I developed a weird obsession to London. The mere sound of the word 'London' always brings me back to that one night. The London had a different face to me. It is completely engulfed by an old memory of piano and heavenly music. To me, London was... him.
"You don't get to choose where!" Mommy pointed her fork at me as we ate dinner. She's warning my father not to let me choose where we should spend the vacation. For without question, she knew I would fly to London once again.
I pouted. "Why do you hate it? We can see the Big Ben-"
"Big Ben!" she said exaggeratedly. "Not the Big Ben for the 99th time!"
She had nothing against London personally, politically nor substantively. It's just that I kept wishing to go there every vacation that we never got to chance visit other places.
I laughed. "Fine. You get to choose the October trip. I'll get the New Year, Mommy."
Her protest was immediate. "No. We're not going to London in ten years! Not until I say so!"
Mommy won this year. We visited Asian countries because she said she won't inhale any European air this year. I got contented visiting my old photos in London.
The reason for my London addiction never reached my Mom. Even my cousin, Gabbie, was unaware of what made me so devoted of that country. I was sixteen the night I first and last appreciated music. And it's been a year and a half but I never had the chance to meet the prodigy again.
Gabbie said he's a bit famous in the industry that's why I looked through his achievements from old articles. Strangely though, that year, after his win in London, news about his name stopped surfacing. I wonder why. Did he stop winning? Did he quit? But with that talent? I seriously doubt any of that is the case.
"Where are you going, Daddy?" I asked my father when I descended from the stairs and saw him well-dressed in a personally tailored suit, one fine night of November.
"It's a business party. I want you to go with me but I know how much you hate formal parties," he said while fixing his tie in our vanity mirror on the wall.
"Is it far?" I asked. I sat on the couch and hugged the huge golden throw pillows.
He was surprised that I even asked that for I would usually just bid him my goodbye. Daddy turned to me with obvious fascination written in his eyes.
"What? You're interested?"
I shrugged my shoulders. "I'm bored."
"Wow! Then get dressed. It's still early. Since you just took a bath, it won't take you a long time. Your mom and I can wait for you."
I did not put much thought on what to wear. I just put on a spaghetti-strapped moss green silk dress. I paired it with silver clutch bag and heels of the same color.
I attended the party looking very natural. My hair in flowing waves and a few silver hairpins to keep some unruly strands. And I only proved more how average my look is after seeing all the other visitors that night who made sure they wore their shiniest diamonds and most expensive fabrics.
"Why are you all so dressed, Daddy?" I whispered.
"This is not just a party for businessmen. This is a Regale for the power families, Lianara," said my father.
My mouth formed an "O" shape though I couldn't care less. I am perfectly fine if I couldn't impress the crowd.
Or so I thought...
I immediately lost my composure the moment I saw who was sitting on the next table. Just right next to us. He was that close.
A familiar built of flesh and muscle materialized in front of me. With shoulders broader than I could remember. With his face matching the darkness of his suit. And his eyes deeper than the night that lumbered.
Before I could fully settle on my seat, my vision caught his long slender fingers gripping the stem of his champagne glass. They looked relaxed and sexy, as if they were meant for a pianist.
And if those digits would run through my face, to caress the corner of my lips, to hold me on my nape...
I bit my lips. My heart pounded hard against my ribs. Even the thought was so much for me.
But then I remembered my choice of dress for tonight. I was suddenly insecure for appearing so plain against the pool of these elegant and sophisticated people.
I cursed myself silently in my head. Stupid, Lianara! You should have worn your killer gown!
I sighed and shut my eyes tightly when I realized that for the first time, there was someone I wanted to impress...