Reen was bored out of her mind, sitting inside her room. She wanted to leave for the sea side but she didn't want to bump into Kyle while alone there because it was quite obvious he may want to start a convo with her.

She sighed deeply as she thought about what to do. She had been scrolling through every social media platform she had an acocunt in and everyone seemed to be having fun except for her.

She dropped her phone and wanted to change into her pyjamas and go to bed when a knock came on her door.

"Reen dear? You have a guest." She heard Hoy's mother's voice outside her door and jumped from her bed.

"A guest? Kyle?" She asked herself as she went to open the door.

"Thank you." Reen thanked her before going to the sitting room. She had a dark look on her face as she marched to the living room. But her steps halted when she realised it wasn't Kyle but Zichu. And surprsingly, he was very well dressed in a button shirt, pants, shoe, a coat, and had his hair styled to the back.

Thankfully, no one else was in the living room but she could hear voices coming from the different bedrooms.

"What... are.. you."

"The security man at the gate called earlier. He said and I quote, 'There is someone at the gate, he is an employee at the resort and claims he is a friend of a certain Miss Luo Reen and is asking to see her.' So I asked to let him come over." The older woman said.

'And you didn't think to confirm from me first?' Reen asked in her head but thanked the woman instead.

"I'll excuse you two now." She smiled before disappearing.

'What a shipper you are.' Reen eyed the woman's back as she disappeared inside her room.

"Merry Christmas... again." He said awkwardly.

"..."

"You said if I was free and wanted to hang out..."

"And you came here directly?" She asked in a whisper while looking around.

"I actually only wanted to ask for you but it didn't go as planned."

She could tell how nervous he was. He was literally shaking as he stood there. The thought of standing here where her family stayed must be terrifying to him.

"You should go outside."

When she noticed the downcast look on his face, she corrected, "I mean... wait outside while I get my coat. I don't want anyone else seeing you here."

If her parents saw him, it was probably going to be an endless session of question and answers which was going to make him uncomfortable. For his sake, she thought it was best to wait outside instead.

But Ning Zichu assumed she was ashamed of being seen with a waiter. It did hurt, but he wouldn't blame her. Look at her family and look at him. He should be glad she wasn't throwing him out.

Reen led him to the door and opened it. Before he could step a foot outside, they heard a voice behind them and turned around,

"Where are you going to Reen?" Jaime asked, looking at Zichu with curiosity. "Who are you?" He asked the stranger. Zichu froze for a second since he recognized the man as Reen's father.

"I... I am... my name is... Ning Zi-chu, sir."

"Oh! You are the waiter?"

The little hope Zichu had to act like he belonged to one of the families here, crashed when her father recognized him. This was probably the end? Was he going to ask him to stop seeing his daughter even before he tried?

"I... am."

"Dad, we were just leaving."

"So you are going out with my baby girl?" Jaime asked, pretending not to notice Reen's glares.

"I.. we.. I mean.. I..."

"You are quite good looking. You may overshadow her beauty if you walk together."

"DAD!" Reen yelled while glaring at Jaime who was cracked up at her reaction.

"Sorry dear. Have fun and make sure to return early." He turned to look at Zichu who looked very surprised, "We'll meet again. You can visit when next you are free."

"Y..yes sir." Zichu said, still not believing what just happened.

"Sorry about that. He is like that." Reen apologized before hurrying to her room to grab a coat.

*****

"I don't see Mr Ping around." Joreen noted as they walked side by side around the sea side.

She knew they hadn't seen him because they actually haven't been trying to find him because they have both been busy, getting distracted by everything going on beside the sea.

"Maybe we might see him if we stopped moving around?" She suggested. She was already tired of walking around and wanted to sit.

"Alright." He agreed.

"Then where do we stay?" She asked and kept looking around until she noticed Hoy's gaze. He was looking at the resort. Since some part of the exterior was glass, although they couldn't see inside but if they were inside, they would clearly see outside. So they could relax there and look out for Mr Ping.

A few mintues later, they were both sitting opposite each other but they looked outside.

Joreen was lost in the moment until she remembered she was with someone so she turned to look at him. He looked relaxed while staring outside at the people having fun.

"Can we start without him? it's getting really late." She suggested.

Hoy got stuck since he didn't know what he was supposed to say. She was probably thinking he had some important business meeting with Mr Ping and her.

"There is no business." He said, choosing to tell the truth instead.

"No business?" She asked while giving him a confused look.

"I only made that excuse to pull you out of there earlier. It seemed like you needed help."

Joreen remembered how everyone's attention had been on her earlier as they waited for her to answer the question. It was only now that it finally clicked and she realised he had saved her from answering.

"Ohhhh... But you didn't have to save me back there. I wouldn't have called your name. Remember I told you I don't like you?"

He narrowed his eyes to look at her. "You finally remembered what your father told you to do and say?" He mocked.

"I don't know why I always forget about it! I would have progressed a lot if I didn't keep breaking out of character." She complained with a sad pout. "I always end up doing the opposite."

"Yea. You shouldn't be sitting with me. But here you are." He still sounded like he mocking her which made her flare up.

"That is exactly what I am saying! I get easily distracted." She placed a hand on her forehead and took in a deep breath.

Hoy watched her in amusement. Were they really having this conversation right now?

"What am I supposed to do?" She asked, blinking innocently at him.

"About?"

"You are a man! Give me hints. Things I'll do to get your attention while not being obvious that I am trying to get your attention."

He smirked and reminded her, "You just said you didn't like me."

"I mean... to.. get another guy's attention. I didn't mean you." She quickly corrected but shook her head. "Whatever! Just pretend it's you and answer my question."

"I told you before Luo Joreen. You already have my attention."

"Then maybe you aren't just attracted to me?" She asked thoughtfully. She didn't look angry or sad, simply curious and yearning for answers.

"What kind of woman do you like?"

"It's a little bit weird having this kind of conversation with you. So you should figure it out yourself."

"How am I supposed to? No one knows anything about you so who am I supposed to ask?"

He smiled at her before shrugging, "Figure it out yourself."

She sighed deeply in resignation. "I am going to keep snubbing you then!"

"I can always make you talk to me when I want you to." He said calmly but confidently.

"Oh.. someone seems confident. You are going to be surprised, I assure you. I am not a pushover."

"We'll see."

"We'll see too hmph!" She crossed her hands in front of her, taking a challenging stance before she threw her face to look outside again.

He looked at her for a while and turned to also look outside while a tiny smile creeped up his face.

"I..." She started speaking again, making him turn to look at her.

"I... heard the anklet was quite expensive." She said while looking unsure. She didn't want him to think she wasn't grateful, but she also wanted him to know her thoughts concerning it.

"....."

"Why.. aren't you saying anything?" She asked when he just continued to look at her with his hands folded in front of him without saying anything.

"It looked pretty." He said, "I didn't want anyone else except you to have it."