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The familiar tune of [i]Astronomia[/i] sounded suddenly in the silence of Rachel Kim's bedroom, causing her to groan as she was so rudely awakened by the ringing of her phone so early in the morning. There was no need for her to check her phone to find the identity of the caller. She had so aptly chosen the music not long after the meme of the coffin dancers became a viral sensation, given that her parents visit was never something that came without any fuss, especially if her mother was involved. Groping around for her phone on her bedside table, she briefly answered it to the sound of her mother's voice. [color=fdc68a]"We'll be there in 15 minutes."[/color] 

Without saying another word, she hung up, leaving her daughter to fumble for herself as she pulled herself awake. A brief thought of annoyance of could possibly be the visit about this time was promptly brushed aside as realization dawned onto her. Today was the day of the cruise. The Speed Dating cruise holiday aboard the SS Astarte. Her parents had made plans to ensure that she didn't forget to go to the cruise, her mother even going so far as to come to her apartment to prepare a home-cooked breakfast before they departed together for the cruise. Not long after she finished washing up and getting dressed, her parents arrived, right on the dot of the fifteen minutes announced her mother. As soon as she opened the door, her mother brushed through her and made a beeline for the kitchen, carrying bags of cooking ingredients on the counter as she began to whip up a storm. Her father soon followed with the calm and leisurely pace he so known for, greeting his daughter with a smile. The father and daughter pair sat themselves down in the sofa in the living area while they waited for her breakfast to be ready. [color=39b54a]"I hope you find someone good on the cruise. Someone you like that appeals to you. Just be yourself." [/color]

Rachel didn't exactly knew how to respond to that. She managed with a [color=FC3A23]"We'll see."[/color] [color=39b54a]"You've got to make an effort to put yourself out there if you don't want to end up all alone in your old age. Give it a good honest try. Who knows, this might actually work out when there's no where to go, and no where to hide when you're stranded with other like minded folks on a ship out at sea."[/color] [color=FC3A23]"I'll give it a shot. No promises though."[/color] Her words came with a sense of caution in case her parents read too much into this and were already starting to count their chickens before they were hatched. [color=39b54a]"Your mother and I just want you to take this trip optimistically and put in a good effort to make this work. If it doesn't work, then at least we've tried."[/color] [i]There came her father's pet phrase again.[/i] She'd grown up listening to him saying that over and over again, and Rachel knew that he was fully serious and committed whenever he used those words. Their conversation was interrupted by the announcement that her breakfast was ready and Rachel found herself treated to a Korean home-cooked breakfast spread. Her mother's special Korean Street Toast and Jeon Vegetable Pancake which consisted of Squash and Zucchini fried a lovely golden brown was present like always.

The staple was in the form of a Korean Kimchi Rice bowl filled with freshly cooked bacon strips and a fried egg. The breakfast was a heavy one, but being a hearty eater, Rachel had no problems finishing all of it. After consuming her hearty breakfast, Rachel went to get dressed, and emerged in a [url=https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DIq7i2bUEAE4yV8?format=jpg&name=large]simple black top and faded denim shorts along with a light flannel dark green and red oversized shirt and black boots.[/url] Pulling her luggage along with her, the trio left her apartment and began the trip to the cruise terminal. Anxiety began to build up and bubble within her as the cruise came into sight as they arrived the terminal. Hugging her parents and waving them farewell, Rachel began to make her way to the VIP line, bypassing many of the others who stood in the regular queue. Despite her popularity, her fame was no where compared to the more famous actresses and models. She was an athlete and athletes don't really get associated with the same these big entertainers get unless they were really big and world-famous. As she boarded the cruise, the staff promptly assisted with her luggage and led her to the exclusive upper deck where a small crowd of the other dating participants for [i]United at Heart[/i] were already present.

Rachel could feel eyes on her as she approached the group, and she wondered to herself if there was any other athletes in the group. She didn't seem to recognize any, and there was certainly no other snowboarder present, or any other winter athlete present that she could see. She was totally out of her element here, let alone her comfort zone and she began to feel self consciously under dressed as she glanced the others present beside her. A small consolation was that there were a couple of others that weren't so formally dressed. 

Declining the offer for a champagne as she was offered one, she opted for an apple cider instead, opting to keep her head free of any alcoholic intoxication. She needed her wits about her if she was going to make something good come out of this.