24K Magic for a Perfect Illusion

Ch 34: Trying to Get Control

The ladies barely covered their private parts with their extremely revealing dress while men exposed their chest and abdominal muscles with their wide-open suits or transparent tops.

‘What’s the difference when ladies wear their bikinis and men on their trunks?’ Hestia thought as she looks at the crowd.

“Oh, your parents already met mine.” Hearthof said that took Hestia’s attention.

Hestia remembered that her parents are also invited to the party since her father’s company constructed the hotel.

She followed Hearthof’s sight and saw her parents having a chat with Hearthof’s parents but what surprised her more were her parents’ attire that she never imagined they will wear for the party, the reason they left first.

Rhea is wearing a blue dress with a plunging neckline and mini skirt while Cronus has his Elvis look that exposed his chest.

“Ma … Pa …” Hestia called out her parents as soon as they reached their elder’s position. “How come I’ve never seen you wear these kinds of clothes before?! Aren’t you two showing off too much your physique? If I don’t know better, I’ll be expecting another sibling sooner or later. Ma, you look absolutely stunning! And Pa, I still remember what I told you when I was a kid, I want to marry you.” she hugged her mother and father like she never seen them for a long time. “My parents are so good-looking!”

Rhea is delighted to be praised even though her figure proved that she gave birth to six children, her youthful skin despite at the age 64 and her huge breasts makes her stand-out even in the crowd that full of youths. “Why do I feel like you want something from us? It’s rare for you to say something good about us.”

“Ma, you’re making it sound like I’m ungrateful daughter.” Hestia pretend to be angry. “Pa, you agreed to let Ma wear this dress?”

“Well, I won’t take my eyes off from your mother.” Cronus shrugged. “Anyway, sweetheart, aren’t you wearing little tonight?”

“I’ll never let Hestia out of sight, Uncle.” Hearthof chimed in.

“The last time I saw her, was on her first year of middle school. Now she’s all grown up to a fine young lady.” Mozartina said to her husband standing beside her.

“Teacher Kim!” Hestia greeted Mozartina with a hug.

“Oh, I’m no longer your teacher anymore.” Mozartina patted Hestia’s back gently. “Just call me Tina from now on, short for my American name Mozartina.”

“Of course, Tina.” Hestia pulled away. “You really like Mozart that you even put his name on yours.”

“You know me, Mozart led me to the world of music. It just so happened that my husband also name, Amadeus.” Mozartina patted her husband’s chest as she introduced him to Hestia.

“My wife and son told me a lot about you, Miss Nevaeh.” Amadeus said with a flattering smile on his face.

“Oh, please, Hestia is fine. Tina is like my aunt and Thofy is like a brother to me so no need for formalities.” Hestia waved her hands shyly. “I’m close to your family members, Mr. Goddesseth.” she observed Amadeus expression carefully.

“If that’s the case then, don’t call me Mr. Goddesseth. Treat me like your uncle too, just call me Amadeus.” Amadeus replied.

Hestia knows that the man is an American mafia boss but she can’t see ruthlessness in the man’s eyes and his expression is also normal, or her observation for social behavior isn’t that good enough to determine someone’s thoughts because she only deals with the quantitative data of psychology.

After having a chat with both parents, Hearthof went to the stage for his speech as the hotel owner while Hestia watched him present the hotel’s performance for the whole year.

Hestia admired Hearthof sincerely, he could’ve stayed in America and manage their family hotels there but he built another hotel in Korea to prove that he’s not only dependent to his stepfather and he can be a successful hotelier too on his own.

In just a year, Hearthof already made millions of dollars in his name with his own efforts, on the other hand, Hestia only made millions of Korean Won after working for over three years.

After the party, Hearthof and Hestia went for a drive before he sends her home.

“We’re not here for a swim, right? Sharks come to shore sometimes.” Hestia joked as the car stopped at the beach front.

“Haha. You haven’t got over with that shark movie yet?” Hearthof pushed the car door open and got off the car.

Hestia took off her heels before she followed Hearthof to walk on the sands. “So, are we here to catch a mermaid?”

Hearthof looked back and glanced at Hestia’s bare feet. “I don’t see why not?” he looked up at the moon and said, “It’s a full moon.”

Hestia stared at Hearthof’s side profile as the latter stares at the moon, he has a small and narrow head, with a tall nose, nice chin and good proportions, although he has small eyes that always looks tired, it adds up to his charms.

“Am I really like a brother to you?” Hearthof finally asked what had been bothering him since Hestia said that word to describe him to his stepfather.

“You’re my best friend who also likes a brother to me because you treat me well.” Hestia replied in all honesty.

“What if I told you I don’t like to be your best friend anymore neither like a brother to you?” Hearthof turned to face Hestia.

“Did I do something wrong?” Hestia asked anxiously but then she remembered what happened the last time they were together.

Hearthof knows what Hestia is thinking even though he didn’t major psychology as she likes an open book to the people who has close relationship with her. “I meant it. I wasn’t playing with your feelings. I’m serious about you, Hestia. I …”

Before Hearthof completed his sentence, Hestia covered his mouth with her soft hand.

“I know but I’m not ready yet so don’t say it now.” Hestia put down her hand and walked forward until the water almost reach her toes. “I only realized it after you made a bold move.” she continued while facing the sea. “I was worried and relieved at the same time that we didn’t see each other after that night. I don’t know how to face you and I don’t know what to say or what to do.”

“Me too. I also thought that you won’t see me tonight because of what happened.” Hearthof sighed as he stands beside Hestia. “I don’t understand why you’re afraid to fall in love. I know you since we were kids and although we got separated, we never lost communication with each other. I know that people change as time passes by but what made you guard your heart?”

Hestia pursed her lips and said, “I’m only trying to get control of my life and not be driven by too much emotions including love.”

“Why? Although I know you have trust issues as I was with you by that time, the reason you don’t make friends and distance yourself from everyone except your family.” Hearthof recalled the past as he continued, “Why are you skeptical about love too? You were born and raised with a loving family, and as far as I know you’ve never been into a romantic relationship so you weren’t heartbroken by a jerk before, so why?”

“Because I’m afraid to lose myself that I don’t even know what’s right or wrong as love knows no boundaries.” Hestia answered while looking straight to Hearthof’s eyes. “I’ve seen how love made two people went crazy for each other that they disregard everything around them and they only had a tragic ending. I know that I will have a different case if I decided to fall in love but I’m not a risk taker. Call me coward or whatsoever but I rather be on the safe side.”

Hearthof sighed dejectedly as he knows that convincing Hestia won’t be easy. “Have you heard the saying that it’s better to be love than not be love at all?”

“I have a lot of sayings to counter that one and we might see the sunrise if we start this debate.” Hestia sneered.

“I don’t mind watching the sunrise with you.” Hearthof challenged.

Hestia chuckled. “Nah, I want to sleep on my bed tonight. Tomorrow’s Monday and we both need to go to work. Specially me since I’m not the boss.” she looked up at the moon and said, “It’s not that I’m rejecting the idea of falling in love completely. I can’t predict the future and no matter how I try to get in control of my life that thing is inevitable. It’s just that I don’t want to rush.”

“You don’t want to rush or you’re just waiting for someone to come back.” Hearthof cupped Hestia’s chin to face him. “Be honest with me, are you in love with him?”

Hearthof has been listening to Hestia thoroughly and the reasons she told him were all just excuses to reject him as she’s contradicting herself unconsciously.

Hestia think of the words she said that made Hearthof conclude that she’s actually in love with someone else but none of them could derive to his hypothesis.

With a frown, Hestia answered Hearthof with another question, “Have you ever listen to the words I just said, which one of them would make you think that I’m in love with Ves?”

Hearthof released his grip from Hestia’s chin and averted his gaze as he got the answer he never wanted. “Forget it. Let’s go back.”

He purposely didn’t say the man’s name but Hestia filled in the blank for him.

There could be other men around her that he wasn’t aware of but Hestia made it all clear to him that there’s no other men aside from that man who replaced his absence in Hestia’s life.

Hestia only realized that she fell for Hearthof’s trap when she watched his dejected back as they returned to his car.

Explaining the whole matter to him will only make his misunderstanding worse and make herself guilty although she could only think of one name that time.

She’s not in love with Ves but, Ves makes her confused of his actions and she misses him a lot.

The whole journey to Hestia’s home was silent until Hearthof dropped her off in front of her house.

“You stopped me from confessing so it doesn’t count as rejection.”

“Hearthof …” Hestia wanted to say something in return but the latter waved his hand to stop her from speaking.

“It doesn’t matter. I can wait. Whenever you’re ready, don’t forget that I’m first in line.” Hearthof said coolly as he turned around to get in to his car without waiting for Hestia’s reply.

Hestia watched Hearthof’s car disappear from her sight before she went inside the house.

Borrowing Irene’s shoulder as the latter escorted her to her bedroom since she doesn’t like walking alone late at night in the hallway even though its brightly lit by the wall lights, Hestia keeps on sighing as they walk arm in arm.

“Miss Hestia.” Irene knows her master’s dilemma like the other ladies who’s been following the latter all the time.

“We can’t go back on being just friends anymore, right?” Hestia asked although she already knows the answer.

“Sir Hearthof is your pursuer now.” Irene confirmed.

“That’s the thing about crossing the line. There’s no turning back and you can only go forward.” Hestia straightened up as she untangled Irene’s arm from her. “He said he’ll wait for me but those words add up pressure.”

“It’s also a burden to the person who waits as he or she doesn’t know if the person they wait will come or not.” Irene said flatly.

“I know. Hearthof is right, I’m waiting for Ves to come back but he got it wrong when he said that I’m in love with that man.”

“Hmm.” Irene could only agree since she doesn’t know what exactly Hestia thinks about the two men in her life.

When they reached to Hestia’s bedroom, before Hestia opened the door she looked back at Irene and asked, “What is love?”

“Something you can’t live without.” Irene answered sincerely.

Hestia found Irene’s answer interesting so she followed up another question. “What’s the thing that you can’t live without?”

“Myself. It’s actually absurd to say that I can’t live without the people I care about. Life still goes on even if I’m the last one standing but when I lose myself how can I live?” Irene replied.

“I also love myself too.” Hestia patted Irene’s shoulder. “Goodnight, Irene.” she entered her room with a clear mind.

The most basic thing that some people often neglected is loving oneself, like every other virtue, such as respect, determination and many more, it all started within oneself before expecting the same from everyone else.