They sat next to each other as any couple would do. The typical chaos before the plane took off ensued - people pushed past others to store their baggage in the overhead locker, babies cried as if in deep pain, anxious mothers tried to control their kids, and flight attendants strode up and down the already crowded corridor.
Tamara and Yassen tried to ignore the chaos around them, each putting a set of headphones over their ears. Tamara plugged hers into her iPod and checked for any disturbances. The coast was clear.
As the plane started to take off, Yassen's hand snaked its way up to Tamara's own, clasping it tightly. She nodded to him; he was acting as her partner very well.
Tamara fell asleep within the first hour, her head lolling from side to side, eventually finding a comfortable spot on Yassen's shoulder. He did not push her away.
When they arrived, the first thing Tamara noticed was that it was hot. She had heard that Australia was a hot country, but she had never actually experienced real heat before as she'd never been to a hot country before. People took off their jackets and rolled up their sleeves, fanning themselves with their passports.
'It's hot, isn't it?' asked Tamara.
'Overwhelmingly so,' said Yassen.
They hailed a cab and reached the apartment not long after. It was a stylish apartment, but it was also very small. It had one bedroom and a small area that was the living room, dining room and the kitchen. It had views of the harbour and was in a very central location.
'The company is closed for the next week,' said Yassen, 'so we cannot do much more until then. What do you propose we do?' he asked.
'I've done a background check. Nothing unusual. I guess we have the next week to ourselves, then,' she said.
Yassen nodded.
'There is a performance of Swan Lake in the Opera House at the moment,' said Yassen, flicking through the tourist vouchers they had picked up at the airport.
'You're a fan of ballet?' she asked.
'In a way. I'm a ballet dancer,' he said.
'Oh! That's very interesting,' said Tamara. Yassen nodded.
'Do you wish to go and see it?' he asked.
'Why not,' said Tamara, shrugging.
'Good,' said Yassen. 'There is a performance tomorrow. I shall make bookings,' he said, picking up the phone. Tamara flopped down onto the bed.
'The city lights are beautiful, aren't they?' commented Tamara, looking at the lights of all the office buildings and the Sydney Harbour Bridge flickering in the darkness. Yassen nodded.
She lay on the bed for a few minutes, while Yassen called, and then got up and changed into her pyjamas and took her hair out. She slipped under the covers and yawned.
'Night,' she said, to Yassen.
'Goodnight,' he said, turning off the bedroom light and leaving her in peace. Tamara smiled and fell asleep.