I was laughing at myself, looking at the mirror. I'm thinking of going back where Adrian was or maybe I will exit without even noticing. I fix myself first, retouching my makeup and putting red lipstick on my lips. I also let my hair falls above my shoulder, letting it have a messy look. so I may look seductive.
I don't know what I'm doing this. It's like something inside me felt wanting to preponderate as I saw that lady. I heap a breath and finally exited the restroom.
I walk straight headed to the red couch we were seated at. There, I saw the three of them. They were talking. I didn't think that they were close to each other. I wonder how could I enter that circle or better I will go inside where the people are crowded.
I saw Adrian stand up as he saw me. He then excuses himself to Xyler and to that lady. I was hesitant to walk away when Xyler met my eyes. He was surprised. Totally.
"Where did you have been? You took so long," he said as he approached me. "Hm? You look more gorgeous, Louisa."
"I just got into the restroom," I said, looking at Xyler.
I was also there Adrian took me to where they were sitting. Xyler and the woman next to him and I were
face each other.
"You changed your mind, huh." Xyler said looking at me.
"Well, Adrian invited me." I smiled confidently.
"You know each other?" Adrian interjected.
"He's my ...." I look at Xyler as tighten his hand on the waist of the girl he was with. I changed my mind to tell them he was my best friend. "A friend. But not that close." I force myself to smile. Adrian looks convincinged.
“Uh, by the way, Louisa, This is Trish, my friend.” The lady offered her palm. I reach it as we shook our hands.
"Louisa" I smiled awkwardly. The lady made a sweet smile towards me, far from what I thought about her.
Almost an hour has also passed. I was just next to Adrian, The party started and fireworks exploded. Adrian introduced me to some of his other acquaintances. I didn’t pay attention to shaking hands with those he was introducing. Maybe my hand is tired too.
I couldn't rest my eyes as I looked at Xyler with Trish. His smiles were beautiful and he was staring straight at the woman. That's when you'll notice that he really likes her. While he was still laughing he glanced in my direction. I smiled back and he waved. I just turned around again. I don't know, I was suddenly feeling sad so I just focused on talking to Adrian.
He held my hand so I let go immediately. He even laughed. He said he was just going to show me something. He was naughty so he took it again. The tightness of his grip as we ran upstairs. There is a staircase at the back up to the top. It's hard to walk because I'm still wearing heels. He walks in front of me while holding my hand. When he noticed I stopped, he stopped too. I said my foot hurts so I'll remove my heels first. He just laughed at me. He also took off his shoes so I wondered why he did that. He said it was fair.
I was just shaken but I was also happy with what he did. He doesn't have to do that.
When we got to the top, I put on my heels again. The wind and fireworks are closer to us. The place is also just quiet compared to downstairs. I watched from there, the crowd that he had with him doing things while I was up here with Adrian.
"Do you like here?" He raised his eyebrows and flashed a smile, hoping my answer was yes. I'm quiet so I look uncomfortable but the truth is my eyes were happy with it. Quiet but not the silence is crazy.
"It's fine here, my legs are just a little tired." I smiled in response.
"I noticed that you are not comfortable down there, so I brought you here."
"I'm good. Perhaps, I was quite the whole hour but I really enjoy this night. Especially, now."
"And now you are smiling." He laughed.
I didn't speak and just looked at the beautiful fireworks again. It suddenly occurred to me that day that I was with Xy when we were in college. We had a camp and almost all of us were in a circle because of the bonfire. I was looking for Xy at that time because he disappeared from my sight so I tried to find him. I also saw him, sitting on the grass alone. So I turned to him and tried to talk to him just because he didn't pay attention to me. I don't know if it's because of Greg who was my partner in the camp when we set up the tent, because Greg was with me all day, then I didn't notice Xy much.
I keep on asking him even though he didn't pay attention to me until that silence was broken when he asked me. "Lou, do you like Greg?" He asked. Fireworks exploded when I answered.
"You're numb." He said that's not what I heard at first. Because he suddenly stood up at that time. Then I realized as I repeated in my brain what he told me.
I feel numb. Of course, at that time, I didn't pay attention to what he said. How could I be numb? I'm not doing anything to him. That's what I'm thinking. But, it's true. I was really numb because I didn't see him right away and now I was secretly telling him that he was numb because he was unaware of how I felt tonight.
I just laugh at myself. I want to ask destiny if it is necessary that we should not love at the same time? Because the situation is reversing and it looks like I'm the only one noticing. Can I insist if he wants something else?
I couldn’t bear to look at him earlier as his hands were tightly wrapped around the woman, Trish. My eyes and my heart just hurt. Fortunately, Adrian took me upstairs. When I'm quiet, he also keeps quiet, but later on, he'll ask a random question. I answered with limited information about myself because we're not that close yet. I was just blanked by his question but he didn't force me to answer.
"We can't stay here all night." He said. I looked at him.
"Why? Is it forbidden to come here upstairs?"
"Hmm, nope. We're gonna enjoy the party. You know, dancing" He then sway his hands as he said he wanted to dance. I laughed at him. He was so weird, though.
"Alright. I guess I have no other choice. I don't want to stay here alone."