August Ballet (12 Months Series - Part 1)

Chapter 12

Hak Yeon is satisfied with the progress - the MV shooting is going well and without any troubles, his members are enjoying the various kinds of activities in the castle (Hyuk and Ken are exploring dark scary places every day, including an old jail, and scaring him with tales about ghosts and monsters afterwards) and most of all, Victoria is calmer and more relaxed around him.

The crew is packing their things. The first week is nearly over and the second one is just for the members of VIXX only to stay in the castle. It's their reward for hard work, so they will stay in the castle, while staffs go back to Seoul. Hak Yeon is helping his makeup artist with packing all the cosmetics. He's precise and puts all the tubes and containers into the box in logical order. He is little bit tense and tries to think about properly sorting the cosmetic but he keeps getting lost in his mind. He managed to build a certain amount of trust in Victoria over the week. However he still haven't received an invitation to her bedroom from her. Victoria is comfortable with them kissing every now and then when they steal a little one on one moments but she is reluctant to go further. Hak Yeon hopes that the departure of all those people will have a positive effect on her in this matter. He had never been courting one woman for such a long time. He has to admit, though, that it doesn't annoy him. He enjoys the time spend with Victoria.
The evening after their dining, Victoria came to Hak Yeon with the Korean book of folk tales and asked him to read for her.
"You won't understand it." Laughed Hak Yeon as he was sitting on the sofa in the library. He was going through the messages on his phone. It was after the dinner and everyone was either in the library or in the evening salon resting before going sleep. Grace was sitting next to Hak Yeon cross stitching, Leo was sitting on the floor by her feet petting her dog, Ken and Hyuk hid in the darker part of the library, giggling over that special collection of books, Ravi and Hongbin were sitting by the chess table and playing a sort of chess with changed rules.
"I want to hear your voice." Said Victoria. "Hongbin told me, you had your own radio show. I want to listen to you."
Hak Yeon shrugged his shoulders and took the book from her. He moved a little bit closer to Grace so Victoria could take a place next to him on the other side. It was a small space, though, and Hak Yeon embraced Victoria with his arm. She wiggled a little bit and Hak Yeon started to read the first story. After few minutes Victoria placed her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. Hak Yeon stroked her hair and kept on reading. When the story was over, he had to wake Victoria up. Since then, Hak Yeon was reading for her every evening. Victoria said, his voice is giving her peace of mind and she thinks she could even fall asleep in the dark thanks to it. Hak Yeon was glad he is already helping her with her fears in a way.

Hak Yeon is putting the packed box into the pickup car in front of the main entrance when he hears a clatter of hoofs. He raises his eyes and sees William Lane on his horse riding. Hak Yeon steps as far as he can from the large animal and tries not to look too terrified.
"Is lady Victoria inside, mate?" Asks Lane arrogantly.
"I wouldn't expect you to seek her out after that rejection from her." Says Hak Yeon and makes few more steps from the horse.
Lane rolls his eyes. "Oh, it was you, right? I can't really tell you apart, guys. Never mind. Hold it. I'll get her by myself."
Lane throws the reins to Hak Yeon and strides inside the house. Hak Yeon is left with the massive animal. "Oh no..." Whispers Hak Yeon. "Good horse, don't move... Stay calm, horsie..." Ravi walks out of the house with a box of things. Hak Yeon spots him. "Ravi!" Whispers Hak Yeon. He's afraid that a louder sound could scare the horse.
Ravi turns to him and laughs. "Oh boy! What are you doing with this?" Asks Ravi.
"That impudent Lane made me hold his horse for him and he went for searching Victoria inside."
"You are lucky he didn't make you hold something else for him." Smirks Ravi.
Hak Yeon squints at him with annoyed face. "Hold the horse." He hands him the reins and quickly walks into the castle. Hak Yeon quickly asks some people if they saw Lane and runs that direction. He finds William Lane with Victoria in a patio where Victoria is watering the pots with herbs. Lane smiles proudly and kisses Victoria's hand. Then he says his good bye to her and passes Hak Yeon without noticing him.
"What was that about?" Asks Hak Yeon and his voice sounds angry.
Victoria tucks a stream of her hair behind the ear and continues in watering herbs. "We agreed on a horse ride tomorrow morning." Informs Victoria.
"What do you mean you agreed on that?" Frowns Hak Yeon.
Victoria notices the irritation in his voice and looks at him confused. "He asked if I would like to join him on a horse ride and I accepted that. I miss horse riding. You are afraid of horses so I don't force you to learn to ride. What is the trouble?"
"The trouble is that he proposed you!"
"And I rejected him. I don't understand your rage. What is the matter? It's just a horse ride. I would never allow him to get intimate with me, I thought you know that."
"He might not ask for your consent."
Victoria gasps for air and laughs shortly. "Well! It might come as a shock to you but some men are not uncivilized savages. William Lane is a gentleman and I'm sure such a thing would never even cross his mind. He would never take woman as his possession."
"How should I understand that? Do you think I take you as my possession?"
"This jealous scene gives you no credit, to be frank."
Hak Yeon growls bitterly. "So this is how you see me? As an uncivilized exotic and possessive savage, wanting to chain you up to the stove and treating you like a slave eventually?"
"Would it be so outrageous if you decided to go out with a woman friend? I don't think so. You have to admit that your culture isn't the most progressive and liberal one when it comes to equal treating both men and women."
Hak Yeon is speechless. He gulps and runs fingers through his hair. "Out of all people I wouldn't expect you to generalise like this. I truly believed you are better than that." Hak Yeon leaves her and strolls through the garden. He needs to cool his head down.

*

Victoria watches him going away. Her eyes are itching with tears but she would never cry for a man. She realizes she was too harsh at Hak Yeon. But he provoked her with that angry tone... It reminded her of her mother, she felt like a little girl again scolded and humiliated, her first instinct was to attack back and she might have gone over the line this time. It wasn't fair from her... Although he wasn't entirely innocent either. Why is Hak Yeon so crossed that she goes for a horse ride with another man? It doesn't mean anything. He is afraid of horses, it would be insensitive from her to force him into joining her. So she simply shares this hobby with someone else. There are always going to be things they don't share. Does Hak Yeon expects her to simply avoid any activity he doesn't like? If so, he has no right to be mad at her and he should apologize to her. Yes! That's right. She won't give up her hobbies just because of him. He can join any time he wants but if he's not interested then he has to accept she will find someone else to join her or there is no future for them. Victoria gulps and tears are forcing their way through her eyes again. The mere thought she might lose him is so frustrating. Victoria scolds herself internally. She gets back to watering.