Hello, Mr Li: The Christmas Trip

Joreen's senses returned as soon as she got to the deck and felt the cold hit her. While walking there, a lot of people looked at her strangely but she didn't even take note. Almost everyone she came across looked pretty and was looking their best, they also wore heavy clothes to keep them from the cold outside, but baby Jo wore a light pyjamas with a small jacket and indoor slipper. 

She shivered and hugged herself as soon as she got outside. "Why is it so cold here?" She asked in displeasure as she stood there and began to look at everyone. 

There were a few couple who were strolling hand in hand, some were by the rails and looking at the sea, some were seated on fancy chairs, eating some snacks while laughing together. She would have thought this was fun and romantic if she wasn't angry right now. Common sense told her to go inside, take a warm bath or shower and look presentable before coming outside, but she pushed that thought away. 

She was shivering but she pushed further and began to walk around like a thief, hoping people wouldn't see her and recognize her since she looked silly right now. Most of them were actually more interested in their partners and didn't give her any attention which she was glad for. 

She took the bend that led to the other side of the ship and after a few steps, she saw them. 

And the girl was giggling just like in her dream!

"What is funny? She is just laughing like a mad person." Joreen said to herself as she eyed them. 

When she noticed Hoy was about to turn, she quickly hid herself. After doing that, she realised she was being silly. She came out here in the cold to approach them so why was she hiding?

"You know, I used to have a crush on you back then." The girl confessed to Hoy with a girlish giggle. 

Joreen's ears perked up immediately and she frowned. "How cheap. How can a girl confess to a boy? I will never do something like that. Never!" 

"I didn't realise that." Hoy answered. 

"I know. Typical of you who only cared about work." The girl said with an embarrassed blush which delighted Joreen. 

She then exclaimed, "Wow! It's really cold out here!"

Joreen saw her rub her hands together and rolled her eyes, "Silly! That's why you should have dressed properly." 

Meanwhile, she was also rubbing her palms together and shivering from the cold. 

Hoy, as the perfect gentleman, pulled his coat and draped it around her shoulders, making Joreen's eyes widen. "He does that to everyone else? I thought it was only me!!!! And she's already wearing a coat!" Her thoughts were interrupted by the girl's voice again. 

"Thanks." She smiled, the blush never leaving her face. "You know, I wondered if you ever felt something for me too?" Then the girl's voice began to fade and Joreen realised they were walking forward so she began to follow again but made sure to hide. She was never going to miss the answer to this question. 

"I have always thought you were pretty and quite industrious."

"SHE IS NOT—" Joreen quickly used a hand to cover her mouth when she realised she was about to blow her cover. There was a pause on the other side and her heart began to beat very fast, afraid that she had been caught. 

She placed a hand on her chest and closed her eyes as she patiently waited for them to come find her there, but after a full minute and nothing happened, she heaved a sigh of relief and opened her eyes.

She wanted to spy on them again so after staying in position, she tilted her head to the side and gasped in shock when she came face to face with Hoy who was staring at her. She was too startled that she fell backwards and landed on the floor with her butt. 

"Ahhhhhh... Why do I always embarrass myself whenever he is present?" She muttered to herself embarrassedly as she tried not to look at him while standing up. Meanwhile, he was just looking at her without offering to help her up. 

She cleared her throat and decided to face this head on. 

"What do you think you are doing?" He asked in his usual straight voice. 

"What do I think I am doing?" She asked back, puffing her chest while trying to stop her teeth from gritting because of the cold. 

He tilted his head to the side and asked calmly, "Are you... spying on me?" 

"What? Why would I spy on you? Who cares if you're on a date?!!!" She shot back. 

He gave her a weird look before asking.. "So what are you doing out here?" 

"Me?" She asked and began to look around her for an excuse. "I came out to look at the sea. I heard it's pretty out here." She said with a forced smile as she pointed at the sea and tried to move towards the rails but he pulled her by the collar, making her frown. He wouldn't treat other ladies like this right? 

"What are you wearing?" He asked, sounding a bit horrified. 

"Clothes." 

"And you are not cold?" 

Her teeth was clattering but she laughed out loud, forcefully. "Of course not... I like the cold...." 

He sighed. He didn't need to look at her twice to know she was cold. She caught cold easily and the cold out here was too much for someone like him talk more of her. He was about to give her his jacket when he realised he had already given it to Aishu. 

"If you want to come out here, then you should at least take your bathe and be properly dressed before you come out here. You look horrible. Let's go inside."

"Inside? Me and you?" She asked in surprise. "What about your date?" 

It suddenly occured to her that the girl wasn't around. "She is using the restroom. I'll just text her later. Now follow me and make sure you're fast." 

"You should at least hold my hand!" Joreen complained when he began to walk ahead, leaving her behind. 

Other days, she would have gotten angry that he was seeing her off to her room like she was a child but today, she delighted in it. 

He didn't bother to stop and kept moving ahead, she noticed he was using his phone now and guessed he was texting Aishu.

His strides were quite long so she began to hop to keep up with him.

As soon as they got inside the ship, she sighed in relief when the warmth enveloped her but she was still very cold inside and kept hugging herself. 

Joreen began to feel uncomfortable when he didn't say any word to her even when they got inside the elevator until they stopped in their floor. 

"He must be really angry after I ruined his date." She thought to herself sadly. "But what do I do? I don't like her. Maybe I should have told him to not follow me back here?" 

"I'm sorry." She said meekly. 

"For?" He stopped walking and asked when he realised she had stopped walking. She knew standing was the only way she could get his attention now.

"For ruining your date with that girl. I didn't know it would make you this angry." She looked down. Somehow, this was hurting her for some reason she didn't quite understand. 

"You think that's the reason I am mad at you right now?" He asked.

"It isn't? Then why?" She looked at him in confusion. 

He resumed walking until he got to her door and began to knock. He kept knocking and when no one answered, he turned to look at Joreen.

"It seems Reen is not inside." 

"Oh... she was getting ready to leave earlier." Joreen began to panic. She was very cold and needed a hot tea with a heavy duvet to help her recuperate before tonight. She didn't want to start looking around for Reen. 

"And you're not with your key card, I'm guessing?" 

She nodded.

"HOW CAN YOU LEAVE YOUR ROOM DRESSED LIKE THIS AND NOT CARRY YOUR KEY?!" 

Joreen's heart literally stopped when he yelled at her. 

When he realised how pale she looked, he gave her an apologetic look but it was too late. She looked hurt. 

"Why are you yelling? You think I wanted to leave my room wearing just this? Why did you lie to me that you were going on a boring business meeting if you were going on a date? I don't like that girl so how could I just sit back and watch you have fun with her?" She sniffled and used her hand to clean off the first tear that escaped her eye. "You are so annoying. I don't want to talk to you anymore." She said with teary eyes and turned to walk away from him. 

Hoy stared at her in disbelief. He was doing his best to understand what was happening but it seemed like he was suddenly very dumb and was too slow to process it. 

He hurried after her and stood in her front. "So first of all, I didn't tell you I was going on a business meeting, you assumed so yourself. Secondly, why don't you like Aishu? She is prett—"

"She is not pretty! Even her name doesn't sound fine." 

Although this whole thing was a little bit funny, he was beginning to get worried about the fact that she was acting jealous. And it seemed she didn't know she was jealous right now. He only hoped whatever suspicion he was beginning to have wasn't correct. 

"Alright. Let's get you to my room first. Hmm?" 

*********

NEXT EPISODE ON HML: THE CHRISTMAS TRIP

The soft knock on her door made her leave her bed. She wanted nothing more than a hot cup of coffee and she was certain it was the Room service at the door. 

"Hold on." She said as she wore her slipper and moved towards the door. 

But when she opened it, she came face to face with the last person she wanted to see.