CHAPTER 2

The next day, it was time for Jeremy and Tobby to return home after gruesome and hectic schedules of concerts. Though they did not stay long in Seoul, surely, they enjoyed the place, the people and the weather. Yet every now and then, Jeremy was spacing out. There were times; he was not present with the moment. Now, they can relax and be alone.

"Have you found a unit yet?" Jeremy asked. He was sitting across Tobby at the airport overlooking the lined -up planes from the glass wall. Hiding his identity with sunglasses.

He was talking about the condominium unit he asked Tobby to look for as his new residence. Since he is now alone, he preferred to be at a new atmosphere as he goes back to Philippines. He does not want to stay in their house since memories would only haunt him more. Obviously, he was still not okay with what happened.

Worried, Tobby scratched his head, "Not yet."

"Why?"

"Most of the pent houses are occupied. I asked almost all the condominiums even those that are being built. But they are all occupied." Tobby had already been inquiring even before they went to Seoul. All of those, he had contacted were all occupied. In his desperation, he even inquired outside the city that Jeremy wanted to stay.

"Where will I stay then?"

"Hotel?" Tobby proposed.

"You know I can't stay in a hotel." There was an incident before when he stayed in a hotel after his tour. Many fans went crazy when they found out that he was staying in a hotel. Even the hotel management was not able to control the crowd that many guests of the hotel were disturbed.

"I know, why not go with me in my hometown?" Tobby randomly suggested.

"You know I can't. They'll be contacting me soon."

"That's right, I almost forgot."

"Just get me any unit type as long as it is large enough for me."

"Are you sure that you don't want to join me for a vacation?"

Instead of answering his question, Jeremy demanded, "Make sure that you'd better find one before we take off or else you will not have a vacation!"

Tobby nodded, "Okay."

As they settled themselves inside the plane, a woman was rushing to her seat. It was Kate. She will be going home today after months of practicum. In her excitement, she accidentally pushed Jeremy who was placing his bag at the compartment. Jeremy bumped his head at the edge of the compartment. Although, it wasn't forceful, he was still in pain.

Noticing her clumsiness, she apologized at once. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to push you. I was looking for my seat," Kate explained.

Gathering his calmness instead of anger, Jeremy asked, "Are you alright?"

Before he could finish his words, pointing at her seat, she claimed, "Oh! There it is."

Immediately, she sat down. Her seat was actually next to Jeremy who was trying to be calm. He just sat down next to Kate after the commotion.

Kate, who was so excited, just noticed before the take off that Jeremy was the guy who took the picture at Gyeongbokgung Palace. She stared at him closely to make sure, she was right. Shocked, she blurted out while pointing at Jeremy, "You're the guy yesterday! I was not able to thank you! Thank you mister!"

Jeremy's eyes glanced at Kate to the reaction of other passengers after her reaction. Not wanting any attention, Jeremy smiled and put on his earphone signaling that he will not entertain any chitchat.

A stewardess approached them and clarified, "Is everything alright ma'am, sir?"

Kate smiled and replied, "Everything's fine."

"Please buckle up your seat belts, we are about to take off." The attendant reminded

"Okay!"

She continued to look at him. She continued to wonder if he was really the man at the Palace. The look, the fan-craving angelic face on top of a well-built body, is the same. The smell, fragrance of a cold breeze in a dark night, is the same. She was sure that it was really him.

Jeremy who was listening to music noticed her stare. "You know, you really shouldn't stare like that…" He called out. At the back of his mind, he was so conscious that a stunning beauty, though clumsy, was staring at him.

Kate sighed openmouthed, for once at a loss as to how to respond. "Excuse me!" Kate sniffed, "I was looking at the window," pointing at the window next to Jeremy. She just made up an excuse since she was still overwhelmed by what Jeremy said.

Jeremy nodded. "Okay," he said and pretended to be sleepy.

As the plane was taking off, Kate suddenly grabbed the wrist of Jeremy. Jeremy felt her hand getting tighter, opened his eyes and looked at her. Instead of complaining, he found himself staring at her. She has her eyes closed, and her body is shaking in fear. Though her grip tightens as every second passed by until the plane is steadily flying in the sky, his focus on her beauty disseminated any pain.

"Are you okay?" Jeremy asked.

"Sorry! I have fear of heights," as she fretfully released her grip. She was uncomfortable. She already made a scene when she entered the plane. Now, she caused another trouble. She could not look at him in the eye. She knew that the grip was really tight.

"It's okay."

Looking at the mark left by her grip, "Are you sure you're okay?" He confirmed.

"Yeah! I'm okay."

"I'm Jeremy. May I know the name of the lady who will leave the hand grip in my arms for days?"

She hesitated but seeing the mark on his arms, she said, "I'm Kate!"

"Are you traveling alone?"

"Nope. I have my classmates at the back. They didn't want to sit beside me knowing that,"

pointing at the mark on his arm, "this will happen to them."

"Do you have any companion?"

"Uh-huh. That guy who is already snoring," pointing at Tobby who was at the back of their seat, comfortably sleeping.

Both laughed at him. They shared their experiences while they were in Seoul. Kate shared the places she visited on her last day like the historical sites. Kate again thanked Jeremy for what he had done while they bumped each other at Gyeongbokgung Palace. On the other hand, Jeremy did not say much about his trip. He was happily listening to Kate most of time of their flight. It was quite unusual for Kate to talk much but she felt comfortable talking with Jeremy. It was as if they already know each other for a long time.

When the plane landed, Jeremy, who had enjoyed talking with her for the whole flight asked for her phone number. He was actually the kind of guy who doesn't ask for a lady's number. Yet, for some reason, he felt that he must do it. Was it because, he had great time talking with her? He doesn't really know. All he knew is that he wanted to talk with her again.

Kate stood up, hesitated. It was not the first time, a man asked for her number. Most of the time, she would reject them or give them a non-existing number. Yet, in this case, part of her wanted to give, then she suddenly suggested, "Just give me your number instead," as she reached out her phone to him.

After dialing his number, Kate promised to contact him soon. "I have to go. My classmates are calling me," she said. Part of her wanted to talk more with him but she has to go. Her classmates were already waving at her, telling her to hurry up. She then bade farewell to him and walked towards them.

"Someone is in good mood," Tobby giggled, "Who is that?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing? But your dimples are so deep due to your wide smile."

"None of your business. By the way, have you found a unit yet?" He asked while his eyes are on Kate and her friends who are walking out of the plane. He wanted to approach her but the line of passengers going out trapped him.

"Yes! But you have to stay in a hotel tonight. Tomorrow, we will visit the place. Is it okay with you?"

"O..kay!"