12. Ferry ride

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As their conversation flowed, Manya noticed they were heading towards the outskirts of Seoul. She glanced at Nam Joon, raising an eyebrow, demanding him to explain. He revealed that he had arranged for a private ferry to Jeju Island for dinner, with plans to return on Sunday. She was taken aback; she had expected a dinner in Seoul. How could he take her that far without asking her consent, and plan for them to stay overnight? She voiced her displeasure as politely as she could.

Nam Joon looked worried and quickly apologized. "I'm sorry. I didn't think you'd agree if I asked you first. I just wanted to do something special to show my thanks. If you really don't like it, we can change the plan."

Looking at him incredulously, she questioned, "Mr. Kim, do you have any ulterior motives?"

Meeting her gaze directly, Nam Joon replied in a calm, deliberate voice, "No, I don't have any ulterior motives."

Relieved by his sincerity, she sighed and expressed her concern about not having packed anything beyond her handbag. Nam Joon reassured her with a smile, "Don't worry, I'll take care of everything."

She couldn't help but joke, "Are you trying to recreate last week's adventure, putting me in your shoes?" Nam Joon chuckled thoughtfully, appreciating her perspective.

They boarded a luxurious private ferry, where an extravagant dinner awaited them.

During the meal, Nam Joon asked, "Do you drink?" Manya shook her head with a slightly embarrassed smile. "No. In India, drinking is often considered as a social taboo. Though things are changing with Western influences, I've just never taken to it."

Nam Joon nodded and decided to skip the drinks as well. "It's okay," she said, "you can have a drink if you want. It won't bother me."

He smiled and replied, "I don't really feel like drinking tonight."

After they finished dinner, the ferry reached its destination. Mr. Lee led them to their rooms in the resort. They each went to their rooms to freshen up. 

About an hour later, Manya's phone rang. It was Nam Joon. "Finally, I have his number," she thought.

"Hey," he said, "would you be interested in a night stroll along the beach?"

Nam Joon checked in on Mr. Lee, who preferred to rest and bid him goodnight. Then, he walked to Manya's room to see if she was ready. Just as he reached her door, it opened, and they both burst into laughter upon seeing each other. Nam Joon was dressed in an oversized T-shirt layered with a shirt, baggy jeans, a polo cap, and a mask, while Manya wore a hoodie, jeans, and a mask.

"Nice disguise," he remarked with a smile.

"Same goes for you," she replied, still chuckling.

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