Chapter 44

Carla and Joshua stared at Gyeonghuigung Palace replica in awe. 'Wow…" was what Carla managed to say. 'Really, wow…" Joshua said. 'It looks so real." Carla looked at him. 'Have you been on the real one?" Joshua nodded. 'Yes. One time, I went with Caith–" He stopped, not being able to finish what he was about to say. Carla looked away. She just looked again at the palace in front of them. 'She's really the one who likes those," Joshua explained. 'She's a fan of Kdramas. She said, Koreans love period dramas, so she really wanted to go to that palace." 'A lot of Filipinos really love Kdramas," Carla said. 'I guess that's the reason why the owner included that on this theme park." 'Let's get in?" Joshua asked. Carla nodded, and together they went inside the palace. They went to the outer court of the palace, and just like the gate it really resembles the real one in South Korea. 'It looks so real!" Joshua said in awe as they continued to explore the place. As for Carla, she cannot help but get some pictures on her cellphone. Not only does she want to keep some souvenirs of that wonderful place, but she also wants to show Edmalyn the pictures so that she will be enticed to go there herself. Joshua noticed what she is doing. 'You want me to take your picture?" Carla looked at him. 'Maybe you want to have a souvenir. I'll take your photo for you," Joshua said. Carla suddenly felt bashful. 'Uhm… Haha! It's okay. You don't need to." 'It's okay, really," Joshua insisted. 'Give me your phone." Joshua took her cellphone, leaving Carla with no choice. 'Go there and do your pose," Joshua told her. Still feeling shy, Carla just did what Joshua said. She went in front of one of the structures that looks like a square house that is elevated by sone steps. Joshua asked her to go up for her to stand directly in front of the door. She just did as he said and posed in front of the door. But because she's still feeling a bit shy, she wasn't able to smile properly. Joshua noticed her hesitation. 'Go smile a little more," he said to Carla. 'Promise, I'm very good in getting pictures. It's not blurred." Carla smiled at what he said. And because of that, her pictures came out more beautifully. He was very excited to show her the pictures. 'See? Those are all IG photos material," he proudly said. 'Okay, fine," Carla said, giggling. 'Your turn." 'Me? Oh, no! No," Joshua said as he was taking out his own cellphone. 'I don't want mediocre shots, okay? So make sure you take good shots only." Carla laughed at what Joshua said. The latter went on and posed on a beautiful background. Carla just continued taking his pictures while he moved and changed from one pose to another. Carla realized that Joshua really knows how to play with the camera. He knows his angle and how to work on it. She's not surprised, though. Just how many photoshoots did he do on all his years as a celebrity? Numerous, probably. And Carla can clearly see what experience he has as he smiles and smize at the cellphone camera. Carla feels like a professional photographer without so much effort. All her shots were beautiful. Maybe because Joshua's cellphone camera also has good specs? But she's sure that it also has to do with how good Joshua projected in his poses. 'Can I see?" Joshua looked at the photos Carla took. Carla felt a little awkward as Joshua came very close to her. He even held her hand that was holding the cellphone, while his other hand flipped the photos. Carla suddenly felt tensed. Is her face blushing? 'Wow… I really know how to project," Joshua said. 'Let's take a selfie. Oh! Groufie, rather." 'Huh?" Carla suddenly went blank. 'Come on." Carla wasn't able to refuse when Joshua put his arm around her shoulder. She just stared at the cellphone that Joshua raised in front of them. 'Smile!" Joshua said before he clicked the camera. And because she's feeling awkward, and a little bit confused with her feelings, Carla was not able to smile. She just stared at the screen of the cellphone. 'Can't you smile a little?" Joshua asked her. Carla forced a smile, and she also forced herself to ignore the awkwardness that she's feeling. She also feels like the awkwardness is slowly going away, and it is being replaced by a feeling that makes her comfortable and strangely glad. 'See?" Joshua looked at the photos. 'These are very good shots." He showed the photos to Carla. Carla looked at the pictures, and she also liked what she saw. Then suddenly, a man approached them. 'Excuse me," the man said to Joshua. 'Sir, can you please take a photo of us?" Joshua agreed to the man's request. He gladly took the man's pictures with a girl that seems to be his girlfriend. Joshua even suggests some poses to the two as he also enjoyed taking pictures of the couple. 'Thanks," the man said after. 'Why don't I return the favor and take your pictures with your girlfriend?" Carla was surprised at what the man said. Surprised and suddenly tense. She suddenly felt ashamed because Joshua might think she is taking advantage of the man's wrong idea that she is his girlfriend. She decided to correct what the man had said. 'We're not–" 'Sure!" Joshua suddenly said as he gave his cellphone to the man. Then he grabbed Carla's hand and took her in front of one of the structures on that place. Carla wasn't able to refuse when Joshua put his arm around her shoulder. She did not react because she is so consumed with the feeling that their closeness is giving her. She felt her heart race and her whole body tense. 'Miss, please smile a little," the man said. Carla suddenly felt Joshua gently squeezed her shoulder. 'You heard him, Babe. Smile." Carla looked at Joshua. He gave her a smile, which slowly faded when he saw the way she is looking at him. That's when Joshua realized what is happening, and what he is doing. He ended up reciprocating that confused but fascinated gaze that Carla is giving him. They stayed like that for a while – Joshua holding Carla while their gazes linger at each other. Joshua was the first one to recover. 'Uhm…" He looked at the man. 'We're good," he said as he gave back the cellphone to Joshua. Joshua went to the man and took the cellphone. 'Thank you." The man nodded, and then he and his girlfriend said their goodbyes. Joshua looked at the photos, and he was amazed at what he saw. 'How was it?" Joshua looked at Carla who is now coming towards him. 'Uh…" He put his cellphone on his pocket. 'Good! They're good… Let's go to another location. So that we can see all that this place has to offer." Carla just watched as Joshua started to leave. She just followed him as he exited the Gyeonghuigung Palace.