Winter Hearts

Hongbin Gets Acquainted

Hongbin yelled over his shoulder to the boys who were still crowded around Siana.

"We're hungry here!" He looked at Leo with a twinkle in his eye before leaving him to walk over to the others. Leo looked like his soul had left him.

"Maybe a little thirsty too." He said, just loud enough for Leo to hear. He heard a swish of fabric as Leo tried to take a swipe at him, but missed.

Hongbin smiled. It was so easy to bait Leo. You just had to observe and watch for those tells that gave away what was on his mind.

Hongbin realised Leo was often stony-faced because that was his defence mechanism, to keep from revealing himself and his motives to others. It was the very thing that showed he had something to hide. Hongbin shook his head. He had learned from young, that people thought they could hide what was really there for anyone to see, if they were looking. But most other people were busy hiding their own secrets to notice other people's ordeals.

Internally, Hongbin gave himself a pat on the back. I didn't spend years at a buddhist temple for nothing, he thought inanely, then laughing at himself. He approached the others, checking out the girl, Siana.

Hmm, it was hard to determine if she was Leo's type, since he never really let on about things like that. She was certainly pretty, and obviously fit with a good figure. She looked like she had been working out. Hongbin was sure that Leo had been spying on her earlier, and they had caught him coming out of the staircase, and not finding it, as he had made out. He wouldn't put it past Leo to do that. Leo, you rat, he thought to himself.

"Hi, I'm Hongbin," he said politely, nodding his head towards her. She nodded back politely too, her smile a little hesitant now she was surrounded by almost all of them.

"I know who you are. I mean, I know you are Vixx. I mean, I listen to kpop. I teach the dances back home." Siana seemed to stop herself, afraid she was gushing too much. Hongbin smiled at her as the boys erupted into pleased chatter about how even people in greece knew about them, and wasn't it great to find someone who was a fan in this town?

Through the chatter, Hongbin asked her, "Where are you from?"

Siana looked at him, surprised he was interested.

"I'm from Malaysia. Uh.. my mum is half-Korean. I live with her there, but I'm here for the holidays to help my dad."

Hyuk asked her, "Holidays? Are you at school?"

"I just graduated college."

Hyuk yayed and held up a hand for her to high-five. With wide eyes, she high-fived him, looking a little bewildered. Hongbin realised that they were about to spend a few weeks with someone who probably knew a lot more about them than they expected. And this person was to be looking after them like a butler or concierge would. And she was probably a bit dazed trying to get used to that fact.

He wondered if she were going to be able to do the job properly. After all, she was practically a teen and any teen could be a little crazy around the edges, depending on their character. She had said she helped her dad during the holidays, which meant she had done this before. Perhaps she was more level-headed than most kids her age. But looking after an idol group, let alone one she knew, or perhaps was an avid fan of... he had his doubts.

"Where can we have breakfast?" He asked, gently testing.

He was pleased to see she immediately focused and turned to face him. She spoke clearly in english, asking if they wanted something brought to them or if they would like to eat out.

Then her eyes brightened and she said they could walk to a cafe bistro nearby that was on the water, which served coffee and fingerfood all day.

Hongbin asked how they would get there. He saw that as she replied, she seemed relieved to be answering questions and being useful. There was no distraction in her eyes, no wandering gaze, no thoughtless words.

He decided he liked Siana very much and mentally gave her a stamp of approval.

He felt rather than saw Leo's hulking presence at his back, and he laughed at his hyung's behaviour. He could simply come over and say hello, but there he was over-complicating things as usual. Hongbin wondered if he should just let Leo languish alone, or invite him in to the fun.

He turned and went over to him, saying loudly, "You hear that Leo-hyung? Coffee. I vote we go for a walk and have breakfast by the sea."

He heard Ken ask, "Do they have anything more than just snacks though?"

He was surprised to hear Siana answer, "They have ouzo too."

He clamped his hand onto Leo's arm and steered him towards the group.

All the boys were ooh-ing and aah-ing and asking about ouzo. She explained, looking more at Hyuk, who seemed to understand easily, that ouzo was served in the mornings and either drunk neat or with ice or water, to accompany coffees and breakfast tidbits. She continued, there used to be a tradition of men-only cafes that served ouzo for breakfast. But now, it was rare to see those old style cafes.

Hyuk asked what ouzo was, and she described it as alcohol made from aniseed, which gave it a minty, licorice taste.

Hongbin smiled. Did they really care what it tasted like? They were all watching her as she rolled out her tourist-guide spiel as if she were the most charming thing on earth.

If he didn't know his brothers better, he would think they were a pack of wolves circling Little Red Riding Hood.

But he knew them better. Hongbin snorted. They were all just baby lambs, and she was their Little Bo Peep.