HESTIA - The Virgin Princess

CHAPTER 3 - The Rugged Man, Alexander

I

Getting bored, Hestia stood up. She goes to the window upon seeing that it is open. She let her eyes travel the vastness and beauty of the place. She can see the beach, with some men, women, and children swimming and playing. She noticed the number of coconut trees scattered throughout the place and the mini garden full of flowering plants like roses, orchids, daises, and others. She can see some cabanas, patios, big classy umbrellas, beach chairs, and then the pool.

Hestia's heart somersaulted as she saw a man's figure sitting near the pool. She could easily recognize Alexander. "He is such a wonder to behold!" Hestia could not control herself and admired the man. Her face glows more with her big smile.

As Hestia noticed the woman in front of Alexander, her smile faded. The two seemed seriously talking. The woman, from time to time, would touch Alexander's hand on the table.

Hestia could not deny the jealousy she felt right now. She scans through the features of the woman. She seems older than Alexander, somewhat chubby, with fair skin, and shoulder-length blond hair, and her face with skillfully placed makeup is better than an ordinary face. Hestia laughs at her description of the woman. She knows herself well. When she says better than ordinary it means okay but not that excellent!

She observes well how Alexander and the woman behave. Alexander seems serious, while from time to time the woman will flirtatiously laugh and slap the man's shoulder or arm.

As Alexander was about to drink his coffee, he felt like someone was watching him. He instantly looked at his villa's direction and there he saw his visitor watching them from afar.

"She's a sight to behold," Alexander suddenly also murmured, unaware that Juliana's narrowing eyes were now also watching the woman at his Villa.

"So, is she your visitor?" Juliana's voice brought Alexander to his senses.

"What?"

"I said, is she your visitor?"

Alexander nodded, "Yes."

"So what is her name?"

"Hester. Her name is Hester. Are you done with your coffee Juliana?" Alexander wanted to dismiss the woman already.

"Not yet."

"Please hurry, I still have lots to do, I have a meeting at 3:00 p.m. and it is almost 2:30 p.m." Alexander already shows her obvious desire to dismiss the woman while looking at her expensive Tissot watch.

"Wait, so are you not going to check on the new gold supplier from Raullo?" Juliana inquired with the obvious intent of taking more time with Alexander.

"I'll think about it. Thank you for the info by the way," Alexander said while slowly standing.

"Alex honey, can we have dinner tomorrow? There is this new Italian Restaurant in Legazpi City," the woman smiles sweetly, expecting a positive response.

"Let me see Juliana, I cannot promise, let's go?"

Juliana stood up and reached for the arm of Alexander. She holds Alexander's arm while they walk back to the villa. Everything has been witnessed by Hestia, although she cannot determine what they were discussing then.

Juliana bade goodbye to Alexander and, without a word, gave him an immediate yet daring kiss on his lips.

"Juliana, please, don't do that again," Alexander muttered before turning his back. He cannot understand sometimes why Juliana behaves as if they are in a relationship. As far as he knows, he never courted her nor pursued her. He did not further give her any assurance that he also liked or loved her back. Alexander shook his head with confusion.

II

Alexander walked directly to the master's bedroom. His feet seemed to be dragging him to go there.

"Hester," Alex called upon entering the room.

Hestia who is still in the window instantly turns her head to look at Alex.

Hestia gave her sweetest smile and said, "Hey mister, thank you for the delicious food. I ate them all and I am full now."

Alex laughs at the intro of the woman he knows as Hester.

"That's good then. How are you feeling?" concern in his voice is evident.

"Oh, I am fine now, just hurting a bit here," Hestia pointed to her forehead.

Alex came near and inspected her forehead, "Hmm, there's a little lump in there."

"Don't worry anyway, I am fine now. I can even run outside if you like." Hestia sheepishly replied, which gave Alex a good laugh.

"This woman is not boring," Alexander said to himself.

Hestia thinks that maybe she got the lump when she banged down the seawater after her speedy fall. She remembers hitting her head on her bamboo jar.

"Hester, I need to go promised tomorrow, I will make time to show you the whole place," Alex promises as he started walking out of the room.

"Mister, just one last question before you go please... who found me?"

"Mang Dado, Aling Lilia's husband, found you at the beach around 4:00 a.m. today," Alex replied while watching the expression of the young lady.

"I traveled for almost four hours before I fell into the ocean," Hestia murmured.

"Mind if I ask, too, Hester?"

Hester suddenly looked at Alexander with a little sign of fear in her eyes. How would she answer him if he would ask where she came from?

It seemed like Alex was able to read her mind, "Hester, from where are you? Do you have a family we can call?"

Hestia becomes uneasy, lying is not her cup of tea. She was raised with virtue and lying is one of a No, no with her parents. She has no other recourse, however.

"Hmm, mister, I am from Palau," Hestia answered the man with a lie again.

"Palau? I see, so where are you on a plane or something that crashed? I have not heard any news of that kind of incident here until now," the man seems really intelligent and Hestia knows he is not an easy man to deceive.

"My small plane crashed, I invented a small one and tried to test it when I crashed," Hestia replies, giving a half-truth that made to raise Alex's brows in wonder.

"You invented a plane, do I hear you right?"

"Yes, a little plane, it is like a toy I guess, hehe," Hestia answered trying to make things funny.

"Wow, really? Did you study aeronautical?" Alex's voice seems not convinced.

"No, I just watch skilled men doing something similar and did some research. I love flying, that's why," Hestia replied with pride.

Alex's curiosity about Hestia rose more. "I kept your bamboo jar by the way."

Hestia suddenly looks at Alex, "My bamboo jar, was it not destroyed? her voice is excited.

"No, it is intact with no damage at all, I will return it to you tomorrow," Alex promised, before finally leaving after excusing himself again.

III

In Balwarte De Gato Island, Hestia's parents are too worried already. They have been looking for Hestia since this morning. The offering ceremony will start at 6:00 p.m. but Hestia is nowhere to be found. All the guards and maids are looking for her already.

The roving guards guarding the Island's way out were called to be questioned. None of them saw Hestia pass by the passage. But Rado, the head of the roving guards, suddenly remembers something.

"Nyora Danli, around midnight I saw something flying, it had this little light that caught my attention, but I thought it was a mere plane that passed by again, an apology for this late report," the guard became uneasy.

Nyor Lacati and Nyora Danli look at each other.

"Thank you for the info, Rado, but where on earth would Hestia get a plane? We do not have planes here." Nyor Lacati's voice was somewhat convinced that Hestia was the one on that flying object.

Rado himself is not convinced either. "I also do not think that it was Princess Hestia up there."

Nyora Danli on one hand, is thinking something. She remembers buying Hestia a compass based on her request, "What was her purpose for that compass?" Nyora Danli bursts out.

"What compass?" Nyor Lacati asked.

"I bought her a compass when I went to Malaysia, she asked for it."

"So, what are you thinking, Li?, that Hestia ran away using that flying object?" Nyor Lacati's voice had a tone of disbelief.

Nyora Danli suddenly holds the right hand of her confused husband and guides him inside their kubol.

"Lac, I have a feeling that Hestia ran away. We know our daughter's skills, her abilities. It is not wrong to think that she made that flying object," Nyora Danli surmises. As a mother, she knows her daughter fully, especially her skills and abilities.

Nyor Lacati knows that his daughter is brave and brilliant in thinking something unconventional, but he asks his wife, "You think she made that plane Li?"

"Lac, our daughter will do anything and can always create something when she wants to." The voice of Hestia' Mother is getting weak. She knows the consequences of this incident.

"We need to be honest with Amah then." Nyor Lacati is referring to their Tribe's Chieftain as Amah.

Forono Dadati upon hearing the news of Hestia's absconding became so furious.

"This is a big shame for the clan Lacati and Danli!, What was she thinking about absconding?! She will be cursed by the fairies for doing that!" the chieftain's voice is booming, and his anger was evident.

"Amah, we know she never wanted to be crowned Princess Hestia, but we never thought she would do that. Although Hestia is a very strong willed lady, she also has so much respect for us." Nyora Danli tries to pacify her father.

"Brudo, call an emergency meeting for the elders," the Chieftain's commands to his Right-handed Man, who is always in his side wherever he is.

At the elder's meeting, it was decided that the three strongest of their Army's men would be sent to Palau, Malaysia and the Philippines to look for Hestia.

"None of you should go back until Hestia is found!", Chieftain Forono's anger is clearly shown in his voice; "though deep inside he is somewhat worrying for his granddaughter's life. Hestia is her favorite grandchild.

"Aye Chieftain," the three strongest army men answered in chorus.

IV

"Lola Lilia, please extend my gratitude to Lolo Dado for bringing me here with Sir Alex when he found me," Hestia said when Aling Lilia entered her room to bring her breakfast.

"I will Madam, meantime, please eat your breakfast and if you want to take a bath, you have new clothes in that drawer," Aling Lilia replies while pointing at the big classy cabinet inside the Master's Bedroom.

"Yes, thank you again Lola Lilia, please call me Hest for short," Hestia's request to Aling Lilia, to which the latter replied with a wink.

After eating her breakfast, Hestia checks what's inside the wardrobe cabinet. She was amazed to see a number of outfits inside. She decided to wear a pair of maong pants and a red sleeveless dainty silky top after taking a long bath. She paired it with the black sandals, she saw the cabinet nearby and went outside thereafter.

Hestia strolled around the villa until she saw Aling Lilia in the dining area.

"Aling Lilia, I want to feel the fresh air near the beach. I hope it will be alright if I go there," Hestia smiles at Aling Lilia.

"Of course, you can just be careful. Hest, I will just tell Sir Alex if he looks for you," Aling Lilia replied with more admiration to the young lady. She really likes the humbleness of this young and beautiful lady.

With happiness, Hestia went outside and headed to the beach.

While walking to the beach, she met the woman she saw yesterday talking to Alexander.

"Hey there, at last, I met you, I am Juliana and you are?" Juliana exclaimed while offering her right hand to Hestia for a shake.

"Hest... I am Hester," Hestia replied while shaking Juliana's offered hand.

"Staying here for long or returning from where you came from after days of vacation?" Juliana asked with raised eyebrows.

"Ahh, not quite sure yet." Hestia tried to smile at Juliana but her instinct was telling her to avoid her. She has this gut feeling against this woman. By seeing how she looks at her, Hestia can tell that Juliana doesn't like her at all.

"I see, so are you going to rent a place nearby or will you stay here at Alexander's Villa?" Juliana's voice is inquisitive.

"That I need to discuss with Sir Alex, excuse me Ms. Juliana, I want to inhale fresh air near the beach." Hestia tried to smile at the woman before slowly turning her back from her.

It seemed like Juliana did not like what Hestia said. She grabs the latter's right arm.

"Hester, I don't know where you come from or what your purpose in coming here is, but I can tell that you perfectly know whom to hitch," Juliana insultingly said after crossing her arms in front of her chest.

Hestia, took a deep breath before facing the woman, "I see, I want to tell you something about myself, Ms. Juliana... When dealing with people, I always remember the word respect; I will extend the same to you, although sometimes you forget that very important word. Excuse me again.”

With a little crease on her forehead because of annoyance, Hestia hurriedly walked away from Juliana.

Juliana watched Hestia walk- away with narrowed eyes because of anger. The way her eyes squinted seemed to be that she will be bringing trouble for Hestia.