Femme Fatale

Chapter 18: My Younger Sister

Friday night at the South Mansion in the Nevaeh Residences, I’m about to go to sleep but the telephone suddenly rang. Now, I’m stuck talking with Seaof as he keeps on whining at me that Nene travels solo around the island.

“I know you can afford to make this international call long but Seaof it’s already midnight here, why don’t you enjoy your day like others?” sighing

“Should I look for her?” Seaof said frantically “Justin didn’t even know Nene’s exact location but he’s not a bit worried at all, it’s their first time here, what if Nene get lost, how will she get back here??!”

“Will you stop being a worry wart?!” yawning “Nene isn’t a kid, if Justin is cool about it, then you should too, we both know that he treats Nene like his own daughter, stop overthinking, you’re just stressing yourself when you’re supposed to be relaxing over there.”

“How can I chill out if can’t even see her and my best friend is at the comfort of his home trying to hang up the phone because he’s going to sleep?”

“Good thing you know, I’m hanging up, don’t bother me for 8 hours or else.” threatening him not to disturb my sleeping hours

“I know, fine … go to sleep, you’re not growing anymore, why do you have to sleep for 8 hours?”

“You’re only 2 inches taller than me but I’m more handsome than you are.” waiting for him to hang up first

“Yeah, we better end this call, we’re starting to compete with each other again, like I’ve got a better voice than you are.” Seaof chuckles

“Not being disrespectful to the one who’s older than me, before I brag about my cycling and golf skills, I’m really hanging up now, bye.” call ended

I walked up to my bed and lay myself down to sleep after that phone call. The next morning, instead of staying at home just to get bother by another phone call, I went cycling until I reached Han River. I always feel comfortable when I’m near to a body of water, as if it calls me to get closer.

“It’s peaceful here right?” an old man sits beside me while I’m taking a rest after biking from Gangnam to Han River “My wife and I used to walk around here every morning but now I’m walking alone, she left me five months ago but I can still feel her presence even if she’s in heaven now.”

“I’m sorry for your loss.” slightly bowing my head to him “You’ll be together again someday, but for now you must live without her.”

“That’s what exactly my wife told me, the reason I continue living on, even if I want to follow her in afterlife, I have to live because she told me to live, if only I don’t love her that much I won’t listen and do things on my own.” old man chuckles “I’m fulfilling my promise she forced me to do.”

“I’m glad that you listen to her, you’re fortunate to have her as your wife, to be loved by the one that you love, it’s a great thing to have in life.”

“Absolutely!” old man nodded “Eh, don’t tell me you been dumped by a girl?! You’re a handsome man, girls would fall in line for you.”

“But not the girl I’m looking for … I think it might be better for her to dumped me at least I have a chance to see her again.”

“Is she lost, why are you looking for her?” old man looking at me worriedly

“I’m the one who’s lost, I only saw her once but I’m stupid to proclaimed that I’m going to marry her, I’m way over my head.” staring at the river flows

“I agree, that’s stupid, but men are fools when it comes to love.” old man laughing at me “We get easily attracted with their beauty, that’s our nature.”

“I don’t know if this is love at first sight as everyone told me it is or I’m just obsess to prove her existence that she’s not a product of my imagination.”

“You certainly have to find your girl, only then you have your answer with your question.” old man pats my back as he stands up “Good luck, young man.”

“Take care, grandpa.” watching him walk away “I don’t even know who that is but I just shared my worries to him.” talking to myself

“Uhm, excuse me.” a lady in pink sweat pants approached me “Do you need water?” handing me a bottle of water

“No, thanks.” declining her politely “I have my own.” taking my water jug attached to my bike

“Are you here alone?” sits beside me immediately “It’s better to have someone when you’re exercising.”

“You’re right, that’s why I have them.” pointing at my 8 men surrounding my area “If you excuse me, I’m done resting.” riding my back again as my men follow me behind “If only she could go to me like that girl then it would be easy, where exactly are you hiding?” staring ahead

I arrived back home before lunch and took a bath before I dine with Hestia. Since we don’t have any important thing to do at home, she brought me to a mall and accompany her while she’s shopping for anything, she set her eyes on.

“Tia, are we really going to visit every shop in here?” getting tired of walking around with her “Aren’t you done shopping yet?”

“Not yet and yes, we’re going to every shop.” Hestia clings to my arm “It’s rare that you accompany me in a mall, we should bond to the fullest, brother.”

“Geez, Tia.” patting her head with my right hand “I’m staying home with you until next week, we’re both slackers remember.”

“Hahaha, yeah right, but you’re going to London next week.” Hestia put her head on my shoulder “You’re leaving Thursday night, right?”

“You want something from London?” figures she wants me to buy for her “I’ll be back Sunday night so you can have it Monday morning.”

“A VIP ticket for the band concert, you know what band I’m talking about right?” Hestia looking at me

“Is the concert ticket available next week?” look back at her “You’re no longer a teenager but you still go after those English boys.”

“It doesn’t matter how old I am, as long as they play great music, I always support them!” Hestia swinging my left arm like a child

“Would you be able to take a vacation leave to attend their concert?” walking with her towards the shop

“I always make time for my boys.” Hestia pulling my hand “What do you think about this bag?” taking a bag from the shelf

“It’s alright, why backpack all of a sudden?” looking at the backpack she picked “You always have those kinds of bags.” pointing at the other section

“I just like the color and design, a bag made of pink roses, I’m taking this one.” Hestia handed the bag to the staff

“You are lucky miss, your handsome boyfriend paying for this limited-edition bag.” staff handling the bag with care

“Boyfriend??” Hestia looked at me before she burst out laughing “Hahaha, he’s handsome yes, but boyfriend no, paying … maybe?”

“She’s my younger sister.” clearing the misunderstanding “I’m not paying for that Tia.”

“Sorry, I thought you two are … how I wish my older brother is just like yours miss.” staff handed the price tag to the cashier

“Oh my god! You’re more handsome in person than in TV.” cashier can’t hide her excitedness when we walk to her counter

“You know him?” staff looking at the cashier and me “TV?? Is he a celebrity?”

“He’s Poseidon Nevaeh, dummy!” cashier smiling sweetly at me “The Nevaeh are really all good-looking, how come your clan is so perfect??!”

“Ask our grandfather.” Hestia answered “How much is it?” taking out her checkbook

“1,451,620 Korean Won, Ms. Nevaeh.” cashier replied to Hestia “You’re the youngest of the legendary siblings.”

“Oh, you flattered us too much, but yes I’m the youngest, and because of my three older brothers, I’m still single until now.” Hestia writing her check

“You’re beautiful so your brothers are protecting you, you’re lucky to have brothers like them.” cashier received the check

“Thank you, at least there’s people who understand the duty of older brother to his younger sister.” nodding to the cashier

“In my case, I’m the older sister with a handsome young brother.” cashier answered “Thank you, come again to our shop.”

“Geez, she’s only siding at you because of your handsome face.” Hestia looking back at the shop while we’re walking towards to another store

“Can we take a rest for a while?” heading to the café “I could use some caffeine right now.”

“I want something sweet too.” Hestia following me to the café “Since you’re going to buy, I want that mango cake, and strawberry smoothie.”

“Fine, go and save us seats.” ordering at the counter “One café latte, one strawberry smoothie, one mango cake, and one sugar tomb cake.”

“That would be 21, 145 in total.” cashier done punching the numbers to the machine “I received 22,000, here’s the change of 855.”

“I’m with her.” preventing the man to sit across Hestia “I only leave you for a few minutes, Tia.”

“Is he your boyfriend?” man trying to ignore me while talking to Hestia

“I’m her older brother, and I don’t want my sister talking to strangers.” glaring at the man as I take my seat “Aren’t you leaving?”

“Bye.” Hestia waving goodbye to the man “Such an overprotective brother.” shaking her head “Well at least you scare a man off with your words, if Toto was here, he’s going to grab that man’s collar and push him away without a word.”

“You know he’s not a conversational guy, that’s why you two mostly get into physical fights than arguments.” leaning my back at the couch

“Geez, even if he’s my least like among you three, I still miss him, he could go mining here why does he have to go to Canada to dig a tunnel?!” pouting

“That’s why be nice to him whenever he’s around, you always pick a fight with him whenever you see him.” crossing my arms and legs as we wait

“Because I want his attention.” Hestia boldly said “He’s always hanging out with you if I don’t get his attention, he won’t hang out with me.”

“So childish, you can ask him directly, why use such method to get his attention?” suddenly reminded me of Nene “Do girls always behave like that?”

“If we can’t express it through words, we show it in action.” Hestia take a sip of her smoothie the moment our orders arrived to our table “Hmm … this is delicious.” nodding to her smoothie “I asked him nicely too many times before but he never played with me once, you boys always have a world on your own, while Ter and Hera were too busy studying, he only spend time with me when we fight and now it becomes a habit of mine to annoy him.”

“Grow up, will you?” chuckles at her story as I take my cup of latte “Shall we go home after this? Dad told me that I need to accompany him tomorrow.”

“You’re golfing again on his behalf; papa is clearly showing you off to his business partners.” Hestia eating her mango cake “You’re his perfect child.”

“If I’m perfect then why she hasn’t show herself to me yet?” looking outside the window “Why can’t I find her?”

“Give it some time brother, maybe she’s too overwhelmed with your confession on nationwide TV, if not for that show there’ll be girls lining up outside our residence claiming that they’re the girl you’re looking for, how shameless they could be, to tell themselves they’re someone who’s not!?”

“A student of mine told me that the girl won’t join the show, and I’m starting to think that she’s right, why would the original compete with the impostors if she could go to me directly?” recalling what Nene told me “With all the fuss around the country, if she doesn’t show herself up to me immediately after everything, it means she doesn’t care and I’m full of myself to think that every girl will say yes when I ask for marriage.”

“Whoever said that to you have guts to defy your godlike being.” Hestia smiling at me “He or she knows how to overpower you.”

“She’s not that great herself, in fact Seaof had to adjust because she didn’t make it to the cut off required grade to join the cruise trip, so how come she can overpower me??!” eating my sugar tomb cake “I don’t even know what Seaof sees in her for him to like her that much.”

“Oh my god! Don!! What’s with this girl that we’re talking about??!” Hestia looking at me in awe “I never seen you so annoyed like this before.”

“Aside from she’s making me angry most of the time, I don’t know what’s with her.” sighing heavily

“I like to meet her, I want to know how could this girl make my very polite and considerate brother into someone he’s not.” Hestia thinking of an idea

“What are you thinking right now?” figuring out her facial expression “You’re not giving me trouble, are you?”

“I’m coming with you to London!” Hestia said in a loud voice “I need to see the face of this girl who can turn you out of your character and you just said that your best friend like her, he’s also a professor right how come he likes a student, that’s quite an ethical issue.”

“Hey, forget that I’ve said that, you heard nothing from me, alright?!” stuffing my mouth with my cake

“Fine, I just pretend that I know it because of my own ability to analyze the situation.” Hestia smiling sinisterly “I can’t wait to meet the girl.”

Few days later, Hestia really tagged along with me to London. And even if I didn’t introduce her to Nene, she figured whom Seaof likes just by observing him thoroughly. She’s an adult but I have to babysit her because she might cause problem if I let her by herself.

“What time are we going to leave tomorrow to buy your ticket?” come in to Hestia’s room after she let me in

“I’m going with Nene, I’m done observing, I want to clarify my hypothesis.” Hestia putting lotion on her arms

“Do I have to be worry?” looking at her reflection at the mirror “You’re not doing something unnecessary, right?”

“Of course not, I just want to end my curiosity, and if I’m not wrong, you’ll be coming with us too because Seaof will ask you to come along.”

“That’s highly probable, that friend of mine never pursue a girl secretly before, this is his method, following her wherever she goes.” sighing

“Don’t you know that stalking isn’t a nice thing to do?” Hestia turned to me “Only losers do such desperate move.”

“Don’t lecture me I’m just being drag to the situation, do I’m quite guilty because I’m tolerating him.” crossing my arms

“Boys, that’s not the right way to pursue a girl you like, specially if he’s keeping it a secret, he’s too conspicuous.” Hestia putting lotion on her legs

“What are you doing? What are you trying to do with that lotion in your hand??” stepping backwards from her

“I pour a lot, take this and put it to your arms too, it’s good for your skin.” Hestia putting the excess lotion to my hand “Let’s not waste it alright?”

“Why you little …?!!” looking at the lotion in my hand “You shouldn’t squeeze it too much in the first place?”

“What’s done is done, come on don’t be shy, spread it to your arms, you’re still handsome even if you smell like flowers.” Hestia almost done with her nightly routine “Oh, by the way, there’s another one who likes Nene among your students, he’s bolder to express his feelings though.”

“Ah, Kim Suho, I’m aware of that guy.” spreading the lotion to my arms “He’s a senior in marine engineering, he’s actually the one who got the highest grade among them all, also quite a visual among others, that’s why he’s a threat to Seaof if Kim Suho confess to Nene.”

“I’m pretty sure he will, I don’t think he’ll just sit there and do nothing, well that’s it for today.” Hestia laying down to her bed “Will you turn off the lights for me before you leave my room?” tucking herself in to her blanket “Thank you, Don, good night!” watching me leave her room “9 am tomorrow.”

The next morning, it’s our last day in London and before we go to the airport and go back to Korea, I need to get VIP tickets for the concert from the band manager who reserves the front rows for the bidders like us. Though it’s quite unfair for the people who’s been lining up since 4am, I’ve got no choice but to use connection for a moment like this.

“Here’s your VIP tickets for 6 with backstage pass.” handing to Hestia the concert ticket she wants “The concert is on December; it’ll be cold in here.”

“Thanks, my dear brother!” Hestia hugging me “One for me, then Toto, then you, your best friend and of course Nene.” giving us ticket each “Ter, Hera, and Zeus won’t have time for concerts so I’m bringing my single brothers, and of course you two since you came here with us.”

“Does your sister, don’t have any friends to bring with to the concert?” Seaof whispering to me

“She doesn’t make friends.” whispering back to him “And to whom will you give the extra ticket?” looking at Tia

“To your future wife!” Hestia answered “Or to Toto’s future girlfriend, or my future boyfriend, I don’t know, I just keep this one with me.”

“I actually prefer classical band concert.” Seaof about to return the ticket to Hestia

“I can’t believe I’m watching their concert!” Nene holding the ticket with wide eyes “Oh my gosh! Hestia-unnie thank you!! I’m seeing them up close!!!”

“On the other hand, I think funk rock music isn’t that bad.” Seaof keeping the ticket to himself “That’s your favorite type of music right, Don?”

“Yes, are you sure you’ll be fine? We’ll be standing for hours and might be jumping with the crowd while raising our hands up to the sky.” teasing him

“Huh?” Seaof looking shocked “There are no seats in the concert stadium??”

“There are seats but that’s far from the stage.” Hestia replied “Even though people can seat, everyone’s standing anyway so what for?”

“Why you don’t like being a huge crowd, Seaof?” Nene looking at Seaof “It’s fun being surrounded by many people while jamming to the music.”

“I never been to Wembley stadium before, it’ll be a new experience to me.” Seaof smiling awkwardly

“Me too! I’m so excited!! I still can’t believe that I’m going to this concert!!!” Nene almost jumping from being overjoy “Wait, when is December 12?”

“Wednesday, Seoul is 10 hours ahead from London so we could leave by Tuesday evening and be at the stadium before the concert starts.” I said

“I’m about to think of saving money for my flight but I guess I can tag along with you.” Nene getting shameless “Are we returning to Korea after the concert, or are we staying here for few days, I’m saving for my accommodation instead.”

“Nene, you don’t have to worry a thing.” Hestia embracing Nene “As long as we’re with these two we can be carefree.”

“If we leave after the concert, we could go back to school on Friday, in that case we only need to file two days absence.” analyzing the situation

“It’s Friday anyway, we could stay here until Saturday and go back to Korea on Sunday evening.” Seaof having his opinion

“I like Seaof’s idea!” Hestia exclaimed “Let’s not go to work on Friday, Don.” clinging onto me

“Let’s discuss when we get there, for now let’s have one last stroll before we go back to our hotel.” walking with Hestia arm to arm “Hey, don’t disturb those two let them have their own space, you’re hanging with Nene since yesterday.”

“What a loyal friend you are?!!” Hestia patting my shoulder “Fine, I’m not that insensitive, I know Seaof wants to have an alone time with her.”

“Let them be for now, you know he can’t do anything when we go back.” trying not to look back at the two “Help him, alright?”

“Shall we ditch them?” Hestia looking back at the two “Ah, Nene.” stopped for a moment “I want to have a date with my brother, I’ll steal him for a while, let’s meet later at the hotel, alright?” dragging me forward until we get far from them “I did what you told me to do.”

“Would they be alright, just the two of them?” looking back at the two who seems startled with Hestia’s sudden action

“They’re not kids anymore; besides they need to be alone together, your friend is so timid around the girl he likes.” Hestia released my hand

“Because Seaof used to be the one who’s getting confessed at but now the tables have turned.” following Hestia’s lead “Every time I see him like that I want to make fun of him but I can’t because it’s already hard for him to wait until she graduates, I know how it feels like to wait for someone.”

“Don’t be sad, brother, let me treat you ice cream!” Hestia pointing at the ice cream parlor “I really like the flavors of ice cream here in London.”

“What am I a kid??” chuckles “Where are we going anyway after we buy ice cream?” following her to the store

“Buy me shoes.” Hestia giving me a look “I want a new rubber shoes for exercising.”

“I’ll buy the ice cream, you buy your own shoes, I already bought you the tickets, I won’t spend another dime for your souvenir, one is enough.” going to the counter “A professor’s salary isn’t that high, and you also know that our parents cut off my allowance, I’m spending my own money here.”