August Ballet (12 Months Series - Part 1)

Chapter 18

Hak Yeon is having a hard time to watch all his sisters in law. Victoria tells him to let go because they are grown up women able to take care of themselves, yet Hak Yeon can't really stop feeling responsible for them. Also the room is full of young guys in their primes, they are all excited and in festive mood, they drink and brags in front of each other, they are ready to show their friends how irresistible to women they are. And even though Arran sisters are very competent and self-sacrificing in their jobs, most of them have zero experiences with the opposite sex and especially with the seductive attempts. Hak Yeon doesn't want any of his sisters to get hurt, physically or emotionally. He warned them on the way here but he's not sure if warning was enough. Charlotte gets followed by Chen all the time, she is giggling to his comments and blushing a little bit. Even though Jongdae looks like boy scout, he's no boy anymore and Charlotte should be careful about giving some inappropriate signals to him. All other sisters are the centre of attention, too. Not that all appreciate it. Hak Yeon can clearly see Freya trying to blend in with the walls in dark corner, Grace is sitting on her chair and cross stitching, Godiwa made her way to the gallery upstairs and she is on her phone making calls with her associates. Isis and Akansha and Calliope are together and drinking while being constantly bothered by some bolder men. However those three can handle them without any troubles. The ones Hak Yeon is really worried about are the younger ones. Older sisters were raised by their cold hearted mother and they are cynical enough to not pay attention to any man. However the younger ones were mostly taken care of by their older sisters and they experienced at least some love and compassion from them and they are naive in a way. They might believe in sweet words of some men. They are not trained in the games the adults play, they don't know how to dodge and escape. Hak Yeon is watching SF9 Inseong and his mates trying to talk to Daisy and Katrina. They seem harmless for now. What gives Hak Yeon a proper stress is a group consisting of Win, Roxanne and members of BTS and Monsta X. He can sense troubles coming that way.
"You are watching them like a nanny." Sounds a voice of BTOB's Eunkwang next to Hak Yeon.
Hak Yeon greets him quickly and is watching the carelessly laughing sisters. "I don't want them to be harmed."
"You can't guard them all the time, anyway."
"I have heard this today, thank you. That's why I need some backup plan. I have few ideas, however I'm not sure how to turn them into reality just now."
"What ideas? Do you want to hire bodyguards for all of them?"
"Not quite..." Mumbles Hak Yeon. "Excuse me for a moment!" He gasps for air and heads to Win and Roxanne.
Victoria comes. "Where did he go again?" She asks. Eunkwang can't avoid a smirk. Victoria gives him a serious look. "I know what you heard. Stop giggling like a school girl."
"I'll try." Chuckles Eunkwang.
"Try harder!"
Eunkwang spits out laughing. Vicotoria rolls her eyes and steps to Grace. "Here you are. They didn't have earl grey with blueberries so you have to settle for plain earl grey." Victoria places a cup of tea in front of Grace.
She puts the cross stitch on the table and takes a sip. "It's fine. I didn't expect them to actually have that kind of tea, anyway."
Eunkwang takes a look at the cross stitch. "It's beautiful!" He cheers. "Tell her I like it." Says Eunkwang to Victoria. She becomes a translator for few moments.
Grace is confused. She kind of got used to VIXX boys to compliment her from time to time but receiving a compliment from a stranger gives her chill and makes her a little bit uncomfortable. She doesn't know how to react, so she thanks him and dodges the eyes. It's safer not to look at him. Grace is focusing on her cross stitching the whole evening because she doesn't want to draw attention at all. Why did Victoria bring this stranger to her? For Grace it's enough to deal with VIXX members. She needs no other idols to try talking to her. Grace sighs internally and tries to focus on her work while Victoria and Eunkwang are talking right next to her.

Hak Yeon is holding Win and Roxanne by their arms and taking them away from BTS and Monsta X. Roxanne is upset and blaming Hak Yeon for being overprotective. Win on the other hand has no objections and she leans her head on his shoulder. Hak Yeon really likes Win. She is such a pure and lucky soul and looks like a forest nymph from Greek mythology. No wonder she's called Jade Butterfly - she doesn't even walk like normal people, she is skipping and flying around.
"Tinkerbell!" Gasps someone for air and Hak Yeon nearly bumps into 190 cm tall member of KNK Seungjun. He is pointing at Win.
"She's not a Tinkerbell," corrects him Youjin. "She's just blonde and wearing green dress. Don't act like a child again."
Seungjun takes out his phone. There is Tinkerbell from Disney's Peter Pan on the cover. He puts it next to Win. "Tinkerbell." He announces confidently while comparing the cartoon with Win.
Win takes a look at the phone case. "That's not me." She claims.
"You are not a cartoon." Smiles Seungjun.
"That's not the reason." Shakes Win her head. "I would never wear such short and revealing dress." Claims Win and gives Seungjun a smirk.
He starts to lough with his strange laugh sounding like if he was choking. Win is looking up to his face. Hak Yeon would like to go already. Win yawns and lays her head on Hak Yeon's shoulder. "I'm tired, Yonie. I need to sleep."
"Awww!" Calls Seungjun and bends down. "Look how cute the Tinkerbell is!"
"And she is also tired. I'll take her to bed."
"Is it made of nut shell?" Smiles Seungjun.
Hak Yeon sighs. "No. Excuse us." He drags Roxanne and Win to Victoria. She is talking with Eunkwang but he keeps giving side looks to Grace. "Win is tired. We should go back to the hotel."
"I don't want to go!" Opposes Roxanne.
"Don't argue with me." Scolds her Hak Yeon.
"Well we can take Win to the hotel and Roxanne and others can stay. They will take a taxi later." Suggests Victoria.
"Yes!" Cheers Roxanne.
"No!" Calls Hak Yeon. "I'm not leaving any of them here. I will not discuss this matter."
"Aren't you a little bit too nervous, my lord Cha?" Asks Victoria.
"He's a pain in the ass." Mumbles Roxanne.
Hak Yeon is just about to say something when Godiwa comes. "Hey, guys! I'm just here to tell you I called a taxi. One of the MP's has been caught in an inconvenient situation, it's a scandal, I have to give a statement and make few video calls. Freya is going with me, anyone else wants a lift to the hotel?"
"I do!" Calls Grace and springs out of the chair.
"Win is basically sleep walking, too." Adds Victoria.
"Okay, come with me, girls." Says Godiwa and leads the sisters out.
"That's it. We don't have to leave, right?" Smiles Roxanne and rips her arm from his grip.
"You are not going anywhere." Says Hak Yeon.
"Oh really?" Smiles Roxanne. "Catch me!" She moves quickly and runs away with giggling. She looks over her shoulder for Hak Yeon and accidently crushes into B.A.P.'s Youngjae. She apologizes quickly and walks further. Youngjae shakes his head with a smile on his face and watches her for a while until Roxanne gets to Hongbin and Hyuk. She covers Hongbin's eyes from behind and Hak Yeon can hear Hongbin laughing.
"You have a tough job here." Pats Eunkwang Hak Yeon's back. "Watch over boys is difficult but guard a bunch of girls is simply impossible."
"Tell me about it." Sighs Hak Yeon.
"Relax, my wicked Cha!" Says Victoria and hugs him from behind. "Trust me that the ones in danger here are not my sisters. We all have military training and a proper fear of human touch. It's very unlikely that any of my sisters would allow your friends to behave inappropriately."
"You have fear of human touch?" Asks Hak Yeon sceptically and covers her hands with his palms.
"Yes. But you are no human. You are my wicked devil Cha."
Hak Yeon laughs shortly. "So you are telling me to ignore your sisters and let them deal with those guys alone."
"I'm starting to feel neglected, to be honest." Whispers Victoria.
"And that's the moment when I should leave." Claims Eunkwang. He smiles at Hak Yeon. "I know I congratulated you shortly after your wedding but I would like to do it once more. You are extremely lucky."
"Tell me something I don't know." Smirks Hak Yeon.