"Who? Who do you have in mind?" Joreen's parents asked curiously. The last time they asked her, she had said she wasn't suspecting anyone.

"Actually...."

Her parents gave her a look of encouragement for her to continue speaking.

"Kyle." She revealed.

"Kyle?!" The two asked at the same time.

Joreen wondered whether they were always in sync because they've been married for years now.

"Kyle." She nodded.

"Oh wow!" Cixi touched her temple and closed her eyes as she could already feel an headache coming.

"That's... something." Jaime hissed as he ushered Joreen to sit down beside them.

"You both don't look... very surprised." She pointed out without moving an inch.

"Well... I noticed it the other morning you were a little sick while we were still on the ship. I saw how he looked at you and suspected he liked you but I didn't think he already made a move." Cixi said with a sigh.

"I actually noticed it the first day he came to our home. While you were busy admiring his looks, he was looking at you with interest. But I also didn't think he would act on it either."

"What? You've known for that long?" Cixi asked.

"I'm quite observant. Besides, I'm a man. We can easily see these things from a mile away– what did he say or do to you?'' Jaime turned to ask Joreen. He wasn't smiling now and Joreen knew he was very serious right now.

"Well... he hasn't directly said anything to me. But I noticed lately that he is always trying to touch me or talk to me. And he's always staring at me when we are in the same space. It's quite... uncomfortable."

"What an idiot! I cannot believe I even liked him!" Cixi said angrily.

"We need proof to confirm he sent you that gift. For now, do not say anything about this to anyone. Not even to Hoy or your aunt Changyu. You know how impulsive they can get."

Joreen nodded at her father's words. "I won't tell them. I also don't want this to blow up... because of Reen." She said in a very quiet voice.

"But it seems like Reen is into that Zichu guy now." Jaime noted, looking relieved. At least he didn't have to worry about Reen being heartbroken.

"I'm not sure why Reen and Kyle broke up, but I am hoping it's not because of me." Joreen said nervously.

"It's fine. I'm not sure it's because of you. He seems like a jerk and Reen seems to like the new boy. These things happen." Jaime said, trying to make her feel better because he could tell she was feeling guilty.

"Don't worry darling. We'll look through all of it and handle it for you. You don't have to worry too much about it." Cixi assured her.

She nodded before turning around to leave the room. At least, this one was off her shoulders. She was going to trust her parents to take care of it.

"Good morning sis Jo." She heard a little voice behind her and turned to see Li King coming out of Hoy's room. It seemed like he had spent the night there and was just waking up.

"Good morning pretty boy." She greeted back with a smile and was about to rub his hair when she remembered he didn't like it so she withdrew her hand.

"I am not pretty." He said with an unpleasant look on his face. "Girls are pretty. Boys are not."

"Oh..." She didn't want to argue with him and tell him he actually looked prettier than most girls. She wondered how he was going to look like in a few years from now, and how he was going to open up to a woman in the future because he seemed quite reserved at this young age and it didn't help that his best friend, role model and mentor was none other than Li Hoy. She believed his big sister would always support him when that time comes.

"Whatever you say big boy." She flashed him a smile and remained there when he continued to look at her face with interest.

"Is... something on my face?" She touched her face self consciously but he asked instead,

"Are you going to marry uncle Hoy?" He asked.

Joreen's eyes widened to the fullest. "Wwwhat.... are you...."

"King, your mother wants you to come freshen up before breakfast is served."

Joreen straightened up when she heard Hoy's voice behind her. She could swear he must have heard that question. Why had King asked her that?

When she turned to look at Hoy, his eyes which were on King who was walking away, left King to look at her instead.

He gave her a once-over before saying, "You should always dress properly when you are indoors. You don't want to catch a cold."

"Cold? But the heater is on." She reasoned. Whenever she went outside, she had to cover up completely because of the cold so while inside, she wanted to enjoy the warmth so she wore a trousers and a plain black tank top without wearing a bra or camisole because she liked to stay comfortable indoors.

"Just cover up." He said before walking to his room then he locked the door behind him.

"Tch! He is always complaining." She complained as she began to head towards her room.

*******

Heya was about to leave the resort to go join her family for breakfast, when she heard her name.

She turned to find Suyin and Shen sitting beside each other in the common room. Her heart skipped from guilt when she saw Suyin, especially when it looked like the girl didn't sleep at all the previous night. Her eyes were puffy even though she had made an effort to hide it with make up. She looked dull and lifeless.

Zhu Liang wanted her to be confident, but hell! She cannot be confident right now.

She nervously joined them and was offered a seat beside Suyin.

"Coffee?" Shen asked Heya. He had a cup of coffee in front of him, Suyin also had one in front of her.

"I already had one earlier. Thanks." She politely declined.

Suyin was unusually quiet and Shen looked worried. Heya knew she couldn't just sit there like that even though she was very nervous and scared right now.

"Are you.. okay?" She asked Suyin. If this was a movie or novel with Yan Suyin as the protagonist, she was definitely the villain/bad friend in the story. Would the readers/viewers care to listen to her side of the story or would they simply call her an homewrecker and bad friend?

She wished she could help it but unfortunately, she could not. She could only hope Suyin would find a place in her heart to forgive her when the truth finally comes to light.

"I'm fine." Suyin said. As usual, she tried to force a smile but this time, she couldn't smile at all.

Her conversation with Zhu Liang last night had left her heartbroken.

"Please, excuse me." Suyin stood up and hurried towards the stairs heading upstairs.

Heya could not even try to follow her with her eyes. She was so tensed and scared.

"Her fiance is canceling the engagement." Shen informed her. His eyes was down, looking at his coffee.

Heya snapped her head to look up at him. Seriously? That was fast. She had only talked about it last night with Liang so when did he talk about it with Suyin, when it wasn't even 8am yet?

"Did she ever tell you how they met?' Shen asked, finally looking up at her.

"She... didn't." Heya said before swallowing nervously. She was beginning to regret why she said a no to coffee earlier. At least, she would have had something to occupy herself with.

"It was actually three years ago. He came with his family to our grandmother's burial." He informed her.

"Grandmother married a foreigner so even after her husband died, she still saw his country as her home and wanted to live there." He sipped his coffee and continued.

"Our parents were the typical workaholic so we grew up with grandmother instead. She was a lovely woman. When she died, Suyin and I could not handle it. I don't know what happened then between Suyin and Liang, but she became attached to him and he was kind enough to help her feel comfortable, maybe because he knew what she was going through and didn't want to outrightly reject her."

Heya remained quiet as she allowed everything sink in.

"But we all knew he didn't like her that way." He sighed deeply. "Even after three years of being impassive with her, she still likes him. She had been elated when she heard he didn't mind marrying her. Imagine how she feels now that he is suddenly calling it off."

"I really wish she can give up already. I really do not want them to get married either because I know eventually, she is not going to he happy."

Heya kept her head down the entire time. She couldn't bring herself to look at his face especially when it looked like he was done talking and waiting for her input.

"I... don't... know what... to say—"

"You cannot hide it from her forever, Li Heya."