After finishing their breakfast, the flight attendant came in and cleared their dishes. Haoran and Emma then went to sit by the window and enjoyed the view outside as they chatted for half an hour.
The plane passed through Vietnam and would soon arrive in Singapore. The weather was clear, and everything was pleasant.
"Do you want to take a shower and get ready? We'll land soon," said Haoran.
Emma nodded. "You?"
"I'll do the same," Haoran said as he got up from the sofa and headed toward the door. "I'll see you later after landing."
Emma had followed Haoran to the door and when he was about to exit, she reached for his hand and said, "Uhm... this suite is for two people, right? Why don't we sit together here while waiting for landing? I like chatting with you."
Haoran stopped in his place and looked at Emma with a beaming face. He nodded. "Of course."
As a gentleman, he had never suggested sharing the suite with Emma even though the suite was meant for two people. He had let Emma sleep alone and enjoy the place however she pleased. He had only asked Emma to have breakfast together, nothing more.
But now, Emma had suggested they sit together in her suite while waiting for the plane to land. This meant Emma was comfortable with his presence. Not to mention, they were friends after all before they kissed.
She didn't want for the two of them to be awkward. If it was Alex or David, she would enjoy sitting in the suite together while waiting for the plane to land. Emma might even sleep with Alex in the same room, with the guy on the couch of course. They were that close in a non-romantic way.
"I'll only need half an hour to take a shower and pack up my stuff," Emma said as she walked Haoran out.
The young man nodded. "I'll be back in half an hour."
He then entered his suite, opposite of Emma's suite.
After Haoran had disappeared, Emma rushed to take a shower, changed into fresh clothing, wore jeans and a light blue top. She fashioned her hair into a cute bun, looking casual and attractive as usual.
Haoran knocked on the door half an hour later carrying his backpack. After he had entered, he opened the minibar and noticed Emma didn't take anything.
"Are the items in the minibar not to your liking?" Haoran asked.
Emma shook her head. "Not really."
Haoran looked over the contents of the minibar and took all the expensive chocolates.
"These are nice chocolates, you should take them," Haoran said with a laugh. "They're free. I've already cleared my minibar so I could give them to the boys."
Emma frowned because she couldn't help but ask. "They're rich enough to buy these themselves. Will they be happy to receive these items?"
Haoran shrugged. "Everyone loves free stuff. Me too."
Emma laughed. She had never thought even rich people liked freebies.
"Okay, then. I'll bring as many freebies as possible from this suite and give it to them," Emma nodded in understanding. She took out the contents of the luxurious minibar and put them in her backpack like Haoran did.
Their friends would love to receive all the fancy freebies for consolation because they didn't get to fly in the suite.
"Take the liquors too," Haoran said, pointing at the rows of wine, whiskey, rum, vodka, etc. in the minibar. "Soon, David will turn eighteen and he'd be able to drink."
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
"Oh, is that so?" Emma said.
She recalled that when they were in Paris, the boys had faked their age so they could buy wine and drinks to have a picnic on Champ de Mars near the Eiffel Tower. She grabbed the mini liquor bottles Haoran pointed out.
"The pajamas and robes are nice too. Did you get them for you?" Haoran asked.
Emma nodded. "They're very nice. I like them."
"Take the big one too. Alex will like them," Haoran said.
Emma followed Haoran's advice and took the robe and pajama set for Alex. The material was silk, and they were very comfortable for sleeping. She could imagine Alex would be delighted by the gift even if she had gotten them for free.
Haoran smiled in satisfaction after seeing Emma had filled her backpack full of various loot from the suite. His own bag was filled with the same items. After they were done, the two exchanged glances and laughed.
***
Sure enough, what Haoran said was true. The boys were jealous because they couldn't stay in the suite, but they were ecstatic upon receiving the souvenirs from Emma and Haoran while waiting for their luggage in the baggage area.
Haoran had asked the flight attendant to put his and Emma's luggage in the economy passenger bags, so they could wait for their suitcases to come out on the baggage carousel like the other students. He didn't want to arouse their suspicions.
"We, the peasants, have forgiven you for leaving us in the economy class," Alex said, winking. He hugged his silk pajamas with a happy face and added, "The chocolates and other souvenirs are well-received."
Emma was pleased to see that they liked the souvenirs.
While Emma was chatting with Alex, behind him, she saw Nadya standing at the other end of the carousel staring at her, looking bewildered. Emma realized Nadya might have just noticed how close she was with the five boys from Class F ever since Paris.
Even though Emma and Nadya were friends in school, while in Paris, Nadya had spent most of her time with Bianca and her friends. She had shared a room with Sandra, Bianca's friend, and went to places together.
When Nadya and Emma were at school, they had only chatted during breakfast and lunch, but in the free hours, Nadya had spent more time with Bianca's group. The girls loved shopping and visiting places Emma wasn't interested in, so Nadya naturally didn't ask Emma to come with her.
In the last two days, Nadya had also kept her distance from Emma because she was upset at Emma for defending Haoran. Nadya had held Haoran responsible for making Mary sick, but Emma had openly disagreed with her. Nadya didn't expect when she was away from Emma, Emma would end up being friends with Haoran and the other boys from Class F.
Never in a million years, Nadya would have thought Emma's relationship with them was forged way earlier before the study trip to Paris. She had always thought Emma was a reclusive intelligent girl in Class A, never interested in people.
Only now, Nadya had noticed how close Emma was to Alex, David, Dinh, and Eric. They were even laughing while Emma was taking out chocolates from her bag. Her mind then wondered as to when Emma had become close to them and how far was their relationship.
Emma had been reading Nadya's mind and could only sigh. She was about to approach Nadya to say hello when suddenly, Haoran nudged her shoulder and showed Emma's suitcase in his hand.
"Your luggage is out," said Haoran.
"Ahh, thank you." Emma took the suitcase from Haoran's hand.
"Stardust, let's go. My driver's waiting," said Alex. His house and Grandma Lin's apartment weren't far away.
"Thank you," said Emma. "I want to say goodbye to Nadya first."
She nodded and walked toward Nadya, who was still waiting for her suitcase.
"Hey, Emma..." Nadya said. "Are you going home or will someone come and pick you up?"
Emma shook her head. "I have no one to come and pick me up. But I'm with a friend, and we live not far from each other."
"Who?" Nadya asked as she stole a glance at Haoran. "Is it Haoran?"
"Eh, why do you think it's Haoran?" Emma asked in surprise.
"Do you like Haoran?" Nadya asked bluntly. "I noticed the two of you talking a lot, so I assumed he was the one taking you home."
"Why are you asking me that?" Emma asked again. "Never mind that, I'm going home with Alex."
"Oh..." Nadya was stunned. "I was wrong. I thought you like Haoran, and there's something going on between you two."
Emma gazed into Nadya's eyes and touched her shoulder. "Nadya, don't overthink about Haoran and me. My relationship with him is none of your business."
Nadya's eyes dimmed as she looked down.
"Your relationship with him is none of my business..." Nadya said in a whisper, almost in a robotic tone. Nadya looked up before nodding and retrieving her suitcase that just came out on the moving carousel. She took her bag and waved to Emma before saying, "I'll go home now. My family's driver is here to pick me up. See you after the summer holiday!"
Emma waved back and turned toward Haoran and her friends.
"What did you two talk about?" Haoran asked casually.
Emma shrugged. "I told her our relationship is none of her business."
"Ahhh... what happened? Did she say anything bad?" Haoran as he stared at Nadya from a distance.
Emma simply fainted a smile and didn't answer. She wouldn't tell Haoran how she had controlled Nadya's mind to not overthink their relationship. Emma didn't want gossip to start among their peers at school.