87 Bear of the North

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.

"He said he'd cook Chocolate Buko Pie." Eun-ha replied. She was clueless of this 'Buko Pie' but since everything that Hayden has cooked so far were delicious, she trusted that Hayden wouldn't disappoint.

"What is this Chocolate Buko Pie, Hayden-ah?" She leaned on the counter adjacent to Eun-ha at the same time asking curiously.

As Hayden has baked this plenty of times for his chocolate-loving mother, his muscle memory was hardwired to act without the need for directions from his brain.

"It is my own variant of Buko Pie, an original Filipino cuisine." Hayden almost gouged his eyes out at the combined attractiveness of the two on the counter. On top of that, Sayuri's sweet voice was too enticing. "It may be anglicized as Coconut Pie. As you may have deduced, it contains coconut meat."

All the while, Hayden's eyes were darting back and forth between Eun-ha and Sayuri. Finishing making pie crust dough. His hands moved fast as he created the pie filling.

The two women were astonished of Hayden's dexterity. Moving two hands separately to rapidly produce the filling of the pie. Within a timeframe of 15 minutes, he finished everything and has put in the oven four baking pans of his Chocolate Buko Pie. Whilst conversing with the two to boot.

"So, you two," Hayden activated his Divine Perception. He precipitously asked, "You guys are conspiring, aren't you?"

Sayuri was taken aback, Eun-ha managed to keep calm. Hayden teased, "Based from your reactions, you are, aren't you? Why?"

Eun-ha laughed, pulling Hayden to her to kiss him. She chuckled, "Why do you always want to spoil these things?"

Sayuri was speechless of how Eun-ha treated Hayden. "You two…"

Hayden pulled back, his eyes squinted with suspicion, "I am genuinely grateful. Although I seriously don't get why. You're both inordinately beautiful. It's true that harems are commonplace in today's time. Nonetheless, for such beautiful women, you're usually supposed to be the one with a harem. A reverse harem, if you must. So why would you want to share me?"

Sayuri reddened. She was usually the one who compliments people. Don't get her wrong. She was complimented on a day-to-day basis, but when it came from Hayden, there was something different.

"I mean, you two are best friends." Hayden tilted his head sidewards. "Normally, best friends drift away because of the same man. Contrarily, why do I pick up that you guys' relationship gets strengthened?"

Eun-ha and Sayuri turned to each other. Sayuri remained flustered. Eun-ha had a playful grin plastered on her face. "He's smart, isn't he? Makes you want to love him more, doesn't it? Such a perfect man, I wonder why we both want him?"

"I…I…" Sayuri directed her gaze to the left. She pouted. She meekly responded, "What is up with you two?"

Hayden let out a guffaw. He boldly reached for Sayuri's cheeks. He innocently smirked, "You were the one who teased me on the flight down. This is my payback."

"Arrogant idiot…" Sayuri let Hayden pinch her cheeks. She blushed harder when she felt Hayden's rough hands on her cheeks.

"Oh yeah." Hayden veered the topic into a different direction. "I'm going to take one person to infiltrate that mansion."

"Just one?" Alike Hayden, Eun-ha ceased poking fun at Sayuri. "Aren't you concerned that someone powerful would be there?"

"No, not really." Hayden made the endeavor of infiltrating a wielder's mansion seem like a trivial matter. "In all honesty, if I am at least Level 3, I'd go alone with Ayesha. Gonjunim understands why."

"Yeah, yeah." Eun-ha rolled her eyes. "You don't want to trouble us because you already commanded us to help you with this intimidation. Or whatever this is."

"Precisely." Hayden nodded. "I request Gonjunim to accompany me."

He didn't ask Sayuri. He promised to stand by his word to not take a second girlfriend. He's not going to dig his own grave by calling for Sayuri's help. If he didn't have the help of Divine Perception, he might have taken her in already. She was too likeable.

"When will this raid be anyways?" Eun-ha inquired. "Fighting last time in that cult was a good bonding time for us."

Hayden smiled. He kissed Eun-ha's forehead, showing no restraint in front of the wordless Sayuri. "Glad you thought so as well. Can't believe you're that powerful."

By this point in time, Sayuri identified herself as a third wheel. She hated that feeling. Which is why, in lieu of leaving, Sayuri steeled herself. "C-Can I go with you?"

Hayden blinked in surprise. Eun-ha and Hayden's eyes met, with Eun-ha pursing her lips, clearly detaining her amusement. She faintly nodded.

Hayden shot her a stare that transmitted the message: "Are you sure? I seriously don't want to dig my own grave!"

"Hayden-ah?" Sayuri puffed-up her eyes to imitate puppy eyes and pouted her lips. It was one of the cutest expressions that Hayden has seen in his life. "Please give me a chance?"

Gulping, Hayden was clueless of his next course of action. What the hell was he supposed to do in this situation? On one hand, he didn't want to fall into a trap. He had a weak spot when it came to CHORUS members! There was no doubt that he'd, sooner or later, break down for Sayuri's charm.

On the other, he can't possibly refuse that face. Look at that face! It was a seamless combination of cuteness and beauty. No person in the world will be able to pull off that expression that good! Plus, he didn't want to let her down. Again, he had a weak spot when it came to CHORUS members.

Witnessing Hayden appearing to go overdrive, Eun-ha couldn't contain her laughter. She may as well have collapsed on the floor with her chortle. A tear trickled down from her right eye. Hayden adored and abhorred her at the same time. If she wasn't his beloved girlfriend, Hayden would've kicked them out of the kitchen.

"S-sure, I'll take you." Hayden turned a blind eye to Eun-ha. "Will that be okay, Gonjunim?"

"Yeah, yeah, do what you want." Eun-ha wheezed out. Hayden was confounded of why Eun-ha was this entertained. If he didn't know any better, he'd be suspicious that she has a fetish. "You two are so cute together. Oddly enough, I'm rooting for Sayuri-noona."

"You are so weird." Hayden and Sayuri shook their heads in chorus. Hayden's visage ever so slightly malformed in horror. He stepped into the fucking trap!

Meanwhile, Sayuri let out a giggle. Then, she did an aegyo with her needlessly cutesy high-pitched voice in a scolding tone, "Hayden-ah. Don't chase me away, okay? You can't do that."

What the fuck was that voice? Hayden had the sense that the wall he erected around himself was slowly corroding. It was excruciating. This was torture.

"How can I possibly?" Hayden flattened his lips in defeat. He clicked his tongue, "I don't get you people."

"Ahh, someone can't take a compliment." In the archway of the kitchen, Chung-hee entered. "What a humble prick."

'Don't tell me her too?' The air was filled with an overpoweringly sweet scent. 'A tsundere? Really? What the hell is happening in the world?'

He was going crazy. If this was a dream, this was too cruel. If this was reality, then the universe was insane! Why was it forcing a harem on him? Harem is the dream of all men my ass! This was a horrific nightmare for him.

He prompted to close his eyes for the meantime in defeat to escape this madness. He wanted to shout, 'Why do you guys like me?'

If anybody were to know of his thoughts, they'd for sure kill Hayden. Two ridiculously lovely women wanting to be in a relationship with you at the same time, and you describe it as torture!? Fuck you and your family! Curse all of your descendants! Your ancestors shame you to the pits of hell for viewing this as 'torture' you son of a bitch!

Thankfully, Chung-hee didn't stay, simply acquiring a water bottle from the fridge. However, she did twirl her head to throw a glance, that contained gentleness, to him.

Hayden gritted his teeth and inhaled sharply. "Aren't you guys going to change out of that hanbok?"

"Don't you think it's sexy?" Eun-ha eventually stopped laughing. Her tone was mischievous, with her left eyebrow moving up and down.

"Of course it's sexy." Hayden nonchalantly flattered Eun-ha. "Anything you wear, you're sexy in my eyes. Baggy clothes? Comfortably sexy. Short skirts? Erotically sexy. That hanbok? 'Traditionally' sexy. When you were in a suit in your concert in Singapore? A unique type of sexy. Whenever you wear your round glasses on cam? Nerdish sexy."

Eun-ha couldn't react to Hayden's words. He stated all of those in one breath and in such a matter-of-factly tone that she understood Hayden meant all of those. All of those were not as plain as a bootlicking praise. All of those were sincere and was what he actually thought of her.

As a result, a burning sensation spread across her face. Sayuri perceived this opportunity to throw rejoinders at Eun-ha.

"Wow, a few flowery words can induce that effect on you?" Sayuri grinned impishly. "I've never thought that you are this soft in the presence of Hayden-ah."

"Aren't you the same?" Eun-ha retorted. The blush didn't go away. Conversely, she flushed harder. "You're attracted to someone barely acceptable!"

In society, the accepted dating age difference was up to 2/3 of your own age. For example, if you're 30, dating someone 20 years old would not be frowned upon. Below that? Well, you wouldn't be openly criticized as 16 was the accepted age of adult. But that doesn't limit people to talk behind your back.

Eun-ha's statement was correct, since Hayden was currently 16 years old, 17 this year, he's borderline prohibited to be dated by Sayuri, who was 23 years old, 24 this year.

"You asked for it." Sayuri's eyes twinkled. She pounced on Eun-ha and tickled her. On the side, Hayden listlessly watched the tickling catfight between Eun-ha and Sayuri.