In her last life Lucia was dying to go to the party and even dared to sneak up like a thief. Natalia was the one who was more excited than her while choosing the dress for her. A bright red dress that was sleeveless that highlighted her small waist and slender legs was chosen to be worn by her. But it was kind of too revealing and she seemed like a seductress trying to seduce rich old man for money.
Looking at the mirror Lucia felt uncomfortable. Her neckline looked way too eye catching especially her cleavage looked unnecessarily zoomed out. "You sure it's okay to wear this?" Mina tried to pull the dress to cover her thighs. "Come on girl, you are the queen tonight. It really suits you. Trust me you are gonna be in the spotlight." Natalia winked as she dressed in a simple but cute dress which looked cultured compared to her.
"Aren't you too plain?" Lucia pointed out at the dress she was wearing. "Can't steal the spotlight now, can I?" Natalia spoke convincingly. Lucia who was in the prime of her life felt joyful and a little vain when she was praised continuously failing to see the dark truth underneath the smile and words of Natalia. She wore the red heels especially bought for that dress. Although she hated them she was willing to wear them as she wanted to look perfect, call it her vanity.
'I was such a fool before.' Lucia's face darkened when she remembered the past. Natalia who had gone for reservation returned with a smile. "Everything is done." She showed them the reservation and invited few other girls and boys they were close to in the party.
Just then the professor entered the hall and Harith left quickly promising to meet them later. He was always hovering in the acting and theatre department. One day someone could actually mistake him for an art student.
"Bye bye" Lucia waved happily. If he stayed any longer the unwavering and intense gaze that Natalia was giving him was going to make a hole in her. Lucia attended the not so familiar classes struggling over all the courses since she had already forgotten most of them.
"You sick? Why can't you remember anything that we just went through yesterday?" Sam looked at her worried.
'OH its just that I was reborn and I can't seem to remember anything.' Lucia turned to speak at Sam.
There was no way she could actually say that. There were two reasons. The first one was that they might not believe her and think she is making up things. The second was she really didn't want to show her trump card to just anyone.
"Probably I am excited for the party?" Lucia spoke without much thought. Upon hearing this Natalia who was afraid she might change her mind finally breathed a sigh of relief. Lucia noticed it from the corner of her eye. 'Let's see what you are planning.' Lucia wanted to know what this selfish girl who sat next to her had planned out for her. The last time there were some interruptions and troubles, this life she was going to expose her to everyone if she tried anything funny and messed up. Lucia swore in her heart.
The classes finally ended at 3 pm. They didn't have any practical lessons since the professor was on a sick leave so they were excused for the day. "Come over to my house, I have a gift ready for you." Natalia dragged her by her hand.
'Well whatever.' She let herself be dragged. She waved goodbye to Sam who was going to wait for Harith in a café near the campus. "See you tonight." Sam waved his hand back.
"You guys are so close…Don't you have any plans for dating him?" Natalia scraped out a topic as they were walking towards her home. "Me and Sam…hmmm" Lucia pretended to be interested. Natalia looked at her anxiously. 'As long as she is away from Harith, it really doesn't matter whoever she chooses." Natalia was thinking while looking expectantly at Lucia.
"He is like a little brother to me so I guess it's a no and I really don't plan to be in any kind of relationship." Lucia blurted out her true thoughts. Whether she believed her or not really didn't matter to her. "I really hope no one will fall in love with me. It's burdensome." Lucia wandered back to her past where she loved only one man in her entire life.
Roy was his name and he came into her life as a fresh breathe of air. He claimed to have fallen for her in first sight. She was stupid to think men ever loved truly. They were just beast. A bitter smile unknowingly came on her face.
Natalia didn't believe her. A girl who loved praises and spotlight not wanting to be the attention of the other men was totally unbelievable to her. As a girl even she wished to be admired by other men. She wanted to be the fantasy of other men. She wanted to be the envy of other girls. She didn't believe Lucia was purer than her who didn't even think about men. And even if she was, she was going to taint her the so called 'goddesses' of the campus.
"That my friend" Natalia patted her back waking her up from her bitter memories. "That is because you have never experienced the importance of men." Lucia knew what she was pointing at and decided to change the topic.
They stood in front of her apartment door. Before Natalia could unlock the door it opened itself. Sight of a man who was shirtless and drinking a glass of cold beer welcomed the two teenage girls. "Hey Nat baby, took you long." The man was drunk. He grinned foolishly at Natalia who had a pale face.
'What is this mothe*fu**er doing here?' Natalia started to sweat profusely. She had asked him not to come over tonight since she was partying tonight.
As if trying to cover up something she immediately greeted the man. "Brother when did you come? You should have told me before." Natalia nudged at the man hoping he would play along with her as she nervously glanced at Lucia who seemed lost.
The man who had red cheek became even redder as he became intimate with her. " Brother is home and what do you have to do as a cute little sister hmm?" He thought it was a new role play and he hugged her trying to bite her neck. Lucia was totally forgotten.
'Jordan Lay, her current partner, more like friends with benefits.' Lucia looked at the man who had appeared before her half naked two times counting this time.
"Brother stop acting drunk." Natalia shoved the man off of her hoping Lucia didn't find anything strange about them. 'What if she tells about this to Harith??He will never look at me.' Natalia wanted to kill the man who decided to show up at her place at the wrong time and at that drunkenly stupid.
"If you want to be able to keep fucking in future play along with me you moron." "Natalia threatened the man as she whispered softly in his ear. He sobered up a little and finally noticed another person in the room. Although he was angry with what she just said it was still his fault for showing up when she had already informed him.
"I was just so excited to see her that I didn't notice you." Jordan scratched his head as he spit out the words one by one as if he was making them up. Well yes, he was making them up.
'Such a terrible liar and what kind of acting is this?' Even as a third rate actress her acting was hundred fold amazing than his.
Past Lucia would have been fooled but this Lucia was not that naïve girl who just turned eighteen. When she remembered she actually was fooled by this pair of actors she wanted to dig a hole and bury her.
"Come on why you are trying to hide it. He is your boyfriend right?" Lucia calmly destroyed their façade with few words effortlessly. "He is handsome, good for you." Lucia congratulated her.
Natalia who was busted even after trying hard to cover up things felt ridiculous upon hearing her congratulations. Jordan was okay but not handsome as compared to her Harith. The only reason she kept seeing him was because he was good in bed and she needed someone to fill the void in her heart. In other words she was simply using him to fantasize about Harith.
"Well, it just turned out that way. Make sure to keep it secret." Natalia gave her a puppy look but her inner thoughts looked like a fierce wolf. 'Don't you dare tell anyone about this especially not to Harith. Understood bitch?'
Lucia felt as if she had gained the ability of knowing inner thoughts of people because she could easily see how two faced Natalia was. "It's your privacy so I am really not going to expose it." Lucia really didn't care about what she did in private.
After chasing away the man Natalia and Lucia finally started their makeups. Just then the doorbell rang. "Mam here is your order." A delivery man handed her a package and smiled as he handed her another box containing small white tablet. "Enjoy your evening mam." The man showed a smile as he left the door.
"Oh yes, it will be fun tonight." Natalia showed a vicious smile while she gulped down the saliva on her throat. She felt nervous but she was more excited for the event tonight.
Natalia who had gone to receive it returned with a package while she secretly hid a white tablet in her jeans pocket. "Happy birthday once again." Natalia gave a large grin as she handed her the box.
A red dress came out which looked identical to the one she received in her last life. 'As expected.' Lucia who was busy unwrapping the gift didn't notice Natalia keeping a white tablet inside her handbag.
"Harith, don't you think Lucia was acting a little strange today?" Sam asked Harith who had just finished his classes. "No she was the same, why do you ask?" Harith asked as he took bite of the bread Sam was eating.
"No it was nothing. It must have been my illusion." Sam replied glaring at the man who was eating his food shamelessly.
"Let's go get changed. We might be late for the party otherwise." Sam stood up carrying his bag and Harith followed him stuffing his mouth with the remaining chips and fries.
"Wait for me." He almost choked on the food while trying to catch up with Sam who walked silently in front him.