Hello, Mr Li: The Christmas Trip

"Hoy, I am a man just like you, and I know I am not blind neither am I dense. You... have been looking at my daughter differently lately, haven't you?" Jaime asked. "I saw that correctly, didn't I?" 

Hoy couldn't deny it. He didn't know when it began, but he just found himself slowly being drawn to their daughter while his feelings began to slowly drift from one to another. Joreen was very pretty but it was beyond just her looks. She had developed into a very beautiful and innocent woman. Unfortunately, he didn't want anyone else to take away her innocence from her which was why he was literally policing her life. 

He liked to tease her because all her reactions were funny to him. He also liked it whenever she was around him. The way she laughed, nagged at him, and sometimes, called him names like mean, wicked, bully, it all made him smile. 

He couldn't tell the moment he first became uncomfortable around her. He just remembered that lately, whenever she hugged him like she did, his head was suddenly clouded with perverted thoughts and it couldn't be helped. The only thing he could do at that moment was to try not to hug her back because he feared he may not want to end the hug immediately and that was too risky.

During her last movie shoot, she wasn't around for a really long time that he got bored with everything. For days, he wondered what was wrong and why he was always so grumpy and angry with everything and everyone, until he realized why. He hadn't seen her for months. He knew he couldn't continue like that and before he knew what was happening, he had already booked a flight and flew down to where she was. When she asked him why he was there, he had said it was for a wedding. Wedding? He hadn't gone there for any wedding. He didn't have any friends getting married. He had only 'accidentally' booked a flight to that country and because he didn't want it to go to waste, he decided to just visit the country and return with her. That was what happened. 

He had realized it at one point that the feelings he had was slowly shifting but he refused to admit it. How was he supposed to admit it? He literally watched her grow from a child into a woman so it felt totally wrong to him. 

But he couldn't lie to Jaime. The man was wise and must have been watching the whole time while pretending like he didn't know anything. 

He saw how eager the couple were waiting for his answer so he answered truthfully, "Yes."

When he did, the couple stared at each other and Cixi sucked in air visibly. 

"You... are admitting you like Joreen?" Cixi asked just to be sure. Her voice was almost in a whisper. 

"....."

"Baby, you should wait outside too." Jaime said to his wife with an apologetic smile. This was a bit embarrassing for Hoy and he knew Hoy would be more comfortable if it was just the two of them. 

"What? Why?" Cixi asked with a frown. 

"Please..." Jaime pleaded with her. 

She wasn't happy with it but she looked at the two one last time before she stood up and left the room.

"I understand you." Jaime said after Cixi disappeared, making Hoy look at him in confusion. 

"Understand what?" 

"What you are going through. The dilemma you are facing." Jaime explained, moving to sit beside Hoy on the spacious couch. 

"My late wife, Reen's mother, she was my friend's younger sister." He began to narrate. 

"I literally watched her grow up, I was ten years older than her. It was a bit difficult for me to accept it at first. I think it's actually different for the ladies because once they have a crush or once they are in love, they think of nothing else other than their feelings. But the men begin to beat themselves to it." 

"I... am not sure about what I feel for her. I know I like her—"

"And you will be fine seeing her with another young man? You'll be fine if you see them looking happy and in love while you are buried in work?" Jaime asked while watching him carefully.

"...."

Hoy didn't answer. Of course, he wouldn't like it. If he was okay with it, he wouldn't have made sure there was no boy in her life until now. 

"Look, I know these things and how they work. I just told you I also faced it. Do not get me wrong... I am not giving you my permission to date my daughter until she officially clocks 18 next week. Until then, you should make up your mind. If you want to turn her down, fine. If you think you like her enough, fine. I only want my daughters to be happy and I know you make her happy." 

Hoy snorted, "I doubt." 

Jaime, "You do."

He added, "I have noticed you for a while to know you are actually quite dumb when it comes to these matters."

"Wwwhat?" His brows furrowed in a frown. 

"Yes. I said it. When it comes to Jo, you act like a very dumb teenager. But do not worry, I am not judging you." Jaime said with a smile before tapping his shoulder in a fatherly manner. "That is what happens when a man is in love and cannot admit it to himself." 

"And one more thing..." He started again, interrupting Hoy who was about to say something, probably to counter Jaime's claim about being in love with his stepdaughter. 

"You really should speak with your mother. I won't take it lightly if what happened last night happens again." 

"I apologize on her behalf." 

Jaime nodded. "I believe that is all." Jaime stood up to leave but stopped when Hoy began to speak, 

"You are not blaming me for the scandal?" He asked carefully as he also stood up respectfully. 

Jaime turned around to look at him. "Of course I want to blame you, but you did nothing wrong. You were only helping Jo and got dragged into it. We only need to find the person responsible for the scandal and punish them accordingly." 

Hoy could not help but admire how mature the man was. He wasn't only a good father, but a good elder in general. And also a good coach, he would give him that. Joreen's attitude towards him lately almost drove him crazy. 

"Thank you uncle."

"It's fine. I guess it's time for us to leave. This isn't our room." 

"Yes." Hoy agreed. 

"And... do not ever hide in the bathroom again. That wasn't cool." Jaime added with a sarcastic laugh that made Hoy even more embarrassed. 

"I already kept that in mind." 

Jaime opened the door and waited for Hoy to leave first. Hoy bowed politely and walked out of the room before Jaime joined him and closed the door behind him. 

Thankfully, both Cixi and Joreen were not outside. He didn't know how he would have faced them now. 

*******

When Heya and Shen were done chatting, they began to head towards her room. 

"Thank you for coming out today, I appreciate it." Shen said thankfully. 

"I should be the one thanking you. I probably would have spent this entire trip inside my room had it not been for you. Thanks." Heya gave him a smile that made him smile back. 

"You should smile often. It makes you look... different and pretty." He commented. 

She became self conscious and stopped smiling. "Thanks." 

"So.... when are we starting our classes?" Shen asked. 

"Classes?" 

"Come on, you promised you were going to teach me how to play the guitar." 

"I don't remember." She said while laughing. 

"What? You aren't going back on your word right now?" He asked, feigning shock. 

She laughed again before shaking her head, "I don't remember promising you that."

"But I do remember. Look, you teach me the guitar while I teach you to play basketball. Not sure how it is at the Island, but we can always work something out." He negotiated. 

"Well...." 

"Just say yes. Please?" 

When she saw his puppy eyes and pout, she giggled, "Fine! Just please stop doing that. You look weird." 

"I DO?" He asked, his eyes wide with disbelief. "I was always told I looked cute whenever I did that." 

"Whoever told you that lied. If you were a bit tinier, maybe you would have looked cute with a pout like that." 

"You are saying it only looks good on tiny people? I can swear you'll look adorable if you tried it." 

"Hell no!" 

"Come on, just try it. You'll look adorable I swear it." He tried to cajole her but the thought of pouting and giving him puppy eyes while fluttering her lashes was appalling to her. 

"NO! I won't do that!" 

"Try it. Don't be like that." He tried to reach for her but she kept dodging him while laughing. 

They had no idea that some eyes were busy watching them. 

"They look so good together. I am glad my son is making progress. At this rate, Li Heya is really going to be my daughter in-law." Madam Yan said as she watched her son play with Heya in the hallway. They were both laughing happily and enjoying each other's company. 

The other woman beside her, Madam Zhu, didn't say a word. She simply watched with a frown. 

What was Heya up to? 

First, she broke up with her son, then she saw them cuddling and now she was playing with Yan Shen. She only prayed her son wouldn't see this. 

It was too annoying, even for her.