After hours of waiting, Elvis stared up from his phone only to notice the girls gliding out with a few more girls– laughing and chatting. " Hey, over here..." He waved at them just when Kareen's gaze swept in his direction.
" Oh, Elvis~" She weaved back with a smile as she mumbled at Pearl's attention. "...It's Elvis. He's here~over there" She pointed and he instinctively waved with a broad smile just when their eyes met.
"Oh... got to go now, Berlin. We'll talk later" Pearl stated.
" Sure, will call in the evening," Kimberly answered and they both parted with a quick wave of which Pearl and Kareen sped to Elvis. They instinctively swam into him with chuckles and he laughed.
"Hey, what's with you guys" He chortled as he tucked his clothing well and briefly glanced around to make sure they've not got the light for the audience.
He seemed embarrassed by their sudden action even though they're most often like that but in front of their dance mates; it was a big no on his behalf.
" Why, are you expecting someone else?" Pearl suddenly asked with a chuckle, noticing his swift gazes and awkward behavior as his eyes nervously danced around.
"Huh...?" Kareen gasped with a shocked expression as she keenly scanned his face. "Really?~are you?...thought you were hitting on, Pea...."
Elvis instantaneously clasped his hands over her lips with an owl eye as he left out a sheepish chortle. Pearl glanced at the two in disbelief.
" Is he hitting on someone?" She gassed. " Who is it?~why am I the only one missing out on this?"
" No..." Elvis chuckled as he let go of Kareen and turned to Pearl who seem offended. "It's not what you think~ anyway, didn't you call me here for an urgent issue?" He briefly chipped in, with an attempt to change the topic which worked.
" Oh, that...yes. Let's find somewhere more convenient~ come on," She said as she pulled him along towards the exit. Elvis faintly sighed and briefly turned to Kareen who tailed them. " Thank your stars."
He whispered and she teased with a silent chuckle.
With a middle finger sign which made Kareen laugh, Elvis turned as if nothing had happened.
" Here, I brought this for you, guys. I thought you might be hungry." He said as he gave the brown bag to Pearl. " Your favorite Korean dish, Kimbap"
"Oh, thanks...you know me so well." She said as their back faded away. " I'm so famished. Can't wait to dive into it. " Their laughter faded in the distance.
CAKES AND BUNS CAFÉ
"Here you are, your order." The feminine voice authored as she gently placed down the tray of three potato chips fries set and a glass of juice each. With a smile, Pearl slightly nodded.
"Thanks~ here you are guys.." She said, turning to Elvis and Kareen who were seated across the table with questioning gazes attached to their faces. " Why that look?~ you should see your faces. You look strange." She ended, up biting on her chips.
" What's the occasion, Pea...? ~ always like this when there's a problem," Kareen stated, as she took a sip. Elvis just stared on with curiosity while he waited for her reply.
She instinctively sighed, folding her arms across her chest as her face clouded in dismay. " It's mum..." She mumbled, casting an eye.
" She forbid me from joining the competition because the date falls on dad's anniversary and the funeral concerning the Parkers." Her heart glowed. "I don't even know why I should be at the Parkers' funeral~ this is driving me crazy. I've drawn a blank everywhere I look. You know how much this competition means to me, guys."
" Your sheets had been blown? " Kareen gasped with shock. " What are you going to do about the dance class now?~ you gonna quit?" She lamented.
"No...no, Kare; that's not it. She just got a hint of the competition but got no knowledge of what it was about. She just asked me to quit it."
" Why not tell her what it's about~ maybe she might come to terms with it, knowing how important this is to you." Elvis opted which caused Peal to sharply look at him. She stared with eyes that appeared to pierce his soul.
" This is just like asking me to dig my own grave, Elvi~ it's a death sentence, for crying out loud!" She groaned, her hands intuitively flying in the air with displeasure as she leaned back in her chair.
Kareen instinctively nudged Elvis who glanced back at her. " What!" He loud whispered which made her hit him on the hand. " Keep quiet if you have nothing to say" She added.
" Whatever... just trying to help here."
"Forget it~ Pea..." She called, turning to Pearl who just stared with a brooding gaze. " Why not pull a sick prank?– we sneak you out after it's safe. What do you think?"
She instantly glowed with happiness. " This is perfect– What do you think, Elvi..?"
" Absolutely good with anything...just give the command." He said and Peal chuckled with a broad smile as she flung over to him in a surprised hug.
"Hey... Look at you been a big baby again." He teased which made Kareen and Pearl giggle with laughter.
" Here~ eat this." Pearl giggled as she shoved a chunk of chips into his mouth while she settled back in her seat. With a sheepish grin, Kareen stormed over him–Elvis tried to moan out his words as he struggled to hold her back, preventing her from stuffing him up with more food.
Their table was soon filled with laughter and chatter as they shared jokes here and there. Elvis occasionally stared at Pearl with smiles as she happily giggled at every joke.
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
Hours turned to days and days slowly graduated into weeks and then months. Soon, Scarlet's expected funeral day became a reality. This was supposed to be their wedding day, not the other way round.
Caleb could barely breathe as he stared at Scarlet's portrait on the wall, trying to wrap his mind around the fact that she was really gone.
" Is this a dream?... maybe a nightmare?" He kept asking himself every second for the past days and weeks but reality seemed to hit him now after seeing her laid in state at the wake–keeping. For the whole night, he never batted an eye– sleep seems to have abounded him as well.
He could still see her smile and hear her chuckle when she tried on her gown a few months ago. It felt like only yesterday that he had been holding her in his arms, telling her how much he loved her and how empty he is without her. But then, what is he to do now? ~ his situation sunk in.
The dawn soon welcomed the morning and Celia's voice came knocking at his door. It was almost time for Scarlet to be laid to rest and they needed to be there to bid their final goodbyes. Everyone was already out, waiting for him.
Without a reply which she knew had become a habit now, Celia pressed the door open and welcomed herself in.
" Shall we...?" She said and he simply nodded, his eyes red-rimmed and glassy. Celia gently squeezed his shoulder with a faint smile. " Let's hang in there." She faintly mumbled and slowly, she pushed the wheelchair out of the room.
****************
Due to Scarlet's funeral, Pearl's dad's anniversary was not dragged on. Things ended earlier than expected~ yet things weren't working out in favor of her. The competition was in 3 hours from now and she had to be at the venue at 9 am for her dress rehearsal. It's already 8 am. She panicked, her eyes bouncing from his phone and out of the car screen occasionally.
" Where are you guys?~ we're already on our way to the funeral grounds but I'm already running late." She posted in their group chatroom.
" On our way to the funeral ground as well... Two traffic lights away." Kareen was the first to reply but then, she noticed Pearl typing soon after, and she knew what it was about. " Don't worry, Elvis is with me– he's the one driving."
" Great... See you soon, then." She answered.
Her nervous gaze instinctively drew her mother's attention as she kept toying with her phone. " Are you alright?" She asked, with swift glances while she drove on.
Pearl quivered, " Um~ little nausea, I guess. You know how I've been phobic with funerals after dad's incident... I might just be reacting a little." She answered with a slight faint smile which faded immediately– never missing a chance to escape. She thought.
Iris felt quite apologetic towards her daughter yet, she had her reasons for taking her to this funeral. It was a golden opportunity for their company to earn a permanent placement with the Parkers.
After a few more minutes of driving, the funeral ground boldly stood before them. The first things Pearl searched out for when they alighted was Kareen's car.
" Pea...!" a voice called out from the group approaching the hall. It was them~ her Saviour's for the day, she smiled.