BASHing Trinity novel Chapter 12

(*) Flashback

TRINITY

I place the two suitcases on my bed when I notice Saph is flipping pages of my floral printed diary that I wrote when I was in high school. I haven't seen that diary since I started dating Oli.

"Saph, where did you get that?"

Saph is lying on her stomach, propping her elbows with her eyes fixed on my diary on her hands.

When I ask her to give it to me, but she doesn't even look at me. Instead, she continues reading and flipping pages as if she's so hooked up reading a romance novel.

"Saph, ever heard of privacy? It's a diary for a reason. Hand me that thing and help me pack. May I remind you the reasons why you're here," I called her earlier to help me pack my things. My hand is still hanging in the air.

"Saph, put that thing down, and I have a flight to catch tonight!" I yell at her, and that catches her attention.

She grins instead of getting annoyed. "That much, huh?" She finally talks and starts to drag herself off my bed.

"What that much do you mean?" I scowl at her.

She stands up and saunters in my direction. "That you like Bash that much. You sketched him, wrote poems, doodled his name--"

"Whoa! I didn't write poems for him, and I'm not a poetic type," I say defensively. I open my two doors closet and start taking my clothes that are worth for travel.

Thanks to my two best friends who have good taste in fashion. I quickly pull my clothes and fold them that would fit in my suitcases. I ignore Saph who's still babbling about how I love Bash.

I'm excited to see South Korea for the first time, and I did my research about the country too. I start listening to BTS even I don't understand most of their lyrics.

I also feel nervous that I'm spending a week with Bash even though we'll be staying in two separate rooms. What if he'll bring women? How should I react? Do I have to pretend that I don't care? Should I just ignore them?

Of course, you should, Trinity, otherwise, you'll look like a fool.

I want to believe what they told me in the café three days ago, and that gives me hope a little. What if Bash really cares? What if he's just looking for a hookup? Then he will start dating again?

*

"Aunt Abby, good to see you here." I rise from my seat to hug her.

She's always been kind to me and treats me like her real daughter.m, besides that she's my mom's best friend.

"So, are you excited about the trip?" She takes a seat to my left.

I smile brightly. "Kinda. I've never been to Asia, so I expect to have culture shock, but I will do my research," I tell her honestly.

"You will enjoy your stay there, K. I've been there many times, and if Sebastian didn't suggest that the two of you should go this time, I'm going to join him for another trip. They have great places to visit, a very rich culture and great history. They have these traditional clothes that I wore. I still have the pictures."

I notice my two best friends are listening to Aunt Abby.

"Thanks for giving me a chance, and I would surely enjoy my stay there."

"Oh, K. You will enjoy it, and you don't have to call or chat with us every day. We can wait until you come back," Lizzy says with a grin.

"Thanks, Lizzy, but I still have a job to do there," I tell her, causing her eyes to roll.

"Your only job is to accompany Bash to the meeting and be pretty, and it won't take time. You will only meet the Korean team, see the site with them, and close the deal. It won't take even a day, then the rest of your stay will be for yours and Bash to enjoy," Aunt Abby explains the plan.

Why do I feel that all of them are pushing me to be with Bash?

"Then why do we have to stay there for the whole week?" I inquire.

"Why not? You have to at least, see some places there, taste their food, and meet Korean guys. Oh, Bash has a friend there. And he's hot," Saph butts in.

"I'm not going there to meet guys, Saph. I'll be there for business purposes only."

"Oh, yeah. I completely understand because Bash will punch all the guys if they will lay a finger on you," Lizzy affirms.

My face heats. I notice Aunt Abby smiles at me.

"He won't do that," I say quietly.

"Oh, K. He will because that kiss tells us something," Lizzy replies.

My mouth hangs open, making them giggle.

"Oh, my God! Did you tell your mom, too?" I ask Lizzy.

She raises her brow. "And what's wrong with that? I'm happy that my baby brother finally found the courage that he should've done that years ago."

I might have turned into a tomato right now, and I think I'm sweating even this place is cold.

"Just take care of my baby, K," Aunt Abby says.

"He has Mr. Russell to look after him, Aunt Abby," I respond.

She laughs, covering her mouth with the table napkin. "That's not what I mean, K. He's capable of protecting himself if that's what you mean, and he's been very responsible since he was in the U.K. What I mean to say is take care of Bash," she emphasizes the take care part.

I nod in agreement.

"He cares about you, K. Don't ever doubt that."

***

I ignore Bash's offer to play a board game. After excusing myself from him, I get inside the master suite of their private jet. I sleep throughout the fourteen hours flight after our dinner together.

He told me that we will be meeting his friend as soon as we settled in at the King hotel in Seoul.

I feel hands nudging my shoulders, and hit those hands blindly while I groan irritably. I pull up the blanket to cover my head. My lids still feel heavy to even get up.

"Tri, you have to get up now. You've been sleeping the entire fight, and we're landing in less than an hour." Bash's concern voice fills my ears.

"Go away, Bash. Come back five minutes before we land."

"Trinity, don't wanna freshen up yourself? C'mon, you can continue sleeping in the hotel," he says, pulling off the blanket from my head.

I open my eyes slowly to see the most beautiful smiling face, looking down at me. I can't help but smile back.