A few moments earlier…
A flash of blurred memory appeared into Sharmaine's mind as soon as she entered the grand hall. Her dress shone brightly as if it was the northern star in the middle of the night. Frankly, she could feel that all eyes were hers alone, making her uncomfortable.
She was a nameless celebrity—not even sure if 'celebrity' was the right term—entering in the crowd of people she barely knew. Their faces were distinct; some people were old; some were young and others were looking youthful. However, the distinctness of the air dissipated when she came across people with familiar atmospheres surrounding them.
They stood out in their own league, two men and two women. She was slightly baffled, but luckily, she was able to keep her composure. Merry was not by her side because she was sent somewhere for 'important' business, so her conversations were extremely limited to her mother and to other people who knew her six months ago.
'I would like to see all of your enemies gathered all in one place', she remembered as she glanced toward Iris' face. The very beginning of the journey she took was already a blur in her mind, so she failed to understand what her statement meant. Her so-called enemies were, in fact, in the very space she occupied. It's hard to distinguish enemies when you have no idea who they are or what they look like.
The air in the hall eventually got colder and drier. It touched her skin, and it felt like desert—it was parched. A lingering aura reached her senses as a man, clad fabulously in black, entered her perimeters. He was tall, handsome; his eyes were dangerous yet his lips were sweet. They locked eyes dramatically, unaware that his atmosphere oozed familiarity.
She breathed out, and focused her eyes on the prize—the man who stood on the stage. Again, flashes of the past occurred to her as the man himself was recognizable. Her memory was once again blurred, but the way he gestured gave him away. Six months had passed, but he had not changed. Sharmaine still believed that he was an irrelevant person in her life, until she heard his last statement that struck her heart.
A sudden shiver reached her spine. Her shifted gaze reached the man once again; one look was all it took to let Sharmaine know that the man standing, and undoubtedly staring at her, was a man filled with power, pride, and connection. His movements were surprising; his big hand made its way toward her wrist, abruptly dragging her away from the crowd.
Sharmaine, at first, was confused, but as soon as she saw a glimpse of the smile in Iris' face, she knew that what's happening was supposed to happen. Silently, they stood at a dark hallway; both were not able to see each other's faces.
"Where have you been?" he said. His gentle tone cut through the noise of the people. Frankly, she did not know what to answer, as her memories were still a sudden blur.
"The baby…"
Sharmaine's eyes widened as she heard him say that word. The man that stood in front of her was the father of the poor child. She made an expressionless face; there were no words to describe nor was there any reason to explain. A brief moment had just passed, and the man still waited for her answer with his eager eyes.
"So, you're that man?" she asked, trying to make sure that she's not mistaken, "Who are you?"
The man clenched his fists. He was shaking, but unsure if it was out of anger or fear. "Do you not remember me?"
"To be frank, yes. I was told that I was involved in a car accident six months ago, and I'm afraid that that statement alone could answer your first question."
There was a moment of silence as the man tried his best to not let his tears down. It was a sad realization, but what's even sadder was the fact that she lost her child but cannot even cry about it.