It took me an hour before I was done with my hair, make up and getting dressed. While I was on the salon, I was bombarded with calls and texts from my mother. She was telling me to go faster. And I could not do it. I could not just demand the people prepping me to make it faster.
When I was done, I immediately went inside the car.
I reached the hotel where the party is being held. The outside of the hotel was packed with media covering the whole event. I stepped out of the car and went straight to the red carpet. I was blinded by the flashes coming from their cameras.
"Miss Yanez, you look stunning tonight!"
"Miss, who are you wearing for tonight?"
"Do you have a date tonight Miss?"
I ignored all their questions and proceeded on going inside. I was greeted by a staff then he guide me towards the door where the party was being held. I went inside and I saw that there are already a lot of people who were there.
Fully aware of all the stares I get from the guests inside this ballroom, I gracefully walk my way towards the table where my parents are seated. Wearing my black cocktail dress from from a known designer...exposing my back. I partnered it with my Louis Vuitton limited edition heels.
Why do I have to attend this ball? To avoid my mom's rants at me.
I hated this kind of parties. The only thing people do here is brag on their achievements. And I'm sick of hearing it all! Why do they have to let other people know? Can they just enjoy their success in silence?
I am currently seating at our table....playing with my wine glass. I am so fucking bored right now! If I can just go out I'd probably be at my studio making my drafts right now instead of wasting my time here.
Even the extravaganza of all the things around me can't stop me from feeling so bored. I blew my bangs and fixed my hair back to its place.
I look around and I can see all these people talking with one another and here I am.....alone...bored....and I just want to get out.
My mama signaled me to go and stand beside her. But was caught off guard when my mama introduced me to one of her friends.
"May...meet my daughter Belia."
Shit! No way! No freaking way!
"Oh my! Lia! It's been a while since I last saw you. How've you been?"
My mama looked at me with questions in her eyes.
"Tita! I'm good! How are you?"
She hugged me and whispered "I missed you so much darling!"
"Oh... you knew each other May? How?"
Tita just smiled at my mama.
"We see each other every now and then Alicia," she said and winked at me.
I sighed. Phew! That was close! I smiled at Tita May. I felt so thankful that she didn't mentioned it to my mama.
"Oh--okay..." my mama is still unconvinced though.
I excused myself and went to look for a place away from here. I don't want to be dissected by my mother. She has this strange way of finding out weird things on you. And I want to avoid it.
How in a world did they knew about each other? Tita May never mentioned that to me before. And Basti, my ex, never told me about it.
Instead of going back to our table, I decided to roam around. I found a garden right outside the ballroom. I decided to stay here for a while.
Admiring the peacefulness here that I found in this hidden garden...I tried to remove my heels but was stopped mid way when another pair of hands helped me untangle the straps of my heels.
I looked at the person who was helping me and was speechless to find that Astevan Bastien Ciervo is the owner of these hands.
I tried to move my feet but he firmly holds it.
"Stop moving Belle. Let me do it."
I ignored him and was about to remove my foot when he held it tightly. What's he trying to do?
"Please, just let me, okay?"
I sighed at let him be. It's pointless to fight back. I decided to stop myself from doing it.
I watched him untangle the straps of my heels one by one. A very familiar feeling is trying to come out from the depths of my heart. I was silent while he was doing it. We were both silent. All I can hear is the music coming from the ballroom and the sound of the splashing of water from the fountain.
I missed this. Him, being a gentleman towards me. He always do stuffs like this to me before. Like tying my shoes properly or even tying my hair into a ponytail or even held my bag when it was heavy or not. Those simple things made me fall for him even more. What the hell Belia?! Why are you reminiscing the past? It's in the past you both moved on and you're both okay now. So, what are you doing?
When he was done, I couldn't even utter a thank you to him. I just sit there quietly...waiting for him to go away.
1 minute has passed.... he's still here..
2 minutes now and he is still here!
Why is he still here?
Ignoring his presence and instead I chanted all the bad thoughts I could think about him inside my head. But I was caught up when I find myself being wrapped around with his coat.
"It's cold and your dress isn't keeping you warm." he said.
"No. I'm fine!" I said and removed his coat but still I was stopped since he put it back on me.
"Stop being so stubborn Belia!"
Me? Stubborn?! It's the other way around whose being a stubborn. I rolled my eyes at him and again I gave up.
Why is he being so stubborn? Can't he see that I'm uncomfortable that he's here? Why are you uncomfortable self? You said you already moved on! And now..I'm arguing with myself! What the?! Shit! I am having an argument with myself!
I glanced at him and saw that he's indeed still standing in front of me. I looked away.....can't handle his stare. It's too much! What?!
"What do you want?" I said when I can't take it anymore.
"I missed you Belle!"
Ahhhhhh....I missed you Belle...wait---what??
I look at him... more like glare at him for saying that! I missed you my ass! Liar! I can't help it. I laughed at him.
"Pfft! Are you joking right now? Really now?" I said to him mockingly.
I can't believe this guy in front of me has the balls to say those words at me. What a dick!
I looked away and just stared at the fountain near us. He sat beside me. And I moved away from him. But he won't stop coming near me until I was trapped by him at the corner of the bench. I can't further move away.
If he's this stubborn then...I will just stay quiet until he goes away..until he will realize that I don't want to talk to him.
"It's been a long time since then Belle."
In the quietness of this place all I can hear is him talking. It's like we're ok and still friends. I regret it now how I removed myself from the party. I could've avoided him there if I had just chose to stay to that boring party.
I stayed quiet until my phone rang. Thankful for my mama who called me. I answered it immediately.
"Where are you?"
"I'm coming Mama."
I quickly fixed my heels.I did not dare spare a glance at him. When I was done, I just walked away from that place.
I sat at our table like meeting him never happened. I could hear my mama's words. She is scolding me about my absence a while ago but all I could hear inside my head is his voice.
"I missed you Belle!"
Oh my goodness! You need to stop thinking about him Belia! You're not a naive teenager anymore.
That whole night, I stayed by my parents. I did not dare go somewhere else. It may sound like I was being a coward but I don't care. I don't want to listen to all his crappy words. I should have known that he'll be here. I should've known.