July 27, 2013

ia, at the travel department, had been unable to find any flights to Seattle for Friday morning. They could've flown out Saturday morning and arrived with two hours to spare but his Sister stubbornly insisted on being one of the first to board the ship. He really should have put up more of a fight, but in the thirty minutes, it took him to go to the bakery for cupcakes and the store for sparkling cider she had made all the arrangements.

Kike felt the death grip on his hand slacken, she had finally fallen asleep. He had been observing her as her face was turned to the black night outside the window. She had refused to close her eyes; for fear, the present world would disappear and the world of her nightmares would appear. At one point he thought for sure she would not survive the flight. Her body had been so tense; despite the breathing pattern she was using as an attempt to keep herself calm. Tea hadn’t worked; perspiration had formed on her forehead and she had held on to his hand for dear life. He just knew had to try again to distract her.

"Since you're making me spend the next two weeks with your friends shouldn't you tell me about them?" His trick worked, still facing the window she began to talk.
"I don't know how to describe them. Saengie Oppa has a beautiful tenor voice, he sings like an angel, caring and tender, shy and a good hugger." Ilana smiled as each imagined each face and their traits. "KyuJong Oppa is everyone's quiet support. He's Eternal Center. He takes care of everyone quietly, without bringing attention to himself. He also sings beautifully. JungMin is a prankster, likes to pick on HyungJun Oppa; his voice belongs on Broadway. He likes carrots, shopping, and Suzy." Ilana laughed. She then rubbed her eyes with her free hand; she was very tired. "HyungJun is a sweet baby, sensitive, fun loving, goofy, and a sweet singing voice." Ilana yawned. "Suzy...is...a...dear..."

Kike smiled at the sleeping form next to him. He covered her with the blanket and turned to sleep, himself; they would be jetlagged in the morning.

Ilana took extra care in her appearance that morning, wanting to look nice for her friends. She had used her good makeup to cover the signs from lack of sleep; by the time they had checked into their hotel and slept it was almost midnight or three Eastern Time. “Lista (ready)?” Kike called to her from outside the bathroom door. Ilana sighed looking at her reflection in the mirror and gathered her things.

It was nine fifteen and they were the first in line to board. At nine thirty a crew member led them on board. Ilana was disappointed it wasn't YoungSaeng, earning her a nudge from Kike. "Stop pouting, you'll see your friends soon enough," making her sulk even more. He pinched her cheek earning him a smack on the hand.

They arrived in the lounge where they would wait until they were allowed in their suites. Ilana spotted YoungSaeng, but he was busy and not looking at them. Another crew member approached them to ask their names.
- "Anneyeong haseyo, jeoun ireumeun Cinderella Ibnida." Ilana, being mischievous introduced herself in Korean to get YoungSaeng's attention, puzzling the crew member. Kike just raised an eyebrow at her; she signaled to him to keep quiet.
- "One moment miss, I'll get someone to help you." The crew member turned to get YoungSaeng, but he was already approaching.
He wasn't sure if his ears had deceived him until he saw her standing there. Without a word, he wrapped her in a hug. They pulled apart laughing.
- "Cinderella, don't be causing trouble for my staff." He mock scolded. "I'll sign them in," he told the other staff member. "I know them. Enrique-ssi," he bowed, "I told her you'd be begging us to take her back."
-"Yah!" She smacked Kike for laughing and glared at YoungSaeng. "This is the last time I come visit."
- "Arraso, pabo," he ruffled her hair. He had missed doing that and seeing her get irritated at him. "I've got to go back to work; will you two be coming to the officers’ reception?"
- "Sure," Kike answered even though Ilana was already shaking her head ‘no’.
- "Behave for your Oppa! I'll see you at the reception," YoungSaeng turned away, laughing to himself.

After getting into their suites and taking a nap, Ilana checked her hair and makeup and went off in search of the rest of the gang. JungMin swore he hadn't said a word and judging from YoungSaeng's surprised look, she knew he hadn't. The ship hadn't sailed yet, so everyone should be around the Promenade and Upper Promenade. She spotted HyungJun first.
- "Sillyehamnida (excuse me), Ajussi;” She tapped his shoulder. He turned around ready to respond when he saw who it was.
- "Princess!" He set his camera on the tripod and gave her his over-exuberant hug, rocking her back and forth.
- "Oppa! Too tight!"
- "What are you doing here?" He asked upon releasing her.
- "Just taking a break," she smiled at him. "Do you know where the others are?"
- "KyuJong hyeong and Suzy are by the stairs and I think JungMin is on the Promenade."
- "Did you check in already?" He noticed she was without bags.

- “Deh, I requested the same room as last time and I dragged Kike with me too."

- “Daback! You brought Enrique-ssi with you? I can’t wait to see him again. Are you going to the officer’s reception?

- “Deh, Kike’s making me go.”

- “Don’t be sad, Princess, I’ll be there taking pictures.” He flashed his cute little boy smile.

- “Arasseo,” she still didn’t want to go. “I’ll see you later. I want to go find the others.....two down and three to go.” Ilana went by the main stairway and ran to KyuJong and Suzy.

- "Unni!" Suzy began to run also. The two girls met with a crashing hug and laughter.
- "Ilana-ssi! What are you doing here? What happened?"
- "Aish! I can't visit?" She pouted. “Where’s my hug?” KyuJong wrapped her in a hug.
- "What about the interview?" He asked.
- "Oh, I'll tell you later," pretending disappointment. "Suzy, where's your boyfriend? I want to say hi."
- "He should be on the Promenade deck, we'll see you later right?" Ilana waived at them and ran off to find JungMin before they made her ruin her surprise. KyuJong and Suzy were left to speculate what the interview results had been.

Ilana wandered around until she found JungMin being his usual charming self with some passengers.
- "Anneyeong chingu," she waved at him.
- "Anneyeong, chukahae (congratulations)," he bowed to her. "Don't forget, drinks are on you."
- "Ara," she laughed. “Kansamnida, for keeping my secret. I haven't told anyone about the job yet. I want to tell them all at once. Can you keep my secret a little longer, juseyo?"
- "Arasso, but if Suzy kills me for not telling her...I won't be your personal shopper anymore." Ilana laughed as she waved goodbye.
JungMin had already been caught by Suzy laughing to himself the day before; Ilana's call took him by surprise.

"Yah! Don't tell anyone it's me." Ilana had said as soon as he answered the phone.

- "Arasso....what's up?"
"I got the job, but I don't start for two weeks. Kike and I will be going with you guys to Alaska."
- "Daeback!"
- "Don't tell anyone, I want to surprise everyone, but I just had to tell someone."

"And you picked me? Gomawo,” He was being sarcastic.

"Do you think I could tell your girlfriend or HyungJun Oppa?"

"Ara, Ara...You're secret is safe with me."

He was laughing to himself again as he remembered the phone call, these two weeks were going to be fun.

Ilana and friends quickly picked up where they had left off three months prior. KyuJong and Ilana met up for their morning walk, just like her last visit. The temperatures were about twenty degrees cooler than her last trip, but she didn’t care. Kike joined them as well but remained more of an observer than an active participant in their conversations.

- "Why does Oppa keep staring at me?" Ilana asked. KyuJong kept looking at her and smiling to himself as they walked.
- "It's nice to see you again. I was thinking how different you look from when we first met." Ilana blushed, remembering her first boarding day.

Kike was intrigued at this.  "How was she that day?" Kike asked.
- "Pale…trembling…not well;" his expression was serious. "Of course, I found out three months later, she had discharged herself from the hospital that morning.” He smiled a little “but look at you now; you're so cute." He as she glared at him. "You've filled out; you’re no longer the scrawny sapling but a full and beautiful pine tree."
- "Yah!" She smacked both guys who were busy laughing. "I'll walk by myself thank you very much," she stormed off in mock anger but embarrassed nonetheless. She would pay KyuJong back for picking on her.
- "Thank you for taking care of my sister," Kike said. "I didn't even know she had been sick until she was long gone.
- "It's my job to see to the needs of the passengers but Ilana's special and it quickly became our personal mission." He laughed as he told Kike how they all took turns getting her to eat or out of her room.

That evening Kike and Ilana were to dine at the Le Fontaine dining room at the Captain’s table. Ilana did not want too, but the Captain had invited them during the officer's reception. Having dragged Kike on this adventure, she had to deal with his celebrity status. He surprised her with a new dress that evening, just before she was about to dress. It was a black cinch waist dress covered in lace, with a silky hot pink wrap.
- "Kike! You didn't have to spend the money," she still protested, even after she had put it on. "I had a few dresses already with me." He had gone shopping the morning they left to purchase clothes suitable for a trip to Alaska and couldn’t resist buying her something.
- "You paid for the entire trip, the least I could do is buy one dress."

- "You paid for the hotel!" She continued to protest while he helped her into her new coat before heading down to the dining room. Kike had already arranged with the Captain that he would be making an announcement in honor of his sister

- "Princess! Wau! You look so pretty." HyungJun greeted them at the dining room entrance, ready to take their picture. With her new dress, wrap and one of the butterfly combs Suzy had given her; Ilana really did feel pretty for a change.
- "Oppa, stop,” she repeated her usual phrase for when the guys were teasing her. She blushed cutely to Kike's amusement. He really wanted to get to know this new sister of his.

 - “I knew the dress was perfect, the moment I saw it,” he just had to rub it in, making her glare at him.

Kike and Ilana were seated close to the Captain, a sign of their status. Her friends were seated closer to the other end of the table. After dinner and just before dessert, champagne and sparkling cider were served around the table. The captain gave a nod and Kike stood, puzzling Ilana.
- "I'd like to thank the Captain and the entire crew for being such good hosts to my sister on her previous trip,” everyone clapped. I would also like to propose a toast to my sister." Ilana's eyes widened, she was sure her face was as pink as her wrap. "Not only did she decide to make a career change very different from what she studied, but she still prepared herself to transition to the new career. I just wanted to tell her how proud I am of her and tell her I support her. I'd like to thank her friends for their support,” who were all smiling. “…and...announce that she has accepted an administrative position at New York Presbyterian Hospital." Clapping and shouts of congratulations, chukahae, that's wonderful, daeback, and mansae went on around the table. Kike hugged his sister who was thoroughly embarrassed. One by one her friends came to hug her while HyungJun was busy taking pictures.

Once the orchestra began to play and the dancing began, Kike was the first to take Ilana out on the floor.
- "Avergonzada (embarrassed)?"
- "Si," her pout made Kike laugh.

- "You wanted to surprise your friends."
- "Not like that! In front of everybody!"
- "I apologize; I wanted to make it special."
- "You did..., thank you."

After a few songs, Kike received a tap on his shoulder.
- "May I cut in?" YoungSaeng asked.  Kike conceded and YoungSaeng bowed to Ilana. "My lady, may I have this dance?"
- "You're Highness." She curtsied, playing along. "Cinderella's Waltz?" She grinned, recognizing the tune she was sure he had requested.
Although slightly awkward at first, it had been three months since they'd been that close, they quickly lost themselves in the music and each other’s company. He twirled her around expertly, unknowingly attracting an audience. The waltz ended and they slowly realized the applause was for them. Ilana hid her flaming face in YoungSaeng's chest. "Bogoshpawtsso," he said, laughing, to the top of her head. He guided her back to the table only to endure more good-natured teasing.
- "So, you'll be moving to New York?" There was a hint of sadness in YoungSaeng's voice. "Why didn't you tell us?"
- "Gwenchana?" He smiled at her reassuringly. "I didn't want you guys to be disappointed in me, in case it didn't work out; whether or not by my own doing."
- "Princess?" HyungJun pouted. "Being in New York will make it harder for us to get together."
Maknae had spoken YoungSaeng's thoughts.
- "We'd never be disappointed in Ilana-ssi,” KyuJong reassured her. "We're proud of you for all that you've accomplished.
- "Gomawoyo, I carry you guys with me all the time," she bestowed them with her most grateful smile. "I'll use vacation time and days off to visit you guys."
- "We can use our vacation too, right guys?" Everyone agreed and YoungSaeng perked up at the idea.

Ilana was asked many more times to dance that evening. When she thought her feet would fall off she sat with her friends to exchange stories from the last three months.

Kike had been telling them about their train ride to New York. Being an animated talker, he gestured with his hands a lot. YoungSaeng caught a glimpse of the jade cufflinks and couldn't resist teasing both Ilana and her brother.
- "Enrique-ssi, I see you're wearing jade?" YoungSaeng asked Kike.
- "Yes, Ilana gave them to me," Ilana was in another conversation but turned her head at the mention of her name.
- "I see, will you be married soon?"
- "Not that I know of, why?" Kike and Ilana both wondered where this was going.
- "Well, you see, Jade is for..." Ilana suddenly remembered what this was about and tried to keep YoungSaeng quiet by attempting to cover his mouth with her hands, but he wouldn't be stopped. He grabbed her hands in his before continuing...  "...fertility in a man." Kike was actually somewhat amused, but Ilana was bright red and glaring at her Oppa.

The rest of the night was spent in laughing, joking and exchanging stories.

- "I've called my manager; he's sending someone to find you an apartment near the hospital. Is there anything you want from home? Nana will be shipping a bunch of your things before she gets there." Kike announced when they returned from their morning walk with KyuJong.
- "Gets where?" Ilana asked her brother.
- "I'm sending Nana and Brendan to New York to set up your new place." Ilana's face lit up to know she would see them upon her return. "So you're not going anywhere the next few days until you've sat and picked out furniture and anything else you will need."
- "Deh...," she pouted in Korean, just to irk him.

Ilana sat using one of the computers in the lounge. Kike said she had to pick out furniture, not that she had to stay in her room.
- "What about that?" YoungSaeng pointed at the computer screen from over her shoulder.

 - "Yah! Don't you have work to do?" Ilana scolded.
- "Wae?!”
- "I'm not getting a red couch." Pretty soon other crew members and passengers alike were giving their opinions freely. She thought perhaps the lounge hadn't been a good idea. By tea time, Ilana had only picked out a dining room table.

Ilana was not watching where she walked, had KyuJong not pulled her back in time she would have run into the back of another passenger.

- "Watch out!" KyuJong pulled Ilana back.
- "Presta atención!" Kike chided.
- "Mianhae Oppa, Kike; it's just so pretty!" All pretense of exercise was forgotten. The ship sailed through the Tracy Arm, and Ilana had never seen anything so magnificent. Walls of ice and forest surrounded the ship. She walked up to the ship rails, along with many others.
- "And she says she's afraid of crowds," KyuJong commented to Kike.
- "I don't know much about my sister's fears anymore," Kike shrugged. “I'm not the person to ask." Both guys laughed.
- "Ilana-ssi, do you want us to just leave you here for a while?" KyuJong called out.
- "Ummm... guerae." It was chilly, but her workout outfit was warm enough and she wore gloves to protect her hands. She'd be fine for a little while.
- "Do you want to go to the gym and finish up with some weights?” KyuJong had asked Kike.
- "Sure, I think my sister will be entertained for a little while." Kike was starting to lose his wariness around Ilana's friends. He could see why she opened up to them, they were good people.

Ilana stood mesmerized by the chunks of glacier ice swimming not that far from the ship. She drank in the view hungrily, never having experienced this before, until HyungJun intruded in her viewing time.
- "Princess, I didn't think I'd see you here?"
- "It's so beautiful; I can't get enough of it."
- "Stand there, I'll take a picture of you." Ilana hesitated, but he snapped a picture anyway of her pouting.
- "Oppa, I didn't want to take a picture!"
- "Too bad. You look cute." He said looking at the picture.
- "Ugh! Oppa, I'm a mess," she said looking as well.
- "Stop pouting and walk with me. You take the pictures."
- "Arasso, only for a little while."
A little while ended up being an hour. While HyungJun charmed and maneuvered the passengers, Ilana snapped the pictures. She had to admit, she had an eye for it; especially with such a beautiful background.
- "Oppa, I'm hungry!" Her hands were shaking and she felt nauseous. It was already ten and she'd forgotten all about breakfast.
- "Mianhae Princess, let's take a break and get you some food. If you faint, my Hyeong's and Enrique-ssi are going to kill me."
- "Maybe just a severe beating," she teased.
Ilana ordered herself an omelet and a coffee.
- "Aah!" She sighed in contentment after the first bite. "I'm so hungry or this is really good."
- "Both," Hyung Jun said, as he stole a bite."
- "What do you want for your birthday?” Ilana had to remind herself to ask the others what they were planning.
- "I just want a dance."
- "That's a given! Nothing else?"
- "Ani! I've got my Princess, I don't need anything else."
- "If you say so," Ilana had purchased a set of rubber band guns at the hotel gift shop. She knew he'd put them to good use, being an overgrown kid.
- "I'll walk with you back to the elevators."
- "I'll see you tonight, Oppa," Ilana said, without enthusiasm, once they reached the elevators.
- "It'll be fun, it's big band night."
- "Ara, but I'd rather spend a quiet night with you guys, not at the Captain's table."
- "We'll keep you on the dance floor so you're not bored, especially Saengie Hyeong." He couldn't resist teasing. They danced so well together anyone would think they are a couple.
- "Mwuh? What about Saengie Oppa?" Hyung Jun couldn't help but laugh at her pink cheeks. "Aish! Don't be getting any funny ideas." She scolded the still laughing Maknae.

Kike went off with HyungJun to Zip Rider, the world's largest Zipline and Ilana went off in search of her personal shopper. With luck, Suzy and JungMin were together. They knew just the site Ilana could find everything she needed and not have to spend her entire yearly allowance.
In only a few hours Ilana's shoppers had picked out furnishings for each room.
- "Unnie, why do you need two full beds in the second bedroom?"
- "Just in case you guys come for a visit..." Ilana mumbled, a little embarrassed at being presumptuous enough to think they'd come all the way to New York.
- "Unnie, you’re too cute; you don't have to go through all that trouble. We can get a hotel.
- "That's not any fun."
- "Suzy and I will take the sofa bed." JungMin joked.
- "Yah!" Suzy smacked her boyfriend. “Watch what you say, or you don't get to go." JungMin pulled Suzy in for a kiss despite her protests.
- "Like you'd leave him behind," Ilana laughed at their cuteness. "Don't worry, Suzy, you'll sleep with me and I'll lock the door." Suzy stuck her tongue out at JungMin and JungMin to her, just like two little kids.
- "You two aren't any fun," JungMin pouted.
- "No, we're not." Ilana laughed at JungMin's aegyo.
- "Yah, speaking of fun, have you guys planned HyungJun Oppa's birthday? It's only a few days away.

- "We thought of doing a kid’s party in the crew's lounge. Crew members and VIP's (he grinned at Ilana) only."
- "That sounds like fun! He'll love it. We can play all children's party games." Ilana laughed picturing everyone playing musical chairs or some other game.

The next few days were spent getting ready for HyungJun's birthday. Kike was in charge of keeping HyungJun distracted whenever everyone got together to discuss the plans. The gang would meet often in the lounge planning food, music, and games.

I thought it would be fun if Ilana snuck in a visit to her friends before she became a regular employee.

 Sneak Preview: "I wanted to ask you something personally."
- "Okay, should I be nervous?"
- "If we had this conversation a year ago, yes." Kike tried to lighten the mood. "I feel awkward asking, but is there something more than friendship between Ilana and you?"