Hera

"Insufferable." I was so pissed off.

It had been a few hours since that meeting ended. A legal meeting that turned into some cultural exchange program. I ended up getting a Yin-Ra student out of nowhere.

I kept throwing my clothes into my suitcase.

"You have said that countless times for the last hour."

I glared at Fleur, who was sitting on my bed. No lounging on my bed.

"Weren't you supposed to be sick?"

"It was just my asthma," she innocently pleaded her case.

"You never had that before."

"I had it this morning"

They were all trying to drive me mad.This reaction was a bit too much, but he was the one who started it.

"Who even admits that he had investigated others before even saying hello?"

"..."

I took some bandanas from the drawer then slammed it shut.

"This is the tenth time, Hera; let it go."

Fleur was catching the clothes I threw and putting them into the suitcase.

"Of course, you weren't the one forced to take a student who doesn't know basic human etiquette."

"He can't be that bad," she stated.

I paused for a second. Well his voice was something out of this world. When he said my name, tiny electric shocks ran over my skin. I wanted to hear him say it again.

No, this was not the point.

"Not bad, eh?" Fleur smirked when I didn't reply.

I closed my suitcase.

"Seriously, why don't you just move in with me?" she suggested."I am just staying with you until my room is repaired."

I glanced at the spalling concrete and black dots.

"Mom would disown me if I moved out."

After the plague, as the human population dwindled, everyone was relocated to five main territories. The government encouraged families to stay together.

Fleur, of course, never abided by any rules and didn't see reason with it. She moved out into her own villa after art school. She turned the floor into an art studio while the upper floor was her residence.

I dragged my suitcase outside the room, and Fleur followed.

"Hera," Father appeared and took the suitcase from my hand. "The infestation and renovation teams will finish in three weeks."

"Okay."

Just as we went down the stairs, Mum showed up at the front door.

"Hera, the arranged date will be in three days."I nodded.

"Next Wednesday." She stressed each word.

"Fine, Mum."

There was no going back on this one. But why was everyone trying to annoy me today?

"Carlos will take you there."

Fleur was so shocked. She halted at the front door. I just pushed her forward towards her car. Father put the suitcase in the trunk.

"You agreed?" she asked once we were in the car.

"And guess who is the culprit?"

"Who?"

"You, my dear Fleur,"

"What, why?"

I leaned back into my seat and closed my eyes.

The way he leaned towards me this morning, the top buttons of his shirt open, framing his chiseled chest. He looked me straight in the eyes robbing me of my common sense. I was only brought back to reality thanks to the man who sat beside him, who started coughing. At least I kept my dignity intact since I was probably a few seconds away from touching those lines on his chest and neck.

Insufferably attractive man.

"Hera, did you sleep?"

"No."

We arrived at Fleur's villa.Distracted. I am too distracted.I entered the villa and headed to the pottery room.

"Hera, where are you going?"

"The wheel."

She didn't talk further. When I started the wheel near midnight, she knew I wanted to channel my emotions somewhere.

I didn't stop until a tall, graceful ovoid vase was formed in front of me. Narrow base, short neck, flared rim, and a beautiful bombe. Straight out of a Japanese culture book.

I finally calmed down.

It is just a class. He will get bored after a lesson or two. That would be all.I carefully took the cutting wire and removed the vase from the wheel. I put it on a wooden board, then left it on a shelf to dry out slowly. I didn't cover it with a plastic bag since the weather was cool.

I went to Fleur's car trunk and took the suitcase to the guest room. I didn't empty the suitcase. I took my two-piece pajamas and slippers out. I headed to the bathroom for a much-needed shower.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror. I started reading the phrase over my pajama top: "A butterfly effect, not fate"I went to the living room. Fleur was already having a movie night without waiting for me.

"What are you watching?"

"Romeo and Juliet." I rolled my eyes.

Typical.

I glanced at the television. Is that another adaptation? How can she find so many adaptations of the same story?

She handed me a slice of pizza after I sat down. At least she ordered barbecue. She had a guilty conscience, of course.

******************************

RRRNNNGGG

I fell asleep on the sofa. I opened my eyes. Fleur slept on the chair, likely after crying her eyes out while watching the movie.

I grabbed my phone. It was 7 Am. Who the hell would visit anyone this early in the morning?

"Fleur, someone is at the door," I tried to wake her up.

"Donno, you check it," she answered after a few nudges; she didn't even open her eyes.

Well, whoever was ringing the bell was getting a piece of my mind.

I reached the door. I looked through the peephole. I saw two figures. I was pissed off all over again.

I opened the door

"What is the meaning of this?" I started tapping my foot. I forgot I was wearing my pajamas, probably with some stray barbecue sauce on my cheeks and messy hair.

They looked shocked.

"We are here to apply for the class." I looked up at him.

"Your website requires us to fill out a form in person."

"At 7 Am?"

"I wanted to show my enthusiasm for the class." He then leaned close. My heart skipped a beat.

"I am trying to set an example here," he stated.

Unreasonable.

I simply let them in. Whatever this was, it was too early, and I couldn't process it.He was too relaxed, acting like showing up at 7 a.m. to apply was normal.Then the other man from yesterday walked in. Draco or something. His pale skin had a very deep pink shade. I didn't spare them another glance.

"Wait for Maeve in the reception." I started climbing the stairs.

"Where is she?" Draco asked.

"She arrives at 9 Am."

"The kitchen is there." I pointed towards the kitchen. "Serve yourselves."

***********************************

Zale

I was shocked when I saw her open the door.

Messy hair, pajamas, and a very disapproving face. My heart lost its rhythm again. However, I was brought back to reality when she started tapping her foot.

According to the investigation file Draco handed me, she was living with her family. What was she doing here?

I wanted to be a respectful student so I came here early to apply. After all, she seemed annoyed when she left yesterday.

When I asked Draco, he said something along the lines that I should have at least greeted her before stating that I investigated her.

Now she stormed upstairs, looking even more annoyed. Humans are complicated. I sat down. Waiting for two hours is not a problem at all. Will that show her my sincerity?

"Who is it?" A woman called from upstairs. Once we were inside the house, we could hear everything they said

"Two people who lack basic human etiquette," Hera replied.

Did we? I wondered silently.

"That serious?"

"Deal with it yourself." Then a door was slammed.

Draco was becoming a very dark shade of pink. It was almost red. Then the woman from the bar came downstairs.

"Hello, you are the new applicants," I nodded.

"I am sorry our Potter is not the most welcoming host so early in the morning." She smiled. "That is why we never leave her in charge of the reception."

"We apologize for the inconvenience," Draco said.

"Honestly, I want to bring the forms to you immediately, but I have no idea where they are." She started rambling.

"We have to wait for Maeve so I don't cause a bigger mess."

"I have contacted her; she will be here at nine sharp," she then pointed towards the kitchen."There is coffee. There is also pizza in the fridge if you want."

She started to climb the stairs.

Draco stood and went to the kitchen.

"Elder, do you want coffee?"

"What is that?"

"Humans drink it to be more alert in the morning."

"Do you need help to concentrate, Draco?"

"No, Elder."

"Fine, let me try it once."

This was learning culture, of course.Five minutes later, he handed me a mug. I looked at the mug he handed me. It was unlike those back at the office. There were even carved stars all around it with interconnected lines. Are these like the star-lines?

My eyes traveled to a phrase at the bottom: "Hera's cup"

I looked at Draco. Was this intentional? He wasn't even looking at me. Coincidence. Cosmic coincidence, that is all.

I sipped on the drink. It was awful. I wanted to spit it, but knowing who this cup belonged to, I restrained myself.

"Do you really enjoy drinking this?"

"Well, you just get used to it," Draco answered.

It seemed that the Yin-ra race had to get used to a lot of stuff. A while later, I heard the door that was slammed an hour ago reopen.

"When will we go shopping?"

"Why would we?" Her magnetic voice is less annoyed than before.

"You have a date this Wednesday, sweetie."

My chest tightened. Was this the coffee effect?

"Not a date, Fleur; it is called civilized conversation."

My heart started beating normally again. They said this caffeine thing did increase the heart rate. That was all.

"Lower your voice; we have guests," Draco chuckled.

Are these two so oblivious?

It was known that the Yin-ra senses are very advanced. Even if they talk in a hushed voice, we would hear it.

"They are still here?"

"Yup."

"He is a dedicated one; gotta give him that."

I nodded. Finally, she is seeing my efforts. Of course, a student had to gain his mentor's approval.

"So back to your civilized conversation or whatever, let's go shopping."

"I have clothes."

"None suitable for a date with an alien."

"Fleur, this is disrespectful; they have a name."

I smiled.

"It is not a date, more like cultural learning, just like the man from downstairs said yesterday."

She remembered what I said. I smiled again. Draco started coughing again.

"I don't understand why you are so against it. You won't necessarily find your mate, and even if you do, it doesn't necessarily mean romance."

"I know, but most of them are romantic."

"And?"

"Will I just have to love out of responsibility for that bond?" She paused. "Will he also just love me out of responsibility?"

Responsibility. I was shocked.

The pulse on my left hand hummed too slowly. I squeezed my left hand until the color turned angry red.

I should keep the star bond to myself for now.

Have I pissed off the Goddess too much that my star bond would only see me as a responsibility?

No, I will never accept this. I want her to choose me, not the bond, not fate, just me.

Wait, why would I want that?

"If she ever gets a star bond, her mate is just a poor soul." Draco shook his head.

"Draco, clear next Wednesday's schedule. I want to inspect the government-set meeting area for the Yin-Ra and humans."

I sank into the couch and closed my eyes.I don't know how much time had passed when someone opened the front door.

"Maeve, you are finally here." Fleur ran down the stairs. "Hera, had been bullying me?"

Hera followed next. She was wearing a floral dress. I sucked a deep breath before I could stop myself. I have to leave; this is getting dangerous.

Hera headed to the kitchen, ignoring her friend's antics.

"Maeve, where is my mug?"

"Which one?"

"My cup, the one with my name all over it?"

They totally ignored these two elders. Maeve scanned the room. Hera looked for her mug frantically. I didn't want to admit I took her mug. She already found me discourteous.

"Hello, you are the new applicants?" Maeve waved towards us.

"Yes," Draco answered.

"I will prepare the forms. I am sorry you had to see this mess."

"No, I apologize again for coming here early," Draco sincerely said.

"So both of you will take pottery classes?"

"No, I will do pottery while Elder Draco will do painting."

Variety was important.

"The pottery class will be once a week, every Friday. Is that okay with you?" Maeve explained.

I nodded.

"My mug," Hera pointed to the table in front of me before approaching me

"This is yours?" I asked.

"Yes." She held it up.

"I didn't know."

"It is okay."

"It is different, not like those in the office."

"You like it?"

I looked at it.

"You can keep it."

I forgot my surroundings for a moment. I wanted to touch her hand.

"Hera, what is the meaning of this? You never give your work out for free, not even to me, your friend."

Her cheeks turned a beautiful shade of pink.

"I am gifting a student."

" You have never gifted your students, let alone one who hadn't filled the form yet."

".."

Draco started coughing again.

Author's Note

Some people flirt.

Some people show up at 7 a.m. to fill out a pottery class application.

See you in chapter 6 ✨️