Hellbound Heart

Bunos chapter dedicated to @Ivette_M11!!! Thank you so very much once again for the supergift!!! <3

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Sunset came quickly and just as Alex had told Sebastian, he gave no apologies as he snatched back his wife from Elle and the two disappeared immediately after. Of course, Elle was not aware of the deal that had gone on between the two men, that even after a while, she was still looking around hoping to spot Abi somewhere.

She had enjoyed herself to the fullest for the past few hours. The food they tasted, and the games and everything… she had laughed so much and enjoyed her time immensely. She could not even remember when was the last time she had enjoyed herself so thoroughly like this.

"Don't look for Abigail anymore. Alexander said that he'd only lend his wife to you until sunset." Sebastian spilled the beans so unceremoniously that Elle gaped at him for a moment before bursting out into laughter.

"He… really said that?!" Elle asked after she managed to stop laughing, wiping at the tears that leaked out from the corners of her eyes.

When Sebastian nodded, Elle covered her mouth with her hands. "Oh dear, really?! Oh no… Alexander must've been pissed that I've monopolized Abi the whole time! Was he really upset?"

Elle probed Sebastian. She suddenly realized that it was quite rude of her to intrude into their couple time together as this festival was about celebrating couples in the first place. She had thought Alexander was totally fine about her monopolizing Abi! She had asked Abi too, actually, but Abi told her it's totally fine because Alexander will be hanging out with Sebastian.

Seeing that she was embarrassed and a little worried, Sebastian grabbed her hand and led her somewhere else though he really did not know where to even bring her. "Don't worry. He's not pissed at all. He already vented his frustration on me by bothering me with all his antics."

That made Elle smile in relief and she sighed. She knew Alexander wouldn't be so petty to get upset but still, should really thank Alexander when she sees them later for lending Abi to her.

"Where are we going?" she asked Sebastian when they just kept walking ahead between the stalls.

He stopped and faced a stall. Only to belatedly realize that it was a liquor stall.

Sebastian was about to continue walking but Elle was already being sales-talked by a middle-aged lady offering her a delicious, fruity-tasting liquor.

"This is perfect for the lantern event later on, miss. As per tradition, you and your lover need to have a drink as you watch your lantern fly into the sky!" the woman said animatedly and Elle was totally sold on it.

"Lantern event? There's a lantern event?!" her eyes widened, sparkling excitedly when hearing that there was such an interesting thing happening later.

"Oh my, you're not aware of it? No wonder you two are still strolling around here when every other couple must be already preparing for it! Alright leave it to me. Give me a few minutes, my dear." The lady headed back into her stall and when she returned, she was holding a basket.

"Everything is here now. A delicious liquor, two glasses, a thin mattress and the lantern and its accessories!" The lady talked fast, explaining everything to Sebastian and Elle in one breath. "But wait, since it seems you both are visitors here, let me brief you both a little. Listen here lady, you both must fly your lantern together and then you two must kiss before the lantern is high enough, you hear me young woman? Do not forget the kiss or your relationship will be cursed. Now after the kiss, you two must enjoy your liquor while watching the floating lanterns. Remember to do it step by step, understood? Now for the payment, everything totaled up to a thousand bucks."

While Elle was still processing what she just heard, the lady put the basket in her hand and then stretched her palm out for the payment.

Elle turned to Sebastian and whispered to him. "It's a thousand bucks…"

Sebastian brought his wallet out only to find that he only had a few hundred with him.

Their eyes met and Elle blinked at him.

Approaching the sales lady, Sebastian spoke to her in a low tone. "Do you accept cards?"

"Oh, no cards are used, young man. Sorry, but we hate cards here." The lady moved towards Elle and took the basket back from her hands before turning back to her stall, muttering some inaudible words, which Elle suspects were to scold them.

Sebastian saw Elle pursing her lips as she watched the lady's back.

And before he knew it, he stopped the lady.

"We'll take this." He said but the lady frowned at him.

"You don't even have money to buy them. You go to another stall and see if anyone accepts cards. But I don't think –"

"I'll pay you later… triple or more. Whatever you want."

"Look here, young man. You think you can fool me…" the lady trailed off as Sebastian took his mask off and stared at her. Her mouth slowly turned agape.

"I'm sure you know who I am." he said and then he took his wrist watch off. "Here, take this as collateral. I'll have someone find you and pay you later."

"Sebastian…" Elle butted in when she saw him giving his very expensive watch to the lady. "No, it's okay, really. You don't need to…"

"It's fine." Sebastian glanced at her and then took the basket back from the lady after placing the watch on her palm.

"Seb… that's –"

"I said it's fine." He pulled her away from the stall as Elle hesitantly followed after him, constantly looking back at the lady who was still staring at them, her palms still held out with Sebastian's watch sitting on it.

"We'll just need to find Abi and Alexander to borrow some money from them first."

As Elle nagged at him, a couple rushed past them. "Hurry! The lantern event is about to start!" the woman said and then she watched them rush off ahead of them.

Suddenly, she pulled on Sebastian's hand and followed the couple rushing on ahead.

They arrived at an open space. Many couples were already seated on their mattresses on the grass.

The lantern event had already started as they saw some couples already lighting up their lanterns.

"Let's go Seb!" Elle pulled on him again and once she found a good space, she quickly grabbed the mattress and spread it on the ground. Then she took the lantern. "Do you know how to –"

"Relax, Izabelle. This is not a race." He reminded her calmly and then he rummaged for something in the basket.

"Sorry, I can't help my excitement." She told him as she watched him prepare their lantern.

He smiled behind his mask and then soon, he lifted his gaze at her. "Ready?" he asked and when her eyes twinkled as she nodded, Sebastian lit the lantern up.

Many other lanterns had already started floating upwards around them as the two of them stood, the lantern was between them as they both held onto it.

"Wow, this is amazing…" she whispered as she looked at their lantern. The soft glow of the light from the lantern's candle illuminated her face and had Sebastian unable to tear his gaze away from her.

"Do you know if we need to make a wish or something before letting this go?" she asked him, eyes gleaming so brightly as she looked up at him.

"I think… yes," he replied and with that, she closed her eyes.

Sebastian did not know why he had said that. He actually did not know about the traditions of this festival at all. It was just something he had blurted out after hearing her question.

As she made her wish, Sebastian could only stand there, watching her like she was the only thing he could see in that moment.

When she opened her eyes, she smiled at him and then, they both let the lantern float up.

Their eyes watched it until it was flying along with the others. The sky that was now filled with floating, beautiful lanterns looks so magical. Enchanting and romantic. It was so breathtaking that Elle could not stop smiling, until she remembered the stall lady's words. That they must kiss.

Her smile faded as she shifted her gaze from the lanterns to the man before her.

And then slowly, she reached out.