Kylie took time to process what just happened before speaking.
"I -- I should go now," she said.
"Oh -- uhm." He looked down at his watch. "Yes you should. I'd drive you to your place."
They arrived a few meters away from her house, as instructed by her. She didn't want him to get too close so her mother wouldn't bombard her with questions, and, as well, she was really tired.
"Hope you had a good time," he said to her.
"I did," she said with a faltering smile.
"I'd love to see you some other time," he said.
"At the bookstore right?" She said.
"Uhm -- well, my parents would be returning in two days. Tell me you'd love to see them."
"Of course I would. Just that -- I'm a bit nervous."
"You don't have to. They're really cool. My dad's humor is all shades of cute, and mom spends most of her time upstairs. You'd love it, believe me."
"Sounds like an interesting family, one I'd love to be part of," she smiled.
"You'd enjoy every bit of our company," he said.
"Friday it is then," Kylie said.
"Sure thing!"
She got down and waved at him. He waved back and drove off.
Kylie spent the rest of the night looking into the holographic watch, but instead of seeing just planets dancing she watched the kiss she shared with Brad. She could smile over it, but she restrained herself from doing so. She thought she couldn't just fall so easily like that, but there was nothing she could do about it -- she was gradually falling for him and she couldn't hold it any longer. She hadn't felt that way for a guy before since her eighteen-year stay on this side of the world. She felt he was really a nice guy, and she hoped things turned out well between them both.
As expected, her eyes began to weigh -- the star was already spiralling into the whorl. She turned to the other side, smiled, and shut her eyes.
Kylie returned home from work the next day and met her mother sitting in the balcony before two well-packaged boxes stacked on each other.
"And you said there's nothing between you both get?" Theresa said when Kylie arrived, her mouth hanging.
"What's this?" Kylie asked.
"Brad really has an open mouth, just like your dad. He told me alot about you both after he dropped these, don't really know what's in there, come open it."
Kylie felt a drooling weight on her while she went to sit with her mom. She hoped he hadn't told her what happened between them both last night. Of course Theresa knew she returned from his place last night, but Kylie avoided talking about what had happened in his collection room.
"What did he tell you?"
"Brad is such a nice lad, he reminds me of Eric you know. He speaks in a calculative manner, and everything comes out just well."
"That -- doesn't answer my question," Kylie said.
"Well. He just told me how smart and understanding you were at his place. He loved your enthusiasm for out-the-box ideas -- as he calls it." She chuckled.
Kylie couldn't recall being enthusiastic over anything. She only asked questions and responded accordingly to things he showed and told her.
"That's all he told you?" Kylie asked.
"As far as I could recall, or is there something else I need to know?" Theresa said.
"No! Not at all," Kylie swiftly said.
"You hide alot of things from moma, you know. You need to be a bit open to me. I wouldn't bite," Theresa said.
"I could say, but you trivialize serious matters alot and it makes me kind of uneasy."
"No I don't," Theresa said. "Now, tell me your own side of the tale. I know there's more to the visit."
"That would be a tale for another day mom." She leaned to take the boxes. "And, the boxes, I'd open them later." She took them up feeling their weights.
She was about going in when Theresa said again. "And, he invited us to his mom's inauguration ceremony at the MIT. The kind of people you and I should be around."
"He didn't tell me that," Kylie said. "You're coming?"
"No, I'm not. I don't like good things as much as you do," Theresa said with a sarcastic remark. "Now take that box in now and we start from tonight to rehearse courtesy."
"Ah, mom, I'm going to bed right now." She went inside.
"No you're not!" Theresa said, joining her inside.
They opened the boxes later and saw beautiful sequinned dresses. Kylie and Theresa took them out and gushed over their beauty. One of the wears was a bit bigger than the other and Theresa knew it was hers, while Kylie took the other. Theresa held the cloth to her chest and thanked him dearly, even if he was absent.
"Now you need to keep these dresses in good shape. They look priceless to me," Theresa said.
"They are really beautiful," Kylie said. "Can't wait to wear it to the inauguration."
"I've always seen Brad as the one for you. Please stick to him," Theresa said.
Kylie looked at her and flashed a smile. "I need to take this box to my room." She bent down and began to fold the clothes gently, putting them into the box.
Inside her room, Kylie put the cloth on and stood in front of the mirror, admiring herself while she thanked Brad inwardly. After some moments of admiring herself, she sat close to the watch he gave her and began to run her fingers around it until she clicked it. She laid in bed and admired the hologram that displayed before her. She began to reminisce on what happened between them the previous night. The kiss was deeply felt by her and she felt she was falling deeply for him. It was a beautiful feeling. She spent the rest of the night watching the wolves dancing in the hologram, while her eyes slowly closed up.