"You're not really coming back?" I asked Dave and pouted. "C'mon. Tell me you're coming back!" I pleaded.
He stared at me for a moment before speaking.
"I no longer have the reason to," he replied as he leaned on his car in front of our house to say goodbye to me. "You know, I just came back to check on you and to actually ask you to go with me..." He paused.
"You know, we talked about this." I told him with a sad smile.
"You know it was your mother who asked me for a favor," He stuck his tongue out. "You should really go back home and listen to your mother."
I nodded. "I know that, okay?"
"Deanara, answer me." He urged. "You really don't want to go back home? Didn't you?"
Dave straightly looked at me in the eyes. We've known each other since we were kids so I know that I could never lie to him. He was already residing in Spain with his family and my family was there, too. I was the only here left and they have been persuading me to go back home. When they say home, it's Spain, yet it felt to me that this country is already my home.
"I will finish my contract. That is what I told my mother." I replied. "It's only for a year or two."
"Really? You haven't changed your mind since meeting Gray?"
I sighed. "I am thinking about it."
"You cannot think about it, Deanara." He brushed my hair and hugged me. "The company is waiting for you and no one will take its responsibility. It's only for you."
I hissed.
"Why not just take it for me?"
"Well..." He wagged his head. "You know I have my own company to manage."
I rolled my eyes and laughed.
"I'll see you in Spain. Okay?"
"Visit me here again." I told him.
"Nah..." He wagged his head. "See me in Spain."
"Don't tell my mother about Gray..." I warned him.
"What do you mean by that?" He asked. "Do you want me to lie to your mother?"
"I am not telling you to lie. I am just asking you not to tell it before I tell her. Let me tell it to her." I said.
"Why haven't you tell her?"
"I am looking for the perfect time." I lied. Actually, I am not sure yet if I want Gray to meet my mother. I want to spend the rest of my life with Gray, it's evident, but I want to make sure since I promised my mother I will only bring a guy home when it's the guy that I want to marry.
"Okay." He nodded.
"Come back, okay?"
"Got no reason to," he joked.
"I'm still here Dave," I seriously said.
"I know," He smiled. "Soon, I’ll come back. I'll find that girl for me first and promise I'll come back here to introduce her to you or you might see her in Spain." He messed up my hair and gave me a hug. “Please, take care of yourself, okay?”
I nodded. “You, too. Call me, okay?”
“Of course, I will call you.”
“Good.”
“Tell me if Gray made you cry. I’ll surely go back here.”
He already did, but there’s no way I am going to tell it to Dave. He might punch Gray and it would ruin Gray’s face. And, my love life is the least of his concern, so there’s no need for me to tell him that.
I hugged him tightly and so did he.
"Don't worry, I am still here for you."
"Yes Dave. I'll miss you! Sorry, if I cannot accompany you at the airport,” I apologized. "Why didn't you tell me beforehand?"
“It’s okay. Just send me a video of you singing at the party,” he smiled and kissed me on my forehead. “I’ll go ahead. Call you later. Take care!”
“Bye!” I waved as he opened his car.
“I love you, Deanara,” he sincerely told me before getting inside the car and driving away.
Lyuna was already eating when I went inside the house.
“Are you ready for the party?” She asked. “Is everything alright? Don’t worry, Dave will call you soon.”
I agreed with her, though, it wasn’t Dave. It was still Gray. I didn’t tell Lyuna about it because I don’t want her to worry and it’s just me.
I also don’t want to ruin my mood, especially that today is the birthday party. Lyuna helped me prepare for the party wearing Ethan’s chosen dress and I just can’t believe it fits me well. It was a garden party and Ethan bought me a sage green lace maxi dress. It looked like a fairy dress which I believe was suited for the theme of the party. He even included a flower crown and sage green heels.
“Wow! Omg! You are so beautiful,” Lyuna commented. “Damn! If only Gray could see this…” She took a picture of me. “Where is he anyway?”
“Oh…” I thought of what to say because I am not replying to Gray’s message asking me to be his date in a party. I never bothered asking what it was and I just ignored his message. Not entirely, I told him I made a promise to someone that I will attend his birthday party so he wouldn’t bother me now.
“Will Ethan --” Lyuna stopped when a car beeped in front of us. “He sent a car for you?”
My phone rang and it was Ethan.
“Hey, did the car already arrive?”
“You are making me special tonight, huh?” I teased him and he laughed.
“Because you never let me feel you were special before,” he acted hurt. “I still have a grudge, you know.”
I laughed. “Well, thank you.” I grabbed my bag and Lyuna helped me outside. I waved at her and she told me to enjoy the car outside.
“Bye, Lyuna! See you later!” I said in between lines. “I am already inside the car, Ethan.”
“Okay. See you. Grandpa is already excited to see you.”
“Yes, please tell me, you have a guitar or at least a keyboard.” I reminded him.
“I have a band for you.”
I giggled. “Be there in an hour.”
I hung up and enjoyed the moment inside the car. I am not used to wearing make-ups and never really liked it. Good thing, Lyuna is good at doing make-ups so I don’t have to go to the salon to do it. Honestly, I know how to
It felt weird in my face since it’s the first time I wore make-up again. I usually do this during events at the university. Ugh! I want to wipe my face.
Finally, after an hour we arrived at the venue.
“I have a question,” I asked the driver when I realized the name of the hotel. “Does Ethan own this hotel?”
Come to think of it, I never knew anything about Ethan except the fact that he is rich. He never bragged about it though from the look of it he's a billionaire. Ugh! I should have asked him to triple my pay.
The driver nodded as he opened the car for me.
Gray kept on calling me, so I silenced my phone. Just then, Lyuna texted me that Gray was in our house. I just told her to tell Gray I am not around without telling me where I am as I went to the garden where the party was located.
“Wow!” I stood there in awe as the venue was so amazing. I've seen a lot of amazing things yet I cannot help but still be amazed. The whole garden was full of different flowers and lanterns with classy tables and chairs. The guests were wearing dresses that suited the theme just like what Ethan chose me to wear. Ethan knew what I liked.
I looked around trying to familiarize myself with the place while looking for Ethan and Grandpa. Luckily, Grandpa saw me and called me.
“Happy 60th birthday!” I greeted him and was about to shake his hand when he hugged me. He's not old enough and I'll bet could still run.
“I am so happy you’re here,” he smiled at me. He looked like Ethan. “Thank you for coming. Are you ready to showcase your talent? I’ve been telling the visitors how great you are...oh here is my son, Ethan’s father.”
“Hello, dear. I’ve heard about you…”
I paused upon staring at him. I blinked. What is this?
“Why? Is there something wrong with my face?”
I shook my head. “No, sorry. You reminded me of someone. You look exactly the same.”
“Oh. I get that a lot. Maybe, it’s my youngest son that you’ve seen.” He explained. “I am Red, Ethan’s father and later on you’ll be seeing my youngest son, Isaac, and we really looked like twins.”
“I see. Thank you for inviting me. Should I sing for you now?” I asked and they both agreed as they guided me to the stage.
Ethan’s father reminded me of Gray. Damn! I missed him so much. Ugh! I hate this feeling of not talking to him, but I need a space.
“I am surprised,” Ethan whispered from behind as I picked the guitar. “Love your curves.” I felt his breathe on my skin.
“What can I say --”
“Hey, love? Who are you talking to?” I stopped upon hearing the familiar voice that I actually hated since I heard it.
“Hey, love. I would like to introduce to you, Deanara,” Ethan said and when I turned my back, I wasn’t surprised to see Vivian.
“Wait…” She stared at me and widened her eyes. “Do you know each other?” Vivian asked, confused.
“Yeah. Since college, she’s the girl that Grandpa personally requested because---”
“She’s Gray’s girlfriend,” she blurted out while looking at me from head to toe. “And, is this the dress that I want? You told me ---” Vivian wagged her head in frustration. “Are you kidding me, Ethan?”
“Well, I bought the dress for her,” Ethan honestly replied.
“How amazing that there’s always a girl between you and Gray,” Vivian meaningfully said then hissed.
That’s when I realized why Ethan has a resemblance with Gray. I never thought about it when I met him in college. Who would have thought?
Damn! Destiny!