Arrangements

16

Anna stays silent during the entire flight. We've arrived in our hotel right in Seoul few minutes away from the subway station. Our chauffeur hands us a key to our rented BMW car, some brochures for our trip and other stuff.

We head up to our room and Anna fixes my things.

"You can have the car. I can travel alone, it's not my first time here. We don't need to act married. I can book another room." She suggests.

I suddenly remember what Fiona told me. I can't stress her out.

Okay, Leonard. This is just for one week. I will act as her good husband until we get back to Philippines.

"No. You don't need to." I say and take my things from her hands.

"I'll do this. You fix your things," I fake a smile. "I guess this area will be mine, you take that." I say referring to our part of the cabinet.

She remains silent again. She fixes her things and then take a bath.

I watch TV until she's finished with her bath.

"I'm going out." She informs.

"You're going where?"

"I can't just sit here idly."

"Oh. Okay." I say. I have no plan of going out, I will spend this entire week watching TV.

She changes into outdoor outfit. While she fixes her hair, I remember I cannot leaver her alone. What if she gets confused again like what she's been saying?

"I'll drive you," I offer.

"No need. I know how to commute here," she says.

I fake a cough, "I'm bored here. I'll come with you," I stand up and hurriedly go in the bathroom.

"Don't leave without me," I warn before I close the door.

After my bath, Anna helps me to get ready. I wear long-sleeved polo and jeans. It's a bit cold outside so she hangs scarf around my neck and fixes it.

I feel awkward and have to fake a cough to break it.

"It may be spring here but it's already night and it's colder." She explains.

As the elevator goes down, Anna's smile is getting wider and she feels more excited.

I don't know anything about here. Anna punches a location in the navigator and I drive as instructed by it.

Anna opens her window and extends her hand out.

"I miss this," she excitedly says.

"I don't remember you going here."

"I took a vacation..." she suddenly pauses. "You're right. When did I come here?"

Oh no. She might remember what confuses her.

"Never mind. I think I remember now," I immediately lie. "Let's just enjoy this night, okay?" I smile and hold her hands.

When we're finally in our destination, we leave our car in a pay parking lot. We'll walk from there, Anna suggested, as we explore the place. It's Myeong-dong.

I take my time walking as I enjoy the view of the busy streets, while Anna tries every vendor we pass by.

Anna buys a street food in a stick. I am hesitant and tries to stop her but she quickly takes a bite of it.

"It's yummy," she says as she gives thumb up to the vendor.

The vendor hands one stick to me and I refuse it but Anna takes it.

"Taste it. Try just one bite," she smiles. It seems delicious so I take a bite while Anna is holding the stick.

"How is it?"

I respond a smile. It's surely delicious and juicy.

"Here," she hands me the stick and we take off after she pays the vendor.

After she finishes two stick of that street food, she enters a store. I have to run to catch up with her.

It is a souvenir store. She's very happy looking at the souvenirs. She calls me and points to something.

"Isn't it cute?" She asks, pointing to a hair pin. I give her a nod.

She takes it to the counter and pay. We are to go out but she sees a tie clip similar to the design of her hair pin. She immediately buys it and hands it to me.

"For you," she says casually. She proceeds to other store after I take it.

I take a look of it and smile. It reminds me of our lost friendship.

We spend the entire night exploring the busy streets of Myeong-dong. Our walk reach the cable car station but the tower where it's going is already closed. Anna suggests we come back tomorrow. I agree because she says I will surely like it up there.

"Let's do playhouse," she suggests while we're finally headed to where we park our car.

"Playhouse?"

"I know this is business thing but I want to enjoy this trip as how it's planned."

"Why playhouse?"

"Let's pretend we're happily married. Give me this week. After France, we're back again to how we originally were. You being the cranky old looking man ignoring me, and me being... I don't know... I guess I'll stay in our house for long again."

"Sounds like a plan. But I don't look old," I argue.

She just laughs.

I hope this plan is right, but I suddenly realize it's not.

I stop walking and she looks back at me when she realizes I'm not beside her.

"We're not business tools so why should we pretend? We're married so we really have to be happy with it."

"Love..." she suddenly stops.

"Call me love. Call me however you like and I will do the same. I won't be a burden to you so please don't be a burden to me too." I say.

She smiles and nods her head. She extends her hand and opens it wide for me to hold it.

I hold her hand as we walk to our car.

This is all just temporary until I find out if how she was when she was ten is indeed happening to her again, or this time is different.