"Hienie, I'm sorry," breathed Emmanuel hoarsely, looking up into the soft brown eyes of Hien who was lying on him. His sapphire eyes were full of plea. He swallowed visibly and made a move to sit up. He held the petite woman by her shoulders as he created some space between them, shattering the moment. He hung his head guiltily.
Silence lengthened in the bedroom like a taut rubber band.
It took a while for Hien to get over her loss and she blinked continuously. Was she seriously hankering over An because he was handsome? She ducked her head, embarrassed. Should she try to break this awkward silence. She did not dare to peek at him.
Emmanuel was troubled, realising that his decorum and public speaking instructors did not prepare him for such an incident. He was scratching his head about it when Hien broke the silence first, surprising him.
"Did I hurt you?"
Emmanuel's gaze softened, touched that the awkward singer was trying to overcome this strange tension between them. He smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "No, You've every right to vent your frustrations," joked he, trying to lightened the atmosphere. He searched her face closely, trying to determine if he had upset the singer.
"I…I wanted to ask this question since I kinda looked up on you just now," confessed Hien, her gaze dropping to his chest. This personal question would be too overt but she was truly curious.
Oh, she had looked up on him?
The newly-minted bodyguard was interested. He waved his hand absently, encouraging her to go on with the question. There was extraordinarily little that he would not share with the singer. He remembered their first meeting and the very first question she had asked. The question was so blunt and personal that it left him reeling but he offer an honest answer.
Her eyes reflected her hesitance as she shifted nervously on the bed. She wrung her hands, unsure how she could phrase her question properly.
"An, are you truly on a sabbath or are you running away from your problems?" She looked at him sheepishly, interest bright in her eyes. "I just learnt that you broke off an engagement while you were away on a duty."
His thick brows rose steeply at once, completely speechless.
"Well, I mean you develop a new identity to be with me," interjected Hien nervously, running her finger through her hair. "You have many duties but you're not attending to them. You're here with me, incognito." Her words were rushed, trying to explain herself clearly to him.
There was no change in Emmanuel's expression. His gaze was solemn, studying her expression openly.
"I'm sorry if I sound so pushy," offered Hien, her cheeks pink.
"No, no," stopped Emmanuel at once, shaking his head profusely. He ran his hand through his short, black hair. "I just didn't think that I needed to mention this issue to you," supplied the prince, pinching the bridge of his nose. He gave an absent shrug. "I'm not exactly running. My work was exhausting and I was given sabbath to recuperate. I'm just taking time away from all that. The paparazzi will swarm all over me if they knew my location." He mentally backpedalled and realised that he simply listing a bunch of reasons. "I'm…I'm not here to look for another relationship." He concluded lamely, looking at her helplessly.
"I guess as much," returned Hien, smiling from ear to ear. "I mean no one tries to attract a girl by becoming a bodyguard. That's an act of a mad man."
Emmanuel exploded into laughter, tickled by her quirky comments. "Why are you not a comedian, Hienie? It's a waste." She had a witty, deadpan humour that he liked.
"Hey! I hosted in the past," chided the singer, pouting.
"You tried to host in the past," corrected Emmanuel with a faint smile. "You hid behind Susie all the time." Susie and Hien had hosted a weekly entertainment show many years ago. Hien's cheeks used to be fuller, her almond eyes gleaming with youth and boundless excitement. That quirky, young, introverted singer had matured into a ravishing beauty who had the power to steal his very breath.
"An, stop changing the topic!"
The prince averted his gaze, knowing that she wanted a proper answer.
Emmanuel expelled a breath. "My former fiancée called it off while I away on duty." He shrugged once again. "If anyone was to call off the engagement, it would be Nat. She has been the more assertive one between us."
"Are you serious?" Hien asked, squeezing his knee supportively. "I find that hard to believe since I have seen you with your men."
Emmanuel smiled faintly and maintained his silence.
"Was it an amicable parting?"
His laughter was sardonic. "I guess?" Emmanuel's gaze became distant. "I mean we could not speak to each other for months. I guess the relationship kind of ran its full course. She had simply moved on and felt that it was unwise for us to remain together." The assertive prince looked so vulnerable that her heart ached. He swallowed visibly. "I should have saw the signs. We were having trouble for a while. She didn't like my work." The prince recalled the disagreements and her loud protests. "Besides, she wasn't ready to become my wife," admitted Emmanuel finally as his mind backpedalled on the long hours Nat had invested in her work.
"Oh. I'm sorry," offered the singer softly.
He waved her apology off, as he stared into the distance. "I appreciate it. It is OK. You're not responsible for this." He tried for a small smile, but it looked very strained. He raked his hand through his hair, averting his gaze. "I don't know why I'm saying this to you."
Hien's gaze was gentle and understanding. The singer laced her fingers with his tenderly. "It's OK," she cooed soothingly. "It's OK. I can be your listening ear." She thumped on her chest in a manly fashion, causing him to double over in laughter.
"Sure, Brother Hien," smirked Emmanuel, his eyes shining with mirth.
Her eyes narrowed at once as she wacked him on his chest again. "Hey! I'm being serious here!"
The prince immediately restrained himself from laughing. He tried his best to be solemn even though his eyes were still crinkled. "I know. I am sorry. We're friends, right?"
The singer blinked owlishly, surprised by his question.
He met her gaze earnestly. "We can share our lives, but we are only friends. I need you as a friend—"
She lifted a brow, ignoring that dull ache that sprouted in her stomach. "So much for being a goddess, I have been friend-zoned." Hien tossed her hair backwards with mock arrogance.
Emmanuel threw his head backwards and laughed brightly. "It sounds like you were vying for another position."
"Can't I? I'm not attractive enough?" countered Hien, scowling.
"No, no, no. I never said that. You are incredibly attractive. You're plenty attractive." His eyes lingered on her face appreciatively. "Were you not full of confidence at our first meeting huh? Someone told me not to fall in love with you," teased he. Carefully, he brushed the lock of hair that fell over her face, shielding her eyes. His eyes trekked along her porcelain-fair forehead down to her sparkling bright eyes. "Very beautiful," breathed Emmanuel, his voice low. His eyes were an intense blue, as it always were when he was honest. "You don't need make-up. I think you're beautiful when you're happy."
Hien's cheeks pinked, averting her gaze. "An, we spent hours looking perfect and now you tell me that I'm beautiful without it?"
Emmanuel was amused that she missed the point. "Wait, you're also plenty attractive on stage. Your eyes are always bright with thrill when you are on the stage singing. You're also very attractive when you're fooling around with your band mates—"
"Of course! We're closer than friends and even sisters. I did propose to Susie once but she's married now. Ellie is Ellie." Her tone was filled with affections for her band mates.
"Ah huh. You love spoiling them in every way. You can't deny that they can be terrible influences."
Hien shoved him with a little more strength, showing some irritation. "You can't say that of them."
Emmanuel held up his hands in complete surrender, realising that he had just stepped on a landmine. "No matter how tight you're, you can't deny that they can be terrible influences at times, " argued Emmanuel, trying to justify himself. Seeing the fury in her eyes, he changed his tact. "It isn't bad. I'm truly envious. I want that sort of relationships."
The anger faded from Hien's eyes as she relaxed visibly. She sighed when she realised that she had probably overreacted. She scooted close to him, leaning lightly on his shoulder. "It's a little difficult to explain the depth of our relationship." Her brows furrowed. "We were incredibly young when we were plucked out of our comfort zones and placed together. It was a strange world. We could only rely on each other." She blew a breath. "I'm happy that I had them. They helped to take the heat off me. I think you have such relationships. You have it with James and Alec— "
"Will," corrected Emmanuel sweetly. "No matter how close I am to James and Alec, they remain my subordinates. Anyway, when you are more confident of your English, we shall meet Will," promised the prince.
"Oh ya," sighed Hien. "I forgot, for a moment ,that you were a foreigner. You have such a great command of Mandarin."
Emmanuel smirked and pretended "Why, thank you, my lady."
She smacked him on his arm, causing him to laugh brightly. His laughter faded away into a comfortable silence. Both choose to lay on the bed, side by side, savouring the erratic peace of the moment.
Hien broke the silence.
"I want you as my friend, An. I find it difficult to make friends because it is so hard to meet new people. I want you to always be my friend. I want us to last." Despite such a short time, she could not imagine a life without him.
"You shall always have me until you don't need me anymore," reassured Emmanuel solemnly. He turned to gaze at her sombrely, making her a promise that she knew that he would keep. "I'll always be whatever you need, milady."
Emotions swelled in her, seeing the sincerity in his eyes. He was not like any other; his word was gold and his duty were his top priority. She scooted closer to him, appreciating the sanctuary of his presence. He would always be her friend. That was more than enough for her.
Soon, it was quite late.
Emmanuel changed into a set of lounging clothes that he brought along with him. He was given the room next to Hien to rest in. He bade goodnight to her parents before turning in.
Emmanuel awoke an hour before the crack of dawn to start his routine of exercising. It was such a big part of his routine that he would feel uncomfortable if he had stopped. He wore only his sweatpants for his exercise since he did not bring exercising clothes. He sneaked downstairs, determined to avoid everyone in the house since he was topless. He was a high-ranking member of a royal family and could not show skin.
Bon sped into the living room when he heard him. He was wagging his tail excitedly, jumping from side to side. He tried to climb up him to lick him but Emmanuel stopped him by rubbing his head and attaching a leash to his collar.
Using the GPRS function in his watch, he set a running route before heading out. Bon followed him out, excited. Soon, he began his exercise, jogging around the neighbourhood with the pet dog by his side.
The neighbourhood was sleepier than the one he was accustomed to. He enjoyed the fresh air and beautiful scenery. A part of him was glad that she grew up in such a quaint and picturesque neighbourhood.
The prince returned to the house, soaked with his perspiration after a good run. He was refreshed and ready to start a new day. He attended to the tired dog first, feeding him with kibbles and water. Satisfied that the pet was devouring his food, he headed into the kitchen to prepare breakfast for the He family as a sign of his gratitude.
The sky had darkened visibly on the east and he knew that he was running out of time. He had managed to wipe out crepes and toasts from the food ingredients he gathered from the refrigerator. These dishes were commonly found on the streets of the capital as breakfast so he was certain that the He family would not mind them.
Mrs He, barely awake, was pleasantly surprised to see Emmanuel moving around the kitchen, bustling out some tunes. The mouth-watering fragrance of breakfast had urged her to hurry into the kitchen and she stumbled into this precious sight of another person using her kitchen.
"Good morning, Mrs He. I hope you don't mind me using your kitchen," offered Emmanuel, rubbing his nape. "I made breakfast." He gestured to everything in front of him.
Mrs He chuckled, patting him on his shoulder. "An, you're a guest. You should take advantage of that and sleep in." She was starting to like this unpretentious man very much.
The bodyguard gave a one-shoulder shrug. "I was awake anyway, Mrs He."
"Thank you, An. It has been a while since I could take a break from making breakfast. The breakfast looks good. I'll cut some fruits to complete the meal then." She walked to the fridge and took out a few apples.
Emmanuel grinned, glad that the owner of the kitchen approved of his cooking.
"Did you have to wake up earlier for this?" Mrs He washed the fruits before slicing them into pieces.
He shook his head. "Nah, I'm used to this. It's really no trouble."
She offered a plate of sliced apples to him and he took at once, thanking her for the offer. He munched on the piece of apple, surprised when the apple exploded in sweetness. He studied the slice of apple and noticed that it looked very moist, like an apple that was on the verge of spoiling. "Is this apple a local product?"
Mrs He, who returned from carrying a plate of breakfast to the dining table, nodded at once. "It's a specialty of a county. You'll find it in several counties. There is insufficient volume to ship these apples to the rest of the island." She took two sets of cutleries. "Do you like it?"
Emmanuel nodded at once. "I'm surprised by the sweetness."
Mrs He smiled proudly. "You should take some back. The apples are only in season for a month." She returned to the dining table and dug into the simple fare of toast and crepe curiously. She swooned at once, appreciating the balance of flavours. This young man could really cook. By virtue of that skill, he was an invaluable help to Hien's life since the latter could not cook to save her life.
"An! I hear my husband coming down the stairs," announced Mrs He, taking her time to savour this breakfast.
"Sure, Mrs He. Thanks for the apples," grinned Emmanuel, walking to the sink to wash his hands. "I'm gonna meet Mr He at the garden."
Mrs He shook her head, halting him with just a look. She gestured him to take a seat at the dining table instead.
Minutes later, Mr He appeared at the dining room, his eyes wide. He stared at the breakfast uncomprehendingly.
"An's effort," explained Mrs He smoothly. "Why don't you have your breakfast first before you attend to your garden?"
The older man nodded, seeing the logic in his wife's suggestion. He placed the straw hat aside and tried his breakfast. His eyes widened after he had his first mouthful of his breakfast. He turned to look at Emmanuel and flashed a thumbs-up at him, clearly impressed. The He parents were concerned about Emmanuel, wondering if he was comfortable with living with their youngest daughter and adjusting to living in Taiwan.
Emmanuel smiled. "It's been great so far. My landlady is quite open-minded. Hien had tried to take me around the capital." He found the He parents very warm and welcoming. By the time Mr He had finished his breakfast, they had learnt a little about his family.
Mr He was thrilled that Emmanuel had honoured his promise to help him with the garden, bringing him to the shed at the back of the house. He eyed the long-sleeve buttoned up shirt critically. "The shirt isn't appropriate for gardening, lad. You're going to get that nice shirt dirty very quickly."
Emmanuel eyed his shirt openly. He threw all caution into the wind, grabbing the hems of his dress shirt and pulling it off himself completely, leaving him only in his sweatpants. He grinned wildly at his recklessness, knowing that he was flouting many rules. He folded the dress shirt neatly, corner to corner and stowed it carefully in the shed.
Mr Hien could not help staring at Emmanuel's well-sculptured body that spoke of discipline. Every muscle on his upper body was toned and defined and they flexed powerfully as he moved around the garden. He sighed. No wonder his daughter was so taken by him, he was such an eye candy!
Unaware of the older man's thoughts, the prince smiled boyishly, rubbing his hands. "Where shall I start?" His cheeky smile was infectious.
Mr He pointed to the large bags of fertiliser.
Nodding, Emmanuel grabbed the large stack and heaved it over his back as if it weighted nothing. If Mr He did not notice the flexing of his back muscles, he would believe that the younger man was simply carrying a large bag of fluff. The younger man seemed to enjoy physical labour, walking to the furthest flowerbed and began his work. All he needed to do was to add the dried-up fertiliser to all the plants. Emmanuel took several flowerbeds to get use to the process of adding fertiliser to the plants but soon he was picking up in speed, moving through the flowerbeds swiftly.
The two men working in the garden continued their idle chat that began at breakfast. Mr He learnt that this impressive younger man was drafted into the military at a tender age and rose through his ranks through completing different missions. Emmanuel shared about his recent mission in Chad where fighting had broken out. He had a badge of courage to display, a small shot wound on his bicep. Emmanuel had shared that they were ambushed on their way to broker peace in the region.
Mr He was impressed when he saw the fading scar on his upper arm. He sighed. "We really need more lads like you to care about the world." The island was always under constant threat by its aggressive and more powerful neighbouring country.
"Over zealous young man?" Emmanuel joked. "I'm not too sure if hot heads could do good. Anyway, I would remove this scar as soon as I return home. I'm vain that way," chuckled the prince wryly.
Mr He grinned. "What's wrong with vanity? If I had a face like yours, I would too."
The prince was flabbergasted for several heartbeats. He threw his head backwards and laughed heartily. Did Mr He just called him a pretty boy? He slapped his thighs, laughing so hard until tears filled his eyes. It took him a while to compose himself and he found himself staring at the back of the older man. It was so easy to like this affable older man whom Hien looked like.
Rose and Peony
Fifteen minutes after the men had departed for the garden, Hien wandered into the dining room, her eyes barely open. She always had the habit of sleeping in whenever she did not to go in for work. Mrs He smiled when the singer staggered into the dining room, drool on the corner of her lips, her eyes half-open, in search of food.
Impressive. Her daughter was definitely part-hound. The singer plopped herself on an empty chair before a plate of breakfast. She yawned, reaching for the cover to reveal the breakfast. Her mocha eyes brightened at once when she saw the crispy toast and well-cooked crepe.
"Morning, En,"grinned her mother indulgently, placing a glass of water next to her. She was amused at the way her foodie daughter became alert at food.
"Morning Mum," chimed the singer, smiling. She dug into her breakfast immediately, starting with the toast. She nodded to herself approvingly as the crunchy toast. With every delicious bit, her mood brightened even more.
"An's a great cook, isn't he?" complimented Mrs He, studying her contented daughter. She liked that look of happiness on the singer's face.
Hien nodded profusely, trying to swallow all the food in her mouth. "Did he cook this?" Hien asked causally, recognising the taste and crispiness of his toast. She glanced at the crepe, impressed. How did he know that Taiwanese often had these dishes for breakfast?
"Ah huh. I was startled to discover that breakfast was already made when I come downstairs." She let out a theatrical sigh. "It's tough to find a man so willing to be in the kitchen."
Hien wasn't too bother with her mother's praises. "OK, An's a man of many talents." She reached for the glass of water to sip.
"A very good-looking man of many talents," winked Mrs He playfully, leaning closer to her as if she was sharing a secret.
Hien's eyes widened and choked. She started coughing, trying to dislodge a piece of food that went into her windpipe. She took a long swing from her glass, trying to flush the particle as she continued to cough hard, tears filling her eyes. She breathed a sigh of relief when the food was dislodged and she relaxed fully into her seat. "Mummy! Are you trying to murder your only daughter?"
Mrs He was not apologetic, liking her reaction. She was not the least offended by her daughter, whose cheeks were still red. "What is with that response, En? I was just being objective. An is a very attractive man. I've eyes, you know."
Hien rolled her eyes, catching on at once. It was another subtle prod towards encouraging her to settle down. "Mummy, I know you really want me to be married off—"
"No, I just want you to be happy," corrected Mrs He patiently, studying her daughter closely through her rectangular spectacles. "You don't—I mean I don't want you to actually have to get married unless you found someone you can live with."
Hien bit into her toast and chewed it in contemplative silence, knowing that her mother was only at the start of her lecture.
Mrs Hien cleared her voice, getting the attention of her obviously uninterested daughter. "I was very surprised to know that An is a foreigner, but he is so accustomed to our culture—he speaks so well. I know that you find him attractive," began the mother slowly, much to the chagrin of the singer. "I caught you sneaking glances at him when you think he isn't looking. Anyway, I like him. An is very charming."
Hien snorted since that was an understatement. Prince charming had lived up to his name, impressing her mother from dinner. Her mother was thrilled that Emmanuel had set the table and help with the cleaning up. The singer had seen many facets of the prince and had to admit that he could be very approachable and pleasant when he wanted to.
"An's surprisingly very modest. He also tries to care for you. If you did not notice yesterday, he was asking for the recipes of all your favourite dishes."
"Mummy, are you reading too much into it? I be that he was simply curious because he enjoyed the dishes," quipped the singer, quirking. "They are your best dishes."
"Oblivious," chided Mrs He lovingly, caressing her head.
Hien lay her head on her mother's shoulder for a moment, savouring the contact. "But, I'm Mummy's oblivious girl," whined the singer.
"Of course, my little girl that doesn't want to grow up," smiled Mrs He, her gaze gentle.
She whined, snuggling close to her. "You're my mummy."
Mrs He merely sighed and caressed her head. "You should sit properly when you are eating, En." The singer obeyed her, sitting properly. The older woman sipped her tea. "As I was saying, your old man has a high opinion of An."
"Oh? That is strange for Pa. He's usually more reserved when it comes to my male friends," commented Hien offhandedly. She picked up another toast and started chewing on it again, a look of bliss on her face.
Mrs He shook her head, surprised by her daughter's ignorance. "He admires the way he handed the paparazzi. Your old man also approves the way An handles his disagreement with you over that matter. He agrees with An's reasoning."
"Huh. Papa does?" Hien frowned as she mentally backpedalled on their heated discussion. "We argued because I assumed that he had abused his position, " recalled the vocalist absently. "An did not back down, instead, he explained his actions." She shrugged. "I wasn't angry with him when I realise that he had settled the issue by his own strength." She set her fork next to her plate, looking at her mummy attentive. "How is that a good way of handing disagreements?"
Mrs He was surprised by her daughter's question. "En, you accused An of corruption despite his sincere wish to help you. If I were in his shoes, I would have blown up. I doubt I would have the patience to account for my actions."
Hien looked thoughtful at once. She hummed a sound of acknowledgement, staring at her breakfast distractedly. "I was mean to him last night."
"En, you must have hired An because you trusted him right? You were never comfortable with such high-level of security since it was so invasive, yet you assigned this duty to him. I doubt that An will internationally hurt you. I think he's that sort of man who would lay his life for his duty—much like knights of the old."
Hien could not help but chuckle at her mother's astute observation. "That's…That's a good way of describing him." Despite his detached façade, he was very committed to his duty. "You have a good measure of him despite the short meeting, Mummy." Her eyes flashed with grudging approval for her mother.
"Silly girl. I'm a lot older than you. I have a question, En. What is his real identity? From all the information he had revealed about himself, he sounded like he came from a background of privilege."
"What do you mean?" Hien's heart stopped. She forced herself to calm down but she could hide the tremble in her voice. How should she try to deflect her intuitive mother?
Mrs He was unimpressed. "Don't you even try to lie to me, young woman. It's not difficult to tell that he must be of high social status."
The singer sighed wearily. "Mummy, I wasn't planning to lie." When she received a raised brow from her mother, she threw her hands into the air. "I'm serious, Mummy. I need clearance to share his identity. He's here incognito." Her brows pinched. "An told you his real name."
"His real name is Emmanuel Nassau?"
Hien nodded once.
"He's registered as Yi Manan here?"
The singer nodded again.
"You know his real identity?"
The beautiful singer nodded once again. "Sussy, Ellie and I first met him in his homeland. Uh, Ah Cheng doesn't know though." She smiled to herself as if she thought of a joke. "She has taken to calling him Mr Universe."
Mrs He laughed. "Nice. He could win that award if he joins the competition."
The established vocalist nodded gingerly. "That's a good idea. Maybe I should encourage him to do so." Her mummy refilled her glass of water and set it in front of her daughter.
Mrs He waited when she realised that her daughter was lost in her thoughts. "OK. How do you find him?" She asked casually, hoping to elicit an answer from her evasive daughter.
Hien narrowed her eyes at her mother. "Mummy, we're friends." She was unimpressed at the way her mother tried to catch her unaware. "His engagement was called off recently. I don't think he is interested in any sort of relationships now." She wrapped her hands around her refilled glass absently, her expression inscrutable.
"Maybe not now since you barely know him. I noticed that you were wonderfully comfortable with him," commented Mrs He offhandedly. She gave her a salacious wink. "I noticed that you were talking on your bed after dinner."
The singer ducked her head, blushing. Did her parents check on them as if they were teens? Finally, Hien caught herself. Why should she be embarrassed when there was nothing between them? She glanced at her mother for a while before she confessed. "It is amazingly easy to be with An. We just clicked." She smiled at the memory of their conversation. "I don't mind his presence in my home and my family home."
"I like An too," added Mrs He. "He's a nice lad."
"I know, Mummy. You just said that moments ago," reminded the singer, tongue-in-cheek. The corners of her lips were lifted in a faint smile as she continued to play with her glass. She was overjoyed that her parents adored him. Somehow, it mattered to her that her parents approved of this friend. She surfaced from her own thoughts finally when she realised that she had seen her friend since last night. "Where is An anyway?"
Mrs He sighed at once. "Your father monopolised him. The men are in the garden since the break of dawn."
"Oh no," groaned Hien, finishing her food swiftly. "I better rescue him now." After she swallowed her food, she finished her glass of water.
"Leave it, En. I'll do the dishes," offered Mrs He kindly when she saw the panic in her eyes.
Hien cleaned up swiftly and pecked on her mother's cheek out of gratitude. "You're the best, Mummy." She dashed out of the house to the garden. The sun was fully up and it was blistering hot. She hoped that they at least took some breaks. She followed the neat garden path to the well-maintained flower beds at the back of the house. There, near a bed of blooming white roses bushes, she found the men squatting as they trimmed the plants.
Her father wore a large straw-brimmed hat to protect himself from the relentless sun. When her gaze shifted to An, her jaw dropped at once. Emmanuel was completely shirtless, perspirations beaded on his body. He looked like a model that just stepped out the covers of Vogue in summer, a little too sinful. They were so absorbed with their conversation and work that they did not pick up her presence.
Mr He was teaching Emmanuel patiently on tending to the rose bush. "You have got to watch the thorns, Lad. Although these roses are beautiful, they are armed with very sharp thorns," lectured Mr He as he demonstrated the art of trimming the plant to ensure beautiful blossoms. Emmanuel was squatting next to him, paying close attention to his lesson. "Somehow, you remind me of a rose," mused Mr He contemplatively, studying the younger man next to him.
Emmanuel raised a brow, unsure of how he ought to react. "Uh, I guess it is flattering. I think this is the first time that anyone has describe me as a flower." He suppressed the natural inclination to scratch the side of his nose.
The older man waved his hand dismissively. "It's not meant to insult, An. I don't mean that you're frail or that you're just a pretty boy. No doubt, you're attractive, just like a rose in full bloom." He rubbed the petal of the rose gently. "You're like a rose, its beauty merely a distraction for the painful thorns that grow right under it." He smiled. "It's easy to forget that you're a dangerous man but you have the eyes of a person who has taken a life in your line of duty."
The prince nodded. "An astute observation, Mr He—"
"He Pa," corrected Mr He, looking at him sternly.
Emmanuel sighed before relenting. "He Pa."
"Good," grinned the older man. With loving hands, he cut the rose and handed it to the prince. "You could give that to my daughter—"
"Are you teaching An to court me, Dad?" asked Hien, unimpressed. Her eyes gleamed with mirth as she took in the sight of these two men bonding with each other.
"Do I need to, En?" returned Mr He nonchalantly, rising to his feet slowly. He brushed his gloves together, sweeping off some of the dirt.
Emmanuel also stood up, grinning widely. "Morning, sleeping beauty," teased the prince impishly.
Oh no.
She was unprepared for this very sight of Emmanuel.
Her gaze slid up and down, devouring all that masculine splendour before her hungrily. Perspiration beaded on his smooth, sun-kissed skin, dripping down his developed pectorals. Her eyes glued on that bead of perspiration as it slowly trickled past his firm, bulging pectoral, down his defined chest bone before it glided down his taut, distinct abdominal muscles in that attractive eight-pack. That bead of perspiration finally slipped past his sensual and sharp 'V'-shaped hipbones into the band of his sweatpants hanging seductively on his waist.
She felt like fanning herself at the luscious palate of masculine beauty presented before her. All those well-defined muscles. Whatever diet or strict exercise he was on was paying out well.
She caught sight of his lop-sided smirk when she lifted her head to meet his gaze.
Blood coloured her cheeks. She was caught. Again.
Hien marched towards the smirking prince and delivered a smack on his shoulder, unimpressed. She regretted the action immediately when she could feel the warmth and the firmness of his muscles. The tips of her ears burnt with humiliation as she stared at her hand, stunned. "I-I-I I'm sorry!" She ducked, nearly whipping him with her long hair, as she evaded his teasing gaze.
She let out another squeal, hiding her face behind her hands.
Emmanuel resisted laughing at his friend's reaction. However, he could not stop his smirk from widening as he cocked a hip. "Hienie, why are you apologising?" He asked innocently. "I guess it must be for hitting me suddenly," mused Emmanuel, his eyes gleaming impishly. He closed the distance between them, speaking in a low voice. "or touching me."
Hien nearly combusted from humiliation, especially when he was standing so close to her that she could feel the warmth of the sun radiating off him, along his forest scent. When she caught his smirk, her humiliation transformed into fury. She growled at him, turning away from him.
Emmanuel was not going to let his friend off so easily. He maintained an innocent expression as he blocked her path. Hien's eyes were immediately attracted to his well-sculptured body before she caught her self. She hissed and covered her eyes with her hands. "An, will you put on a damn shirt now?"
"Oh really?" Emmanuel questioned, pretending to be surprised. He ignored her demands, circling around her slowly. "Are you really certain, Hienie? Don't you like what you see?" His sapphire eyes sparkled with his mischief.
Someone cleared his voice, getting their attention. "We're done for today, I guess," mused Mr He, interrupted them. His eyes were bright with amusement at their playful and flirty interactions.
Immediately, Emmanuel's cheeks burnt with mortification. He bowed his head at once. How could he have forgotten about He Pa? The older man handed the rose to Emmanuel discreetly before speaking to his daughter. He placed a hand on her shoulder. "My daughter ought to be more courageous. Since the lad here has invited you to look, then you should boldly appreciate him, otherwise, you would waste his offer—"
"He Pa," protested Emmanuel softly as the tips of his ears reddened. "I…I'll grab a shirt." He dashed to the shed to grab his shirt before entering the house, leaving the daughter and father alone.
The singer breathed a sigh of relief finally as she lowered her hands. "Thanks, Dad. I-I-I…Uh." She did not know how to explain her behaviour to her father. She raked her hand through her hair absently, searching for the words.
"En, you have my approval to date him when you're ready," smiled Mr He warmly. "He's a good lad." He returned to the house, whistling a tune, leaving his gobsmacked daughter behind.
It took a while for Hien to recover her wits. She stomped loudly as she headed indoors, clearly irritated. That irritating An! He had embarrassed her in front of her father. She stopped outside his bedroom and knocked on the door loudly. "We're leaving in twenty minutes." Without waiting for a reply, she returned to her bedroom and shut the door.
Emmanuel got his marching orders. He smiled wryly as he took a refreshing shower at the common bathroom. He was still greeted by the closed door of Hien's bedroom after his shower. His brows furrowed slightly as he studied the door and reflected on his behaviour. No matter, he had to apologise. He headed to the kitchen to work on his reparation. He trimmed the stem of the beautiful white rose and tied a simple black ribbon to it. He stared at the single rose, hoping this gift was a suitable appeasement.
"A white rose huh," muttered Emmanuel to himself, recalling the way He Pa had associated him with it. He took his gift to the porch where the car was parked. Bon picked himself up from a nice patch of grass and bolted for him, excited.
He hid the rose properly before he scratched Bon's head, just the way he liked it. The bodyguard heard, rather than sensed, the thunderous arrival of the singer. She was also not alone.
The mother and daughter must not have seen him since he was hidden behind the car. Mrs He was reminding her daughter to be gentle. Emmanuel, sensing that he should not be overhearing this conversation, walked away, giving them privacy.
Emmanuel rose to his feet only when he was certain that the mother and daughter was done with their conversation. He turned to glance at them and he found himself mesmerised. Hien's long and wavy hair billowed wildly as she strode towards the vehicle confidently. She had worn a pair of aviator sunglass, hiding her eyes. The fitting white T-shirt and tight jeans highlighted her petite figure. The clenching of her jaws and the furrow between her brows signalled that she was still upset. Even though she had seen him, the singer unlocked the door and slipped into the backseat.
Mrs He's gaze vacillated between them helplessly. She handed him the bag full of food. "You can heat this up for your meals, An."
Bon, sensing the brooding mood of his owner, obediently entered the car and sat with his owner. She shut the door after the pet bounded into the backseat.
Emmanuel sighed, knowing that he needed to work hard to earn her forgiveness. He smiled at Mrs He in an assuring manner. "I'll take good care of her," promised Emmanuel. "Thank you for having me, uh—He Ma."
Mrs He stepped closer to him, trying to keep their conversation private. "I know you'll take care of her. You need to be patient with her." She tilted her head in the direction of the car.
Emmanuel nodded cautiously, trying to maintain a neutral expression. He knew that it would take some grovelling to earn the forgiveness of the singer. He blinked in surprise when the older woman pulled him close for a hug. "Take good care of yourself, An. Feel free to drop by any time if you're free."
He nodded, speechless.
Emmanuel moved mechanically towards the car after Mrs He released him from her embrace. He slipped into the driver seat, befuddled. It took the prince several moments to compose himself. He glanced at Hien with the use of the rear mirror and found her staring out of the window, upset. She looked like a petulant child; unlike the public persona he knew. His heart softened at the sight of her. It was more important to appease her before they started their trip home.
"Hienie."
The vocalist ignored him openly.
He expelled a sigh, knowing that she wanted to make him grovel. "I'm sorry, Hienie" Emmanuel took the white rose and offered it to her sincerely.
Her eyes fell on the beautiful rose, adorned with a simple ribbon.
"I didn't mean to embarrass you in front of your parents. I went a bit too far. I'd be mortified if I were in your shoes." He lowered his head. "I am truly sorry."
Silence stretched between them.
It felt like an eternity later when she took the offered rose. "It's a beautiful flower," remarked the singer, sniffing it.
Emmanuel brightened at once. "It is, Hienie. Your father takes very good care of his garden." Hien did not respond to that remark but she was no longer ignoring him. The bodyguard started the engine at once and began their journey back to the city.
It was in the middle of the trip home when Hien spoke suddenly. "An."
Emmanuel glanced at her worriedly through the rear mirror. "Is something wrong?" All he could tell was that she was determined.
She ran her hand through her hand absently. "I…"
He cocked his head, observing the woman absently.
"I am sorry, "muttered Hien finally. "For yesterday. I was very mean to you."
His brows skyrocketed at the sudden apology.
"You've been very patient with me, An," continued Hien, her head bowed. "You have offered your service generously to be my bodyguard while you're on a sabbath. I repaid your kindness by doubting your judgment and accused you."
Emmanuel remained silent.
"I had no right to accuse you that way, especially since you did all these for me. I'm sorry, An."
Emmanuel's gaze cut to the road as he tried to string his thoughts together. "Hienie," began the prince slowly. "Thank you for apologising." He breathed a sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. "I was slightly affected, but I reckoned that it's just a misalignment of beliefs." He grounded his jaw. "I know that I'm heavy-handed and authoritative and you don't quite like that. I am trying to change."
"An," interrupted Hien, halting him. "I just need you to include me when you make decisions for us. I don't need you to change at all. I'm learning to understand your resolve in ensuring my welfare."
"My resolve in ensuring your welfare huh," mused Emmanuel. "We're friends. Of course, I want you to be well. Besides, someone engage me to be a bodyguard."
Hien lightened up. "I did, didn't I, my friend?"
The corners of Emmanuel's eyes crinkled as he smiled. "That you did."
Hien finally smiled as she returned her gaze to the passing scenery as comfortable silence enveloped them.