Meanwhile, Wyatt was surrounded by his friends. He was casually reclining on a plush couch as he held his phone in hand, exuding an air of nonchalance. Meanwhile, his friends Lance and Kigen took the opportunity to poke fun at Kilin.
With mischievous grins, Lance and Kigen ruthlessly teased Kilin's choice of attire, mocking her dress and shoes to their heart's content.
"She looked like she raided her mother's closet and slipped that on hahaha... it looks horrible. She looks like a homeless person," he said Lance finding it very amusing.
"She is pretty from afar, but up close...," said Kigen throwing in his two cents.
"She looks like a duck walking in those shoes," chimed in Myan. Too bad Ross wasn't there. He might have told them to cut it out.
Luna valiantly defended Kilin from their ridicule. However, instead of quelling their mockery, her defence only seemed to fan the flames.
Wyatt maintained his indifferent expression as if he wasn't even paying attention. He was just about to check a message on his phone when his mother approached him.
Breaking his focus, he glanced up at her. "Honey, come and take a picture with your uncle and aunt," she requested, her voice carrying motherly warmth.
Slightly reluctant, Wyatt locked his phone and rose from his seat, his lax demeanour momentarily disrupted.
He understood how important this was to her so he couldn't dismiss her request. He followed her, leaving the teasing banter behind.
After taking a few pictures with his family he was surprised when Mrs. Branson and Luna came towards them asking for a picture of him and his mother. Maira had no problem with it and was about to beckon them over when Wyatt suddenly said, "I thought you picked Kilin's dress. Your fashion sense is usually better than that."
When they went to dinner he had to sit through his mother's drunken speech about helping out a young lady boost her self-esteem. She even thought of starting a program to help young ladies who haven't come out of their shells and are struggling to find their personal style.
He sat through all of that only to endure ten minutes of those three being noisy about it.
Maira's eyes widened surprised that he was even listening. She thought he didn't care about what she was talking about.
"Why are you insulting my fashion sense? Where is she? I have a good sense of fashion and she looked drop-dead gorgeous in that dress," she said and Scarlet's body stiffened. She had deliberately swapped out Kilin's dress because she didn't want her to outshine Luna but who would have thought it would come to bite her in the butt.
Luna nervously clutched her dress feeling a little unhappy that the conversation had steered to Kilin again. Wyatt was about to say something else when his phone buzzed.
He swiped down the notification panel and saw that RoyalRose had replied. That conversation was more interesting than what was happening here so he answered, "I will go look for her," his tone dismissive.
He walked away while opening his messages. While the picture was downloading he read her message. His brow furrowed thinking how interesting it would be if the event she was talking about was this very same one. It would be quite intriguing.
Just when that thought crossed his mind the image finished downloading and his steps paused as though struck by lightning. She was most definitely here but he wasn't sure what to do.
He absentmindedly walked to the corner of the grand hall towards the table.
***
Kilin struggled to maintain her balance as she stepped out of the busy grand hall, her stilettos sinking into the soft ground. The night air was filled with a sense of mystery, illuminated by scattered lights that adorned the garden. Each step on the uneven gravel threatened to twist her ankle, making her progress slow and cautious. Frustration finally took over, and she decided to abandon her impractical shoes.
"... ow ow ow," she mumbled as she untied the buckle. It seemed like she had a blister or two.
With a sigh of relief, Kilin slipped off her stilettos, feeling the cool grass beneath her feet. She walked barefoot towards the pool and sat on a stone bench nestled in the lush lawn.
Feeling famished she took a bite of the coconut rum cake pop from the small plate she brought from the grand hall
"Mmm... so good," she whispered to herself as she leaned her head back. She hated being here but the food was especially good. She had to give it to them.
As she savoured each bite, a peculiar sensation prickled at the back of Kilin's neck. A chill crept down her spine, causing her to tense up. Instinctively, she turned her head, only to find a pair of glowing eyes staring at her from the shadows of the bushes. Fear instantly gripped her heart as she had always been afraid of dogs.
Before she could react, the creature leapt out of the foliage with surprising agility. It was a massive husky, its tail wagging vigorously as it bounded towards her. Kilin's initial terror morphed into confusion as the dog began licking her face in a friendly manner. The dog was very friendly but she on the other hand was frozen in fear her life flashing before her very eyes.
Despite the husky's seeming harmless, it continued to playfully tug at Kilin's dress, leaving slobber marks in its wake. Her nerves heightened, unsure of how to handle the situation. Kilin's mind raced, trying to reconcile her fear of dogs with the dog's apparent affection. She didn't want to scream as that would be really embarrassing but this dog wouldn't stop.
She gently pushed the dog away, hoping to convey her discomfort, yet the husky persisted in its playful antics pleased that she was actively participating.
***
Wyatt stepped outside, leaving the boisterous grand hall behind. The cool breeze brushed against his skin, giving him time to calm his irrational thoughts. As he gazed into the distance, his eyes searched for anyone who could possibly be RoyalRose, but he hesitated. He didn't want the enigmatic allure of the digital world to unravel just yet especially when they didn't know each other that well yet.
Instead, Wyatt decided to look for Kilin. He combed the elegant surroundings, scanning the pool area for any sign of her presence. And there she was, by the poolside, engaged in an unexpected encounter.
His uncle's large husky called Buddy was playfully licking Kilin's face, while she struggled to break free from its enthusiastic affection.
A soft chuckle escaped Wyatt's lips as he watched the amusing spectacle unfold. He slipped his hands into his pockets as he leaned against a nearby pillar. He was curious to know who would win this fight.