The sun had set and the evening shadows had crept in unannounced. Hades looking smart, confident, attractive, and polite~ stylishly, kept scanning at himself over and over again in the dressing mirror as he adjusted his sleeves.
His white shirt over a wine vest complimented his figure quite well. Being pleased with his look~ he dashed out of his room. As he descended the flight of stairs, Joan and Joanita who were vest, fighting over a TV remote were instinctively drawn by his presence.
The looks in their eyes spilled their surprise – it suddenly felt like they'd never met him before. Their stunned gazes finally dawned on him as he closed up on them.
“ Hey... why the look?~ you've seen a ghost?” He casually asked, teasing.
Joanita who was soon shot back to reality finally made use of her tongue, breaking the awkward silence.
“ Wow ~ woah, what's the occasion ?”
“ A date...... I guess.” Joan added.
“ Hey... cut it, nothing special.” He said sheepishly to which the two glanced at each other and winked.
“ Come on bro, hit us on it ~ who is she?” they said as they wrapped their hands over his shoulders.
“ Who is the lucky one?” huh?”
He stepped forward and placed their heads a little lower as if to tell them and whispered in a lower tone to their hearing.
“ Maybe some other time~ I'm running late...” He said and with a chuckle, he left them staring at his back with groans. “ Don't worry, you can pile up all your questions for later.” He shot back as he faded out of sight. Soon, they were back, fighting over the TV controller. Hades could hear their voices from his car as he drove out.

*************
With the help of Nanny Erica, Gina was able to pick up an outstanding outfit for the occasion. She stood in front of the mirror for close to 15 minutes admiring herself~ the dress flattered her figure. As she stood there, Erica walked into the room.
“ It's time for you to get going, my queen— Hades is waiting outside the garden.” She announced and without hesitation, Gina picked up her bag. With a glance again, she smiled at her reflection, and off, she headed out.
“ Thanks a lot for helping me choose this spectacular outfit. I'm off now.”
With a hug, she bid goodbye and joined Hades outside.
Hades was admiring the beauty of the garden right in front of him and didn't notice her presence.
Seeing how lost he was in admiration, she smiled ~ clapping him on the shoulder.
“ Are they prettier than me?” She teased, drawing his attention. For a moment, he was left without words.
Dazzed in the beauty in front of him as their eyes met – he devoured her with his eyes.
The awkwardness made her shy and uneasy.
“ Um... shall we go now?” She finally managed to voice out to which he briskly nodded with a sheepish smile.
“ Ah... yeah, this way, please ”. He said, guiding me to the car.
He handed a bunch of fresh red roses and a card stuck prominently in the middle of the flowers which he brought from a flower shop along the road to her and spontaneously walked ahead to open the door of the car for her to sit. A smile played at the corners of her lips as she sat down, he then hopped into the car, reversed it, and drove off.
They chitchatted, joked, and listened to their favorite music to enable them not to get bored before getting to their destination.
After an hour's drive, their car got to the entrance of the Cinema and Hades drove in the direction where a man stood asking him to come to pack their car.
The car finally pulled over at the venue after a few minutes' drive.
With the help of an usher, they were guarded to the Vvip section. Gina momentarily felt like a queen being ushered to her palace.
Hades secretly stole glances at her as her bright smiles took his notice ~ his face fully drawn with satisfaction as they settled in their seats.
“ Thank you,” Gina mumbled to the young man.
***************
On her way home, Nina thought —a wine night with Gina wouldn't be so bad a thing to try. That's her little way to mend their little misunderstanding the other day.
With that, she dropped by her regular wine shop “ Love and Wine ” and picked a few bottles as she usually does.
Taking the bypass as she drove on to avoid the horrific evening traffic, she headed home.
After an hour, Erica noticed Nina's car pulled up in the yard. She hurried to the doorpost to welcome her since Gina hadn't returned.
“ Hey — welcome home, honey — she said as Nina knocked off her heels and slipped into her slippers.
“ Hope work was okay.”
“Yeah,” She nodded with a smile as her eyes earnestly scanned around for her daughter's presence but then Erica caught on her thoughts just when she was about to speak.
“Gina ?~ ” Erica asked with a smile and Nina instinctively nodded. “Sorry, dear~ she had left earlier for the Cinema with her friend, Hades...”
Nina looked quizzically at her and frowned, the expression on her face made Erica notice her disappointment.
“ Come on! ~ Gina is now mature enough to take care of herself, besides she went out with Hades. Be rest assured that she is definitely in safe hands.”
“ Well, I'm not so sure who he is but if you say so...” Gina added as she stretched forth the package in her hands. “ Kindly keel these for me.”
Erica nodded and left off with the items. As Nina shot to her feet, she heard the engine of a car outside the yard which she took a peek at. It was Gina and Hades.
“ I'll see you at lectures tomorrow~ thanks for tonight, it was for” She heard Gina say as he pecked him goodbye.