foolish, but we knew how to act in public.”

I laughed. “Thanks. I thought I was in some prank show for a minute.”

His wife leaned over. “You did us all a favor, dear. I was ready to shove those pretzels down that boy’s throat myself.”

We all chuckled, the tension easing. It felt good to have allies.

The stewardess returned with a mini bottle of whiskey and cola. “On the house,” she winked. “Thanks for your patience.”

I raised the bottle. “To peaceful flights and a bit of justice,” I said, loud enough for nearby passengers to hear. They chimed in with “Hear, hear!”

As I sipped my drink, I wondered about Torin and Vespera. Were they plotting revenge in the back? Or had they realized how ridiculous they’d been?

The captain’s voice broke my thoughts. “Ladies and gentlemen, we’re expecting turbulence. Please return to your seats and fasten your seatbelts.”

I smiled to myself. More turbulence? After all this?

The plane shook, and I heard a yelp from the back. I glanced over to see Torin struggling to keep his drink from spilling.

I turned back, sipping my whiskey and cola. “Karma’s a funny thing,” I muttered.

The flight settled into a peaceful rhythm. Then, a commotion erupted from the rear.

“I need the bathroom!” Vespera’s voice, loud and demanding.

I turned to see her in the aisle, Torin behind her. A new flight attendant was trying to calm her.

“Ma’am, the seatbelt sign is on. Please return to your seat,” the attendant said.

“It’s an emergency!” Vespera wailed, doing a dramatic little dance.

I caught the old man’s eye across the aisle. He winked, enjoying the show.

Torin added, “My wife has a medical condition. The bathroom back here is occupied.”

The attendant looked torn. “I understand, but you’ll have to wait until the seatbelt sign is off.”

Vespera’s face crumpled. “I can’t wait! Please!”

She was quite the actress. If I didn’t know better, I might’ve felt sorry for her.

The attendant sighed. “Alright, but be quick. Straight back after.”

Torin and Vespera pushed toward the front. As they reached my row, I stood up, blocking them.

“Hold on,” I said loudly. “Didn’t we settle this? Back of the plane, remember?”

Torin’s face darkened. “Stay out of this, lady. It’s none of your business.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Oh, I think it is. We don’t need more disruptions, do we?”

Vespera’s voice turned syrupy. “Please, ma’am. Just a quick bathroom break. We’ll go right back.”

I looked at them, then at the approaching attendant. Time to end this.

“You’re right, it’s just a bathroom break,” I said, stepping aside. “Go ahead.”

They exchanged smug glances as they passed. But I wasn’t done. I turned to the attendant. “Did you know these two were told to stay in economy for disruptive behavior earlier?”

Her eyes widened. “No, I wasn’t aware.”

Just then, the first stewardess appeared. “Is there a problem?” she asked, spotting Torin and Vespera.

I stepped back, letting her take over. “I believe these two were just leaving,” I said, a hint of satisfaction in my voice.

The stewardess’s face hardened. “I thought I was clear. Back to your seats. Now.”

“But…” Vespera started.

“No buts,” she snapped. “Or would you like to discuss this with the air marshal?”

That shut them up. Torin and Vespera slunk back to economy, defeated.

As we descended into California, I felt a wave of relief. The rest of the flight was peaceful, and I was eager to see Selene and my family.

The captain announced, “We’re beginning our final approach to Los Angeles International Airport. Please ensure your seats are upright and seatbelts fastened.”

As we taxied to the gate, I gathered my things, ready to leave. The stewardess approached. “Thank you for your patience today,” she said warmly. “We hope you had a comfortable flight despite the earlier disturbances.”

I smiled. “Thanks to you, I did. You handled it perfectly.”

She beamed. “Have a great day, ma’am!”

I stretched, sore from the long flight. As I walked down the aisle, I saw Torin and Vespera, still avoiding eye contact.

For a moment, I felt a pang of sympathy. They were young, caught up in their honeymoon. But then I remembered their behavior, and the sympathy faded.

As I passed, I couldn’t resist. “Hope you learned something today. Enjoy your honeymoon!”

Torin’s face turned red, but he stayed silent. Smart choice.

I left the plane, feeling triumphant. It had been a wild ride, but decency and a touch of karma had won. In the terminal, I saw Selene waiting, her face lighting up. All thoughts of Torin and Vespera vanished. I was home, and that was all that mattered.