Agad akong napabangon sa aking kinahihigaan nang marinig ang pamilyar at masayahing boses. Nanlaki ang mata ko at tila nanuyo ang aking lalamunan, nangangapa ng sasabihin. 

[Excited ako para sa regalo ko sayo, iyon nga lang ay simple lang siya. Alam ko naman na makakabili ka ng ganito pero gawa ko 'to, ssob!] Dagdag pa niya at tila lalo akong nataranta. How should I reply to him? What should I reply? What should I say? 

[Ssob? Andiyan ka ba? Di ka sumasagot.] ani nito at muling nanlaki ang mata ko bago pinaypayan ang aking sarili gamit ang aking kamay. 

"Ahm... yes, andito ako. Ano kasi... Inin wala ako sa Tagkawayan ngayon, hindi ako makakapunta." Nag-aalangan kong sagot. Please don't ask where am I, please don't!

[Ah... sige, ganun ba? Bukas ba?] tanong niya at napalunok ako ng laway. 

"Ahm... wala rin eh. Sa ano pa... sa January na ang balik ko." turan ko dito. Malungkot ba siya? Malulungkot ba siya? 

[Ah... AHHH, alam ko na! Nasa family vacation kayo? Ah, okay okay, gets ko na. Sige ssob, enjoy ka lang diyan.] ani niya at doon ay bahagya akong nakampante at nakahinga ng maluwag. 

"Okay okay, I will. Kayo rin, enjoy kayo ni tito." turan ko at nag-hum ito. 

[Siyempre naman, kami pa. Sige, mukhang puyat kapa sa Noche Buena niyo kagabi. Bye ssob.] ani niya at nag-hum din ako. 

"Bye," turan ko at pintaya na niya ang tawag, kasabay ng pagbaba ko ng cellphone mula sa aking tainga ay ang muli kong pagbagsak sa kama. 

"Putanginaa~~!" I cried out in frustration, both hands on my face. 

I feel so... guilty. I feel guilty that I won't be able to go and see him. He sounded so happy and excited. So am I! I want to see him, I want to eat the foods he made! Gosh! He made food for me! Who wouldn't feel so happy, excited and loved when someone cooked for you! And his gift! He made me a gift! Just like the wood that has my name engraved on it! He hand made it himself, and now, he made me another one! 

I removed my hand from my face, a pout printed on my lips. I pick up my phone and dialed Ali's number. Heck it's just 9am, I haven't slept for that long. 

[Hello?] she sounded sleepy, 

"Kakagising mo lang?" I ask and she hums. 

[Yes bestie, kapuyat ang pasko kagabi. Ikaw ba? Kamusta kayo diyan sa Japan?] she ask, I bit my lower lip and hum. 

"Japan itself is okay, but I am in such a bad situation right now. More like I am having a bad feeling." I said, biting my finger nails. 

[Huh? Why? Anong ginawa sayo ng Samuel na 'yan?] she ask and I immediately shake my head. 

"No, no, no it's not Sam. Inin," I said, 

[What?! Bakit anong nangyari?] she ask, 

"Well... well I feel guilty. Few minutes ago, he called me, inviting me to go to their place. He cooked foods for me, then made me a gift. I feel guilty that I can't go!" I said, panic starts to build up inside me once again. 

[Huh? Bestie naman, huwag ka masyadong magpaka-praning dahil doon. You can say no to that. Hindi mo naman obligasyon na lagi siyang puntahan, you two are not even togetheer. Kumalma ka, you're exaggerating things, Lory. I swear, he won't mind that.] she said and a pout once again grew on my face. 

"But he will feel sad." I said and I hear her sigh. 

[Bestie, if sa akin mangyayari 'yon, I will also feel sad. Pero babalik ka naman, magkikita naman ulit kayo. Maibibigay niya yung regalo niya. You also have to understand yourself cause I know he understands you. Masisira lang ang bakasyon niyo ni Sam kung magpapalamon ka sa kaka-overthink mo.] she explained and I slowly nod. 

"You sure he won't take it seriously?" I ask and I hear her chuckle. 

[I can't say yes or no cause I'm not Inin. But what's better to do, and what you should be doing is to relax, don't overthink about it. You're in your holiday vacation and you should be enjoying.] she said and I took a deep breath before nodding. 

"Okay, you're right, thanks." I said and she hums. 

[And also, yung pasalubong namin. 'Yon ang huwag mong kalimutan.] she said which made the both of us chuckle. 

"Meron na akong nabili. Maghahanap pa ako." I said and I hear her squeal from the other line. 

[Yas!! Nice bestie! Salamat!] 

I smiled, "Always welcome, I need to go na. Tutulog pa ako, bye!"

[Bye bye! Ingat!]

After I ended the call, I put down my phone just beside me and stared at the ceiling, hands on my stomach. 

I took a deep breath, "Don't overthink it." 

I am once again awaken but this time by a knock on my door. With heavy eyelids and tired body, I forced myself to stand up and open the door for whoever is knocking, my whole body covered with the thick blanket. Not thinking about the danger that someone who I don't know might be outside my room. 

Until I hear a chuckle, "It's 4PM, Louise. You slept too much." Sam said, even eyes are still closed, I was still able to roll my eyes. 

"Kahit dalawang araw pa akong tulog, wala akong pake." I said as I face my back at him. I hear him once again chuckled before I hear the door close and his footsteps behind. 

I flop down on bed, still wrapped like a lumpiang shanghai, my back facing him. "Come on Louise, I'm hungry, I'm planning to eat outside. My treat, eat all you can." he said and I didn't even move a muscle. I'm tired, I am not glued to the bed. It's so comfortable and I don't want to leave this bed. 

I hear him sigh, "Let's grab some ice creams." he said and I lift my head up, looking by the head board. 

"What else?" I ask, 

"Well... what do you want?" he ask, that's when I lift my body up, sitting on the bed, facing him. 

"Cookies, sweets, a lot of sweets." I said and he nods, "Then let's get that, but change first-- Louise you're just wearing undergarments under your blanket, holy shit!" That's when we both realized I am wearing nothing but my undergarments when the blanket slip down from my shoulder revealing the strap of my bra and my chest. 

He immediately turned around, both hands on his waist. 

"I'll leave the room first, I'll be outside. Lumabas ka nalang kapag bihis kana." he said before rushing out of the room.

I sat there still processing things. But when I have processed in my hand that he just saw my shoulder and chest, I shrugged and stand up from the bed and put on a hoodie, I change my lower undergarment and put on a sweatpants. And then I put on a thicker jacket. I don't mind wearing baggy clothes right now. I'm no in the mood to wear fancy clothes when I just woke up and hungry. 

I grab my cross body bag and went out where I saw Sam leaning by the wall, busy on his phone. 

"Let's go," I said as I tap on his wrist. He lift his face up and nod, he still looked shocked until now. 

"Hey," I scratch the end of my eyebrow, catching his attention. 

"Huwag mo nang isipin yung nakita mo. It's all good, I don't mind what happened, don't overthink. Let's enjoy our stay here." I said as I grab him by the wrist and lead him to the elevator. 

Until we get to the restaurant where we had our dinner, none of us spoke about it again. We just talked about when will we be taking the flight to Korea and what would we do once we get there. After our dinner we head to the market and bought the sweets just like what he said. He brought me a tall ice cream then soon a whole bucket of chocolate chips cookies while we're looking around to buy things as pasalubong or souvenirs. 

When we got back at the hotel by 11PM, we again watch some movies and fell asleep by the morning. It was our last night in Japan cause by the evening of December 27, we left Japan and took our flight to Korea. While we're on our 2 hours flight, I sent Theo the pictures that we took. 

from Theo:

You played with the snow, ate? It's so fun diba po?

to Theo:

Yes, so much! Me and Sam played a lot, we're heading to Korea and there will still be snow there. 

from Theo:

Okay ate, enjoy!! 

I sigh after replying back to Theo, I look at Sam who's at my side who I didn't realize was staring at me. 

"Talking to him?" he ask in monotone and I shake my head. 

"No, Theo." I said and he nods, we are not sitting closer to each other unlike our flight from Manila to Tokyo, but we're still on business class. 

"I'm sure you two still talk to each other. What's your status?" he ask, still in serious tone. 

I bit my lower lip, "Well... we like each other." I said and I hear him scoff. 

"Right, I'm happy for you." he said before shifting his gaze by the window. I opened my mouth, about to say something when the pilot spoke that we're gonna land any moment and phones should be turned off. 

I wasn't able to speak to him until we arrived at the hotel rooms. He still booked us separate rooms and that's not a problem to me. I always want to have my privacy. But as I arrived at my room, I immediately unpacked my things, faster than before. And once I am done, I went out my room and knocked on Sam's room. 

Few seconds later he opened the door, "I'll help you unpack." I said with a smile on my face. 

He smiled a little and nod before opening the door wider to let me in. But as I step inside and saw his stuffs already arranged by the closer, not even a sign of mess, my lips parted a bit. 

"I'm done unpacking." He said from behind with his monotone. 

I face him with a frown on my face, "I can tell you're mad at me. Tell me." I said, getting pissed off. 

He raised a brow, "Bakit parang ikaw pa ang galit?" he ask, leaning by the door, arms crossed. 

"Kasi I didn't do anything wrong to you and yet you're mad at me!" I exclaimed, glaring at him. 

He chuckled, an annoying one, "I'm not mad at you Louise--"

"You are! Nakakainis ka!" I said, stomping my feet, marching towards his direction where the door is, pushing him away so I can open the door. 

"I don't want to eat with you." I said before slamming the door on his face. 

I march back to my room, taking a shower and changing into pajamas, tucking myself in bed. 

"Nakakainis ka talaga!!" I said before punching the pillow beside me. 

I slammed my face on the same pillow, "Arghh!!" I screamed in frustration. 

Nakakainis talaga siya! Wala naman akong ginawa sa kaniya ah! I didn't said anything wrong! Then he's mad at me?! For what? Nakakainis na galit siya sa akin! How are we gonna enjoy our stay here on Korea when he's mad at me and he's not telling me what's wrong! 

Like what I said, I didn't went out my room to eat, instead, I call for room service and ordered a lot of foods that got delivered in my room. I ate them while watching some drama in the TV since there's a lot of good drama and movies in here. 

The whole night I didn't hear anything from Sam. I won't lower down my pride and say sorry specially I don't know what I did wrong! Over my dead, hot, beautiful, sexy and rich body! I would never lower down my pride! 

I finished all the foods that I really enjoyed since I'm a fan of Korean foods. I didn't ask for the staffs to get them since it's late in the evening and I want to sleep immediately and take rest. 

I woke up around 9am which is surprisingly early when I slept around 1am. I immediately took a shower and change into some warm clothes. Around 10am, I'm putting on some light make-up when someone knocked on the door who I suppose are the room service to get the tray. 

And I wasn't wrong, it was them, but Sam is with them, holding a bouquet of flowers. 

None of us two uttered any word while the room service get the tray. I thanked them as they leave. Still none of me nor Sam is speaking. He just stood there holding the bouquet. 

I crossed my arms, "What?" I asked, raising a brow. 

His smiled started to form and soon he chuckled, "I'm sorry," he said and I raised my brows, "For what?" I asked, he sigh and stared at me. "I'm sorry because I gave you cold treatment last night." he said in a soft voice. 

I took a deep breath and slowly nod, "Apology accepted." I said and his smile grew wider before handing me the bouquet. 

"The first thing I did this morning is search for a flower shop near the hotel. I searched  that girls like flowers." he said and I slowly nod while smelling the scent of the flower. 

"You like it?" he ask and I nod, lifting my head up, "Yes, I love it." I said, hugging the bouquet. 

"I know you haven't had any breakfast, lets go? I searched places where we can get a lot of Korean foods." he said and I nod, putting the bouquet on the nearest table and grabbing my bag. 

We still haven't rented a car so we took a taxi to Cupbap street in Noryangjin. It's like an outdoor food court and just the smell of the foods being cooked makes me feel like I'm starving to death. 

We had Kimchi Fried Rice first, then I didn't get satisfied and ordered rice cakes, then corndog. Then I felt full where Sam laughed at me cause I wasn't able to walk anymore because I'm too full. He told me to stay on the bench for few minutes because he will get me something. 

"I told you I'm full already! How will I be able to drink this boba?" I ask him as he hand me boba that looks so good!

"Well you can drink it later--"

"No, I'll drink it now." I said as I stab the straw and immediately took a sip, a moan escaping my lips as it really taste nice. 

"Wow, this is so good! So much!!" I said as I took another sip. I hear him giggle before he sit beside me, drinking his boba too.

"Let's go to Jeju tomorrow?" he ask while we're peacefully drinking our drinks. 

I gave him a nod, the straw touching my lips, "Sure, but where will we be celebrating New Year?" I ask, he look at me and slightly tilts his head. 

"Lets go sa New York, I heard they will welcome the New Year sa Time Square." he said and my brows furrowed before slightly hitting his arm. 

"We just got here in Korea and now you want to take another flight to New York. It's December 28 na kaya and a flight form Korea to New York will take around 14 hours 'no! I want to spend more time here in Korea." I told him and he chuckled, 

"Then after celebrating New Year in Time Square, let's take another flight back to Korea." he said looking straight to my eyes. 

I glared at him, "Ayaw ko, I want to spend New Year here. I'm sure there will be fireworks display too. Maybe the Lotte World Tower will also have one. Come on, Seoul is a nice city, I know there would be great fireworks here too." I said and he slowly nod. 

"Yeah, that's true, and as long as I'm celebrating it with you, I'm all good." he said which made me roll my eyes.

After we had our breakfast at Noryngajin, we then went to Myeongdeong and started shopping. Like what I expected, there's a lot of things to buy here such as clothes, shoes, accessories and even kpop albums. I bought some for Laura and Jax since the two are somehow a fan of kpop. And some kpop related products are really just attractive that even I who's not so into it bought some for me. 

We spent the whole day outside, shopping and eating that's why when we got back to the hotel. I immediately fell asleep around 8pm. By the next day, when Sam knocked in my door by 6am, I got fully awake and didn't stayed longer on the bed. I took a shower, change into warm clothes and get ready to take our flight  to Jeju. 

The flight only lasted for an hour and once we arrived at the island, I can't stop taking pictures and so is Sam. He even have his camera with him. 

"Louise, stand here, I'll take a picture of you." he said and I immediately stand by the place he pointed and smiled at the camera. 

"This is really a place!" I said, slightly hopping on the ground. 

"Back when I was in 7th grade, I always wanted to go in Korea and in Jeju, specially I know that my friend is half Korean and she have been here before, it makes me wants to go here more. And now I'm here! With you!" I said like an excited kid, I don't care if people are judging me, I'm really happy that I get to be here now!

I hear Sam chuckle who's checking the pictures, we're now  walking by the trees, and there's a slight rain of snow which makes everything perfect! 

"So you're happy?" he ask and I immediately nod, 

"Of course--"

"That you're with me?" he ask which made me stop from walking and so he is. 

I stared at him for few seconds while he stare back, waiting for my answer, "Well..." I gulped, 

"Well of course, I think it won't be this fun when I'm all by myself here." I said and clung my arms on his, 

"Now lets go, there's a lot of good places here!" I said as I started running, dragging him with me as we both laugh while running in snow.