Ch 33: Go on Tell 'Em
1705 Words
Hearthof looked at Hestia with amazement, he didn’t expect that she still remembers what his mother used to drink. “She likes herbal teas now.”
“Great! We have the same cup of tea!” Hestia said excitedly. “What about your stepfather? Would he like some ginseng?”
“He only drinks coffee.” Hearthof replied with a faint smile.
“I see.” Hestia nodded. “Anyway, what’s the theme of your anniversary? It’s not just a common summer theme, right?”
“Isn’t summer already a theme?” Hearthof laughed.
“Seriously? There’s nothing special on it??” Hestia raised her eyebrow. “I mean you could’ve added some flavor on it like 4th of July where everyone’s wearing blue, red, and white.”
“Makes sense even though we’re here in Korea and not in US, that can actually add up to the celebration. I’ll tell the organizer about it.” Hearthof nodded. “Well enough of my business, what happened earlier? What did I miss? You won’t be here alone if there’s nothing major happened earlier.”
Hestia exhaled through her nose. “Mama, announced to everyone that she wanted me and my brothers to get married and have children as soon as possible.” she crossed her arms over her chest and leaned at the backrest of the bench. “She made us look like we owe her grandchildren. I mean it’s not like she doesn’t have any yet.” she continued exasperatedly.
“How did your brothers react then?” Hearthof took off his coat and handed it to Hestia when he noticed her rubbing her arms.
Hestia put on Hearthof’s coat naturally as she replied, “They both pursuing their women so they’re both work-in-progress. Mama, let them be since they’re already in love with someone. It’s me she’s worried about and I’m starting to worry about myself too because of her pressure.”
Hearthof mustered his courage as he suggests, “How about go on and tell ‘em that I’m your man?”
Hestia looked at Hearthof incredulously, “Are you being pressured to get married as soon as possible too?”
“No.” Hearthof replied honestly.
Amadeus didn’t get married young and his mother knows that he’s busy with work as his stepfather’s successor so there ain’t no pressure on his side to get married soon.
Hestia sighed and patted Hearthof’s shoulder. “Look, I appreciate your help but I can’t use you for my own benefit.”
“But I don’t mind being use by you.” Hearthof blurted out.
“Haha. You’re such a loyal friend.” Hestia laughed but Hearthof had a gloomy expression when he heard the last word. “Think about it. We pretend to be couple and then what, they’ll ask us to get engaged, get married and have babies. We can’t make up a lie when people have a lot of demands and expectations from us.”
Hearthof cupped Hestia’s face and asked while looking straight in her eyes, “What if we make it true instead of a lie?”
Hestia looked at Hearthof and found the hesitation in his eyes so she laughed at him, “Hahaha, you almost got me there. You ca-…”
Hearthof sealed Hestia’s lips with his that cut off the latter’s sentence and caught off guard.
It took a while before Hestia snapped back to her senses and pushed Hearthof away with all her might.
Hestia didn’t know what she’s feeling at the moment as she’s having mixed emotions and lot of thoughts running in her head.
Then the memory of Ves kissing her in the airport resurfaced among all her thoughts, both of them just caught her off guard and took advantage of her.
“Do I look easy to you?” Hestia blurted out as dismay won over any other emotions she has at the moment.
“What?” Hearthof frowned as he didn’t expect that Hestia would react like she’s been played. “No, of course not!”
“Then, why did you do that? Why did you kiss me?” Hestia questioned, she’s been taken advantage by Ves before and she won’t let Hearthof do the same thing to her without proper explanation of why he suddenly crossed the line.
“That’s because I …” Hearthof finally had the courage to confess but he got interrupted with Hestia’s brother.
“Tia.” Pluto called Hestia’s attention. “Mama is looking for you, you better get back inside … right now.”
Hestia looked at Hearthof before she hesitantly replied to her brother, “Alright, I’m coming. Let’s talk some other time.” she stood up and returned the coat to Hearthof before she walked towards the party hall.
The two men watched Hestia walked away before Pluto turned to Hearthof and said, “Believe it or not I just saved you from being rejected. You can’t take her by surprise like that.”
“I thought you don’t like me for your sister.” Hearthof felt like all the life source in his body has been drained after he almost tell Hestia that he loves her more than a friend.
“I admit that I’m overprotective sometimes, she’s my baby sister, you can’t blame me for that.” Pluto replied. “It’s also my fault that she doesn’t have a lot of friends but I believe in her. She trusts you and that other guy, so I also put my trust in you both.”
“Don’t you want to pick a side, brother?” Hearthof stood up as he regained his confidence to ask.
“Hey, don’t get carried away. Although I helped you just now doesn’t mean you can call me brother. Only Tia’s husband can call me that and as far as I know she’s very much single so I won’t acknowledge you as my brother-in-law until you married my baby sister.” Pluto stated clearly. “Anyway, don’t sneak like that on her again, I know you’re more American guy now and Tia is open-minded but that kind of move won’t work on her. Trust me I know her better than you do despite how close you two are.”
“Well, I trust you. I wasn’t thinking when I did that and I actually offended her. She thought I was fooling around.” Hearthof recalled Hestia’s expression earlier.
“That’s how she perceives love, fooling around. I can’t blame her though; she was the most vulnerable that time when …” Pluto trailed off before he spills out their family’s deepest and darkest secret. “Anyway, the party is inside what are you doing here outside? There’s a lot of business opportunities there.”
“You’re right I can still make something tonight.” Hearthof walked along with Pluto inside as they talk about his hotel business.
The next day, although Hearthof and Hestia used to hang out on weekends, both of them hesitated to approach one another after that kiss last night.
Hearthof thinks that he messed up last night and he has to cool down for a while, as for Hestia, she doesn’t know how to confront the man she only sees as a friend.
Both of them were in dilemma to face each other so nobody made a move for days that turned into weeks until the first anniversary of the hotel.
Hearthof made a phone call to Hestia first thing in the morning to confirm that he has a female companion for the night and fortunately Hestia didn’t change her mind as she agreed to be pick up by Hearthof in the evening.
In the South Mansion …
“I can’t decide what to wear tonight.” Hestia had her two evening dresses on her bed that she’s been contemplating which to choose.
“Both looks good on you, Miss Hestia.” Baby commented.
“Of course, it looks good on Miss Hestia, all of her clothes are customized for her.” Edith replied with a ‘duh’ tone.
“What color will Sir Hearthof wear anyway?” Sharon questioned.
“I didn’t ask but knowing him, he’s more likely to wear white. Which goes well to this hot red and cool blue mini dress.” Hestia thinking carefully what to wear for the party.
“If your date is Sir Ves tonight, he’ll prefer you to wear that blue velvet dress.” Roro chimed in. “Because it doesn’t reveal much on top as it has an elbow sleeve length, the neckline is decent, and the skirt is a bit longer than the red one although they’re both considered as micro length.”
“Sir Ves isn’t Miss Hestia’s date tonight but Sir Hearthof, and based from my observation he likes revealing clothes.” Irene said.
Hestia thought of Ves preference but since he isn’t around, she picked the red dress. “It’s not what you all think, I’m not trying to impress Hearthof or trying to annoy someone who isn’t even here. It’s just that I think this red dress fits the theme of the party.”
“Red dress it is!” Mrs. Seo took the dress from Hestia’s hand and assisted her to put it on.
The red dress is sleeveless and strapless, the neckline reveals Hestia’s cleavage, and it actually looks like a swimwear with cloths on the side that covers which make it micro skirt like dress.
Since it has flowers embroideries and a glittery crinoline cage that instead of using as an underskirt, Hestia used it as an accessory to the dress, her outfit gives off a royalty vibe on it.
With maroon fur on both of her wrists and glittery pink headdress that serves as her crown, Hestia slayed at the party as soon as she walked in the venue.
“I feel like I want to keep you and won’t let anyone lay their eyes on you.” Hearthof uttered as he watched the people gawked at Hestia when they entered the hall. “Stay beside me all the time.”
“All I thought I was underdressed for the party but I’m wrong.”
- Writer
