Monday : We are going to check-in to the cruise, check-in to our room, and get ready… because tonight is our Formal Dinner night at the Across the Universe.
dress code; for girls + guys- formal attire
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collab with layla/colormeamazing :)
“This is the first time in my life that I’m sharing a wardrobe with another girl,” I said, turning to my new roommate Kitty Na, who was from China.
She smiled, looking so much like a porcelain doll.
“Will you be going to the dinner tonight?” she asked as she continued to hang her clothes into the wardrobe – which was smaller than the one I had back home but hey, it’s not like I brought everything I owned on board!
“I think it’s a must,” I replied. “But hey, where there’s food, there’s me!”
Kitty just grinned.
It felt weird, since I don’t usually open up to people easily. But around Kitty it felt … comfortable. Maybe because we have a few things in common – like we’re both Asians. We both have strict parents.
“You can go first if you want,” she said, sitting on her bed after she was done. “I might want take a long time getting ready.”
I smiled and just nodded.
“Now … the big question right now is …what am I going to wear?”
And this was why I’d always wanted a sister.
So I could get fashion advice or have someone to do my hair for me.
Yup, I’m liking this cruise more and more now…
I sat alone at the table, scanning the room and exchanging shy smiles with the other guests around.
I felt my stomach grumble and I sighed.
I knew I should have eaten breakfast this morning at the hotel. But no, I had to be too enthusiastic about this trip that all I could think of was getting onto this ship ASAP.
I was busy cursing myself under my breath when I felt someone next to me. I turned, and found a tall (and very gorgeous) girl slipping into the empty seat next to me.
I just watched as she fumbled in her seat, before my attention diverted to her dress.
Hervé Léger – sexy yet classy, and damn I wish I own one of these …
“Nice dress,” I complimented her, and she abruptly turned to face me.
“Thank you,” she replied, smiling. “I love yours.”
I knew she was just being kind, yet i couldn't help but lit up.
"I didn't wanna be too ... flashy," I tugged on my dress gently. "But it was either this, or the sequin leggings i'd bought on impulse during a sale!"
We both chuckled, and somehow the tense atmosphere i'd felt earlier had gotten more relaxed now.
"We're girls," she spoke, fiddling with the ring on her finger. "It's our habit i guess to buy things that we don't even wear."
I nodded.
"By the way, I'm Nina," I held out my hand to her, putting on my widest and most genuine smile I could pull off.
She smiled back before shaking my hand. “Layla.”
"You've got a pretty name. Where are you from?"
"I was born in Lebanon. But I grew up between London and Paris,” she explained.
London? Paris? I would so love to hate her right now but I can’t…
"Ooh, wow. I'm from Singapore."
She just smiled. "I could tell."
"Ever been there?" I asked, placing my hands on the edge of the table as I got more interested in getting to know Layla better.
"Once,” she replied. “My dad had to travel a lot so I traveled with him when I could and he had to go to Singapore once so I went with him."
"Did you like it?"
"Yes, definitely. It's such a unique place."
I stifled a laugh – ‘unique’ is such an overrated and overly used word to describe Singapore, but before I could point that out to her, a throng of guys in black and white suits came into the place, carrying plates with them.
A few of them headed towards our table and professionally placed them in front of us.
"Oohkay, I'm sure as hell not used to that,” I heard Layla muttered.
"Me neither," I laughed. "But this /is/ pretty impressive..."
I tried not to drool at the juicy steak placed in front of me, garnished with herbs and what i think are tomatoes shaped into a flower.
I turned to look at Layla and realized she, too, seemed like she was captivated by her own plate.
"Isn't it too pretty to be eaten?" i asked, in almost whisper as i stole a glance at the waiters standing around us.
Layla turned to my gaze and grinned.
"Actually, i'm more terrified of these guys behind us," she muttered. "I hate it when people stare at me when i eat."
I gasped. "Oh my gosh - me too! I don't like to be stared at in general..."
We both laughed, before picking up our fork and knives.
I started digging into my steak and after much hesitation, i took a bite and wow - it was good!
"So Layla," I took a sip of water, and gently patted the side of my lips. "What's it like to be in so many different countries? I bet it's fun."
She didn't answer me immediately, pushing her food back and forth before looking up.
"It is, i guess," she shrugged.
"You don't sound really excited,” I spoke, smiling faintly at her.
She bit on her lip before continuing.
"It's not just traveling and seeing the world, you know. I lived between the two places because my dad lived in London and my mom lived in Paris. And you know, after a while you just get tired of all of this, you know? It's not like you can spontaneously decide to visit your dad because it takes one hell of a train ride or a plane ride and it's not that fun after a while," she suddenly stopped. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to tell you all this. You must think I'm a freak for telling you all of this."
"Nooo!” I told her. I placed my fork by the side of my plate and gently squeezed her arm, as if to assure her of some sort. "It's totally fine, I'm glad you told me. I know how it feels being on this cruise without anyone you know so noo ... you are not a freak. At least not for telling me all of this. We are all freaks after all, right?"
"True. Being normal is overrated anyways, right?" she grinned.
"Wise words, sister!"
Layla just chuckled.
"Aren't you eating?" I gestured to her uneaten steak.
"Uhm. I'm vegetarian actually. I forgot to mention it in my application, I guess," she explained sheepishly.
"Oh shoot! Well, you can have my salad! And I can have your steak."
"This could be the beginning of a very good friendship, Nina."
I placed my bowl of salad towards her and grinned happily when she gave me her steak.
Yes, I'm a carnivore - sue me!
I got to know Layla better during our meal, exchanging stories of my childhood - which basically summed as 'being bullied everyday by my brothers' and 'wished i could leave singapore everyday' - and talking about the things to do on the cruise.
"Let's hang out again once we reach Hawaii," I told her as the waiters took our plates away.
It made me wonder how they could just stand and look at us eat all this while...
Layla took the napkin, and slowly patted her lips before turning to me.
"Sure," she nodded. "But count me out if all we're going to do is suntan in our bikinis and wait for guys to rub lotion on our back."
I laughed - Layla sure does have a witty sense of humor, i must say. And i like that about her.
"Ergh," I made a face. "I've had enough of suntanning back home. Though i wouldn't mind checking out local guys ..."
We both laughed, promised to keep in contact again before parting ways as the Formal Dinner ended.
I walked back to my room alone, only to find that Kitty wasn’t there.
Ah, she must still be at the dinner…
I dumped my clutch on my bed before walking out, hoping to catch some nice sea breeze on the upper deck of the cruise.
I didn’t mind that the strong wind was messing up my hair as I closed my eyes and just leaned against the railing, not really thinking about anything in particular either.
I just wanted to relax.
And do nothing …
That was until I heard footsteps behind me.
I opened my eyes and turned around, to find someone stopping abruptly just a few steps behind me.
It was a guy – Asian, probably but under the dim lighting, I really couldn’t tell.
We stared at each other for a second before he walked away.
Okay … that was weird.
I watched as he walked away, with a little swagger to his step and then, he stopped.
He held up something in his hand and brought it close to his eyes, and I realized he was holding a camera – a DSLR, one of the good ones. I know, because I used to own one until I got bored of photography and sold it to a vintage store for a good price.
“Are you a photographer?” I called out to him, smiling – it’d become an instant reaction tonight, to smile at anyone new I met on board.
He turned to face me, studying me from head to toe for a while before walking off.
Like I wasn’t even there.
“Rude much,” I muttered under my breath.
If I’d been annoyed by Mr Arrogant then, I totally forgot about it when I thought I saw another ship on the far side of the ocean.
And then my mind went wild, imagining what it was like on /that/ ship, if they had formal dinners and awkward introductions, or if they’re heading to some exotic island like we are…
I’m enjoying this freedom.
Very, very much…
{I’m thinking of making this LETTER TO MOM every now & then… just because, LOL!}
MONDAY, 15 NOV.
Dear Mom,
I got on the ship safely! No scratches, and no, I didn’t fall into the ocean. But I’m thinking of signing up for a swimming class while I’m here. Because our next stop is Hawaii – remember I always told you I wanted to learn how to surf? Maybe now I can … :)
Anyway, I hope you don’t keep worrying about me. It’ll just stress you out and your blood pressure will rise – we don’t want that, do we?
I met a few nice friends here, too. My roommate is Kitty – isn’t her name cute?! – and she’s from China. She looks like a doll. And then at dinner tonight I met another girl from Lebanon. Her name’s Layla. You would so love her, Mom.
I need to go to sleep now. So much to do tomorrow!
You know I love you, right Mom?
Kisses and hugs,
Your one and only daughter – NINA.
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ps. this is mr arrogant’s bio – till nadia adds it into the info ;)
☆ Kim Ryu
Country From/ age: Seoul, S.Korea / 26
Bio: At first glance, it seems like Ryu can easily beat the daylight out of someone with his brooding eyes and scruffy look. Well, he actually can but underneath his bad boy image is a guy who goes weak in the knees for animals and little kids. He only talks when it’s necessary, and would prefer to be on his own most of the time. No one really knows of his past, but word has it, he was pretty well known back home – something about heir to some million-dollar electronics company. He’ll just scoff if you mention that to him, though. Ryu can usually be found with a camera in his hands, silently snapping away photos (of what, that is another mystery) and it’s safe to say that he prefers to be invisible.
Model: Jeong Hun (fyi, this is how he looks like: http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lbvvys6nv91qayyph.jpg)
Relationship Status: single, but for some odd reason has a love-hate feel towards Nina