Beautiful Stranger

Chapter Twelve

It was their last night in South Korea and she still feel surreal about everything. Hindi pa nagsi-sink kay Alynna na pumayag siya sa date getaway nila ni Alejandro.

She had a hard time convincing Leon that she will be flying to South Korea using the Herrera private jet and not theirs. His features became taut when he found out their plans and he warned her about Alejandro.

As soon as they stepped-off of Alejandro's family private jet, they were greeted by five bodyguards --the three men was Alejandro's security team and chauffeur arranged for him while the two was hers-- and she saw Rain's assistant, when he was in Asia, waiting. There were parade of black cars waiting for them to be taken in airport.

She sighed.

Her cousins were in their full protective instinct again. They always are especially if they found out that she'll be on a date which she rarely did. But they can only warn her and asked her questions. They never interfere in her decisions.

They were to stay at White Dove Hotel which is owned by Montecillo Hotels. Rain's assistant was there to inform her that she was being summoned at the top floor where penthouse suites are. It was where everyone in their family stays if they happen to be in South Korea or they can choose to stay at their home in Gangnam.

That day after dinner with Alejandro at Namsan tower, she went up and she found out that her cousin Christian --who rarely fly out of the country aside if it's important or they were going in their annual vacation-- was there with Rain. Kulang na lang ay si Sebastián at Leon. She had a very lengthy conversation with her cousins that night. One of the reason of it was because Alejandro and her was staying in the same Presidential suite but with separate bedroom.

After that she called her Mom to inform her about everything and she was more open-minded about it, telling her that she was a grown up woman who can make her own decisions. And that if ever she made mistakes or fall down her mother would be their to catch her. That made her smile.

The day after that, Alynna and Alejandro went everywhere. In Busan, to see the sunrise and the hydrangea garden. They had long walks in Seoullo 7071. They even went in Lotte world. They even tried to runaway from their security team and lose them which they did.

Each day she spends with Alejandro, she got to know more about him. She found out that he was taking Civil Engineering and also working in their family business. She found out he has an older brother and a younger sister. And she, too, open up about a bit of herself to him. They talk about a lot of things, how mundane or silly it might be. She felt a connection with him and she always wonder, does he feel it too?

But she knew how much open they may be to each other they're still both holding back about something to themselves. She didn't want to divulge in it because things are still casual between them. But she wanted to know more about him.

She briefly met her mother everyday after her breakfast with Alejandro because Ruth is always in her restaurant until 5pm. Alejandro never went with her, he was still asleep by then. She felt like each day was in slow motion but everything happened so fast.

And then in a blink, their last night has come. Alejandro was to have a dinner meeting with George, his father. It's supposed to be a short meeting, George only stopped by, because he has to fly in Geneva that night for business conference so Alejandro asked her if she wants to join them.

She saw it an opportunity to get to know her father without him knowing that's why she agreed.

Habang inilalagay ang kwintas na iniregalo sa kanya ng kanyang Ina noong ika-labinwalong kaarawan niya ay iniisip niya kung ano ang susunod na gagawin niya. Ang kwintas ay isang crescent moon na gawa sa diamante at sa curve ng crescent ay napapalibutan rin ng diamante. It was simple yet beautiful. Isinusuot lamang niya iyon kung may espesyal na okasyon. Meeting his father, unofficially, is a special occasion.