Tanya's gaze raked the entirety of the floor in boredom. Alvise, who had caught her in her unfaithful escapade with the bartender, had dragged her to a table, sat her down, and then was dragged off to greet guests while giving out false smiles. She was very sure he was hating it. The occasional twitch of his hands told him so.
Tanya smiled at the sight, her understanding of his actions making her heart tingle in warmth. He was cute.
As she kept on staring at her partner, suddenly her view was blocked by someone, and, on impulse, she shoved the person aside to continue her shameless ogling.
"You have no shame, huh?" The familiar voice caused her to look up and soon his face was in her view. Annoying.
"What do you want, Daniel?" Tanya asked, her gaze and tone bored but her tone irked.
"Do you enjoy flirting with a man that's far older than you? Huh? Tanya?!" Daniel said almost hysterical with anger, his face pallid.
"It's just seven years. Stop acting so dramatic." Tanya said tired and bored of his antics. She wanted entertainment, not a stupid banter with an equal stupidity.
"Just seven years?! What are you-"
Tanya caught him off his high horse with one sentence, "Your parents are at least ten years apart from each other if not more."
Stuttering on his choked-up words, he tried again to defend himself, "That's just Mom and Dad, it's not all their actions you mindlessly follow…"
And again, she cut him off, "Mom's parents had at least 25 years as distance; that was his third marriage, and they were very much in love. Next month's is their anniversary, and Grandma still holds despite the demise of her husband."
Tanya smiled at the thoughts of the woman who loved her man to death, and her end point in her past life nearly brought tears to her eyes, but she held it back. Now was a very wrong moment for tears.
"Let's not forget Dad's family also. They have, at least fifteen years apart from themselves…" As she kept going, Daniel cut her off. His face flushed in embarrassment.
With a hand over his mouth, he spoke, "I understand. I was wrong, I'm sorry."
Tanya nodded in understanding and turned back to looking at the dance floor in boredom.
They had gotten professional performers and entertainers to sing and perform for them while they socialized. The lights were dimmed, and colored lights and reflective chandeliers were used to give a somber yet alluring atmosphere, inciting a spark of romance in the air, a preferable atmosphere for the performers to incite the atmosphere even more for everyone.
"So, what are you doing here?" Daniel asked, probably in a bid to start a conversation.
Tanya smirked, sure that the lively atmosphere wasn't enough for someone like him.
"Alvise told me to stop flirting with the bartender; he told me I was bullying the poor guy. What a teacher!" Tanya said with a short chuckle.
"You guys are weird," Daniel said.
"I thought you and Alvise were chatting? Why'd you leave?" Tanya asked.
"You saw wrong." Daniel answered quickly with a smirk at this very familiar situation, "It was David, not me."
Tanya shook her head in certainty, "It was you. I know David when I see him and that wasn't him. You guys may be wearing the same colored suits but I know you like the back of my hand."
Daniel smiled and shook his head as he tried to recall what she was talking about. Soon he exclaimed softly in remembrance, "You mean while the dance was still on?"
Tanya again smiled softly, "Yes, brother."
"I saw him dancing with you earlier and went ahead to introduce myself. You might not know it, but your teacher is heavily involved in NGO activities and is a philanthropist; built and funded various schools, orphanages, and homeless shelters…"
It's all mine. Tanya mused internally as she wore an amused smile outside which Daniel mistook as interest, spurring him on to continue.
"His reputation precedes him. I advise you, don't do anything stupid. I'm serious." Daniel said with a serious demeanor.
You should be telling him that. Tanya thought in a spur but soon she bowed her head to hide her silent laughter that was accompanied by a large grin that revealed her neat and sparkly white pearls in her mouth. She imagined telling her brother her thoughts and the troubles that'd follow right after.
She rose her head up right after, her amusement still evident on her lips but a lot more moderate than before. Saying nothing in response to her brother's warnings, she signaled a server nearby and ordered alcohol for the both of them.
Soon, their drinks were served and Tanya placed the strong one in front of her brother while she took the mocktail. After a sip, she relaxed involuntarily. She needed this.
She took another sip and the explosive taste of fruits and Chapman with just the right amount of sourness. It was delightful. Just as she kept on savoring her drink, She looked up to see Alvise approaching her with amusement in his eyes, to which she rolled her eyes. She knew that He was purposely being too obvious. Fool.
"I thought you were eighteen?" Alvise asked as he glanced at her mocktail.
Knowing what he meant, Tanya rolled her eyes in disbelief and then shook it. "I like the taste." She eventually spoke after a long silence.
"I can see that." He chuckled as he wiped the drink off her upper lip and Tanya flushed a lovely shade of pink.
"Oh!" Tanya exclaimed in embarrassment. She bowed her head after he was done in a bid to dispel the heat in her cheeks.
Soon, she shook her head a bit, and at that moment, both Alvise and Daniel thought the very same thing. Cute.
Tanya looked up, her cheek still bearing a tint of pink, the evidence of her prior embarrassment, and gazed at both her brother and her boss to see them wearing soft and endearing expressions. Endearing? That's not right.
Blinking in rapid successions in disbelief, she looked back and those expressions vanished off their faces like a mirage. Was I drunk just now? She thought and then shook the thoughts off. That was also impossible.
"Alvise, I haven't introduced you to my other brothers, have I?" Shaking his head in response, Tanya smiled something close to glee and then dragged his arm, forcing him down a chair.
"Brother," She called out to Daniel, "My partner and teacher, Alvise Abara. Alvise, My third brother, the second twin, Daniel Sylvester."
After a handshake and a reluctant round of pleasantry exchange, they all sat in silence for a moment, following Tanya's line of sight.
"What are you guys doing?" A voice spoke beside them, cutting their attention off their source of entertainment.
The sibling duo scowled while Alvise held an amicable and understanding expression. David watched his siblings look at him like a criminal would and chuckled briefly as he held his smile.
David naturally, from childhood, had a smile that made people fawn. It was like a natural charm and it somehow eased people into themselves and made him distinct from his identical twin. David had a personality that seemed to resonate with everyone. It was endearing.
"David, have I ever told you that you're my favorite twin?" Tanya asked as she gave a smile.
Davis looked at the side of his sister and chuckled while shaking his head. Baby Sisters were evil kids. He'll be sure to remember that.
"Mr. David Sylvester, a pleasure to meet you. I've heard all about it from your younger sister." Alvise said as he stretched forth a hand in courtesy.
David eyed the stretched forward hand with a raised eyebrow and called for his sister questioningly, "Tanya?"
"David, Alvise Abara. My mentor and teacher and only son of the Abara household. Alvise, my second brother, and the oldest of the twins, David Sylvester." Tanya said as they shook hands.
After another round of pleasantry and small talk, David asked, "What is the birthday boy doing here? Don't you have to act as a host?"
Alvise smiled and answered, "I already have someone for that." His gaze was fixed on something or someone. They followed his gaze and found a neat and fresh-looking young man in a formal evening tuxedo interacting with people.
Connor. Tanya instantly recognized as his name sat on her lips but she didn't say it out. It would be weird for her to know something about someone she wasn't even supposed to be in touch within the first place.
She turned her head away before it could be considered staring. She didn't want to be recognized or called out.
"By the way," Daniel suddenly said, catching the attention of everyone at the table.
"Where's Mom and Dad? I haven't seen them since the start of the party." As soon as he said so, chaos broke out on the table.
Alvise had a spit take, Tanya tried to save her partner as she let out loud guffaws of laughter. David, who understood the situation from what his elder brother had told him, turned red from the neck up while his twin remained unknowing and was left in the dark.
In all, it was a good party.