February 14. 2013

had all stayed at the ball until its finish past midnight.  Romeo and his ‘Juliet’ were the brunts of good-natured jokes and teasing. 
 - “You guys knew he was going to confess didn’t you? “  Ilana accused.
 - “Of course, does Princess think he could’ve pulled this off without us?”  Hyung Jun responded.
 - “Who does Suzy-ah think hung the bracelet on her door?”  Kyu Jong replied.
 - “KyuJong Uissa?!  And Uissa didn’t even give me a clue?”  Suzy smacked his arm playfully.
 - “Komapta, for helping me surprise nae yeoja.”  Suzy was all smiles and JungMin just gazed at her sweetly.  “Kaja, I’ll walk Suzy-ssi back to her room.”  He took Suzy’s hand as they walked off.
 - “Na think you two need a chaperone; I saw those sultry darts you were throwing at her while you were singing.”  KyuJong teased
 - “Yah, what was that line in the song about her heart away?”  YoungSaeng continued.
 - “Suzy-ah, Na don’t trust him, I think he’s part vampire,”  HyungJun joined in.
 - “The song did say if Na kissed her, the rest was up to her.”  JungMin teased his newly declared girlfriend.
 - “JungMin-ah, hajimaseo!”  Suzy completely embarrassed by now playfully shoved Jung Min.
 - “The namja started it.”
 - “Leave them alone, guys.  You’re so mean!”  Ilana said in defense of the new couple.
 - “Cinderella is taking all our fun away.”  Young Saeng said as he watched Jung Min and Suzy walk away.  “It’s past midnight, let’s get you back to your room." 
 - “Princess looks tired.”Hyung Jung said.
 - “I am!  The things I do for you guys,” she smiled.  “But I had fun, thank you.”
 - “We’ll all walk together, we’ve gotta go that way anyway.”  Kyu Jong said.

The guys laughed and joked the entire way to Ilana’s room.  When they all reached her door, she hugged her ’s goodnight and sent them off.  Hyung Jun protested.  “Princess let's hang out in your room for a while.”  The other two pulled their Maknaeaway from the door. 
 - “She’s tired, let her rest,” Kyu Jong told him.
 - “Who said she wanted to hang out with you anyway?”  Young Saeng continued.

 - “Goodnight Gentlemen!”  Ilana closed the door with a sigh and was grateful to be back in the tranquility of the room.  Wanting to be able to sleep in until she was well and ready to get up, she hung the 'do not disturb' sign on the door, turned off her phone, and unplugged the room phone. 

Suzy and JungMin took the slow and scenic route back down to her room.  “Kansamnida, for my bracelet,” she said, arriving at her door, some time later.
 - “Is that all Suzy has to thank me for?”  He leaned in to steal another kiss.  “Suzy doesn’t know how long na have wanted to do that, ” he told her.  “That mischievous face of yours has captivated me for a while.”
 - “Mollahyo, when Na started to hope that Oppa would see me as ‘me’ and not just one of the gang.  But then Na was afraid because Oppa is a shameless flirt.”
He laughed at her accusation.  “There was never anyone worth settling down for.  It was easier just to flirt and have fun, Na didn't want anything serious; besides, we work together and Na didn’t think it’d be right.”
 - “But Oppa gave in to nae charm anyway,” Suzy batted her eyelashes, sweetly, at him.
 - “If jagiya does that again, Na will turn into a vampire just to bite your neck and make you mine.”  Suzy took a playful step back.  “Besides, it was jagiya who couldn’t resist nae y Charisma.”  He thread his hand through her long hair giving her goose bumps.
 - “Oppa better get going; Uissa will kill me if naega late for work tomorrow.”
 - “Not before I taste your lips again.”  He gave her a slow, feather lite kiss and nipped her bottom lip playfully before walking away.  He left Suzy grinning and touching her lips with her index finger.  She entered her room and started to jump and squeal as soon as the door closed.  She wouldn’t be sleeping anytime soon.

The days were passing quickly and they were almost in March and back in the Pacific Ocean.  Ilana was looking at some of the pictures HyungJun had taken these last three months. 
 - “Aww, that’s a good one of JungMin and Suzy at the ball.”  Ilana pointed to the image on the screen.
 - “That was so much fun!  Hajiman..., now all they want to do is spend time with each other.”  HyungJun pouted.
 - “Let them get to know each other a little more.  It’s only been a few weeks.  They’ll be back to doing things with the group again.”

 - “We’re in Manila and then Hong Kong for two days each.  Maybe we can all go ashore together on one of the days.”
 - “No helicopters,” Ilana said seriously.
 - “Princess is funny.” 

February 28. 2013

It had been decided, Ilana would go into Manila with Hyung Jun and one of the tour groups and then they would all go to Hong Kong together, as that was one of their favorite stops.
 - “I’ll take the camera with the tripod for the group and scenic pictures and you take the smaller camera for the candid shots.”  HyungJun gave instructions to Ilana, he had shown her how to work the camera a few times.  This was the first time he was going to put her to the test.
 - “Arasseyo, do I need to call you ‘sunbae’?”
 - “Deh.”
Ilana shook her head at his silliness.

Since Ilana had never been to the Philippines, they chose to go out with ‘The Charms of old Manila Tour.’  She wanted to see old structures and ruins; modern cities never really interested her.  Taking many good candid shots of people enjoying the gardens and the dozens of fountains, Ilana fell in love the Rizal Park.  She even enjoyed Fort Santiago, minus the dungeons; she didn’t want to go where people had been held and tortured.  She had been tortured enough in her life without having to see that which could cause a pain greater than hers. 

Hyung Jun noticed she was quieter than usual as they left ‘Casa Manila’, the last stop on the tour.
 - “Princess, pigonhaeyo...tired?”  She was deep in her thoughts and didn’t answer him.  “Yah!”  He nudged her.
 - “mmm?”
 - “Princess, Na think we need to turn back.”
 - “Waeyo? What happened?  Did someone forget something?”
 - “Deh!  Your head.”  He patted the air above her head to show it wasn’t there.  “Where has Princess been?”  Ilana just shrugged her shoulders and looked down at her lap; a move the guys recognized she did whenever there was something she didn’t really want to talk about.  “That does it, naega telling the driver to turn around.”
 - “Anieyo, Oppa!" 
 - “Talk!”
 - “Aish!  You’re so annoying!”  By now, she's picked up a good handful of Korean words, she could use back at them.
He stuck his tongue out at her.  “What’s going on in that cute head of yours?”
 - “I was just thinking….remembering stuff.”
 - “Good or bad stuff?”
She sighed.  “Depends on how you look at it.  I loved seeing all the Spanish architecture and heritage in Manila, but...”  She got the far-off look again and Hyung Jun had to nudge her to keep talking.  “Alright!  It just reminded me of my Mom’s town in Spain.  I remember, vaguely, going there when I was little.”  She tried to hold back tears that threatened to escape by looking away.
 - “That’s a good memory.  It’s happy; Princess shouldn’t be sad.  Do you still have family in Spain that you can re-visit some of those memories.”
 - “I'm not sure what happened to the property, really.  The only close relation I have is my cousin from my Dad’s side and I never want to see him again.”  She clenched her teeth at the thought of Juan Carlos.  “I just always wonder...my life would have been so different had that accident never happened.”
 - “Evaluate your experiences, what you’ve learned, and move forward.”
 - “I know…”
 - “I know…,” he mocked her and tugged her hair.
 - “Yah!  Brat!”  The guys always knew how to make her smile. 
 - “Princess nomu kyopta, when she gets mad, ” he laughed at her, as she pretended to be mad at him.  “Stop thinking so much, Princess looks tired.”  He patted his shoulder; “Na will wake you when we get back to the ship.”
She was a little tired, but still hesitant to lean on his shoulder.  Eating a little more regularly lately, she found she didn’t tire quite as easy, but these excursions really wore her out.  “I’ve got a better idea; I’ll lean against the window and Oppa can lean on me.”  Ilana found that idea less awkward for her.
 - "Arasso!"  He liked that idea.  They both dozed off until the bus came to a stop near the ship.

March 1, 2014

The next evening, everyone was in the Crow’s Nest looking at the Hong Kong brochures and making plans.
 - “Na want to shop at the Market’s,” Jung Min said.
 - “I barely survived our last shopping trip!”  Ilana complained playfully, making everyone laugh.
 - “Oh!  Can we go to the flower market?"  Suzy asked.
 - “That’s boring!”  HyungJun vetoed her idea.
 - “Arraso!"  Suzy glared at HyungJun, "what about the cooking class?"
 - “Lantau Island would be nice and then we can do the Harbor cruise at night.  Doesn’t that sound good?"  Kyu Jong was the last to offer an opinion.
 - “What does Princess want to do ?"   Hyung Jun asked.
 - “I’ve never been, so I really don’t have a preference.”
 - “Wait!  I’ve got an idea?!"  YoungSaeng jumped in.  "Can we all take both days off?”  Everyone thought they could.  “Let’s go to Macau, spend the night, come back to Hong Kong the next day, and explore the marketplace."
 - “Ooh!  Can we stay at the Shinwa hotel?  Jung Min’s eyes opened wide with excitement.
 - “Pabo!  JungMin-ah knows how much that costs?”  Kyu Jong said.
 - “Doesn’t HyunJoong know the owner?  Plus he filmed a drama there.  Maybe he can call in a favor.”  Everyone murmured all at once.  Asia was an untapped market for her Father’s company, but she thought maybe ia, could pull some strings as well.  Everyone seemed excited and she wanted to do something for them.
 - “Jung Min, you call HyunJoong and I’ll make a call home and between the two of us, we might be able to work something out.” 

March 2, 2013

Phone calls were made between Hyun Joong and the owner of Shinwa Corporation and also ia and the head Marketing Rep for the hotel in Macau.  Once everyone exchanged information, it was settled.  Between HyunJoong’s name and ia’s phone call on behalf of the company, they were given an invitation to stay one night at the hotel.  One small problem as far as Ilana was concerned, she would have to play the part of the ‘corporate heiress’; a role she had never played.  She had worked behind the scenes doing Marketing research and looking at trends; most definitely, not the role of the Chairwoman. 
 - “Ah!  I can’t do this, Suzy?”  Ilana cried.
 - “Yes, you can!”  Jung Min, Suzy, & Hyung Jun were going through the clothes Ilana had brought and trying to put together a few different outfits for the day in Macau.
 - “Just use your ajumma voice and we’ll try and behave ourselves,” HyungJun told her.

 - “Romeo and Maknaebetter behave or I’ll pull you both by your ears.”  Suzy threatened with her best 'Mom' voice.
Ilana had given up and let the three pick her clothes for her.  They even raided Suzy’s closet, as she would play the role of her assistant.  What were the guys’ role in all of this?  Bodyguards, of course. 

March 3, 2013

Everyone rose early for their trip.  They’d be taking the ferry across with many others from the ship.  The weather was perfect and they were all ready to take on the many amenities of the hotel.  A limo would be picking them up at the Ferry terminal in Macau.  Ilana would have her ‘meeting’ with the hotel marketing representative and then they were free to enjoy their stay.
As previously arranged, the Limo dropped them off right in the front of the hotel.  The hotel entrance sat amidst gorgeous fountains and landscaping.
 - “Miss Contreras, so nice to meet you; I’ve read much about your company.  Your presence in Latin America is well known.”
 - “Mr. Jeong, thank you for your invitation.  It is an honor for me to be here.  I believe I can learn much from the hard work of your Chairwoman and now her son, who has taken the helms of the corporation.”  Ilana had done her homework, ia had sent her several files of information.  For the last few days, Ilana had done nothing but eat, breathe and sleep Shinwah Group.
 - "Miss Contreras has done her homework; I’m sure there is nothing more you can learn from me.”
 - "Thank you, Mr. Jeong.  Research is my specialty; I wouldn't be here if I had not prepared beforehand.  If you don’t mind, I’m hoping to observe your marketing strategies while I’m here.  This is such a marvelous place.  I very much wished to see it.  Ancient architecture is a hobby of mine and having never been to the true Venice, I thought I could mix a bit of business with pleasure.  Taking a tour of what a modernized Venice would look like, sounds very interesting.”
 - “Unfortunately Shinwa’s CEO is not in residence at the moment.  He asked me to welcome you and your staff to the hotel and hopes you enjoy your stay.”
 - “When I knew we would be in Hong Kong, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to come.  Please extend ILC Group's gratitude to Mr. Gu.  I'm looking forward to exploring and learning from a talented business mind, such as he. 
 - “My aide will you to your rooms.  If you have any questions during your stay, please contact me.”  Ilana took his business card with both hands and bowed to him before following the aide to their rooms.

Once Ilana and company were out of sight, Mr. Jeong contacted Gu JunPyo, the Shinwa Group CEO, to inform him of her arrival.
 - “Miss Contreras has just arrived sir, is there anything more you require me to do for her?”
 - “Just keep an eye on her.  They are only staying for one night, but something is not quite right.  I’ve done my research and she is who she says she is, but nowhere does it say she’s acting Chairwoman or CEO of the company.”
 - “When the company representative contacted me, I was told she had a great interest in the company’s success and while on vacation wanted to take advantage of learning from your success.  Miss Contreras hasn't fully taken charge of the company.  She is a co-CEO, in charge of marketing and research and development, I was told.”
 - “Yes, my friend said the same thing when he called.  I just want to know why a competing company, however big or small wants to observe one of my hotels.  Keep me posted.
 - “Yes, Sir.”

Oh Oh!  Are they going to get caught?