Chapter 18
It’s been a long weekend for Smiles. Derrick came just once and didn’t come again. Only God knows how she made it true without dying of boredom. It’s been a week since Keane left, no call, nothing.
She walks to the mirror, staring at her bored face. She saw it, the letter Xena gave. It was lying on her table, silently begging for her to open it. She picks up the envelope and opens it, and the letter pops out. Going through the invitation, she finds out that the wedding was on the 16th which was….
She pulled out her phone from her pocket, and to her surprise, it was the fifteen. This means the wedding was a day from now…a day from now? *Ah* she screams not believing.
She checked on her phone again, making sure she wasn’t seeing things but still, it was the same. The fifteen, how could this be? She cries inwardly. She wasn’t even prepared for it. What will she wear? At least, the most she can do is to shock them with a new look. She needs to look different, she swore to, or else those sticky noses will think she is living her worst.
A knock came at the door, and the butler walked in holding onto a package.
“For you, Ms.” He hands her the bag. She curiously collects it, wondering what is inside. When she opened the package, she was met with a stunning red dress and a pair of black heels.
The dress had an opening space, right up to her thigh with an exposed back. Leaving her with only two tiny ropes for a hand. It looks expensive, just like the ones celebrities always put on. But who would have sent it to her? She wonders. Whoever it was, he/she is her savior. Just a moment ago she was thinking about what to put on and now, she has a beautiful dress lying before her.
She got herself ready for work. At least today won’t be like the others, her mood has been uplifted by this presence of hers. As usual, she spent her whole day working until it was time to go home. Derrick never came to pick her up and neither had she seen him the whole of today.
Her hopes of having a good day were shattered. She walks out of the company, heading home. There was no Derrick to drive her home, she had to find a means. Luckily, she had some cash with her.
“At least, it will be enough for my ride home” she murmurs. Staring at the money in her palms. But it wasn’t enough for her to reach home, she had to walk a little more distance before taking a taxi.
Silently, she walks down the street. Admiring the view of New York, watching the city and buildings somehow relieve her from her thoughts.
It was all going well until she bumped into someone. She falls to the ground, hitting her butt.
Looking up, she was met with the gaze she’d come to detest with a passion. Among everyone, she could bump into him.? She questions silently staring at the man before her. He offers a helping hand but she pushes it away, standing up herself.
“I don’t need your pity, Mark, and stay away from me” she warns.
“It was accidental, I didn’t do it on purpose,” Mark interjected.
“You will never accept your mistake even if you did it purposely… the same thing with Xena” she sneers. Staring at him in disgust.
“It was a mistake, you know it” He defends. Still not accepting his mistake. She grinds on her teeth, angrily.
“Really…what about your marriage to Xena? Is that a mistake too?” She asked demandingly. How could he treat her as if she were a teenager with no sense of reasoning? Just what does he take her for?
Mark was shocked hearing her, how did she find out? He wonders.
It can only be possible if Xena told her, but how did they meet? He thought silently staring at her, speechless.
“Speechless huh? That’s no surprise, always knew something was up but didn’t see it till now…you disgust me, Mark, and stay away from me, stinky betrayal ” She stumps away leaving him standing.
She was angry. Anytime she seems to try to make her day better, she always ends up meeting either Xena or Mark, who only helps ruin it more.
After a long walk and ride, she was finally home. She had zero appetite, staring at the food before her as if being forced to eat it.
After a while of staring, she left for her room, climbing onto her big bed that was well-spread with white sheets.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.
She wonders what her day will be like at the wedding. Watching them get together will be the hardest thing she will have to do, but what more can she do? It’s done.
“Maybe I should ask Derrick to be my date, just for tomorrow,” she thought, staring at nothing in particular.