Torn between Love and Hate

Twenty-Three

They started boarding and Dara got up first. "Well...I will go ahead first then." She told Jiyong.

Jiyong only nodded.

Dara is all settled in her assigned seat as she took her phone to read her emails. There is an empty seat next to her in the business class in the middle section. She normally prefer a window sit so she can be alone, but nothing is available.

Jiyong was guided by the flight attendant to his assigned sitting and when they arrived he grinned upon seeing Dara next to his seat.

Dara was surprised upon seeing him being sitted next to her. "Oh boy! This is going to be a long flight." She thought to herself.

"Well...hello there again." Jiyong greeted hiding his grin.

Dara sarcastically nod and said. "Yeah. Hello." With a tight lip smile and went back to checking her email. Her phone buzz.

"Hello." She answered and it was Donghae. "Uhmm..." She looked at Jiyong as he was also looking at her. She kind of moved away from him as she continued. "Yes. I'm already boarded." Paused. "Really!?" She didn't purposely said it out loud. She bowed at Jiyong as if apologizing. "Seriously? When?" She asked excitedly. Paused. "I should be available then." Paused. "I'll be staying at Hotel De L'Europe in Amsterdam." She said. "Okay. Bye. "See you then." She hung up with a smile on her face. When she turned she thought she saw Jiyong's controlled angry face. But. It was gone right away.

Jiyong heard the whole conversation though he's not sure who it was on the other line. But he has some kind of an idea of who might have been and he doesn't like it one bit.

They are now up in the air and Dara put in her AirPods and reclined her seat to get comfortable and continued reading her emails. There's no music playing she just wants to avoid a conversation with Jiyong.

Jiyong did the same thing except for the AirPods. He wanted to make a conversation with her but she already placed the AirPods in her ears. He will just wait for the right time and so he took out his laptop and started working. He does happened to have a business dealings in Netherlands as well that he had been putting off for a while now. He noted to do it while he's here.

Lunch is being served. Jiyong looked at Dara who is sleeping at the moment. He figured she must be really tired for she hasn't caught up on her sleep. So when the flight attendant stopped by their sit he only ordered for himself and told the flight attendant to just let her sleep for now. They have been in the air for six hours now and they have five more hours to go. Jiyong's been working since. He was able to do a lot of work as well as the business dealings he will have in Netherlands. The tech company that he took over is trying to make a deal with the apps developer and they have set up a meeting in two days. Since he's is coming in person he will have to see to it.

They are about to land and Jiyong was only able to have a couple of hours of sleep. He noticed that Dara is still sleeping. He's worried because she did not eat anything all throughout their flight. He tried to wake her up everytime the flight attendant comes but she just steered in her sleep. But he really did wake her up this time because they are about to land.

"Dara? Dara wake up. We're about to land." Jiyong slightly touched her in her arm and felt the electricity shock ran into him.

Dara slowly opened her eyes as she stretched a bit. She had fallen asleep and seemed to have slept for the whole entire flight. She straightened her seat and put away her AirPods as she whispered her thank you to her husband. Jiyong just nodded with a tight lip smile. Dara fixed her hair by putting it up in a messy bun and got a facial wipe to wipe her face since she doesn't have time to go to the bathroom. She also popped a mint candy into her mouth.

Jiyong on the other hand was just fascinatingly watching her. "She really is beautiful with or without makeup." He thought to himself. He also like for a fact that she is very independent and not overly dramatic when it comes to her appearance. She's plain and simple but she knows how to carry herself.

As they were landing Dara was closing her eyes because she doesn't like the take off and the landing part. Jiyong noticed it earlier when the plane took off and now he is noticing it again. He did what his gut was telling him to do. He reached out to hold her hands as her hands were clasped together. Dara jolt a bit upon feeling his hand on her. She felt the electricity when they touched. They looked at each other for a bit as Jiyong said. " It's okay. It will pass."  Dara nodded and clasped her hands with his for assurance. Jiyong felt happy as she allowed him to hold her hands. "I'm sure she felt the electricity too." He thought and discreetly grinned to himself.

When the plane finally landed they were still holding hands and Jiyong for sure do not want to let go. But Dara finally snapped out of it and immediately released her hands from Jiyong. He felt hurt about it but currently does not have any choice. Dara saw the hurt in his eyes but it quickly vanished.

As they exited the plane they went to collect their luggages. Dara was trying to grab her luggage but was unable to lift it. Jiyong quickly helped her out.

"T...thank you." She shyly said.

"Of course. No problem." He answered.

They were on their way out and Jiyong's driver is already waiting fo him. The driver placed his luggage in the trunk while he looked for Dara as they went on their separate ways. He noticed that she was still standing there and so he approached her.

"Uhmm...is someone going to pick you up?" He asked.

Dara shook her head and said. "No. I'm a...just going to grab a taxi." She said quietly.

Jiyong was slightly shaking his head up and down. "I can give you a ride if you like." Hoping that she will say "Yes". He immediate continued by saying.  "You know...it's kind of dangerous for a beautiful woman like you to be by yourself in a country that you're not familiar with. Plus." He looked at his watch to see the time. "It's already ten o'clock in the evening. I don't think it's safe."

Dara looked at him debating if she should or not go with him. "I do not want to be nuisance to you. Besides I can take care of myself. Thanks but no thanks."

Jiyong immediately said. "No! I mean. No of course you're not and will never be a...nuisance to me." He carefully said the last words.

Dara was a bit embarrassed but finally agreed by nodding her head with a tight lip smile. Jiyong then grinned widely as he opened the door for her.

"Where are you staying at?" He asked.

Dara shyly said the name of the hotel and Jiyong chuckled which made Dara furrowed her brows. "Is there anything wrong with what I just said?"

He cleared his throat. "I'm sorry. No you did not. But it's a good thing that I asked you because I'm also will be staying in that same hotel." Dara was shocked.