UNPREDICTABLE DINNER GUEST 

I dusted all the ill thoughts that surrounded my brain. This is a beautiful evening, and I'll spend it beautifully. I decorated a smile on my face.

Opening the locker door, I brought out a tiny, velvety lavender box from inside one of my bags. As soon as I raised its lid, I saw a delicate pearl bracelet resting on the velvet.

The bracelet was a gift from a special friend of mine. A smile filled with memories crept onto my lips. I clinched the bracelet on my thin wrist, and it just added to the beauty.

Now the outfit is complete...

I packed up my stuff that laid on the bed, including the garbage from the packing of the dress. Carefully, I managed to clean my room without getting the dress dusty.

Just when I was done with doing everything, my phone screeched loudly, vibrating the bedside table. I extended my arm towards it as I sat on the bed.

Martha calling...

"Hey, sis! I'm at my dorm." I answered after she inquired where I was.

"Okay! I'm in my car near your dorm. Will you come down alone or you need help?" I heard her say on the other side.

Frankly, I needed help as this dress was a big deal for me to drag all the way through the dorm. However, I wouldn't want Martha to feel I was such a noob.

So, I humbly rejected it.

"No, I'll be fine. Just wait a minute. I'll be there."

I ended the call and slid the cell inside a silver purse. It was the only purse I had to carry for an occasion.

Grabbing my keys, I deliberately lifted my gown in both of my hands and left my room. My walk from my room towards Martha's car was dreadfully tiring as I saved myself from tripping nearly a thousand times in the way. And those pencil-heeled shoes I wore weren't actually helping.

Finally, I reached up to Martha and realized she was staring at me wide-eyed. I raised a questioning brow towards her.

"Woah, girl! You look like an angel!" She exaggerated, and I accepted the compliment with a shy laugh.

"Thanks for the dress, by the way." I acknowledged her gratitude.

"Don't thank me. That dress was meant to be worn by you." She praised, and a pleasing smile was plastered on my face.

The rest of our ride went doing unnecessary chit-chats. Most of it was Martha praising my dress or how it suited me or how I looked in it, to a point where I felt she was over exaggerating my attire.

"Martha, please. Now, I feel you're just teasing me." I said, cutting another compliment that was about to slip from her lips.

"Come on. I'm not lying. You really do look magnificent." She emphasized, making me punch her on the arm playfully.

We reached Martha's apartment after a short ride. I stepped out of the car only to embrace the shimmery lights and elegant buildings standing tall, dazzling my eyesight.

The colony was stormed with lights, and the characteristic glass windows of Vancouver made the scene shine brighter. The air is fresh today, almost sweet and floral, as the pace of living relaxes to a steadier rhythm.

At places, Jack-o-lanterns were hanging to poles, and the gates of the colonies were decorated with spider webs or skeleton ghosts.

We entered the colony and went straight up to Martha's flat on the sixth floor. Martha unlocked the door of her flat only to reveal an enormous, luxurious apartment that was well decorated and furnished.

Martha had slightly decorated it with a few ribbons and balloons. Colourful flower pots could be seen occasionally on the tables.

The sun had just set, and the sky was darkening when we arrived. In about half an hour, other guests started showing up too. I met plenty of new people. Nevertheless, I did recognize some old faces as well.

"Sierra!" I chirped when I saw my best friend from school life. It has been ages since we last talked.

"Woah! You look, gorgeous darling! You sure have grown into a beautiful young woman." She admired me, holding my shoulders and glancing at me from head to toe.

I smiled innocently, as I had already heard the compliments on my dress and looks a hundred times until now. We had a lot of talks about our teachers, other classmates and our lives.

Eventually, the flat was packed with people. Everybody had their own groups. Martha kept moving from one group to another, making sure everyone was having a good time.

The crowd dispersed a little when the dinner was started serving. Martha had set up a buffet-style dinner table in her kitchen which could accommodate a few people at a time. So people kept changing turns to have dinner.

I distanced myself from the whole gathering to escape in the considerably wide and spacious balcony attached to the room. The open-air filled in my lungs as I took a deep breath inhaling peace.

The night had fallen on its grace. Metro Vancouver looked live and alive at this hour. Tonight the city is shining with lights that echo heaven's stars.

I didn't realize how long I stood there adorning the marvellous view.

"What a pleasant surprise!" I heard a well-modulated and gleeful, manly voice from behind me.

My train of thoughts halted when I heard this distinctive voice. Turning on my heels, I saw a man taller than me standing behind. He kept staring at me with his peacock green eyes. They were a-dazzle with wonder over a friendly smile.

These eyes....they seemed exceptionally familiar.

His hair was Achilles-gold and coiffed to perfection. Bristly eyebrows, a hawkish nose, defined cheekbones and a concrete jaw completed his suave personality.

He snapped in front of my eyes, and I came out of my stupid thoughts. He raised his brows and smiled.

"Uhm...hey!" I hesitated, trying my best to remember if I knew him.

"So the girl has lost memory. You sure don't remember me. Do you?" He teased me by leaning on the railing and savoured my perplexed expressions.

"No. I just..." I felt offended, but I seriously didn't remember this person.

And why was he getting so casually frank? I had never been this frank with any boy. He is confusing me.

"I am sorry. I don't re-"

"Great. I knew you wouldn't recognize me. Now, I can trouble you enough and enjoy it to the fullest." He laughed under his stupid smirk.

"Excuse me?!" I felt anger build up inside me, gushing into my veins.

Just when I was about to punch him with a reply, Martha stepped in. She had someone with her.

"There you are. I have been finding you everywhere." She chirped with her dearly smile. "This is Sara. My friend. She designed this dress." She introduced the black-haired girl with freckles on her nose beside her.

I greeted her with a curt nod, and she accepted with a smile.

"I am Emily," I started my introduction.

"I know. I have heard a lot about you," she cut me off, and I stood silent. "I designed this dress and personally wanted to meet a beauty like you. I knew it would look heavenly on you." She praised, and I smiled shyly.

"Thanks for this beautiful dress." I appreciated it.

She shook her head left-right.

"It's not me or the dress. It's about you. This dress was meant to be worn by you," Sara smiled. "I'm glad I got the chance to meet you."

After that, we had a small chat, and she left with Martha towards another group of people. I turned around and saw that crazy creature once again, smirking as soon as he noticed me glaring at him.

I'll kill him someday!

*******
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