The pillow seemed stiffer. She turned around, sleeping more comfortably. The sunlight shone on her face. He lifted his palm blocking the light. *So pretty* he thought. She opened her eyes, to see him smiling at her.

"You're up?" He asked smiling. Her eyes widened.

"I'm guessing this is another first", he said. She immediately rolled back falling off the bed onto the ground.

"Ow my back, ow" she cried as she twisted on the ground. He leaned over to the edge of the bed looking over her.

"It's 12. Do you want to get going so we can reach the hotel on time?"

"Huh? Hotel? Oh yes. Let's go", she sprung up rubbing her back and rushed out.

The journey back was more awkward than when they came.

"What is that?" he said putting an end to the silence and pointing to the beach to their left.

"Ah the kite festival", she says looking at the beach. He looks at the beach, looks back at her and makes a puppy face.

"We still have 5 hours to reach the hotel and it takes only 2 if we take the expressway", she says as she turns on the indicator to the left.

He smiles childishly as he looks at the dozens of kites in the sky flying over the beach.

"Here", she said as she handed over a spool and the kite to him. She gestured him to join the crowd. Adjusting his cap and looking at the sky, he let the kite loose, loosening the string. The wind led the kite high up in the air in no time. Another kite tangled along in his string.

"Woah, what do you think you're doing? Who dare try to take down my kite?" He said pulling his mask off and tracing the tangled kite to the people on the ground.

Samairah rushed in holding his face between her hands. He looked into her eyes, he didn't blink even once, his heart raced as he stood there unable to take his eyes off. He leaned in, his face now closer to hers. Despite the heavy wind, he could smell her scent. She looked into his eyes as he got closer. She grabbed the mask from his hand, putting it on him as their lips almost touched. He felt the string become light as the loose end fell to the ground. The kite was no longer bound by the string; it flew along with the wind.

She pushed him away, "your kite got cut", she said. It took him a minute to look away from her to his hand, "Oh, I am probably bad at this".

"Clearly", she said as she walked back to the car. He took a few minutes gathering his thoughts as hopped back in the passenger seat.

It was another 1 hour until the silence broke, "there there", she slowed the car to look at where his finger was pointed. It was a BBQ restaurant.

"Let's eat, my treat" he said as he looked at the restaurant. They hadn't made eye contact since the beach.
So Woon cut the meat as it grilled on the tabletop, he poured soju in two paper glasses offering her one.

"I have to drive", she said as she refused, "buy me a bottle to go instead".

He smiled and said "okay".

"Keep the bottle, everytime you look at it, it will remind you of my handsome face", he said proudly.

"I don't need to be reminded of you"

"Ouch" he said smiling, embarrassed.

"I won't forget you"

"Oh" he blushed.

"I mean I have good memory", she clarified as she stuffed the lettuce in her mouth. He made wraps and they had a hearty meal.

***

It was 3 by the time they reached the hotel, his schedule had a 6 o clock photo shoot for a posh perfume brand. They pulled up at the parking lot, she handed his luggage to the bellboy and bowed before rushing to the staff entrance.

So Woon's manager rushed to him, "I told you to be back early, the shoot is in 3 hours and you didn't even get a bit of sleep since 4 in the morning did you?" he asked.

***

"Hyung, how do I look?" So Woon asked making a poker face.

"Well for someone who didn't sleep at all, your skin is glowing. What is it?"

As they finished their conversation and walked into the lobby, a pearl white Porshe pulled up on the opposite end of the parking lot. A woman in her 30's got out, the skin tight dress perfectly wrapped around her curves, the red hue of the dress complimenting her fair complexion. She had an evil-ish smile. She walked in as she glanced to her right at So Woon and his manager. Her phone rang.

"Mi Ran"
"I have reached"
She hung up smiling wickedly again as she walked into the hotel.

***

"Ah my back still hurts from that fall"
*but why did we end up sharing the bed?*
She laid back in her chair, closing her eyes. His brown eyes, his soft parted lips, his perfect jawline. She blushed.

"I have never seen you smile like that before", she sprung up, the Security Manager leaned in front of the table, the curiosity was killing him.

"Did you finally accept someone?" he asked smiling.

"What are you talking about?"

"Katy would be happy to know you have finally changed that permanently grumpy face"

Katy was Allen's wife. If Samairah was close with anyone beyond the work life, it was Katy. Although not everything, Katy knew of a few things about her which could be referred to as surface knowledge.

"It's not like that", she said as she got up and left.

***

The patio was different today. No, it was not the patio, it was her. It was the first time she had come here not to catch her breath but to smile. She leaned over the glass railing, smiling foolishly. It felt weird to be smiling at the thought of someone. But it felt good. For the first time in years, a day had come when she hadn't thought of her past and resented herself. It felt surreal; she smiled looking up at the sky. The stars shone bright and the crescent moon added to the charm.
Her phone rang, distracting her thoughts. It was So Woon's manager.

***

"The car is ready" she said to the Manager *Ah deja vu* she thought as she waited at the lobby for the two to get up from the couch.

***

The perfume store was amidst a less crowded neighborhood. The streets should have been easier to navigate if not for hundreds of So Woon fans that gathered around the venue to catch a glimpse. They drove through the less crowded back road and reached the main entrance.

"Oppa Oppa Oppa", the crowd chanted in unison as So Woon stepped out. A dozen bodyguards stood around the three of them. The crowd, mostly consisting of teenage girls, pushed and pulled. One of the girls managed to get through the barricade and into the chain holding out her hand inches away from So Woon's face. Samairah pulled her hand, turned her to the crowd and let go. By the time she turned around, the crew had passed.

***

"Welcome to Dior, we are pleased to have you represent our brand"
*Ah the scent* he suddenly remembered.

"I'm happy to be here. Shall we make it quick?" He asked politely.

They moved to the shooting venue. So Woon's crew gathered around the left corner. He sat at the mirror in the green room, having his makeup done. Samairah looked around at the well dressed girls that worked at the store, each of them looking pretty and fashionable. She looked at the full length mirror to the left. Barely any makeup, undercut hair, *Why do I suddenly feel the urge to look pretty? I have always been comfortable this way* she thought as she looked at the mirror.

"Samairah!" She lost her thoughts upon hearing his voice. She looked at him as he looked back through the mirror in front of him. He gestured her to come close. She walked to him and leaned down.

"You look pretty the way you are!" whispered in her ear. She looks at him, a faint smile lit up her face. He gestured her to come close, "to avoid suspicion, get me a milk tea from the cafe next to this store". She nodded and walked out.

She thanked whoever invented the lid for coffee as she made her way through the crowd and to the entrance.

She walked in to the green room holding the coffee in one hand and a bouquet in the other. He gets up as he saw her walk in.

"I figured it out. Your scent. You use Dior Men's bodywash and cologne?" He asked mockingly.

"Yeah, so?" She said seeming unaffected. His smile turned awkward and he rolled his lips together.

"Here", she said as she handed over the coffee. He took it and looked at the bouquet in her hand.

She looks down at the bouquet, "Oh this", she raised it up and said something inaudible. He spits out the coffee in his mouth, "You said you like me right?"
"I said thanks", He blushes as he grabs the bouquet from her. "I definitely heard-" he stopped as she leaned in and kissed his cheek.

"I did say I like you", she said rotating the rings on her hand, the nervousness radiating visibly.

"I mean I wanted to do this first", he laughed and looked away covering his face with the bouquet. His cheeks were red, he puts down the coffee. He moved closer to her as she stepped back until she hit the wall behind her. He grabbed her chin with his thumb and index finger, raising her face up and kissed her, a peck at first, he slowly moved his hands across her jawline to the back of her neck, holding her still, he pushed against her, their bodies now touched. She felt a deep desire unwind in her, something she never knew she was capable of. He grabbed her waist, and moved between her parted lips, kissing and tasting every cell of each other. She took her hand off the wall and held on to his firm back. A minute or two had passed as he moved his lips away from hers, leaning in beside her ears whispering "I like you too, Samairah", his breath was hasty and she could feel it on her skin, an unfamiliar tingle ran through her body as he kissed her neck. She caressed the hair at the back of his head, *Oh fuck, the shoot* she thought as she glanced over his shoulders and straightened his hair. He felt her pat his hair as she held him lightly. He smiled and leaned his head on her shoulders, wrapping his arms around her neck.

"Can you say it again?" he asked childishly.

"I uh, like you So Woon", she smiled looking into his deep brown eyes.

He pulled out a red rose from the bouquet and kneeled down, "Samairah", he put forward the rose, "be my girl".

She smiled and took the flower. Seeing him still kneeling down, she kneeled down and said, "am I supposed to say yes or should I say I'm your girl", he smiled foolishly thinking how he ended up liking this strange pretty thing. "Or should I give you a ring-" she was interrupted as he leaned forward and kissed her.

"Did I just steal your second and third kiss as well?" He asked looking concerned all of a sudden.

"Should I apologize?" He said bursting into laughter. She leaned forward pulling him by the collar, kissing him.

"I think I should apologize for being so irresistible!" he smirked as he leaned in kissing her again.

"Oh oh did I just steal your fourth and fifth kiss as well?" They laughed.

***

It was hard not smiling at each other on their drive home. Manager Hyun Sik sat beside So Woon helping him take off the makeup with wet tissues. So Woon had his eyes fixed on the rear view mirror but Samairah showed no intention of looking back at him. They reached the hotel and parted ways as usual.