Bo Young shifted in her seat to give the camera the best possible angle to get her in the frame. Just another interview from an international media outlet to get over with, and needless to say, they had a different set up from the last. She smiled beautifully when the cameraman gave a thumbs up, signaling his approval.
But inside her head, she laughed at the thought of all of this fine-tuning. What was the point when she knew she would only end up shuffling in her seat while giggling at the stupid jokes this man beside her would surely throw spontaneously between questions?
Yes, this man. The one who had been sitting by her side all day, as they answered questions together, made cards together, played games together, laughed together, and just pretty much goofed around together.
And she loved that. She loved that they did all of those things together.
So she glanced at him unwittingly, because she couldn't help it. It didn't surprise her when she saw that him already looking back at her with that close mouthed smile, eyes crimped at the corners, taking her breath away.
There really was no getting used to this. And even if there was, it would probably take a lifetime and a half just to learn how not to crumble every time he looked at her that way.
Lifetime? She barely suppressed a chuckle at the ridiculousness of her thoughts.
He must've heard her because he chuckled, too. It was a vicious cycle. Like an invisible bond between their souls, that whatever the other did, the other one was inclined to follow suit.
So they proceeded with the Eccho Rights interview with that same confidence, knowing how their combined dynamics had proven time and again that when they did things together, they brought out the best in each other.
When finally, they were asked how they would spend their last 100 days in reference to her character’s predicament in the show, she quickly thought of an answer that was different but she felt was better than her previous response to the foregoing in another interview.
“I want to visit all the wonders of the world. I want to go to Egypt,” she responded with a cheeky grin.
She then expounded on her rationale, with a side of quick banter with this man beside her, who had never once failed to make their interviews more entertaining with his playful remarks.
“But with the ongoing COVID 19 I can't do much of that in 100 days,” he countered humorously.
“If we rule out COVID 19 in the equation, in my last 100 days, I'll do anything to visit all over the world in planes and see the things I haven't seen before,” [sic] she retorted, directing her answer to him.
Then, this goof ball beside her decided to be funny. Again.
“I will come with you,” he blurted out.
Her knee jerk reaction was to yell at him with a resounding ‘ya!’ out of panic. But she let out a nervous snigger at the same time causing it to sound like she choked on her own spit. She then leaned forward to placate her nerves, confusing herself in the process by inadvertently leaning towards him instead.
Thank goodness he decided to explain himself further.
As he spoke about his bucket list and how he wanted to try all the food in the world, she looked at him with that derisive grin and a judgemental side eye. She wanted to tease him so badly about his endless rambling about food, which he probably sensed because he then so defensively explained that he wouldn't devour all of them.
But who was she kidding? Wasn't she always the first one to make a concession to his food compulsions? She even creatively ad-libbed her way into making him eat some jellies in one of their scenes together. She knew she would have him try any food he wanted if they were to travel the world together. She could just imagine it.
She would watch his ever expressive eyes glint in happiness after sampling his first Kushari in El Guna. Then, they would fly to Greece just so she could laugh at his crumpled face after foolishly eating a heaping spoon of ox brain without spreading it on pita bread. Or maybe they could go to Italy so he could eat pasta and pizza to his heart’s content. Then, they would spend a whole day in France so they could check out some expensive wine and all sorts of cheeses. Then she would have him try pressed duck since he had publicly proclaimed his love for duck tongue during his fanmeeting in Taiwan.
“So just a bit of everything,” she interjcted with a knowing smile.
“I just want to taste the different flavors of the world. So I should come and taste it with you,” he added with all the conviction in the universe.
With that remark, she almost covered her face with her hand, not for any reason other than she just couldn't help the stupid grin on her face.
This man who tripped on words whenever he tried to speak his mind, had always thrived in candor where it mattered. Because whatever he lacked in collating his thoughts, he more than made up for in honesty.
Just like this very moment, when he knew just what to say to knock down her walls.
So in that split second, she made up her mind and allowed herself to show the world that she was beaming.
How could she not? When he had just practically declared to the world, that if it were up to him, he would spend the last 100 days of his life with her?
