87 Bear of the North (1/2)
On the road to the hotel, Hayden phoned in Anthony. He recounted the events in the mall, informing him of a wielder who can disable electronics. He also requested a personal intimidation session with the psycho, which Anthony agreed to.
All the way to Rain Sanctuary Hotel, Ayesha was distracted of Hayden's perfectly sculpted abs. It was absurdly hard and dense. Being face to face with Hayden's flawlessly broad back added fuel to the fire.
In addition, his scent was too alluring. It was an inexplicable scent of a man. It wasn't overwhelming, nor was it asphyxiating. It wasn't your typical manly scent.
When the two arrived, Ayesha was the first to alight. She wobbled when her feet touched the ground. Hayden's charm rose up a notch in her eyes.
As for Hayden, when he took his helmet off, his visage was as insouciant as it could be. Ayesha was a bit offended as she gave him his helmet back. She was always one of the most beautiful women in school, and being treated this way really got her gears grinding.
Taking the two ecobags from the handles, Hayden left the motorcycle. He strode to the entrance as if he owned the place.
When they got in an elevator, Hayden scanned his Identity Number. He was registered by the CHORUS members as someone who can access the suite. That was a big gesture on their part.
Ayesha broke the silence, ”If I may ask… Why are we here? Are you planning on doing something to me?”
Hayden glanced at her, his expression full of annoyance. Shaking his head, he ignored Ayesha and informed Eun-ha that they were in the elevators already.
The elevator went straight for the suite hotel at the top. Hayden waltzed right inside without hesitating at all. Ayesha thought, 'Is this his penthouse?'
Hayden put the bags down on the coffee table. Suddenly, the eleven CHORUS members poured in from the right and left wing. They all wore their hanboks and animal masks.
He wasn't concerned of them being found out as there were no cameras here. That would violate the Privacy Law.
”W-Who are these?” Ayesha was terrified.
”She's a wielder, right?” Hayden disregarded Ayesha and asked the one in the white fox mask, Eun-ha.
Eun-ha nodded. She observed Ayesha. For some reason, Hayden could sense some form of hostility from Eun-ha.
Gulping, Hayden activated Divine Perception. An aura of intimidation wafted out of Hayden. ”I see that you're a wielder as well. I take it that you recently awakened?”
”Y-Yes…” Ayesha's legs weakened, her voice trembling. ”W-what's happening.”
”Don't worry, we won't hurt you.” Hayden gestured for Ayesha to sit on one of the armchairs. ”Sit so we can have our negotiations.”
Ayesha obliged Hayden. She can tell that all of the people in the room were mighty and that she won't be able to escape even if she wanted to.
Ayesha signaled her acquiescence with a nod. She didn't have the heart to speak in front of the regal aura that Hayden had.
”Next. You were talking about your power.” As of this moment, Hayden was akin to a king watching a lowly subject. ”What's your Ability?”
”M-my Ability is…” Ayesha stammered. An inner desire to genuflect in front of Hayden sprouted in her heart. She resisted it as that would be odd behavior. ”The name of my Ability is Bear of the North.”
She stood up. The eleven CHORUS members put up their guards. Sayuri was even going to attack till she saw Hayden raise his left hand as a sign for 'let her do her thing.'
Abruptly, Hayden felt the temperature of the surroundings lower. Ayesha's irises transformed into blue. Her voice became deeper, ”Bear of the North. I guess you can deduce what it does.”
”Sure, sure.” Hayden concurred. He gestured for Ayesha to sit. ”You want to come with me rescuing your father?”
”Y-yes.” Ayesha stuttered. ”Can I please be part of this rescue operation… I-I can fight!”
”Really?” Hayden voiced his doubt. ”From the mall, you froze in the presence of a mere gun. That's a regular human-manufactured gun. We don't have to be afraid of such minor weapons. If you are petrified by that, what about a bunch of wielder goons who's doubtlessly more experienced than you in fighting?”
”I-I…” Ayesha seemed to shrink at Hayden's words. She focused her gaze to the floor as she bit her lips. A few seconds later, she shot Hayden a determined stare, ”I want to rescue my father. I can fight. I want to fight. I have to fight.”
”Mhm.” Hayden grunted. He rested his arms elbows on his knees. He rested his chin on his intertwined hands, sizing up Ayesha with his eyes. ”If I take you with me, I can't guarantee your safety. That would endanger my deal with you.”
”Wait.” Ayesha pulled out her phone. She tapped on it a few times. Finally, she gave Hayden the phone. ”That's a basic will that I've sketched up yesterday. I inputted your Identity Number for all of our belongings in the case of my death. Our old house, the millions of credits my father left me. Also, I wasn't able to contact you earlier because my mother was conditioning me to fight.”
Hayden glossed through the contract with his Divine Perception. As she has articulated, all of the properties of the Chase family would indeed be given to Hayden. That included a sizable plot of land in the Bicol Region in Albay.
Hayden didn't respond for a short time. This created a tense feeling within Ayesha. Was that sufficient guarantee to take her?
Out of the blue, an uncharacteristic loud laugh came from Hayden. ”Okay, okay. I'll take you. As long as you put in the plot of land in Bicol into the mix when you don't die.”
”Gladly!” Ayesha's tense face lit up. She nearly spurted out 'yes, your highness.' ”We've got a deal!”
Signing the contract, with his finger and forming a communication link with Ayesha, Hayden spoke, ”You may go. Do you have a way to go back safely on your own?”
”I-I'd call my mom.” Ayesha scuttled away to the elevator without looking back. Hayden was too intimidating, and the eleven women were definitely more powerful than him in spite of them seemingly following Hayden's orders. 'If they're the one going to rescue my father… It'd surely be a success.'
When Ayesha got down to the lobby of Ran Sanctuary Hotel, the eleven women took off their masks. Eun-ha looked at Hayden incredulously.
”Hey, Gonjunim.” Hayden deactivated Divine Perception. He walked to hug Eun-ha, who didn't move an inch. ”What's up? Should I cook?”
”You…” Eun-ha's muffled voice sounded from Hayden's chest. ”What was that aura? Why did you act analogous to a king?”
Hayden let go of Eun-ha. He made eye contact with her, his left eyebrow raised. His eyes conveyed the message, 'What are you talking about?'
”They detected it as well.” Eun-ha touched her lips with her right hand. ”The aura of a king or queen. An aura that inspires loyalty and trust to his or her subjects. An aura that inspires cautiousness to outsiders. An aura that inspires fear to their enemies. A strong-willed person with powerful beliefs and convictions. A person that is a natural born leader. The aura that you possess cannot be acquired. It is inborn. Linked with your personality.”
Hayden shook his head. He formed a dry smile as he did so. ”Nonsense. Me, a king? A natural-born leader? You've heard of my troubled past. Do you really think I'm someone with that kind of qualities?”
Eun-ha and the rest were speechless. They all sensed Hayden's kingly aura. They couldn't be mistaken. Therefore, they treated Hayden's words as a rhetorical question and did not answer.
”I wish I was the genius you think I was. Unfortunately, I'm not.” Hayden shrugged, pecking Eun-ha on the lips. He grabbed the ecobags with the ingredients from the coffee table. ”I'm going to go cook.”
This killed the silence instantly. Sayuri was the first to cheer up. Followed by the others. For the meantime, they decided this matter with Hayden wasn't worth pursuing.
They all understood that someone who wouldn't acknowledge their own 'destiny' would not relent at all. However, as it was his destiny, sooner or later, he'd fulfill it, whether he wanted to or not. As to what extent and when… That's what they didn't know.
Eun-ha tailed Hayden to the kitchen. Hayden wouldn't complain. It was a huge privilege to cook for CHORUS. Eun-ha being with him was a lucrative bonus.
In all honesty, they were the sole people he can stand without being annoyed. It was quite easily discernable that he had this large soft spot for CHORUS. Not only was he grateful to them, he was always elated to be with them.
”What you cooking?” Eun-ha leaned on the countertop, similarly ignoring Hayden's 'destiny.' If he didn't want to talk about that, then she wouldn't.
”Chocolate Buko Pie.” Hayden beamed at Eun-ha. He wore a black apron as he preheated the oven. ”You'd love it. It's both savory, sweet, chocolatey, and creamy. The perfect dessert for you.”
”I'm looking forward to it.” Eun-ha giggled. Irrespective of her external appearance, deep inside, she was contemplating what kind of fate would Hayden have in the future.
His future potential was gargantuan. If he was killed… It wouldn't just be devastating for her, but the world will lose its plausibly most powerful leader.
Nevertheless, no matter what happens, she'd be by his side. She steeled herself for one heck of a ride in the future.
”What's he cooking?” Sayuri entered the fairly large kitchen. She walked to Eun-ha's side. By that point, Hayden has started working, his attractiveness knowing no bounds.