24K Magic for a Perfect Illusion

Ch 2: Show Time

Hestia just got back from her seat after chasing a man that she thought she knew.

‘I’m going crazy for missing him so much!’ Hestia thought to herself as she tried not to think of HIM again.

It’s been a week since Hestia last saw Ves, on his birthday.

October 21, 1981

At the International Airport in Seoul

“You just gave me a call when you’re about to leave …” Hestia trying to hide her disappointment but she’s to upset to the man in front of him whose smile makes every girls panty drop on the spot.

“We still have an hour to spend together.” Ves shrugged as if he’s not bothered at all with Hestia’s expression. “And if the flight’s delayed then our time’s extended too. But I can’t be late though, my boss is strict with time.” he looked at his wrist watch before he turned his gaze back to Hestia’s cute pouting face.

“It’s been two years Ves …” Hestia sighed deeply as she took a seat on the cold iron bench. “Two years since you resigned on the research institute where we should be working as partners and yet you left me because of that secret organization that you’re currently working for.” she exhaled through her nose to ease up.

“What can I do? I’m too good in my chosen career that I’ve been scouted … the offer is something I can’t say no to.” Ves sits beside Hestia and put his arm behind her as if he’s embracing her.

“Ever since you’ve joined that org, we only spent time together for five days in a year and God knows where you at in 360 days. There’s no way to contact you and I don’t even know what exactly your job is because obviously it’s not just a psych thing, I know for sure that you’re doing some physical labor with these muscles you gained in just two years.” Hestia squeezed Ves biceps and poked his abdominal muscles under his wool long-sleeves.

“Do you miss me that much that you’re being too touchy with me right now?” Ves grins at Hestia like a Cheshire cat.

“No, I don’t.” Hestia denied instantly as she crossed her arms over her chest while looking everywhere but Ves.

“Sure, you don’t.” Ves sneered at her. “You don’t usually stay out late at night as you prefer to sleep as early as possible but you’re here with me, in the airport, at almost midnight, trying to be wide awake and not letting a yawn even though you’re tired from work.”

“Do you want me to leave then?” Hestia raised her eyebrow at Ves as she turned her head towards him. “You’re right, I should be resting in my bed at this moment and not waiting with you here.”

“I’m the one to blame for making you a sassy girl.” Ves tucked the strayed hair on Hestia’s face behind her ear. “You were a timid girl before, I guessed I’m a bad influence to you after all.”

“I agree, I’ve been hanging out with you since my 7th grade until now and no one else got closer to me but you. Maybe it’s time for me to find new friends.” Hestia curled up her lips slightly.

“Tch. You’re making it sound like I’m not allowing you to make friends with anybody else aside from me. As far as I know, you’re the one who’s been sticking to me like a glue and following me around since you’ve became a freshman in high school.” Ves said.

“Hey!” Hestia hit him on his shoulder. “Let’s state the facts here and not what you remembered as your memories might be a little hazy.” she pointed her index finger at him. “You’re the one who went back and forth to my school building for two years straight until I finally moved in to the same building as you when I became a high school student. You used my second brother just to get closer to me even though you two were rivals in academics. And you chased away all the boys who tried to make a move on me with my brothers.” she narrowed her eyes at him. “Come to think of it, you’re also one of the reasons I’m still single aside from my overprotective brothers, and father.”

“Those rascals don’t deserve you. If not for me and your family, you might have experienced unnecessary heartbreaks and wasted your time with wrong relationships. You should be grateful instead of complaining that you’re still single.” Ves responded truthfully.

“Geez, now my family is forcing me on matchmaking dates, urging me to get married and have my own family. I’m only 25 but they making me feel like I’m running out of time and I should settle down as soon as possible.” Hestia sighed heavily as she leaned her back on the backrest of the bench. “If not for my cousins and three older siblings, Don, Toto and I won’t be pressured to get married when we turned 25. They set the rule and us singles have to abide as if we’re committing a crime while we delay the time.”

“I want to offer myself but with my current circumstances, I can’t commit into a relationship until everything is done and over with.”

“Thanks, but no thanks. It’ll be awkward for us if we get married, I’m good being friends with you but more than that …” Hestia trailed off before she speaks again. “I can’t even imagine us kissing so I don’t think such relationship will work out for us.”

“Why does it feel like I’m being rejected even though I haven’t confessed my feelings?” Ves muttered.

“But you said you wanted to offer yourself. Wasn’t that a confession?” Hestia heard him clearly so she replied to him.

“Did I say ‘I love you’ though?” Ves rebutted.

“You’ve just said it.” Hestia making fun of him.

“Don’t be smart on me, that’s not what I meant.” Ves snickered.

“But you did say ‘I love you’ to me.” Hestia insisted.

“Oh my gosh! You’re confessing to me now. Sorry, Hes but I have to reject you. It’s not you, it’s me who can’t commit into a relationship as of now but I’ll consider it maybe after two years.”

“Ha!” Hestia laughed at Ves’ twisted mind. “I know you’re a psychologist yourself but I think you need a doctor to treat your head. You’ve got a serious problem my friend.” she taps Ves’ shoulder and said, “I know a lot of psychiatrist from the research institute, I can refer you to one of them.”

“Haha.” Ves chuckled while showing his perfect white teeth before he looked at his wrist watch. “It’s already midnight. Don’t you have anything to say and give to me?”

“Can’t you even pretend that you don’t know anything?” Hestia opened her bag on the side and took out a small box. “Happy Birthday!” she handed the box to Ves.

“Thank you.” Ves opened the box immediately to see what’s inside.

“Don’t overthink! It’s a friendship ring. I got it from Japan.”

“If it has a diamond on it, I might think that you’re proposing to me and this is an engagement ring.” Ves joked instantly.

“Hahahaha! What are you talking about?! I’ve never heard such engagement ring for men.” Hestia laughed out loud.

“How did you know my finger size? This is titanium ring and you have to be accurate with the size as this metal cannot be resized or soldered.” Ves put the ring on his index finger at his left hand.

“We’ve been friends for over a decade what’s surprising about knowing your size? I might even know what color of underwear you’re wearing right now.” Hestia teased Ves.

“Be ladylike, will you? If I didn’t know who you are, I might think you’re raised from the wild.” Ves covered his lap with his coat as if Hestia can see through underneath his pants.

“Hahaha. Don’t lose it alright?” Hestia took his hand and compare her left hand with his while looking the identical rings in their respective fingers. “I’ll be mad at you if you lose it.”

“I won’t take it off. I know how mad you can be when I lose what you gave to me. Specially that knitted scarf with our names’ initials woven into it, I’ve never felt so guilty in my life until I lost it, the gift you gave to me on my graduation in high school.”

“Yeah, you made me cry when you told me you lost it. And to make it up to me you also made a self-knitted scarf with a photobook that contained pictures of your progress in making that scarf.”

“I need a proof that I’m the one who made it and didn’t buy it from somewhere. I know mere apology won’t make up for my mistake so I had to be responsible of my actions.” Ves stated as a matter of fact. “I thought you’ll get back at me but you didn’t.”

“I know I’m a brat but I’m not that unreasonable. You didn’t intend to lose it and you owned up your mistake so I forgave you.”

“I’m so guilty when I lost it and I felt like the most hated man in the world when I saw you cry because of my negligence.” Ves still reminiscing the bad memory from the past when his departure flight announced by the airport staff. “Time to go.”

“Right. You’re leaving again.” Hestia sighed as she stood up from the bench. “When will I see you again?”

“I’ll be home for Christmas.” Ves replied as he took out his passport and plane ticket from his sling bag.

“Home? In Vegas with your Mom or in Busan with your stepbrother? As far as I know you don’t have a home anymore when you sold your unit two years ago.” Hestia probed.

“Wherever you are that’s where I belong. You’re my home Hes.”

“W-What nonsense are you talking about?” Hestia stammered.

“I’ll see you on Christmas Eve, and you should be still single by then. You’re not allowed to be in a relationship until I claim you to be mine.” Ves winked at Hestia as he stood in line along with the other boarding passengers.

Ignoring Ves teasing, Hestia replied, “Can you at least give me a phone call when you arrived safely to your destination? I’ve been requesting this to you over and over again but you never complied.”

“I can’t promise but let me give you another form of assurance.” Ves gestured to Hestia to come over and when Hestia is standing right next to him, without a warning he sealed her lips with his.

Hestia froze on the spot as if the time stop running and the world stop spinning at that moment.

It was her first kiss and her so called best friend stole it away from her just like that.

“W-What did you just do?” Hestia asked after a minute or two Ves pulled away from her. “T-That was my f-first and you …”

“This ain’t your first. Did you forget what happened on your birthday two months ago? That was your first and so was I … this is our second.” Ves patted Hestia’s head gently before he left her stunned with his response.

“Hestia.” Hearthof calling Hestia’s attention for a while now. “You alright? You’re spacing out.”

Hestia snapped back at the present. “Oh, I’m fine. Just thinking about the surprise event that you have for everyone.”

“Yeah, I know how much you like them. You’ve always wrote on the letters that you’ve sent me before as to how amazing they are.”

“If there’s really a way to know where they will appear to, I would love to watch all their shows wherever it may be. But they’re too mysterious and that’s one of the reasons they got me hooked.”

“How I wish you’re that enthusiastic towards me too.” Hearthof mumbled as he averted his gaze from Hestia. “I have a lot of competition for your attention.”

“When will the show starts?” Hestia trying to sneak a peek behind the huge curtain on the stage.

“In a few minutes.” Hearthof replied perfunctorily. “Why don’t you just have some desserts first? Don’t worry they are healthy and nutritional desserts, no artificial flavors and less to no sugar was used to make them all. I know how health conscious you are.”

“Hmm … now I’m giving into temptation.” Hestia smiled widely at Hearthof. “I tried to ignore this dessert tower since I came here but now, I know that they aren’t sinful much, I’ll take them.”

“How can I forget your preference in food?” Hearthof poured the lukewarm rose tea on Hestia’s cup. “Not hot nor cold tea.”

“Thank you, President Goddesseth.” Hestia teased him a bit.

“Don’t call me that, you’re not my employee. Call me baby, luv, sweetheart, or honey, any of them is fine with me.” Hearthof teased her back though he meant to be called affectionately.

“I’m really no match to you when it comes to teasing.” Hestia took a sip of the tea after sniffing its aroma. “Mmm … rose tea, huh?”

“You like flower flavored tea. I remember everything you wrote to me when we were in a long-distance relationship.” Hearthof said truthfully as he really memorized everything word by word.

“Don’t say it like that, people might misunderstand if they hear it.” Hestia reprimanded him right away. “It’s just friendship between us nothing more.”

“Friendship is still a relationship though” Hearthof retorted.

“Yeah, I know but …” Hestia got cut off when the lights suddenly turned off and only the spot light on the stage remains. “Oh my gosh it’s finally starting!” she squealed excitedly.

“Ladies and gentlemen … it’s show time!” a voice over announced.