"What took you so long?" Callea complained as Deive get off the car. "I am bored here waiting for you."
Torque left with Marina and Luna for a joy ride. Her cousin wanted her friends to go someplace else. While she was left at Villa Celesta alone. She also wanted to leave the villa for a while and see new sights. It has been a long time since she left Nagcarlan. Her destination was always Villa Celesta and the mansion. It was starting to become a bore. But she wanted a place that has no people around. She just wanted the view and nature.
"Do you want to attend a cosplay event?"
"Cosplay?" She clasped her hands and she saw stars as she think about people wearing different costumes. It didn't matter who they were because they were in character. They were not obliged to show their real self. What's important is they could represent the character well and could show their creative side. "I love that."
"There's a cosplay event in SM Mall of Asia. It is still early. We can get there on time." It was eight-thirty in the morning.
"As in right now?" She didn't know what to do. She was excited. It was her first time attending that kind of event. She wanted to ask her cousins to bring her to that kind of event before but they were killjoy. They said that it was only for teenagers. She ran inside the mansion to change into a costume that Pipay, her friend designer, sent her recently. She stopped suddenly when she remembered Deive. "H-How about you? Will you wear a costume?"
He nod his head. "Yes. I will be Shadow Knight. Pipay gave me a costume to me as a gift. She said that she wants you to have a partner when you feel like being on a character. I might as well use it." Shadow Knight was a character in one of her graphic novels.
"Then I will be Calliope so we can be partners." She stood on her toes and kiss his cheek. "Thank you, Shadow Knight."
In less than five minutes, her costumes and make-up kit were packed. Good thing Marina prepared it near the treasure chest and her knee-high boots was waiting for her as well. Calliope's costume was perfect. It had a veil that covered her face. Nobody would know what she looked like behind it.
At the car, she already wore the veil. Her body was buzzing with excitement as I answered Deive's questions about his character Shadow Knight. She didn't notice how long their trip lasted.
He said that he owned a condo near SM Mall of Asia so they changed their clothes there. It took an hour to fix her hair and her make-up. Calliope was a Gothic Lolita character. She let hair hair down. She was wearing a long back tulle dress with a petticoat. She also had a black lacy fan that could dispel evil spirits. She decided not to put on make up since she would be wearing a veil.
Her breath hitched when she saw Deive in his Shadow Knight costume. He looked like an aristocrat vampire. His elegant black cape collar coat was perfect for his lithe body. Even the black lacy baroque pants were so on point. She never thought Shadow Knight could be this sexy until Deive personified it. Unlike her, he ditched the mask and it showcased his beautiful face. He didn't even need his jeweled sword because his piercing eyes could easily melt souls.
She was so amazed when she entered SMX Convention Center. Cosplayers were milling around and they were wearing costumes from her graphic novels. Her heart was about to burst. To see her characters come to life and loved by many was heaven.
But she was there as a cosplayer and not as Xylara, the mysterious author.
She suddenly got cold feet when she saw the tarpaulin hanging above the escalator and the entrance to the convention center. Xylara's Book Signing.
She blinked several times. That was her pen name unless there was another Xylara she was not aware of.
She looked around the convention center's lobby once more. All of the cosplayers were wearing her character's costume. Some were even holding copies of her graphic novels. The event was for her. Exclusively for her.
She felt trapped. She would be forced to talk to all those people. Strangers. A lot of strangers had come to see her. They were taking each other's photos and for sure they would take her pictures, too. What if they insist to see her face? What if they tried to hurt her? No. She couldn't do this.
She started running out of breath then stepped back. What would she do with those people?
Deive blocked her with his body before she could retreat some more. "Stay, Callea."
"I can't. I didn't sign up for this," Callea seethed. "You said it is just a cosplay."
"Yes. A cosplay dedicated to your brilliance. These people came for you. They spent money on your books and they invested their money and time in their costumes just to show how much they love you. They want to talk to you a bit and see you sign their books. Is a little thank you very much too much for you? Do you want to disappoint them?"
She gulped nervously. "I wish it is easy, Deive."
"Callea, you are in your costume. You are here as Xylara. Nobody would know that you are Callea Lopez," he whispered.
"What if they want to see my face?"
"All of us are in costume. Even Mattheu. Come on. If you don't want to do this, you can tell him yourself."
"I-I can't do this alone," she whispered and she wanted to cry as they walk the labyrinth of booths for the book signing. She was starting to become dizzy.
"I won't leave you. We won't leave you. I know you are scared and you might hate me for putting you on the spot. But if you won't conquer your fear now, how long will you live inside your dark world? I want you to know that there are people here who love you so much and admire you for your talent. I will be by your side. I won't leave you. Trust me."