Taeyeon clasped her hands firmly to her lap.

Back then, during her middle school, she had once dreamed of becoming a flight attendant. A flight attendant for her, is someone with such good poise, stature and height. A flight attendant would always smile, casually asking for needs in a calm manner even when the plane experiences its own bumpy ride.

That was when she hadn’t stepped on the plane itself.

Now she could hear herself muttering prayers under her breath. And leeteuk would constantly look at her to check if she’s fine. She was indeed inside a plane now, like her dreams becoming a reality, but she didn’t know that it could be so nerve wrecking, especially that the pilot liked maneuvering the plane in an unconventional manner. They had all the good treatments, fine, they were seating first class. But the opportunity alone couldn’t suffice.

Especially that it looked like she was about to vomit.

“taeng? Candy?” Leeteuk offered. He was observing her for forty minutes now, asking taeyeon what she needed but she would always refuse. Leeteuk forcefully ushered the candy inside taeyeon’s trembling hand.

“thanks.”

“I’m sorry, smaller planes are bumpier.” Leeteuk said.

Taeyeon nodded and rested herself on the pillow at her back. They were still in korea anyways, and travelling locally would just require a smaller plane.

“I think if we travel to paris, it’ll be easier.” Taeyeon said. “since planes are bigger.”

“really? I think it will make you more nervous since it is a long flight.” Leeteuk said. “and chances like being stranded is hi—“

“teuk!”

“sorry.” Leeteuk bit his lip and chuckled at the thoughts himself.

Now, taeyeon wished she could have opted for a long ride. She could have waited long hours just sitting at the back of the car since she wouldn’t drive anyways. But she also knew how the Parks were always accustomed to time management.

Leeteuk observed taeyeon as she began propping the candy inside .

“dear.”

“hmm?” taeyeon was glad that leeteuk had brought his mint flavored lemon candy. At least she could indulge, taking her mind off the plane for a while.

“I love you.”

“aish, why are you saying that.” taeyeon rolled her eyes. leeteuk chuckled again.

“just thinking if it could help you breathe properly.”

“you’re giving me more heart attack professing your cheesy lines!” taeyeon hissed, but she was too, grinning. Leeteuk has always been, and will always be, the master of surprises.

Leeteuk turned his attention to his casual wear.

“you know, you’re right,  traveling in jeans is much better.” he said, patting his pants. Taeyeon insisted that they wore jeans during the flight, in a matching yellow couple shirts with a ridiculous pig design that leeteuk could have sworn he had never worn anything like before. He had donned himself in white sneakers, and he too, had been glad that taeyeon chose the option for him.

“since you’re always in suits, I think something casual would be helpful for a while.” Taeyeon said. “gelling your hair up is good too. you look younger.”

“hmm.. but we agreed that I will change once we get into the hotel.” Leeteuk pushed his glasses above his perfectly contoured nose. “aren’t you cold?”

Taeyeon pulled her jeans skirt a centimeter above her knees.

“slight.”

“you could have let down your hair too.” leeteuk looked at her messy bun. “just to minimize coldness. But you look really pretty.”

He placed a blanket on her lap and held her hand.

We will reach the destination in fifteen minutes. Passengers, please fasten your seatbelts.

“that quick?” taeyeon blurted. She had just started relaxing when the pilot had warned them about the landing.

“my dear.” Leeteuk smiled. “we’re still in korea.”

---------------------

Taeyeon’s POV

We reached the destination in fifteen minutes.

The pilot of the plane was right; he could really estimate the flight arrival. I told leeteuk about my amazement and he told me back that it was normal since the pilots could also measure distances. Another insight for me.

We reached the small airport, took our bags and rode another familiar looking black car with a chauffeur who was also wearing a similar uniform at the park estate.

“our driver here.” leeteuk answered my thoughts.

We invaded the car and sped off towards the hotel. It should be a twenty minute ride, since I was, too, measuring the distances. Leeteuk couldn’t help but to laugh and insisted that I should be a female pilot for a change too.  my eyes wandered to a new place I have never visited, and stayed silent until we reached the destination.

The hotel looked like any other hotels. Its not that big, maybe only up to eight floors. Outside were bellboys clad in white and green suits. The gardeners were everywhere, taming flowers of all kinds. Hospitality wise, the hotel has it, since we were served with glasses of cocktail drinks by some macho men donned in funny pink suits. Leeteuk and I reached the receptionist area but the hotel manager quickly dodged in the way.

The little hotel manager in her blonde hair and awfully long eyelashes greeted us with an enthusiastic smile.

“mister park jungsu?”

“yes.” Leeteuk said, shaking hands with her. “miss—“

“boa.” Manager boa said. “my name is Boa, I’m the hotel manager of this star hotel.”

“woah, what a name.” I blurted. Leeteuk smiled and pushed me forward.

“this is my girlfriend.” He said, as manager Boa eyed me with a raised brow. We’re almost the same height, but I was wearing my heels so I appeared taller.

Hello david, meet goliath.

“this must be miss kim taeyeon?” Manager boa continued looking at me. leeteteuk nodded and urged me to shake hands with her.

“you will be entertained to your suite, meanwhile let me have assistant manager Hyori to assist you.” Manager Boa said as I shook hands with her. leeteuk and I both looked at a towering beauty with long brown wavy hair approaching our direction. she was almost the same height as leeteuk. All because she wore heels.

“good morning, I’m your assistant manager. Please do call me miss hyori.” Miss hyori said.

“so aren’t there more beautiful people around?” I whispered at leeteuk.

Ever since leeteuk had a new heart and became healthy, I was always nervous when he’s around with beautiful girls.

Not that I cannot help it. this guy is a big catch to all the female species.

Leeteuk dismissed the topic by gently pinching my hand as we walked our way towards the elevator.

“taeng, you first.” he said, when we reached the lift. We were silent, spared the sounds emanating from the speaker, and waited until we reached the eighth floor.

There were three suites at the eighth floor, and miss Hyori ushered us to the middle area, the second room with a giant shell at the floor beside the rug. With a swipe of a card, the room opened, leaving me gaping entirely for a minute. The room had a Victorian setting in it, much like leeteuk’s room, but lighter. There were painted figures everywhere; the receiving room was much like a meeting place. Once inside, three more rooms were situated, two bed rooms and the other one is a kitchen. I think I know where I would loiter.

“just tell me if you need anything, I will be glad to assist you.” Miss Hyori gave the card to leeteuk and smiled her best smile, giving me goosebumps at the same time. leeteuk didn’t seem to be bothered and closed the door.

“taeng.” Leeteuk smiled when I generously launched at the futon. “I told you not to be always jealous.”

“I’m not being jealous, I’m just asking.” I lied, slumping my face to the pillow. Leeteuk shrugged and sat down too.

“I will be out in an hour.” He said, removing my heels.

I sat up and pushed a pillow to my lap, my bare toes wiggling playfully above the futon.

“that quick? But we just arrived.”

“I already have a meeting.” Leeteuk said, looking at his shirt. “I guess I have to change.”

“wait, picture!” I said, reaching out for my bag.

Leeteuk ran a hand on his gelled hair.

“we should have a picture before you turn to a boring leeteuk.” I said, referring to his business attire that I grew almost tired seeing. Not that I don’t like it, leeteuk looked ultra clean in it. but he was not his age everytime he would wear such formal clothes.

Leeteuk sat beside me, took the camera from my hands and targeted a good spot.

CLICK

“satisfied?” he smiled at me. I nodded and gave him a quick hug. “we’ll go out after I finish. Meanwhile, you can enjoy your stay while you’re getting accompanied.”

“getting accompanied by who?”

And before I knew, the doorbell rang. Leeteuk opened the door and I was shocked to see two familiar women waving at me. the other one in a ridiculous cheetah printed business suit and the other one was, of course, like me wearing casual clothes.

“inyoung unni.” I said and turned to another female wearing an eye smile. “sunny?”

“ sungmin oppa is here for a meeting too, you’re not alone.” Sunny said. right, her boyfriend. I stood up in glee and welcomed the girls with opened arms, as if we haven’t seen each other for a week.

Then I saw ryeowook’s head peeking from the door.

“wookie!” I blurted. “come here!”

“noona will go to the meeting with me, you still have wookie and sunny to join you.” Leeteuk said as ryeowook removed his shoes once inside. inyoung unni couldn’t help but to giggle at leeteuk’s pig yellow shirt.

“I gave that to him.” I said.

Leeteuk looked at his shirt too. “I’ll go get change. Noona, wait for me.”

------------------------

At a business meeting room

Leeteuk composed himself before turning his attention towards his sister.

“noona.” He said, in hushed tones. “are we really meeting this people?”

Inyoung nodded and composed herself too. right infront of them were two twenty something businessmen clad in black attires. The first one to leeteuk’s left looked like he was about to immerse himself to the carrot cake he had, while the other one looked entirely clueless, as if wondering his existence on the meeting. There was a hefty amount of food at the center, in which the businessman to leeteuk’s left must have ordered.

Leeteuk was suspecting that his father tasked him to meet the clients in purpose.

“Shindong ssi, and Yesung ssi. “ he said, as the attention of the two businessmen became apparent. “you are working under your father’s business?”

“ne.” said a man named Shindong, who, had not taken his eyes off the food.

Leeteuk nodded and looked at Yesung.

“excuse me?” he asked.

Leeteuk and inyoung looked at each other.

“I mean, under your father’s business, you are working as an employee?” leeteuk asked Yesung.

“ah, ne.” yesung scratched his head. “I thought I heard something.”

“noona, I need a moment with these men, can you leave us?” leeteuk asked Inyoung. The eldest sibling of the Park family nodded and left the room.

“he is your sister?” yesung asked leeteuk.

Leeteuk nodded. “you can see the resemblance I guess.”

Yesung shook his head.

“no.”

Leeteuk looked at him in bewilderment and went to focus on the folder he was holding instead.

“let’s start the meeting then.” He said, scanning the files. Leeteuk had begun to wonder his father’s purpose of letting him meet these men. If it was some kind of a parental order, just like Shindong and Yesung’s parents had made, then it could be identified as a form of a force. “shindong ssi,  your father implied that he wanted us to be the supplier of oil for your restaurant business and Yesung ssi, your mother wanted to buy some of the stocks in our steel corporation.”

Leeteuk looked like he was about to talk to himself for the lack of response.

“okay, moving on.” He said, going to another page. “so, the thing is, we only have to negotiate for a proper price since my company follows a strict rule. I am assuming that you have heard about the oil price hike nowadays internationally but its fine, we can still deal with it. at the meantime, the steel business is on going, stocks are negotiable too.”

“I heard that you almost died.” Yesung blurted, causing leeteuk to almost drop the folder he was holding.

“you died?” Shindong asked too.

Leeteuk placed the folder to the table.

“okay boys.” He finalized, intertwining his hands. “can I ask? If I may, are you still students?”

“no.” shindong lied. Leeteuk raised a brow and he quickly nodded. “yes, but  graduating from culinary.”

“I already graduated.” Yesung chimed in.

“do you have any experiences with your parents’ businesses then?” leeteuk asked patiently.

Shindong and Yesung shook their heads in unison.

“ah, I see why my father brought you here.” leeteuk bit his lip. He could imagine the parents of the kids enjoying a life of luxury at a distant land while their sons are currently filling in for their positions. His father must have been with their parents right now, at most, enjoying Egypt too. he would love to have a word with his father later.

Leeteuk still sitting, playfully pushed himself on a chair and crossed his legs.

“lets just be casual.” He decided. “call me your hyung.”

“hyung.” Said shindong.

“hyung.” Yesung said. “I like that.”

“okay, your hyung here, wants to negotiate prices with your parents.” Leeteuk explained as shindong eagerly handed him a chocolate cake. “thankyou shindong. And we have to deal with prices because obviously when you get home, you’ll be scolded by your parents if you don’t get the price.”

“I can feel that.” shindong said, feeling the shivers.

Leeteuk nodded and went on.

“so lets just make it easy.” He waved his fork. “at what price do you think your parents can handle? Shindong, when you need oil for a buffet, for example, how much will it cost? You multiply this to the amount of days your restaurant uses your oil, add the weeks, and you will get the price.”

“ooh, I didn’t know that this will be easy.” Shindong said. “that will cost around three point five billion won a month, considering the chain of restaurants.”

“three point five.” Leeteuk wrote on the blank paper. “how about Yesung, the stock is really negotiable, percentage counts. I think your mother gives you full authority to decide. Steel can be used for churches you know, building lots of them. So how much?”

“if this can build a lot of churches.” Yesung absentmindedly held on to his cross necklace. “then I guess, we will start from five percent then.”

“five percent.” Leeteuk repeated, scribbling down.

Leeteuk stopped writing and smiled.

“hyung, I never knew that this negotiating thing can be easy.” Shindong confessed as Yesung nodded in agreement.

“with money its easy.” Leeteuk said. he looked at his watch and wondered the absence of Sungmin. He was supposed to be in a meeting with them.

But nevertheless, he already made deal.

“I will check your income and see if the budget matches. Can I have your folders?” leeteuk asked. He opened the folders and scanned the contents.

“hyung hasn’t answered my question yet.” Yesung said.

Leeteuk pursed his lips as his eyes wandered to the files. “ah, that one. Yes, i died, almost. Circulatory shock. But I survived. I cannot be here if I didn’t right?”

“there must be a girl.” shindong said.

“ah, ne.” yesung nodded. “some motivating force.”

“there is.” leeteuk said.

Shindong and yesung smiled.

Leeteuk closed the folder and smiled too.

“we’re done.” he said, giving out the contracts. “so… shall we hang out?”

-----------------

Inyoung stood up once she saw her brother emerging out of the meeting room.

“its not yet one hour.” She said, following leeteuk. The eldest Park couldn’t believe that Shindong and Yesung were following leeteuk too. “you already negotiated.”

Leeteuk nodded, giving her the folder as they walked.

“omo, they signed.” Inyoung was surprised. “and with a good price too. how did you talk to them?”

“just like a businessman.” Leeteuk smiled. if only he knew that this could be a casual meeting, he could have worn the yellow shirt that taeyeon gave him. “noona, take your rest. Where’s sungmin anyways?”

“hyung!”

Sungmin came running down like a maniac once he saw leeteuk and Inyoung near the elevator.

“I’m sorry, I got lost, I opened a room and there was two..” he looked at yesung and shindong quizzically. “so these two were really the ones we’re supposed to meet?”

“have you been there before?” leeteuk asked him.

Sungmin nodded. “yes, I am, I thought it was a joke so… anyways.” He gave leeteuk another folder. “there is another meeting by the way, at room five with Mr. Lee Soo Man, I think he’s already there.”

Leeteuk bit his lip. He had promised that he will go to taeyeon immediately after one meeting.

“okay.” He said. “I think it won’t take that long, let’s just make it quick.”

“oh no hyung, this one is a big shot, this can take you two hours.” Sungmin raised his palms to stop him. leeteuk sighed and made a bow to shindong and yesung.

“sorry, cant hang out. but I will have you accompanied by sungmin.”

“me?”sungmin looked like he was in the verge of laughing.

“yes, you. These are our clients.” Leeteuk said. “boys, this is sungmin. Take him wherever you want to go.”

Yesung smiled and tugged sungmin by the arm.

“noona.” Leeteuk turned to Inyoung and pointed to the elevator at the front.  “sorry, but we go up.”

-----------------------

Pool side, star hotel

“he has another meeting.” Taeyeon pouted as she walked near the pool with sunny and ryeowook. Leeteuk had sent her a message, implying that there are more clients that he has to talk to, since his father impulsively sent them to the resort.

Good thing she was asked by Sunny and Ryeowook to stroll around, she had never done this before since she was so devoted to her studies months after leeteuk’s operation.

Ryeowook nodded and placed an arm around taeyeon’s.

“its okay, give him time.” he said, as sunny took taeyeon’s hand. “you two graduated after all and he has to make a name in his business. You should get used to him having these kinds of meeting.”

“do you think you can keep up?” sunny asked taeyeon.

Taeyeon shrugged. She had really never immersed herself to leeteuk’s family business because their concern a year ago involved looking only for a heart donor. Everything comes into place again, and she knew that leeteuk will be busier on times to come.

“you have the years to keep up.” Sunny urged her. taeyeon smiled and sighed.

“if I can.”

“of course you can.” Ryeowook said.

Taeyeon had weird thoughts ever since leeteuk became a healthy new person. She had always wondered the what ifs—if leeteuk is healthy would he stay focused on his career forever? Would she be abandoned? Would she be replaced by tall and brainy beautiful girls?

She had wanted to shake these things off her system but she can’t. Somehow, she felt deprived of herself.

“drinks anyone?” taeyeon volunteered.

----------------------

suite 2, Star Hotel

10:00 pm

Taeyeon’s POV

I spent most of my afternoon and evening strolls with sunny and ryeowook. We indulged ourselves to a lot of heavy drinks, fortunately we were still able to enjoy the night going to the other bars. Good thing ryeowook really has a high tolerance to alcohol and could still us back to our rooms.

I almost went to another room when Ryewook ushered me to suite 2.

“thanks.” I waved at Ryeowook, who, in amazingly high tolerance to alcohol level, managed to walk straight to the elevator. I could feel my insides heating vigorously and my brain swelling. I have a good tolerance to alcohol too, but sometimes, it could really knack my body out.

I closed the door and found leeteuk waiting for me at the futon.

“oh hi, still up?” I drawled, almost slurring my speech. I thought I would knock over the table but leeteuk was just in time to catch me at my waist.

“always the super man.” I smiled.

“how many drinks did you have?” he asked me, when I situated myself to the couch. I rested my back as leeteuk headed towards the kitchen area. I could hear a sound of a basin reaching the sink, a running water, and ice being propped inside.

“twenty something, I think?” I laughed stretching my feet. My head really felt dizzy right now, as if the room was a complete disc, spinning around me.

Leeteuk emerged out of the kitchen with a basin in his hands.

“so how was the meeting?” I asked.

“had a good contract with clients.” Leeteuk soaked a towel on the ice cold basin and applied an amount to my forehead.

“hey, I never thought you knew first aid.”

“because you’re downsizing me.” he chuckled, compressing the material to my skin. “I had a bad one though, one client backed out because he was too affected by the price.”

I nodded and closed my eyes.

“you shouldn’t be drinking too much.” Leeteuk said gently. “good thing ryeowook was with you. And sunny too. or else I’d be too worried… okay its my fault that I didn’t accompany you. I’m sorry.”

I opened my eyes and chuckled.

“don’t be sorry, I should be expecting that this is a business meeting trip.” I said softly.

“but I should have time to you because its also my graduation present.” Leeteuk said. he looked at his back and turned his attention towards me. “I have more meetings to come but i’m hoping it’ll be my free day tomorrow so we could go out. so if ever you got drunk again at least I could accompany you.”

I wrinkled my nose as he continued patting my skin with the towel.

“thanks. And sorry.” I said.

“I’m sorry too.”

“you really have high alcohol tolerance huh?” I asked, poking his head. I thought I was targeting leeteuk but it was just a space. A double image, I guess.

“yeah, better than ryeowook I think.”

“really?” I sat up but failed when the image of my surroundings started to spin badly.

“okay, lie your head down.” Leeteuk ordered me.

 I complied and stayed silent for a few moments, with only my fast breathing heard. This is really embarrassing. I’m just as grateful that he could tolerate my moods.

“teuk, I’m really sorry.”

“its okay.” Leeteuk gave me a water to drink. “I really have a high tolerance because I kept drinking for years ever since the incident with Ga-in but I haven’t tested myself now.”

“do a test then.” I said.

“nope, not good for the liver.” Leeteuk thought aloud. Then he looked at me and cringe his brows. “but what if—“

“drink with me?” he asked. I don’t know if this guy could understand my alcohol tolerance that he regarded me still as normal but I guess my continuing communication with him is the evidence.

“go and buy.” I said as leeteuk stood up and headed towards his room.

okay…This is going to be a long night.