43.

Kris and Sohyun buckled up and they settled themselves in the seats, waiting for the airplane to take off.

Sohyun browsed through the magazine, flipping the pages of it and smiled.

She didn't notice Kris looking at her, watching her every movement and have a similar contented smile on his face.

---

Sohyun looked at the night sky and sighed in content.

She patted Kris and looked at him. "Kris, wake me up when the plane reaches Thailand."

He nodded and urged her to sleep while she smiled and her eyes fluttered close, dozing off.

Kris turned his body to look at Sohyun's sleeping face and he cracked a smile.

When Sohyun fidgeted in her sleep, he quickly turned to face the front again.

Sohyun shivered, rubbing her shoulders unconsciously and Kris quickly requested for a small thin blanket from the air stewardness.

He tucked Sohyun in, making sure Sohyun doesn't catch a cold and he chuckled.

He couldn't help but think of the past, how silly Sohyun was when it was her first time socializing and Kris remembered how clumsy and clueless she was.

He remembered how he could have the audacity to trick his pupil, giving her a blanket as a shawl.

And slowly, that was how it started. How jealousy started when she got close to other men and how pissed and concern he was with her. He looked at the blanket and softened. It was a similar blanket and he smiled.

And now look where they are now, dating.

He could say all of it was worth it just to get Sohyun.

He slowly placed Sohyun's head on his shoulder, seeing her resting at ease, comfortably on his shoulder and he couldn't help but feel blissful.

Then, he wrapped his arm around her carefully, then took out and lifted his phone, snapping a shot.

He chuckled and looked at the picture, grinning sillily at the photo and looked at Sohyun, sleeping soundly, not even budging. He carefully curled a strand of hair behind her ear away from her face.

He yawned, then covered himself in another blanket, sleeping soundly as he rested on Sohyun's head.

The next minute they both opened their eyes, the sun was already rising and they both stretched their arms, yawning in unison.

What a couple.

They looked around the cabin and sighed. 

Kris looked at Sohyun. "Sohyun, you're awake."

She rubbed her eyes and looked out of the window. "We're reaching Thailand soon, I think."

---

They walked out of the airport, boarding a taxi. "Welcome to Thailand and good morning! Now where are the two of you staying for your honeymoon in Thailand?" the driver asked, welcoming them warmly. Kris cracked a smile and shook his head. He held onto Sohyun's hand and smiled. "We're not on a honeymoon, in fact we're not even married. We're just dating. We're here on a business trip," he clarified and Sohyun smiled softly.

The driver scratched the back of his neck sheepishly and laughed. "Alright then, where are you staying?" he asked, starting the engine.

On the way to the hotel, the driver was having a great conversation with Kris.

"You two make such a great couple."

"You two ought ot get married."

"You two are sooooo lovely!"

When the driver pulled over at the entrance of the hotel, Sohyun and Kris got off the taxi and carried baggage out of the boot. Before they closed the door and bid the friendly driver farewell, the driver poked his head out and waved at the both of them. "Hope to see you soon!"

Kris closed the door, linking hands with Sohyun and she smiled. "That driver's nice."

"He's friendly too," Kris said and tugged on her hand. "Let's check in."

The hotel was designed like a tiki hut. The roof was built by artificial strong haystacks and straws. The pillars were used with strong brown wood and pretty pastel wooden floorings.

They walked towards the counter, and the manager welcomed them. The manager was wearing a blue floral shirt and bermudas, and if Sohyun and Kris didn't know, infact all of the workers wear the same attire. It was their dress code, to be exact. Women would wear pink floral shirt and men would wear blue.

After checking in, they walked into the hotel room. Once they stepped into the room, it automatically lights up. It was huge. The flooring was carpeted in beige, the television was facing the king sized bed, that and beside the bed was the window that connects to the bathroom.

At the right side of the television was a study table and a balcony that had a clear view. Sohyun ran towards the balcony, sliding the door open and a chilly gust of wind entered the room. She held onto the ledge, breathing in deeply. From the thirty forth story, she could see almost everything.

She could see the beach that was on her right side, big palm trees that surrounds the the sandy beach away from the bustling cities.

Kris wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, placing his cheek near hers, and sighed in content. "Breathtaking."

She held onto his hands, lying on his chest and she smiled. "Yeah, it is," she whispered.

"Let's go, the client should be here soon," he said and pulled her away from the balcony. "We can stargaze at night too," he said and led the way out.

They walked out of the hotel room, entering the restaurant where they were meeting the client.

They sat together, waiting for the client.

"Good morning," she said. Kris and Sohyun turned to meet eyes with their client. She was in her twenties, slightly older than Kris and Sohyun, but still looking as young as ever. She had long blonde hair till her curves, wearing a beige hat that is tilted to the back of her head and she wore bright red lipsticks.

She took off her sunglasses and flashed a smile at Kris. "Good morning," she said. The couple smiled at her warmly. Sohyun took out the document and handed it to her.

"I'm Saora," she said.

"Hi Saora, you can speak Korean fluently," Sohyun commented and grinned while she nodded. "My father's Korean, that's the reason," she saidand accidentally kicked Sohyun and she winced. "Sorry, wrong person," she said and flashed a smile. Sohyun blinked and raised both her eyebrows. *Wrong, person?*

Her eyes slowly shifted up towards Kris, then back to Saora. She shook that thought out of her mind. *Impossible.*

While they were discussing, the couple were concentrating, trying to clinch the deal with Saora, but it was her who's not concentrating. Her hand slowly travelled towards Kris' hand, and he frowned, then forced out a smile, slowly retracting his hand back.

Sohyun gawked at Saora. She could do that in front of her? What audacity.

Kris grabbed Sohyun's hand under the table and squeezed it, assuring her. She smiled back and she calmed herself down, taking in a deep breath.

Saora blew a raspberry and looked at Kris, then back at Sohyun. "Ah, why don't we go for a swim in the pool?" she asked.

Sohyun's eyes widened and she gulped. *Swim?!* she mentally screamed in her head. She bit her lip, she can't help but feel flustered and she exchanged looks with Kris.

He looked at her and gave her another an assuring smile. *It's going to be fine.*

*I hope so. I can't swim.*

*I taught you once, don't you remember?*

*I almost drowned.*

*You have me beside you, so relax.*

She nodded.

Sohyun bit her lip. She didn't dare to step out of the bathroom. She took in a deep breath. "Relax, I can't swim, but I can stand in the water," she said. "Plus, Kris taught me swimming, I should know how to float." But her shoulders slumped and she sighed. "I hope."

When she went out of the bathroom, and entered the swimming pool, Kris and Saora were nowhere in sight.

She sighed and sat at the side of the pool, kicking her legs in the water.

Kris and Saora were having fun, or maybe it was only Saora who was having fun in other end of the pool.

Saora wore a bikini, and she swam right next to Kris trying to get his attention but he wasn't even paying attention to her, he was looking for Sohyun.

Sohyun had a buy a bikini just to enter the swimming pool because proper attire was needed and she didn't even swim. Just then, a man approached her and he plopped himself beside her. "Hey," he said and Sohyun turned, forcing a smile. "Hello."

"So, you're alone?" he asked and she smiled. "My friend, went to the loo," she lied, scooting away from him but he just kept scooting closer.

Kris and Saora went to a corner, and she smiled. "Finally we can get some peace and quiet. It's good to have just the both of us here, alone, with no one at all," she whispered.

"Maybe we should ask Sohyun along," he said and walked away but was pulled back by Saora. "But I only want you to discuss the deal with me," she said firmly. Kris looked back at her and shook her grip off him. "Yongshik told me to bring Sohyun along because she lacks of experience, if we are discussing, we have to count her in too," he replied and looked for Sohyun in the crowded swimming pool.

"Ah! My friend's here! I need to go now, bye!" Sohyun quickly excused herself and stood up, quickly walking around, desperately finding for Kris.

"Why is Sohyun so important? Who is she to you?" Saora asked, frowning. "What if I tell you that I like you, what will you do?" she asked.

Kris frowned and distanced himself from her. "She's my pupil, and my girlfriend. Whether it's work or personal, she's equally important to me and you barely know me for a day, so don't you dare try to wreck my relationship with her," he hissed and walked away from her.

Sohyun finally spotted Kris and quickly went into the pool, slowly walking towards him and smiled in relief. "Kris," she whispered and he smiled back. She looked behind his shoulder and found Saora, alone, fuming in anger. She looked back at him. "What did you do?" she asked and he frowned. "She tried to wreck our relationship, obviously I'm not going to let her do it," he said.

"But we have to clinch the deal, Yongshik assigned us to the task and we have to succeed."

"But I'm not going to sacrifice our relationship for the deal," Kris said firmly. Sohyun smiled. "Well I'm not going to sacrifice the deal for our relationship," she said firmly and grabbed onto his hand. "I can handle this, trust me," she said confidently.*Kris did so much for me, I have to do something too.*

"Are you sure about this?" he asked and Sohyun grinned. "Absolutely. Now go," she said.

She walked towards Saora, smiling warmly at her. "Hi, Saora." She stood next to her. Saora shot her a look. "You can tell I'm interested in Kris, do you?"

Sohyun blinked in surprise. "And why do you like him? You hardly know him."

"Because I like competition," Saora replied instantly, shooting her a look to shut up and she gulped. She laughed nervously. "But Kris isn't your type," she said, persuading her and competing with her calmly and peacefully, placing a hand on Saora's hand, while she retracted her hand. "It's up for me to decide, not you. As long as both of you are not married, I won't give up," she snapped.

"Isn't marriage and being in a relationship now with Kris the same? It's just another stage of-"

"I won't be a third party in marriage. Marriage between two is for a lifetime, shows the responsibility shared between the both of them. But as long as both of you are not married, I still stand a chance."

Sohyun frowned. "That's not true, Kris and I are already ready, just that we just want to give both of us some time before we will settle down and have a family," she replied and Saora scowled. "Then why must you waste time and drag your relationship, instead of progressing to a further stage if you already know you're ready?" she asked.

Sohyun blinked.

Saora looked at Sohyun, her eyes piercing through hers which made Sohyun feel uncomfortable.

"Let me ask you, do you want to clinch the deal?" Saora asked, changing the subject all of a sudden. Sohyun slowly nodded her head. "Of course."

"Then give me Kris."

"What?"

"Give me Kris. It looks like the you're the only one who is dragging by how hesitant you are. You're too careful, too slow. I don't want you to waste Kris' time, and in exchange for that, you will be able to claim credit and clinch the deal," she explained and Sohyun clenched her fists tightly, frowning. "What do you take Kris as? An item to trade for? Kris is a human, he isn't under your control and he's not some kind of pawn, he's my boyfriend," she answered. Jealousy and anger overwhelming her.

Anger, that built in her, how Saora thought Sohyun would be a materialistic person and jealousy, how her looks, made her feel that she has the authority, and how she can act so calmly, how she can make Sohyun scared.

Saora glared at her. "If you don't want it, then fine, get out of my way," she hissed, brushing her hand away harshly and got out of the pool, walking towards to the side of the deeper pool that was 1.8m. Sohyun quickly caught up with her and placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her.

"Stop following me!" Saora hissed, pushing her back and Sohyun slipped, then fell into the pool with a big splash.

Sohyun frantically waved her hands in the air, gulping water as she coughed. No matter how much she tried to stretch her legs out to touch the ground of the pool, she couldn't touch it and she panicked. "H-Hel-"

Saora looked at her in shock. "Yah.. You.. You can't swim?"

Just at the other side of the pool, Kris could hear a big splash, and Saora was standing at the edge of the pool, looking down at the pool. He gulped when he didn't see Sohyun with her and he immediately sprinted towards the other side of the pool.

He jumped into the pool, quickly swimming towards Sohyun and tilted her chin up, then wrapped his arm around her neck, swimming back to the side of the pool.

Sohyun held onto Kris tightly, coughing and she gulped, calming herself. "Kris.." she whispered, heaving a sigh of relief. Kris looked up and glared at Saora, while he patted Sohyun's back. "It's okay, I'm here," he whispered into her ear.

---

Sohyun bit back a smile and laughed nervously. "Sorry, I thought I could help you, but instead troubled you." she apologised, drying her hair as she sat on the bed.

They were back in the hotel room, and Sohyun calmed her nerves with a cup of hot chocolate and Kris' by her side.

Kris sat beside her and kissed her forehead. "Why did you chase after that barabaric woman when you know you can't even swim?" he chided softly. "I thought you almost died."

"It was an accident, a total accident. I was just clumsy, lost my balance and fell into the pool. I swear," she quickly said. "Sigh, but I don't think Saora would be sign the contract," she whispered, shaking her head.

Kris wrapped his arm around her and grinned. "On the contrary, she signed the contract. I think she was quite guilty for pushing you into the pool, so.. I guess it was thanks to you that she signed the deal," he replied, laughing. He pulled Sohyun down on the bed, both of them lying on the bed as they looked at each other.

Kris sighed and tapped her nose. "I was actually hoping that you would be unconscious, so Saora would feel worse and at the same time, I can be kissing you for a reason in front of everybody," he laughed and Sohyun buried her head into his chest, grinning. "Do you know what Saora thought you were? She thought you were a pawn! She traded you for the deal and I was furious! Can't believe she would say such things," she said, frowning, the anger in her slowly building up.

Kris grinned. He liked how Sohyun was acting all angry because she was protecting him, he liked it.

He rubbed her cheek with his thumb, smiling at her softly as his thumb slowly travelled to her chin, tilting her head up to face him and slowly leaned forward, kissing her as he closed his eyes.

He wrapped one arm around her waist then pulled her closer to his body and Sohyun closed her eyes, placing her hand on his cheek and kissed him back.

They slowly broke the kiss, their foreheads touched and they grinned, both of them closing their eyes and just enjoying the presence of each other.

That was happiness for them.

-----