Chapter 4: A Dinner Party
"Well aren't you going to invite me in for tea or are you just going to stand gawking over there?" Ms. China's voice turned sharp as she gestured to the building.
Vietnam's jaw snapped shut and she bristled slightly. Nevertheless, she led the Chinese woman inside their main headquarters after muttering a pardon.
Inside the lounging room where Vietnam poured tea for everyone, Ms. China made herself comfortable, setting her high-end bag and Hermes scarf to the side.
"What a plane ride," She tutted her tongue and even made that seem elegant. "My joints ache everywhere. You would think after flying so much because of my job, one would get used to jet lag by now. That is what happens when one is such a busy business woman making good money like myself you know."
She was making conversation, but Vietnam could hear the purpose of hidden boasting.
"Really? Perhaps it's because I'm young, but my joints are just fine after flying," Vietnam smiled demurely, but her eyes remained alert.
Miss China gave an abrupt laugh.
"My, my; Ms. Vietnam, you have a wicked tongue as always," She took a sip of the Jasmine tea. "Perhaps that's why you were always a chore to get along with."
"Perhaps it's just as well that I've been out of your delicate hair for some time then."
"Has time taught you nothing about manners when speaking to your superiors?" Her voice grew low with impatience and her real temper was beginning to show.
Superiors? Have you gone senile, old woman? Was what Vietnam dearly wished to say, but something told her if she wanted to live a peaceful life from now on, she had better keep her mouth shut or risk offending a powerful enemy greatly.
The other woman took an envelop from her bag and tossed it across the table in Vietnam's direction. Curious, she took the envelop and opened it revealing a fancy invitation carved with gold letters.
It read Annual Asian Entertainment Dinner.
What a bland and unimaginative name.
"What is this?" She asked, looking up.
"Exactly what it says on the cover. The dinner is tonight at 7 PM. You can choose whether to go or not, it wouldn't make a difference to me because I find your presence a nuisance. However," Ms. China smiled politely with a gleam in her aquiline eyes.
"Everyone will be there so if you do not show up, it will cause quite the stir and curiosity."
Vietnam sighed internally. Of course China knew her too well. She was about to rejoice in the fact that she had a choice whether she wanted to attend or not until the woman just had to shatter her dreams sadistically like that. If she did not come, it wouldn't be seen as proper or diplomatic as representative of her country.
"I could never stand them. Those two snake siblings were never true family or friends of mine," Vietnam bit out quietly as Taiwan took off her face mask and tossed it in the trash bin.
"I don't know why you continue to tolerate their influence over you. They're treating everyone like chess pieces."
Taiwan sighed as she double checked the state of Vietnam's attire, hair and makeup before nodding in satisfaction and moving over to fixing her own.
"You know I have to be with Mr. China and his sister. If I rebel even the slightest against them, my own economy will fall leaving it even more vulnerable in their hands. I do not have that strong of a stability as you think, Vietnam."
Taiwan took Vietnam's dress coat and handed it to her.
"Let's go. We shouldn't be late to this dinner as it is."
It was crowded. There were well-dressed and good looking servers walking around with trays in their hands serving champagne and other delicacies to equally good-looking guests beneath the hotel in Gangnam, Seoul.
Both Taiwan and Vietnam were walking towards the stone and polished entrance when an unknown hand took Vietnam's own in theirs pulling her into a corner making the latter give a startled yelp in the process.
"Vietnam?" Taiwan turned sharply to give chase in case her female friend gets kidnapped.
"Let go of me!" Vietnam yanked her hand away and tried to balance herself. She expected to see a possible bad guy with a ski mask and a van ready to throw her in. Instead, in front of her was a beautiful woman with jet black hair, wearing all red and matched with vivid red lips. She was smiling mysteriously at Vietnam.
"I do apologize, but you were walking so fast I was afraid you would disappear on me," The woman's melodious voice spoke with a hint of amusement.
"Uh…Sorry?" Vietnam looked around her quickly. "What did you need me for and do I know you?"
There was a little table in front of the mysterious woman full of antiques and pretty trinkets. In the middle was a crystal ball.
"Have a seat," She gestured to the little chair where Vietnam was standing.
"Oooh~" Taiwan looked interested and came over quickly to nose around. "Are you going to do a tarot spread for her and tell her fortune?"
"Something like that. I sensed a strong energy about her when she walked by," The fortune woman began shuffling the tarot cards.
"You should read about her love life. Goodness knows she needs it as she is boringly single and a total career woman. I am very much happy with my darling Japan," Taiwan gushed and the Vietnamese rolled her eyes.
Come again? What did this weird woman mean by sensing great energy from her?
After a few more seconds of shuffling, three cards randomly popped out and the fortune lady immediately caught them skillfully from the air.
"Oh you are in danger…"
Taiwan and Vietnam's heads perked up and all attention was on the woman when she abruptly spoke in an ominous tone.
Vietnam felt a nervous churn in her stomach.
"Danger? How? Is anything happening to my country?" She asked uneasily not sure how much she should believe in this. So-called mediums and psychics were dime a dozen and for sure, 90% must be scam.
"Hmmm…It could be if you let it," The fortune lady rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "That is, it can affect any nation around you including you, but that is not the point. There is a man in your life."
"…Huh?"
Taiwan's eyes got excited and gave a sneaky grin to Vietnam whom ignored her.
"A man?" She asked curiously. Who was he and what did he have to do with her?
The woman only shuffled more until a card popped out. She flipped the card over for her to see the image of an emperor representing the astrological sign of the ram.
"This explains everything…" The fortune woman murmured, her eyes were enigmatic yet knowing.
"It would seem a man had just appeared in your life as he was meant to be since…The time of your Ly and Tran dynasty and our, Korea's Goryeo dynasty."
Vietnam could not be more confused. She only stared. Dynasties? Her Ly and Tran eras were long passed, and she wished to not recall such horrible and sad events in her life.
"Be prepared for long, turbulent hardships and journeys starting from tonight. Be wary for that strange man will change your life forever," The fortune woman stood up and winked at her. In a blink of an eye, she disappeared completely.
Both Taiwan and Vietnam gaped in shock. A magician?
"…Did we just have a real-life encounter with the famous shaman-witch of Korea?" Taiwan squealed and took Vietnam's arm in excitement.
"Should we be excited right now?" Vietnam asked weakly as the other female nation shook her body.
"But then again, you're not the one in trouble here…"
Vietnam was overwhelmed, as millions of questions and thoughts raced through her head.
Who was this man that witch was talking about? Was he old or young? Western, African, Hispanic, Middle Eastern or Asian? There were too many among the billions on Earth!
She quickly shook her head. No, that woman was probably some random psycho scamming in the streets and ruining people's lives by instilling fear inside their heads.
As if those absurd predictions would happen!
He watched from the windows of his sitting room a few floors above. Looking down, he could see the hundreds of people and other Asian nations happily and leisurely roaming about his halls and streets chatting away with other guests while they await for the little banquet to settle in.
He saw the familiar fashionable figure of Taiwan and the petite yet charming Vietnam coming towards the entrance of the building. Lights lit up the night and everywhere shone beautifully.
The sight of Taiwan tugging at the poor arm of the Vietnamese nation and the latter clumsily stumbling after her with an aggravated face made him smile.
He could not help but find that irritated scowl of hers that popped up from time to time utterly endearing. It was the same feelings he had when he first met her when they bumped into each other in the most unconventional way in Thailand months ago.
He also learned that he could arouse different, poignant and beautiful facial expressions as well as delightful sounds from her that very night they shared together. He would never be able to forget that night that would probably turn their lives truly upside down from onwards.
Until now, he wondered if he ever regretted it. On one hand with his status as a first world nation and major influencer in Asia, he knew Vietnam would not be seen as the proper bridal candidate for him. She was still a developing country that has not 100% recovered from the wars as quickly and prodigal like he had. She was not as advanced and most of all, he was expected to be with a beautiful, well-bred, Northeast Asian lady; someone like his female serpent neighbor a little to his West.
He soured at the thought.
Nevertheless, he would not want to bring the clearly still innocent, adorable Southeast Asian nation into his dark side of the world either. He could watch her from afar and keep up with his eccentric and dorky façade that he knew riled her up so much.
Still, he could not help, but keep the selfish thought inside him of not regretting that night in the least. They had met, however, both would have to be idiots to not realize the attraction was strangely magnetic from the very start. He had her to himself and this, he will always be smug about.
A hand landing on his shoulder where his Armani suit was immaculately draped over his slender yet muscular person interrupted his internal musings.
"Mr. South Korea? What are you doing over here, skulking in the corner with the bottle of whiskey to yourself~?" A honey-coated voice spoke in a sultry manner.
Glancing behind him, he saw the gorgeous vision of Miss China smiling carefully at him; a glass of champagne in one hand.
"Miss China, it is always a pleasure to meet you," Anyone with perceptive enough could hear the wry note in Korea's deep rumble, but the Chinese woman did not. She only happily held her hand out for the male nation to kiss the back of it like in one of those classical Western films.
"Oh, you always knew how to flatter. How do you think I look tonight just for you, my darling?" She gave a twirl and her deep wine dress fluttered gracefully creating quite the picture. Her dark hair was pinned up revealing silver, dangling earrings. Her face was methodically made up to represent her country's most renown actress, Fan BingBing.
She would be the perfect model for one of his Elle Korea magazines, he noted. Only sad thing is that there was simply nothing interesting or unique about her.
This was a woman who was used to getting around men by using her pretty face as her main lethal weapon.
"Just for me? Are you mistaking the idea of hoping my eyes would only be on you tonight?" He quirked a brow, going back to his area of interest outside his window.
She bristled at his dismissal tone and turned his face back to her with a grasp of his chin.
"But won't it be? After all, you are looking at your future bride over here," She annunciated each word silkily and slowly, designed to get through with him her plans. China looked down the window to wear his eyes were at.
She was infuriated to see none other than the Vietnamese female nation sloppily eating a tiny bowl of green ice cream handed to her by a server.
She was laughing and making a mess with the foolish Taiwanese.
South Korea could already sense the serpent woman's train of thoughts and where it was going.
"Don't even think about it," He quickly warned. His voice took on a dangerous tone she never heard before. Looking at him, she saw the true face of someone who had been battle hardened and would not hesitate to kill if he felt he had to.
"You are dealing with me and if I see you involve any innocent bystander in this atrocious little picture your dear brother decided would be a good idea to draw, I assure you; my army, lawyers, gunshots and myself will haunt you into the next life, business or no business."
"I see you are protective of cockroaches who are beneath my feet," Ms. China sniffed, tossing her chin out the window.
"You dare to threaten me knowing the repercussions…?"
"I am not threatening you. I am promising you," He smiled grimly.
"Fine then," She snapped, her mouth curling to reveal grey razors. "Just know that Ms. Vietnam is no innocent bystander and I will make sure of that."
At the rowdy dinner, Vietnam met up with her younger brother, her male Vietnamese representative counterpart. He and Mr. Malaysia were flicking bits of food at each other with childish hostility while Thailand made a speech about how wonderful this year's AFF Suzuki Cup was in his host country after the Korean and Japanese representatives congratulated everyone in the Produce 48 and talked about upcoming entertainment events and shows.
Anything about trade and business were avoided to dodge a needless fight.
"I want to congratulate the wonderful Vietnamese U23 team this year. An astounding ovation for their efforts and persistence in winning. I hope to see the U23 and Park Hang Seo in the Asian cups soon," Thailand cheered, raising a glass of champagne. There was a round of applause as the Vietnamese siblings stood up to bow happily.
"As long as Mr. Park Hang Seo does not decide to retire back to Korea, that is," Mr. South Korea interjected with a little sigh, but he winked at Mr. Vietnam who grinned back.
"Are you two friends? Why have I never heard of this until now?" She asked her older brother quietly when everyone else busied with eating the delicious Thai dinner placed in front of them.
"Because you never paid attention. I have known him since the Ly Dynasty. He's interesting but an overall nice guy. We are as tight as brothers I should think," He shrugged and went back to unsuccessfully flirt with Ms. China whom looked at him with a disgusted grimace.
Vietnam was disgruntled and muttered to herself. Tight as brothers? Since when?
She took a bite out of her Pad Thai pastry in a huff.
From the corner of her eye, she saw the Chinese female stand up and go over to Korea with a seductive flair to her walk.
She leaned over to whisper something in his ears and he turned to humour her with the kind of intimacy that made Vietnam quickly turn her head away to distract herself.
Ms. Japan was staring daggers at Ms. China. The Indonesian siblings were animatedly chatting with the Filipino, Singaporean and Malaysian siblings. Mr. China was in a heated argument with Mr. Japan about territorial disputes. The Cambodians, Laotians and Ms. Thailand were having a drinking competition. The Mongolian siblings kept mysteriously to themselves just like the Bhutanese and Tibetan siblings.
Ms. Korea was exchanging fashion and makeup advice with Ms. India and so on. The whole atmosphere was lively and boisterous.
And yet amidst all that light and noise, Vietnam drowned herself out willing herself to get lost in her own fantasy world. She thought of funny and entertaining memories and created scenarios that would never happen on its own.
In her own bizarre head, she smiled goofily to herself until her brother's lack of attention to his surroundings had his elbow jab her in the ribs. Her mischievous eyes then accidentally landed on Mr. South Korea who was gazing at her. He looked like he was observing her every movement from across the table.
From the looks of it, he was tuning everyone else out around him too. Vietnam blushed at the ludicrous thought that it might be because his attention was solely on her and no one else's. She shook her head and mentally slapped herself for such egotistical and unrealistic scenarios again.
At the same time, she felt an unknown force willing her to stand up, scooting her chair back with a screech.
"Hey Vietnam, where are you going?" Mr. Thailand asked her curiously, but she didn't answer. Instead, her own eyes locked magnetically with only one person.
Slowly coming over to him, he did not shy from staring back at her as she got closer either. In fact, he was even more shameless about following her every motion carefully even as other countries and people tried to capture his attention to speak to him.
Once she stood in front of him, before he could speak, she took his hand and pulled him up from his chair.
"Hey you. What do you think you are doing? Do you not have any self-preservation or are you trying to cause an embarrassing scene for Mr. South Korea, now?" Ms. China hissed in her ear, but her face still had a fake smile plastered on it.
Vietnam looked over her shoulder to stare at the Chinese female with a calm expression.
"Move," She whispered.
With that, she yanked on the Korean male's wrist and the two nations made a run for it out of the large and yet suffocating room.
Vietnam had never felt so free and liberating in her life, but she was glad to have made such a spontaneous and in the moment decision. She will deal with everyone else's questionings and punishment later.
Right now, something in her heart told her to bring this man along outside with her as the sounds of their feet clacked against the shiny, stone floors down the white halls until they were both outdoors.
Little did she know, the very man she took with her was gazing at her in wonder while easily keeping up with her pace.