24K Magic for a Perfect Illusion

Ch 18: I Bet They Know Soon as We Walk In

At the park.

“I’m still against the idea that you’re wearing shorts right now.”

‘Those long legs shouldn’t be seen by anyone but me!’ Hearthof thought as he frowned at Hestia’s exposed legs.

“Tch. I already had enough nagging from my parents since last night please spare me today.” Hestia tying the lace of her roller skates that they just bought from the store before going to the park. “I’m comfortable wearing shorts when skating.”

“Do you even have kneepads with you?” Hearthof putting on his own roller skates.

When Hestia didn’t reply Hearthof glanced at her and met her pretty face with a sheepish smile.

“Hestia …” Hearthof called her name firmly as he holds back his annoyance with Hestia’s carefree attitude.

“Hey, I’m not a kid anymore. I know how to skate, you taught me remember?” Hestia patted Hearthof’s shoulder. “Besides you’re here with me, why would I be worry to fall when you’re always ready to catch me?”

“Do you trust me that much?” Hearthof stood up and outstretched his hand to Hestia.

Hestia took Hearthof’s hand to balance herself while standing up since both of them are already wearing their roller skates. “Yes.”

“It’s an honor then.” Hearthof holds Hestia’s hand as they both get in at the skating rink. “Should we try ice skating next month?”

“Yes!” Hestia agreed enthusiastically. “I know a perfect place for ice skating. I’ve been asking Ves before to do that activity with me but he doesn’t like going out that much during winter.”

Hearthof expression turned gloomy, he doesn’t like Hestia to talk about other man specially his rival, “Does he hates winter season?”

“No, spring and winter are his favorite seasons just like me, it’s just that he prefers summer sports activities than winter. He was a swimming player for his elementary school in Moscow, by the way. But in high school he chose to be on music club instead of sports, he said he doesn’t want to do sports anymore though he’s still good at Physical Education aside from Language subject.” Hestia energetically shared what she knows about Ves.

Hearthof, on the other hand, seemed to regret for asking about his rival, now Hestia doesn’t feel like stopping from talking Ves.

“He’s actually considered as a musical genius. Aside from his undeniable talent as a singer, he also plays guitar and write songs. He taught me how to play the guitar by the way and in exchange I told him that I’ll teach him how to play piano.” Hestia continued with a joyful smile on her face as she skates slowly with Hearthof.

“That’s what you’re best at piano. Aside from violin and the traditional Korean drums. My Mom praised you and told me that you’re the best student she ever had in her entire career as a music teacher.” Hearthof finally find a chance to divert their conversation to Hestia herself as he already heard enough about Ves, as much as possible he doesn’t want her talking about him.

 But Hestia seemed to be unfazed with his effort and continued to say things about Ves. “Exactly, but he’s better than me!”

“Is he better than me?” Hearthof isn’t just asking about Ves piano skills but also confirming his position in Hestia’s heart.

“Maybe, maybe not. I don’t know. I’m not that sure … but he also plays the clarinet and drums.” Hestia thinks again. “As far as I know, you only learned to play piano because of your mom but you really don’t like learning how to play any musical instruments at all, as you prefer to sing as using your own voice is less hassle.”

“So, you still remember, huh?” Hearthof eased up a little.

“Of course! You’re the only friend I had before until Ves came, now I have two friends. Although he’s the one who’s in abroad now. When can us three be together?” Hestia sighed. “By the way, have you met your old friends yet? Jiyoung, Myungwoo, and Wonha.”

“Not yet.” Hearthof shook his head. “You’re the only one I didn’t lose connection with when I’m in America. Thanks for reminding me about those three idiots, I almost forgot about them.”

“Tch. Those friends of yours that you’re calling idiots are successful now. Although, they’re just your friends and not mine, I know a thing or two about them. Jiyoung, owns the Gwanghamum theater where all musical plays get sold out because most of the actors are famous celebrities. He probably has a partnership with Myungwoo, who runs the Sonata Entertainment where most of the young artists starts their way to stardom. And speaking of showbusiness industry, Wonha is one of Korea’s highest paid actor right now. I think he’s currently filming his upcoming international movie so he’s out of the country, but I’m sure the two are here.”

“I didn’t know that I missed a lot about my friends. I should invite them sometime to catch up.” Hearthof thinking about his tight schedule as he only cancels business matters for Hestia.

“You should.” Hestia nodded and felt her throat getting dry for talking too much. She’s only talkative to Hearthof and Ves, as most of the time she just replies perfunctorily to other people who strike a conversation with or ignore them if she doesn’t like to talk at all. “I’m thirsty. I’m not usually this talkative.”

“I know.” Hearthof smiled at Hestia as he dragged her along to the stall he spotted. “Let’s take a break for a while.”

The two stopped at the Ddukboki (rice cake with chili paste) stall which brings back their childhood memories.

“It’s been over a decade since I last had a Ddukboki.” Hearthof said before he nibbled his rice cake.

“Yeah, there’s no Ddukboki in America only here in Korea.” Hestia also munched with her own serving of Ddukboki. “Come to think of it you’re the one who introduced this snack to me. This becomes my favorite since sixth grade because we always have it after school. You used to buy this nearby your school and brought two sets on my school and we’ll have it together while talking about what happened on class that day.”

“How can I forget?” Hearthof chuckled as they go down in their memory lane. “You thought the rice cake was a bloody finger at first and you didn’t even want to try at all. I had to wash one to prove it to you that it’s indeed a rice cake and not some horrible thing you thought of. Your third brother really scared you for real before as you always thought that red sauce is blood and whatever in it is …” a human organ. Hearthof got cut off when Hestia covered his mouth.

“I know how naïve I am before. Let’s not talk about it.” Hestia said.

Hestia was only a dumb girl before and she always thought that Pluto, her third brother, she’s closest with among her siblings, tells the truth but in reality, most of what he said to her were lies, and she’s a fool to believe him at all.

After having an afternoon snack, the two continued to stroll at the park while roller skating, and watched the sunset together before they left for dinner.

It was a simple dinner in an ordinary Korean restaurant, a rice with kimchi along with meat and vegetable side dishes.

Although the two can afford to eat in a private room of a fancy restaurant, sometimes they can be ordinary people who only wants a good and delicious meal.

Since Hestia didn’t drive her car and she only ride along with Hearthof’s blue Porsche 924, so Hearthof dropped her off home.

“What’s your plan next weekend?” Hearthof asked curiously.

Hestia was about to get off the passenger seat when she heard Hearthof asked so she replied while holding the handle, “I don’t have anything in mind yet, why?”

“You want to meet MJ in NYC?” Hearthof questioned.

“MJ??” Hestia thought for a while before she realized who he meant. “You mean Michael Jackson?? He’s in NYC next weekend?!”

“Yes. I just found out this morning when I browsed my emails. His management made a reservation for him at the presidential suite of the Goddesseth Hotel in New York City.” Hearthof stated.

“How could you tell this to me just now?!” Hestia narrowed her eyes at Hearthof. “We’ve been spending time together since noon and it’s already evening …” she trailed off and place both her hands on Hearthof’s arm. “Should we leave by Friday after work? Which plane will we use yours or mine? Although I prefer mine but it’s fine with me if you want to use yours. I’ve never been to your private plane before.” she fluttered her eyelashes while blinking.

“Let’s just use mine, yours is too big for a private jet.” Hearthof pictured Hestia’s plane that is designed for a commercial flight for 144 passengers, only that all seats are reclining. “I’ll pick you up from work by 6pm?”

“Uhm … make it 7pm. I don’t want to go back in the office on Monday with a pile of papers on my desk. Not that I’m not efficient at work and I can’t finish my job without rendering overtime but my workload is beyond normal capacity.” Hestia said.

“Alright then, I’ll just bring our dinner to your office since I know you’ll be famished by that time.” Hearthof nodded as he stares at Hestia while his elbow on the steering wheel and his face resting on his palm. “What do you want to eat?”

“Anything!” Hestia smiled ear to ear as her mind wander on their plan next weekend. “Is he having a concert nearby?”

“I don’t know. If he does, I can get us VIP pass so it’s not a problem at all.” Hearthof replied as he keeps on staring at Hestia’s pretty face specially on her luscious lips that he always wants to have a taste but he’s afraid to scare her away.

“Of course, that ain’t a problem for a hotel’s president.” Hestia rolled her eyes. “Anyway, I gotta go. Drive safely. I’ll see you on Friday night.” she turned to her side and opened the car door to get off from Hearthof’s car.

Hearthof wants to grab Hestia’s arm and kiss her hard until they both make out in the car without caring if he’s at the front of her house and her parents might caught them in the act.

But he just let her go without saying a word and watched her out from his side, he knows better what a gentleman should do.

Courtesy is the most important factor that Hestia is looking for a man and if he does what his desire telling him to do, he’ll not just turn Hestia off but they’ll also end their long-time friendship.

Friends that’s what they are through the years, although he wants to change their relationship into lovers, it’ll take time and hard work on his side to make Hestia realize that he loves her more than a friend because she’s too familiar with him and probably doesn’t see him as a man.

When Hearthof arrived at his penthouse, he took a long cold shower to calm himself down.

Blame it on his corrupted youth when he spent his entire high school years in California particularly in Los Angeles where he actually lost himself as a good guy.

It was Dan’s idea, one of his stepfather’s subordinate in the organization, as an Asian boy in an elite school in America he was supposed to be bully, that’s why he was introduced as a cool guy.

Dan threw him a party a day before his first day on high school, how Dan obtained all the enrollees name on LA high, Hearthof didn’t know but Dan is the god of parties so he has his own way to send invitations to people.

Four years of high school, there ain’t no Fridays or Saturdays, Hearthof didn’t have a party in the house that Amadeus gave him and the whole place was solely a party venue.

Parties with a lot of alcohol and s*x, being a trouble youth was the price Hearthof paid in order to fit in with his new life in America, and it didn’t stop when he came to the university in New York as the type of parties that his fraternity throws are way much worse than he was in high school.

When Hearthof graduated from college and had his bachelor’s degree, he tried to make things right while taking his master’s but then Amadeus introduced him on the dark side of the society.

The main reason he insisted on establishing a Goddesseth Hotel in Korea, he doesn’t want to be part of the so-called organization.

Few days later, it’s already Friday evening, Hestia and Hearthof departed from Seoul and arrived at New York City after 14 hours of travel via Hearthof’s private plane.

Another two hours drive from the airport and they finally arrived at the hotel.

“Does his team know that we’re staying on the room across MJ?” Hestia trying to conceal her excitement as the lift takes her and Hearthof to the floor where her idol’s room is.

“I bet they know as soon as we walk in.” Hearthof feeling happy for Hestia since he knows how much a fanatic she is towards celebrities. “You’re not going to jump on MJ when you see him in person right? You’ll be compromising his security if you do.” he teased though he hates the idea of Hestia throwing herself out to other men aside from him.

“I love MJ’s music but it doesn’t mean I adore the man himself.”