The Man Everyone Wants Loves Me

BY YOUR SIDE

CHAPTER 3

Hyan and Charrie were seated together in a two-seater row...

They reclined both of their seats. Due to her petite form, Charrie’s seat was big for her, she was very comfortable. Hyan, on the other hand, has long legs. He could fit better in the front row seats since it has bigger legroom. Despite the discomfort, Hyan didn’t mind. He sat without complaining next to Charrie.

Charrie was unaware of the situation and why suddenly Hyan was transferred to the seat next to her. She didn’t entertain ideas that could complicate her already muddled mind. She didn’t want to worry, but sitting next to him made her so nervous, edgy, and restless. She tried to hide her feelings as much as she could.

Without Charrie’s knowledge, Hyan had his eyes on her from the start. Her declaration that she was also a fan aroused his interest. She was acting differently, she was awkward. She didn’t take advantage of her chance to be with him. In fact, if given a chance, Charrie would try to be as far away from him as possible.

Despite her declaration that she too was a fan, he noticed her action did not display any particular interest. It was highly unlikely that she was a fan, he thought. He was aware of the behavior of ordinary fans. They would do anything so that they may receive even a simple "HI" or "Hello" from their idols.

He admitted to himself that he was attracted to her, he was sure about that. He had never really paid attention to a particular lady's behavior before. However, he found Charrie's reactions to him so cute, her attempts to contain her nervousness around him were so amusing.

Charrie blushed easily, no matter how she contained it, and it fascinated him whenever he saw her crimson cheeks. She also could converse interestingly, which means the lady has an intellect above average and he liked that.

A lady who could speak her mind under pressure was hard to find.

Hyan was also aware that he needed to initiate the conversation with her, otherwise, the lady wouldn’t do it on her own. Charrie’s reaction was far from how fans reacted to his presence.

He looked at her and asked, "Is it your first time in Tokyo?"

"Hmmm. Not my first. It's my 5th visit, actually,” Charrie replied.

"Is it for business or pleasure?" he asked again.

"Business, we will attend a conference," she told him calmly.

"We?" she was all alone on this flight, he noted.

"Yes, We. My team will join me after two days." She explained, the shortest she could do.

"Are you not afraid to travel alone?" he queried.

One question, one answer, she never asked him back, Hyan noted.

"I need to be there ahead of the team. There is an important meeting early tomorrow," Charrie smiled while she spoke.

"You should not travel alone...it's dangerous. You are too attractive to be alone."

Hyan smiled so that Charrie would not be threatened, despite the message of his words.

She thought, "Hyan was just a gentleman." But she also thought that Hyan might be flirting with her too.

Erase! She scolded herself quietly and reminded herself that she was just a simple nobody. It just might be his usual way to communicate with people. Hyan was a celebrity, after all.

Then she responded to him...

"Not alone, usually, but it's urgent this time," she replied calmly.

Silence followed...after a few minutes, Hyan opened another topic.

"Have you been to SK?"

She nodded, "Yes! I've been there twice, but those were short visits, three days at most, then back home."

SK was Hyan's homeland.

He smirked, "So sad, there are lots of good places tourists enjoy visiting in SK," he told her, "I'd love to show my country to you one day," he added.

Charrie almost swallowed her tongue. "What?" she murmured to herself.

Then, she realized...It was just a joke. How in the world could Hyan show SK's tourist spots to her? They were not even friends, and he was a very busy man. With his popularity, he must be swamped by fans every time. She dismissed any romantic notion.

She softly muttered to herself,

"He was just joking. He was too busy to have time for me! And who am I anyway?"

However, she might have said it louder. It was not meant to be heard by him, but he heard her.

Hyan chuckled, "As a matter of fact, I'm serious. Visit SK, and I will show you the best places, even those not advertised," he looked at her intently, with a serious expression on his face.

Charrie stopped laughing instantly. "Don't flirt with me! Or else I'll kiss you!” She smiled at her crazy thoughts, “What's on my mind? Charrie." She shook her head and she did not respond.

Hyan once again asked her, "Do you have a social media or Viber account?"

"Yeah, I have a messenger and Viber!" She replied innocently.

"Let me have your phone." She was confused, but she gave her phone to Hyan. "What was he up to?" she whispered to herself, nervously.

Hyan looked at her closed phone, "Password?" He raised the phone.

"Oh, sorry!" her phone was biometrically capable, so she stuck her finger on it, and it opened, instantly.

Hyan saw the OST again on her phone. He smirked and shook his head, but he did not comment.

Then he said, "I will initiate a friend request on my personal account as soon as there's wifi, it will send the message, and I will accept it. There you have it! Feel free to call anytime." He did that on both Viber and messenger. Then he returned the phone. He also added his international phone line.

“Aren't celebrities supposed to keep their private contact information in their close circle only? Why was he giving it to me?” Confused, Charrie did not comment. Everything that was happening was way too much to process by her simple brain at the moment. "Perhaps he was just concerned I was alone.” Then she settled down. “Hmmm. He’s very kind! How many good adjectives could I enumerate to describe a Mr. Wang Hyan?" Charrie told herself. She was speechless after Hyan gave her back the phone.

The stewardess came just in time to interrupt the sudden awkwardness between them. She gave them the menu. Hyan let her choose first. Charrie ordered mixed fruits only. Then, he just asked for sandwiches.

"How would you rate the food they serve?" asked Hyan.

"This airline serves a variety above normal, and it's edible. Good review among patrons, and I personally like it." That was the longest sentence she had said so far, noticed Hyan.

"I'm not used to eating airline meals," Hyan disclosed.

Charrie didn’t doubt his words, he appeared a picky eater, she observed.

Then she smiled and looked at him, "Sad! You won't get your money's worth."

Both of them laughed. The conversation became easier after that. The awkwardness was lessened a bit.

"By the way, Charrie, how long will you stay in Tokyo? And where will you be staying?” Hyan queried, which made Charrie unsettled again, but she replied, calmly.

"Until Sunday.” She silently wished he would stop asking questions.

"I see. Where will you stay?" he asked again, since Charrie didn’t tell him where she would stay.

"The Shang," For reasons she couldn’t understand, she still gave him the details of the accommodation.

"I guess that's where the conference will be?" Hyan continued to ask.

"Hmm," she nodded.

Charrie was so relieved when the airplane arrived at its destination. She didn’t fear him, but her reaction to him made her so uneasy.

Hyan has a special convoy, so they part in the airplane, while Charrie gets her passport stamped by immigration under standard procedure.

Hyan gestured a call sign using his hand before he finally parted with Charrie.

“Is that a call sign? Huh! As if he would call.” Shaking her head, Charrie proceeded to the exit.

It was an exciting flight! She was laughing inside. She would have a lot of stories to tell Candies. It was her first time to encounter a man she couldn’t refuse. It made her both happy and sad. Happy that it happened and sad because it will never happen again.

Hyan managed to engage her in a conversation, which under normal circumstances she wouldn’t do. She never talked to strangers when she was traveling alone. She even gave him her phone, which was odd.

Charrie was not a snob, but she was not comfortable talking with somebody she had just met, no matter who the person was. But, this man was different, and also, no man had yet managed to make her disoriented. She didn’t know what she was doing, even her mind was in a mess and she felt floating on air when he was around. “It was so unlike me,” she murmured.

Suddenly...

"Charrie!" Hyan called her after the immigration to stamp her passport.

She saw Hyan making his way towards her. In doing so, he passed some fans that came to greet him. His bodyguards tried to stop them so Hyan could go near her.

Still stupefied upon seeing him again. She froze on the spot.

"Will someone be taking you to your hotel?" he asked when he reached her.

Charrie, once again, was not able to answer right away. “This man! How he managed to take her breath away.”

“Charrie?” Hyan called her again.

She bobbed her head, in something to say.

'We can bring you there," he offered.

Finally, she snapped from her trance.

"Oh. No, no, I'm good. I have service," she managed to respond.

He also bobbed his head repeatedly, "All right then. I'll see you when I see you! Be safe!" he smiled and left her.

Charrie was rooted to the ground while she stared at his receding form.

“Why was he so good to me?” She wondered.

“When will be the next windfall of blessing to her after this?”

“Wake up, little Charrie. Hays!”

"What an experience! I was starstruck! Fan for a day!"

She laughed alone and whispered, “ENOUGH!”

Charrie was able to move only after she saw Hyan exit the main door.

At seven in the evening, she safely reached her hotel; their company arranged the service for her, which would also be their official service for their entire stay. The organizer's representative assisted her with an easy check-in. In no time, she was inside a luxurious suite with one bedroom. The suite might be big for just her for the next two days, but the lounge would serve as their preparation area when the team arrived.

Her suite has a view of Mt. Fuji, but she couldn’t see it anymore since its nighttime. The street lights and the beautiful sights from nearby high structures were her entertainment for the evening. Japan was very clean, as she wished the same for her country.

She decided to skip dinner and take a rest early because of her early appointment the next day. She was ready for her meeting. The contract signing would be a special gift for her birthday tomorrow.

For the first time, she would spend her birthday alone. It might be sad for some, but she welcomed the experience. For once in her life, she would be spending her birthday in a foreign country alone. A little "me time" wouldn’t hurt. Plus, her gift would be the signed contract tomorrow; she told herself what more she could ask.

After a visit to the church tomorrow to thank the Lord, she would then treat herself to a shopping experience in one of the shopping malls in Tokyo. That was her plan...unless her attention was needed for something else.

She sent a message to her Mom and Dad. Just to let them know she was safe. Also, she sent Candies and Joe separate messages.

She took her shower and prepared to sleep.

She had decided not to think about what happened today. Hyan dominated about six hours of her day. She felt good, but, just like all dreams, she needed to wake up eventually. A man like him, no matter how decent he might be, was a dream!

At twenty-seven, she was not delusional. She was capable and successful. Although she was still single, it was not something to worry about. She had suitors and knew how to handle them well. She even went on dates, but if there was no chemistry, she declined the next invitation flatly. At the moment, she had no time for commitment and was thankful for her simple life.

But with Hyan… Well, it might just be an attraction because she admired him. That was it. It was a simple admiration. She experienced being a fan for a day! It was enough.

Just when Charrie was about to close her eyes, she saw the light of her phone lit up. She lazily picked it up to check if Candies sent her a response.

Several notifications which she did not check earlier appeared on the screen. She saw Hyan accept the request he sent. There were messages from him also.

Shaking her head, she whispered. What's wrong with this guy? How come he keeps appearing in her life? She wanted to ignore his message but–she was also curious, so she read them.

Message 1: "Hello Charrie"

Message 2: "Forgot to thank you for the company."

While trying to figure out how to respond, she accidentally pressed and sent a heart icon.

Oh, s**t!!!! Charrie, how can you be so stupid!!!! She wanted to throw away her phone.

She wanted to die at that very second! WHAAAA! She screamed.

What to do? What to do? Damnit! Charrie was at a loss.

She breathed hard several times. Her heart was pounding loudly. Never was she this caress but–

“Charrie, relax. You are a mature woman, not a teenager! Let it go! Don't answer him anymore! It was alright, he was used to that kind of message, and you are not the first one to give him such a message. It was nothing!” she tried to appease herself.

But she couldn’t, “WHAHAAH” she screamed while she buried her face on the pillow.

Sleep Charrie! Sleep and tomorrow is another day!

Due to her tension, she was not able to read Hyan's last message that night!

"Sleep well, Charrie!" with a heart-shaped icon.