Before I could fathom what was going on, I was sitting beside Bianca in her car, wearing an expensive off shoulder, knee-length purple dress, with an heart shaped diamond necklace and a designer bag, all courtesy of my model friend. She drove into what seemed like the most luxurious and expensive looking hotel I had ever seen in my life.When the car was parked, we stepped out of the car and I couldn't help but gulp down at the sight of the hotel, it was glittering gold with bright lights shining in every angle and my eyes could not help but stare helplessly around at the beauty of the hotel. Although well to do, I can't afford this luxury, not with my weak finances.
"Oh my goodness, you look breathtaking Flora!" Bianca gasped snapping me back to reality, she had just been opportuned to take in my full view after practically dragging me through the dressing process. She had worn a sky blue strapless dress that begun below her arms which tightly hugged her flawless figure and her blonde hair fell down on her bare shoulders and she clutched her expensive silver purse stylishly. Cherry's make-up expertise saved the day as she swiftly did both of our make up flawlessly, just in time to make it to the reunion.
"You look awesome too Bianca." I said sweetly taking her hands as we began to walk towards the hotel, I was still a little mad at her for forcing me to the reunion after having gone through such a hard time at the office today but seeing how much effort she had put into this I couldn't help but just give in to her request. Also, it's a way for us to spend time together after being away for so long. I thought back at what high school was like for me, while in school it was like I was in my sister's shadow, although she was already handling the company when I was in high school, her outstanding performance at her alma mater could not be broken, it was only natural people expected much from me when I got to the school too, I found myself pressured to live up to her legacy both at home and in school, her achievements became my goals and the will to surpass them made me miss most of the precious memories high school had to offer, I lost my opportunity to be a teenager too soon, my thoughts were solely on how to surpass her achievements and live up to the expectations of others for me, I guess things hasn't changed much since then, I'm still in her shadows trying to please others and there's nothing I could do about it. I linked my arms with bianca's as we emerged into what seemed like a ballroom on one end of the hotel, after having gone through the bouncers, we entered the room hand in hand and I was almost blinded by the light that shone aggressively at the entrance door, walking further into the room, the intensity of the light decreased and my weary eyes surveyed the room, decorated in purple and black, the banner with the name of our class year was hanging in one corner of the room, every side was glittering with one fancy thing or the other. Some people were on the dance floor while some were stuffing their faces with food that I crave for, the tables were stylishly arranged at one side of room adored with white decorations, sombre music was oozing out from another corner of the room, some other people were clustered in groups deeply engrossed in their conversations just towards the entrance, they were dressed so elegantly that I'm sure I would have been perceived as a waitress if bianca hadn't brought a dress fitting for the occasion for me. lost in awe at the magnificence of the room, I almost didn't caught the silent whispers and gasps of those who were near the entrance as their heads turned in our direction, they'd whisper something to the others and they in turn would move their heads to our direction.
"Wow, you must be really popular Bianca, people are staring at you" I said staring curiously at the almost unrecognizable faces of the people around, everyone had changed alot, not like I knew them personally when we were in school, I was a lone wolf and would have continued being one if I hadn't met bianca.
"I know if people are staring at me Flora, but they aren't staring at me now....they're staring at you" she said giving me her brightest smile.
" Why?" I asked clutching her hands much tighter than expected as realization dawned on me, I wasn't use to getting this much attention anywhere.
"Like I said Flora, if you aren't dressed like Ellen DeGeneres the second, you look breathtaking Flora" she said smiling widely and I couldn't help but feel goosebumps rise on my skin, my legs felt weak and were threatening to give away as I walked slowly now, my breathe seemed to quicken, I had stayed away from parties and any social gathering for so long I seemed to have developed some kind of social disorder caused by anxiety, although it doesn't occur when it's a business related event, my stomach grumbled loudly which seemed to have caught Bianca's attention as she suddenly stopped to look at me, she placed her hands on my bare shoulders and I shivers at the touch on my already sensitive skin.
"Are you alright Flora?" Her forehead squeeze in worry.
"I'm..... um.....fine...fine" I stuttered and I found myself gasping for air as I stared at the eyes that were fixed on me and I was so pressured by their attention my anxiety was already getting the best of me, unfortunately for me, something more gaze worthy caught their attention and my breathing miraculously slowed down but my stomach growled again, I was hungry, I heard gasps from the crowd and some ladies at the corner squealed in excitement, Bianca instinctively dragged me out of the way closer to where the tables filled with food were placed, l saw a man emerging from the entrance with a lady who was wearing a black and silver dress and was clutching onto him as if she was afraid people would steal him from her hands, her black hair fell graciously on her shoulders and she unlike me she was enjoying the attention she was getting as she wore a big smile on her face but what was most captivating about their entrance wasn't her, it was the god-like aura that eluded from the mysterious figure beside her, he wore a black tuxedo and a white shirt, he was way taller than her, he had dark hair, his eyes were captivating and his demeanor left a lot of ladies drooling including Bianca. My stomach grumbled the more and I sigh in frustration.
"Gosh.., I feel like I could die" I said absent mindedly as my hands caress my stomach gently.
"I know.....me too" Bianca said dreamingly,I looked at her direction and rolled my eyes, she had probably thought I was lost in awe just like she was so I squeezed her hand to get her attention.
"Not that bianca, this!" I whispered slowly patting my stomach lightly to get her attention, I was still a bit shaken up. Bianca looked at me stunned and rolled her eyes at me as she drags me towards a table which had different varieties of food served on it, she made her selection and I followed her actions and after stuffing my plate we found an empty table at one corner of the room and sat down just as the music bursted into the opening of "Dusk till dawn by zayn". Bianca's gaze went back to the mysteriously handsome man who had finally settled few tables away from us and was already joined by people who seemed like his friends and I began my mission devouring the meal before me, that was what I could think of at the moment...fulfilling little monster's wish, after stuffing my face for some minutes, I looked up at bianca who was still staring lovingly at the man, I continued to devour my meal while looking at the mysterious man who was sitting facing our direction and I was finally able to appreciate his alluring looks. No wonder everyone couldn't take their eyes off him, apart from his expensive attire, he had this captivating features that would keep your eyes glued to his, his dark eyes seemed to contradict the friendly smile plastered on his face as he chuckled charmingly at the jokes his friends made, the lady beside him was all over him itching for his attention which he didn't care to give.
"Who is that?" I asked irritated by her clinginess.
"That's.... mine" Bianca blushed, still lost in her Dreamworld. I immediately slapped the back of her head playfully.
"Ouch" she complained and flashing me a mean glare. "That's Bryan Jones, he's the only heir to the Jones's empire, he's like the most powerful figure in the business world at the moment and he's so handsome just like he was back at school" she squealed her last sentence out.
"Back at school? how come I don't remember him". I asked stuffing my mouth with food.
"As if you ever left your shell back at school" she growled at me which reminded me of how she tiredlessly tried to get me to go to a party with her which I declined effortlessly, I gave her a stink eye before I returned my gaze to the man who was still smiling widely at his friends. Now that I thought of it, I remembered who he was back at school, he was like the high school king back then, I couldn't blame them, he was every girls' dream I guess..... except me though....I have Tim to dream about, and apart from that what seemed to put me off about him was the fact that he enjoyed being the center of attention and he'd take advantage of any girl who throws herself at him or he'd treat them like dirt just like he was treating the lady beside him. What an annoying jerk! I thought as I placed a spoonful of food in my mouth, just as I was about to take the spoon out of my mouth when the annoying jerk's gaze caught mine and i stared at him waiting for him to look away but he didn't, I felt the intense gaze of his dark eyes on me, the world seemed to stop moving and the music boomed louder in my ears, my heart was beating loudly as if it would burst out of my chest at any moment, I couldn't move and I suddenly hiccupped and choked on my food, it was as if I didn't have full control over my body, bianca who had already turned her attention to me patted my back gently offering me some water and taking the spoon from my mouth.
"Geez Flora, would you eat gently?"she said and I continued to hiccup as I drank the water and I murmured a "thank you" to her but my gaze never left his and his never left mine "what was his deal?" I thought.