Damn! That guy just stole her first kiss. She can't believe it!
"Wake up Avery!", she mentally castigated herself. This is just a dream. Your first kiss was not stolen by a guy older than you by a century!
Her father was getting closer and she can see that he is frowning.
"Father, I was just about to go down.", she said as she hooked her hands in his arm.
"Lets go. Remember to smile at everyone and greet them properly Amelia. I don't want any mishap today." he sternly reminded.
Everyone was having a good time downstairs. She smiled and greeted them, careful to omit their names as she doesn't know anybody.
She was showered with compliments but she knows that not all are sincere. The men were leering at her and if it was in modern times, she would have clobbered them already. The ladies have envious faces and are just waiting for her to commit a mistake. Their fakeness is draining her energy. She was on her way to the food station when somebody latched at her arms.
" There you are Lia! I was looking for you since earlier. Gosh! I heard that Terrence Chang is here. Have you seen him? He's just so dreamy! ," the girl prattled on without a stop.
She sighed. Judging by the way she acts, this girl must be a friend in the very least. She's the first person who doesn't seem fake in dealing with her.
"I'm sorry, who are you?," she asked, feeling stupid for asking the same question again since she arrived here.
The girl paused for a moment and looked her in the eye, then suddenly laughed.
"Way to go Lia! Is this payback for fooling you last time? How can you forget your best friend?! How can you forget your beautiful lily, Ying?!, she asked dramatically while shaking her arm.
So she was right, turns out the girl is this person's best friend. She decided to go with the flow.
" Got you! No, I haven't seen anyone handsome tonight.," she replied but paused for a moment when she remembered the guy from the balcony. Damn! She didn't even get the bastards name.
"Ok, maybe I'll get lucky later and see him around. C'mon, I'm famished," Ying said and then she was dragged towards the food station.
"This girl sure is a ball of energy.", she thought while following along.
They mingled along with the other guests and she was thankful for the girls presence which made things easier. They were happily chatting when they suddenly heard someone gasp, " The general is here!"
Avery looked towards the door and saw a dignified older man talking to her father. A younger guy was beside him but his profile was covered by the people are crowding them. She saw her father signal that she come over.
"Ying, let's go to where father is. He is calling me.,"
"Ok, lets go now. You know how your father is. He'll lecture you again if you don't come immediately.", her friend said as they walked towards the door.
"Father, I'm here with Ying.,"
"Hello, Uncle.," Ying greeted.
Her father just nodded his head to acknowledge Ying.
"Amelia, I'd like you to meet Genera Yu. He's an old friend of mine but has just recently been transferred here again in City H. And this beside him is his son, Xander." her father introduced.
"Its a pleasure to meet you, General.," she greeted while smiling. Her smile faltered when she turned to meet the son. The man takes the word intimidating a notch higher. She can feel the hair raise all over her body and her instinct is telling her to run away!