While trying to keep her composure due to sudden events, people rushed in the back stage and flood her with congratulations. Einne tried to search Dmitri from the crowd but he is nowhere to be found, his coat on her shoulders and his masculine scent stayed only with her. How could she able to face him tomorrow? Who knows, she was too stunned to the moon and back with sudden events while his kiss still lingers on her lips.
Everyone's applause still heard in the hall, Eden and Jerry searched for their star of the night daughter. Finding her in the backstage amidst sea of congratulations, they slipped through and snatched her away. Everyone paved way for them and let them pass through the crowd. Mr. and Mrs Young also went up to find them to celebrate with them in the gala banquet where distinguished guests where only invited. They could not amiss their soon to be daughter - in - law to be complimented.
"Isn't she too lovely, isn't she?" everyone in the banquet murmurs as they eyed Einne with her family. Eating while being under radar of everyone is too much that she finds it hard to swallow. She thinks that she might have indigestion later while sharing a table with her soon to be in laws.
Everyone grew silence when David and Dmitri entered the hall like two dashing noble princes while carrying boquets. Einne avoided Dmitri's gaze as their eyes met. She was still flustered with the events earlier that she couldn't breath well. Both of them were heading towards her table while exchaging cold stares with each other.
"I hope you can still read the room, Dmitri." David remarked with disdain while trying to get passed ahead on him towards his fiancée.
He heard no response from Dmitri as he get passed ahead of him.
"You!"
Einne know that someone is approaching, either one of the two she was too unsure as she was staring on her wine glass.
"Einne!"
It was Eden who bring her back to her senses and directed her gaze to the upcoming guest. It was Dmitri with his unusual playful grin with large bouquet in his hands.
"Oh, isn't it Dmitri!" Eden exclaimed that called the attention of the elder Young. The atmosphere grew cold but the Lin's were unaware why. Nobody in the room knows that Dmitri is the illegitimate child of the Young even her. Everyone thought he was just another distant relative of Young with unknown background. Stella Young's utensil's clanked as it fell of on her expensive plate. She shoot cold stares at Dmitri while standing in front of Coreen.
Dmitri ignored his folks but pay his attention to the patriarch of the Lin's. He was too polite to greet him while greet his own father with invincible contempt, returning his cold stares at Stella.
Dmitri handed his bouquet to Einne's direction, hesitantly she was about to reach them, he quickly handed the bouquet to Eden. She snapped as she was in awe with his new skills.
"Oh! I thought it was for our Coreen. You are sweet as always son."
"I was reminded of my mother when I looked at you," and glanced at his stupified father. "besides Einne doesn't like flowers. She kept playing them and plucking them while throwing at me. She preferred cactus as congratulatory gift instead."
This is the usual Dmitri she knew, it seems the event earlier bugged her was just a joke. Einne smiled at Dmitri with annoyed look but was beyond relief.
Jerry Lin laughed in disbelief when he heard her daughter preferred cactus, he was reminded exactly how Coreen used plucked Eden's rose garden and throw them at the ground with frustration.
"I guess someone knows my daughter too well. I like you son."
"Oh, I'm sorry Mr. and Mrs. Young, I was too late to introduce Einne's closest friend. Dmitri Young. He have the same surname as you." it was Eden introduced him to the Youngs.
"Are you perhaps elder Young's illegitimate son?" Jerry expressed jokingly at his partner.
"I am happened to be his..."
"He is my distant cousin, Uncle Lin." it was David who interrupted.
"Oh! Is that so?"
"He was supposed to study abroad, I wondered why you changed your mind, cousin."
David sit beside the empty chair beside Einne on the left. All seats where occupied that Dmitri needed to stand as if he doesn't belong in that table. The table is large that he could have room but it was too intimidating to left him standing. It was when the orchestra played that signal them for the dance.
"I hope it is not rude, may I have this dance?" he asked while grinning at Einne. Knowing that she had no room to refuse, she hold his hand while excusing to her parents and the Youngs.
"What are you doing?" Einne whispered as they were starting to dance.
"Preventing you from indigestion?" he sneered while encircled her in his arms.
"You were rude with Mr. and Mrs. Young earlier. Don't try to mess them."
He nodded casually while looking at her astonished. It was weird to make him agree willingly.
"Earlier I."
The music was cut off and David rose in front stage as if he was to give his fervent speech towards crowd be it congratulations toward the success of gala. Everyone who were dancing put to halt and atttentively look forward at him. Dmitri tighten his grip on Einne's waist while Einne tighten clung hard on his shoulders. They were looking at each other as if they were going to part the next few minutes.
'Aside from celebrating this founding anniversary, forgive me for being impudent tonight but I would like to make some announcements, " it was David who paved way to the crowd and making his way towards someone. Carmen was stunned as she looks at David making his way towards her direction. She is currently honoring an important guest by a dance and was too exhilarated to her expectations.
"I believed your fiancée is making another scene again." Dmitri whispered as he locked his gaze at Einne who looks troubled. She can't explain this scene even though she knows that David will proposing Carmen in the midst of crowd. She was anxious for unknown reasons as the novel's original plot unfold before her.
"Mind your own business Uncle Dim." as she shook her worried thoughts while looking away. It is rewritable plot for the main leads, she wonders her doom is inevitable as well.
David focused on the the woman who pertubed his tranquil life. His frustrated gaze landed on the man who held her as if marking that she is off limits to him. His original plan was to propose to Carmen whom he already loved but his feet get passed Carmen and stood infront of Einne who was flabbergasted
at him.
He kneels in front of her while pulling something in his suit. David too can't help why he was drawn to Coreen whom he resented before. Carmen was out of his sight while looking at dumbfounded Einne while clinging on his brother. Everyone murmurs in the crowd of congratulations and giddy over with her response.
Einne couldn't move her lips and blankly staring at David while holding hands with Dmitri. This doesnt seems right. This plot was supposed to be the romantic proposal of David to Carmen while she will go berserk to oppose.
"We known each other for so long and we were arranged to marry to with our parents but as a man whom loved you, will you marry me?"
This cannot be, she thought as she let go of Dmitri's hands. She was pressed with her hesitation and silence as everyone grew impatient with her reply. Her eyes search for her parents on the crowd and they too were ecstatic with David's stunt. Everyone is expecting her to say yes and even her hammering heart which belongs to original Coreen would gladly agreed to it.
Even everyone cheered to at her for her to reply a grandest yes, her heart was glad and ached at the same time. Her frozen self was melted when Dmitri interlocking his hands to hers. The hearth she was longing for was right in her hands.
"No." She looked at David with determined eyes and confidently decline him. She grasped Dmitri's hand and dragged him too with her.
'I will not follow anyone's plot. Not anymore. I swore at the name of my paper work!' her inner voiced screamed as she escaped the crowd with Dmitri.
"I will not submit with this nonsense drama! I am of different genre, so Uncle Dim?" she looked at Dmitri who was confused with what she was spouting. "Will you be my willing accomplice in refusing all this drama?"
He chuckled at held her hand.
"I don't know what you are saying but if its with you, then I am willing."
They fled to a place where their feet leads them. It will be a roller-coaster escape route.