There's no doubt! It has to be her!
Ashton: Claire...?
I softly call out to her, anxious. Her shoulders flitch for a second before she turns around to look at me in what it seems like to me in slow motion. It's her! Her face remains emotionless as she brushes her hair behind her ear to reveal a tiny mole beside her left eye. Her hazel coloured eyes stare into mine, her pink lips pout slightly before she narrows her eyes and smiles. That smile, it's not a gentle one like I remember, it's a seductive yet somewhat a confident, professional one.
Claire: Well, if this isn't Mr. Beckett. May I ask how you know me?
She addresses me with my last name as if to treat me as a stranger. She... Isn't she surprised or happy or anything to see me? Or is she treating me like this since we are at a formal event? I walk towards her.
Ashton: Claire you...
What am I supposed to talk about?!
Claire: Forgive me, but I don't remember being your aquiantaince so as to be on a first name business with you. You can call me Claire Blanche.
Ashton: What?
She hands me her business card. I look at the card dumbfounded. 'Fuchsia Publishings'?! She works for that magazine? That's the company that would stop asking me for interviews ever since the news of me coming back leaked! But more importantly, why is she... Is she pretending to not remember me because of the 'actor- journalist' thing? Or perhaps... she really forgot me? I'm about to ask her what the meaning to her actions are when her phone rings with a 'ding' to alert her of someone's text. She looks at for a second and faces me again with a fake business smile.
Claire: Looks like I need to get going. If everything goes well, we can talk about whatever you want later.
If everything goes well? What does she mean? My brain isn't able to process anything. Just then, a mild wind blows by pushing her hair on her face. She brushes it back just like the last time but I notice a diamond ring on her finger this time. She's engaged? Or married...?! My heart sinks. She moved on. I mean of course she did, she was the one who didn't want us to be together, so it doesn't come with a surprise. But I can't help but feel disappointed; I guess a part of me was hoping that she still loved me, just like I do.
She walks away before I can say anything, never turning back. As she is going out of the balcony, a pretty woman walks in, someone I know too well.
Neha: Ashton! Long time no see! How've you been?!
Neha and I trained and made our debut together, only she returned to India after 2 years. We used be very close friends. She walks toward me and gives me a light hug.
Ashton: You're 'small' as ever.
I say suggestively and she pouts, her face red.
Neha: Rude! BUT speakin' of which, that woman who just walked out looked pretty busty in that revealing dress. You seemed pretty into her, 'she yer type?
She smirks.... Nothing gets past her, does it? I look down at the business card she gave me.
Ashton: You remember the girl I told you about while I was still in therapy?
Neha: That Celine or somethin'?
Ashton:... Claire. That, that was her.
Neha: For real?! I see why you're so into her.
Ashton: I wasn't with her for how she looked, I... I loved the gentle kind of person she was.
Neha: Ohhh, so like the beauty inside?
Ashton: Uh huh.
That's right, the Claire I knew would never wear a smile or dress like that. She used to hate make-up and jewelry except for the one bracelet I gave her on her birthday. She returned it to me the day we broke up. I sigh as I put the card in my pocket.
Ashton: Wait a minute, how did you know I would be here?
Neha: Oh, I met Director Kal. He said he invited you here, but didn't know where you wandered off to. I remember y'hate socializing so I figured you'd be here!
Hah, nobody knows me better than her. However...
Ashton: Crap! I totally forgot! I need to get going or he'll chew me alive just like the rumour say!!
I sprint back inside the party room.
Neha: Take care!
After the party..
Leah: You look pretty worn out.
Ashton: I just want to hibernate.
Leah: Hibernate?!
I get seated in the back seat and the car leaves the venue. I take out the business card Claire gave me. This event for was big-shots, what was Claire, a journalist doing there? She wouldn't intrude uninvited given the magazine's status unless she had an escort that was invited there. Could that be her fiance? An actor and a journalist can't be together but any other big-shot can?! I had so many questions to ask her but I somehow couldn't.
Ashton: Leah?
Leah: What's up?
She replies from the front seat, not even looking up from her phone.
Ashton: Tell Fuchsia Publishings that I'm agreeing to do the interview they were asking for.
Leah: What?!
Leah looks up from her phone and turns around to look at me her eyes as wide as saucers.
Leah: YOU want to do an INTERVIEW?! Didn't you hate those?
Ashton: I did, there's just something I've gotta find out.
I glance down on the card again making up my mind to find out the truth.....