“I AM SO EXCITED! My Seoul tour will start tomorrow. Imagine, I’ll be able to finally go to the places I only saw in Korean dramas. Plus, I’m with the guy I only stared at pictures before. How romantic,” Cheska said with a little squeal from excitement as she talk to her friend Mikha over Skype.
It's almost midnight but she still couldn’t get to sleep. Maybe because Philippine time was an hour earlier than South Korea’s. Or she just had an exciting day ahead.
It was about eleven o'clock in the evening when Carter forced her to take a rest. He said she must have been tired from her trip and from her touring around with Eun Young earlier. Plus the trauma she had because of Park Gung’s harassment at the homestay.
“Cheska, are you out of your freakin’ mind? You won't leave that house even if your life is in danger just because of that man?” Mikha exclaimed. “Goodness! If only I could get through this computer screen and pull you back to the Philippines by your hair. I didn't suggest that you go to Korea for you be a crazy fool.” Mikha pulled herself by her own hair. "What am I going to do with you?"
Cheska just laughed as she watched her friend. Mikha was always cool and composed, always in control even during the most trying times. But it looked like her friend was going to lose her sanity because of her. And it was refreshing.
“The gangsters will return next week and I’ll be in Jeju Island by that time. So, I am safe,” she argued, the same way she did with Carter. And she knew her friend could do nothing.
"Those people are heartless, Cheska.”
“Nah! They just wanted to get their money at the agreed time. As long as they get paid, they won’t be making any trouble.”
Mikha gave out a big sigh, trying to calm herself. "You cared more about the words of those gangsters than your safety."
“I already gave Carter the money. They don't have anything to pay it back.”
“I will send you money! Just leave. Money is not an issue.”
Mikha was not saying those words because she was rich. She was also struggling as a young professional. She had a lot of bills to pay and things to save up to. Their parents were not billionaires nor millionaires but Cheska was sure her friend would borrow money for her if needed.
“I am staying. I don't want you to worry about money. Anyway, if I was the one in real danger, I’ll definitely leave this place.”
“Just say you couldn’t leave that Carter guy because he looks like Doc Darryl. You are crazy for him.”
“I beg to disagree. I was really about to leave this place because I don’t want Doc Darryl's memory to be tarnished because of that Carter. I already accepted the fact that they’re two different people. That Doc Darryl is dead and he can no longer live in the person of Carter.”
"Then why involve yourself in their ruckus?"
“Because I can't bear to see people get hurt while I’m just there watching it happen. And they helped me when I needed help before.”
"What if those gangsters hurt you earlier?"
"Carter was there to protect me," she said confidently. “Mikha, he is not a bad person. He is here to help out his family. He is the good guy here. It was his stepfather who made all this mess, not him. He just took over his family. Defied his father to take care of his mother and his sister. He tried to drive me away. He didn’t even want me to stay here. He was willing to make arrangements to transfer me to another guesthouse.”
“But you don't want to? This is not just about money. You really want to spend time with him.”
“And is that so bad? You said you wanted me to enjoy while I’m here. You wanted me to discover something new about myself. This is it. I’m going to enjoy my vacation here. Carter will be my tour guide as a payment for the money he owes me. We have a deal. I can't back out now. We will have our separate ways when I get to Jeju. I won’t be emotionally attached to him. I am sane right now. Promise.”
Her friend was still doubtful despite her assurance. “You still cannot be so sure. Emotions can be tricky, Cheska. I just want you to just…be careful. You are not in the Philippines. You don't know anyone else over there.”
“Yes, mother. I will call you tomorrow. ”
She saw her parents' comments in her Facebook post. They are glad that she was finally having a vacation on her own and even found a new friend in Eun Young. They have been pushing her for a long time to take a solo tour and to go out from time to time. Her vacation in South Korea was like an answered prayer for them. 
Normal. She felt normal again. It was like being a robot for six years. Almost dead on the inside. But she felt alive now. Even her encounter with the gangsters a while ago was exciting. All her life, she had always been safe. It was like she was living inside a cocoon. And the people around her were also protecting her. Now she has to decide everything on her own without hiding from the world. She was finally getting what she wanted. She no longer sulks in the corner while watching those telenovelas. She was now the star of her own telenovela.
She was startled when she heard a knock on the door. "Cheska, are you still awake?"