Crush.
"It could be the feeling of admiration or infatuation toward a person, or the person itself. When we have a crush, just their presence is enough to make us happy. And in most cases, a crush could sometimes lead to deeper emotion like love."
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SENTHIE agreed with Kassandra's idea to have a welcome party for herself. It was around ten o'clock in the evening when they arrived at Samgyupsalamat, a Korean Barbeque Restaurant that offered unlimited food at an affordable price. What Senthie loved the most was that they offered a wide variety of marinated meat such as beef samgyup, yangnyum beef, boolgogi, dae-pae, bul-jib, and many more.
Kassandra, as if she had already planned this to happen--rather than just a popped-out idea--the whole restaurant had no customers and a sign that had said reserved was hanging at the glass door. She had definitely prepared for this welcome party, Senthie thought.
In the course of that entire moment, Senthie had finally come to a conclusion. Kassandra had a crush on Kenzo.
There were enough reasons to prove her assumption.
First, when they entered the restaurant--Senthie and Cecile threw glances at each other when Kassandra linked her arm to Kenzo's, and even he was surprised. Kassandra dragged Kenzo--as if she knew him for years--until they were seated beside each other.
Second, her attention was all over Kenzo as she flaunted her achievements being a model and that she would inherit Rebeau Cosmetics in the future. She was also--only interested in Kenzo as if it was an interview party for him after her self-introduction, though Kenzo didn't answer some of her personal questions, she was still happy when Kenzo said that he was single.
Third, she had only grilled meat for him.
Fourth, she kept touching Kenzo's arm with any chance she had. She made Kenzo very uncomfortable that he had to excuse himself for a toilet break.
Fifth, when Kenzo was still in the restroom, Cecile asked Kassandra if she had a crush on Kenzo, and she just giggled and answered, "I like pretty things and I intend to make them mine." Although she neither admitted it nor denied it, it was still enough as a 'yes', but what was alarming and more important was, Kassandra thought of Kenzo as a thing--a pretty thing that she would be willing to do everything to make her mine. Was it? Or was it just her excuse to say it wasn't love at first sight?
Sixth, Kassandra already had his number the first time they met.
And lastly, Kenzo was also invited to her birthday party.
Before they parted ways, Kassandra held out a pink envelope to each of them and demanded them to come whether they would like it or not. It was when Senthie felt grateful to Kassandra when she whispered, "especially, you, Sen. You have to come no matter what. I will introduce you to my friends, surely they would love to know who is the designer of my gown. And I also want to let them know who made me look like a seductive princess! So be sure to attend my birthday party and bring Kenzo with you, uh, and also, Cecile!"
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As the days passed, Fashion Sen's was booming. Unlike the first month when people were just window shopping, this time, they could be called customers. One or two of them even praised how the fabric of Fashion Sen's was cool and soft, and that the designs on the mannequin were like nothing they had seen before. Two out of the customers in the entire month decided to give Fashion Sen's a chance--just like Kassandra, they wanted a customized gown, one of the two was for her 18th birthday, and the other one was for her evening gown for a pageant. Senthie had been busy throughout the month and she was thankful that Cecile and Kassandra had her back. The three became closer each day and evolved to be great besties. Surprisingly, Cecile and Kassandra clicked perfectly as if they hadn't had a clash on their very first meeting. They got along so well, especially, when it came to gossiping about celebrities, which Senthie was not a fan of, but sometimes curiosity would get the best of her and would end up joining them.
Not so later, Kassandra admitted that she had a crush on Kenzo and asked Senthie and Cecile to help her get close to him. Cecile would just laugh and tell her that it wasn't a good idea but Senthie agreed. She thought that Kenzo needed a dominative one to complement his submissiveness. And Kassandra was perfect for that role. She exactly knew what she wanted. She was sure of Kenzo. Or perhaps, Senthie just wanted to believe in it and wanted to play the cupid role to help him forget his feelings for her.
"Are you insane, bes?" It was Cecile's opinion of Senthie's agreeing with Kassandra. "You know that Kenzo loves you, only you. I don't think it's a good idea to push him to Kassandra. Besides, Kenzo is your ex and Kas is your friend now. Can't you see how awkward it will be?"
Senthie smiled and shrugged. "Yes, it will be awkward. But the point is, Kenzo is my ex and Kas is my friend, it's a win-win situation. Kas will help Kenzo to open up his heart, and Kenzo makes Kas happy. So, what's the problem?"
Cecile rolled her eyes and then sighed. "You didn't tell her he was your boyfriend."
This time, it was Senthie's turn to sigh. "I don't know how to tell her. I just couldn't find the right timing."
"You have to tell her."
"Yeah, I know. I have to."
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Time flew too fast, and Kassandra's birthday came--the "any shade of pink" theme color event. It just showed that Kassandra really wanted to stand out the most with her red gown, Senthie thought. It was Kassandra after all. She seemed to love to be the center of attention, the opposite of Senthie who just wanted to disappear into the corner.
One of the reasons why Senthie had been busy the past month, she had been making the gown that she and Cecile would wear to Kassandra's birthday party. For herself, it was an old rose color and had see-through long sleeves, its bodice had glittered patterns, and had a long flowy, and pleated skirt with a ribbon at the back. She almost looked like a real princess with her soft makeup and hair styled like Belle of Beauty and the Beast. As for Cecile's gown--it was bodycon with long puffy sleeves with a slit on the left leg in the color of baby pink. Cecile also pulled off heavy makeup that completely made her look like a Hollywood star walking on the red carpet, literally, with her hair tied up in a tight bun.
Kenzo, escorting the two gorgeous ladies with both arms--Senthie on the right, Cecile on the left--made the guests' glances befall on them as if a light walked in the night.
Kenzo's undershirt was pink and wearing a beautiful white tuxedo that was designed by Senthie--it was her gift for him on their first anniversary and she didn't expect him to wear it on this day--neither did how he styled his neck-length hair--it was gelled, pulling his hair with a neat look. His visuals were the likes of J-pop idols and the guests kept on checking him up until Kassandra welcomed him with a flirty smile. The female guests' eyes went from hearts to broken hearts--probably, they thought they had no chance against the birthday celebrant.
Kassandra wasn't wearing the gown that Senthie had designed. Instead, she was wearing a knee-length golden sequin dress with complex patterns of laces. She looked expensive as their mansion; as expensive as how much cost her birthday party preparation--not to mention there was a pianist playing live in the corner by the huge window. And violinists, but not playing yet their instruments. Senthie wondered when they would play as she loved hearing the sound of a violin. The ambiance of their mansion was like that of a royal palace, or so at least looked like they were at a Hollywood Regency party and the star of the night was none other than Kassandra who looked more than gorgeous--probably the most eye-pleasing human in this place, that even a woman would have a crush on her. Even the celebrities that were present at her party.
Setting the eye-pleasing aside, Senthie almost lost her self-esteem and became disappointed not seeing Kassandra wearing her designed gown until she, the birthday celebrant told her that she didn't need to be so down since the gown that she made for her was for the grand finale, and then by that, Senthie smiled at Kassandra and then laughed internally to her half-embarrassed self as she shook her head.
Kassandra turned her attention to Kenzo after acknowledging the presence of Senthie and Cecile by doing the cheek-to-cheek--like kissing a cheek without actually kissing it.
"You're strikingly handsome like no other, Kenzo," Kassandra said as if it was perfectly easy to initiate a conversation like that without getting embarrassed in front of her crush. Well, perhaps, it was. She then gave him a peck on the cheek and murmured in a breathy way, "you look dashing with that hairstyle, as well."
Obviously, shy and embarrassed, Kenzo flushed and his hand found the back of his neck as he stuttered, "t-thank you. You too, you look beautiful."
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An hour passed after the emcee had ended the program. Kassandra's speech and her family's message for her were all done and now it was finally time for dinner--it was what Senthie was waiting for as soon as her gaze landed on the long table with the stainless food covers that were now removed and exposed what was underneath. The food servers had now appeared and were giving a portion of food to the guests who stopped by for the specific food they liked.
Deep fried mars bars, rumbledethumps, stinging hinny, parkin, manchester egg, cranachan, scouse, stargazy pie, cockles, Dorset Blue Vinny, laverbread, mini quiches, sausage rolls, jelly and ice cream, jammie dodgers, Yorkshire puddings, roasted chicken, triple layer of strawberry cake, and chocolate fountain. Most of these foods were all cuisine of the UK that Senthie never heard of or had seen before. She was unfamiliar with them and didn't seem to know what to pick, so, she decided to try all of them. She did not single out any and pretended that she knew what the food servers were saying about the food. The usual nod and smile as the sound go in and out from the other ear, but she did pick up that the theme of the party was Hollywood Regency, and that it was a sudden change of decision from the original plan of just a grand party.
After the dinner, the music faded and the pianist stopped playing when the emcee took the microphone again and announced that the real fun of the party was just about to start. He then added, "let us now give our attention to the most stunning woman of the night, the birthday girl, Ms. Kassandra Taylor!"
The emcee invited the guests to clap and then held out his hand up high towards the top of the ascending stairs, and then the lights were turned off, or so became dim, and a spotlight was on Kassandra as she appeared... wearing Senthie's design. The guests gave the birthday girl a round of applause as she descended the stairs, poised and elegant as she held the top rail for support, the spotlight still following her.
Senthie gasped at the view, and so as the guests as if a queen appeared in front of them. Kassandra looked perfect in the gown same as how they did to her blond curled hair. Earlier it was loose, now it was in a low ponytail with two tendrils of hair to frame her small face. She was just too stunning that even Kenzo, perhaps, thought she was pretty as his eyes were glued to her when Senthie glanced at him.
"She's so beautiful!" Cecile squealed.
Kenzo smiled and nodded. "Yes, she is. The gown made her look like that."
Cecile giggled. "Are you saying that she looks beautiful only because of the gown?"
"No!" Kenzo denied. "I didn't mean it that way. I just thought... she looks more beautiful in that gown."
"The gown that Senthie made? I've now come to realize that we always end up talking about Sen." She laughed and then gazed at Senthie who was now giving her a look as if saying, "shut up, bes."
Senthie's hopes for Kenzo to be attracted to Kassandra went down. It seemed that he wasn't over her yet and that it would be tough work to make him interested in another woman. She had almost pitied him.
"And now for the real fun," the emcee began. Kassandra was now on the same floor as them. "We will be having 22 lucky men who will have a chance to take Ms. Kassandra on the dance floor! So the question is, who will Ms. Kassandra choose?"
The guests were obviously surprised when they gasped, "dance floor?"
Most of the men cheered and were excited about the idea. Some of them adjusted their ties, some of them made a little jump, and some were just cool about it as if they were confident that they would be chosen.
As Kassandra began to walk in the spotlight, the guests made a way for her as she--as if already knew who to choose--confidently made her way to the back. The ladies began to squeak like a duck when they saw the man that Kassandra had chosen.
Senthie's eyes widened as soon as another spotlight went to the man. Her gaze went to the man's face and her inner thoughts said, "he's here?"
And then the realization hit her. She mumbled, "of course, he's here."
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Hello, Noomiells!
Thank you for reading this chapter. Hope you liked it. :D
Did you have a crush on someone that developed into love?
Are you convinced that Kassandra has a crush on Kenzo?
Who do you ship Kenzo to be with?
I would like to know your opinion. Please, let me know! :D