Chapter 26: Surprise Performance
"You don't need makeup but she wants you to put something on." He only answered it wasn't offending to Fera since her makeup was simple for that kind of event. But she was confused about what was something special about this birthday.
"How old are you again?"
"I turned seventeen today," he answered.
"What is something very special on your seventeenth birthday?" she asked while Nick opened a door. He only chuckled and they got in.
"Hello," a woman waved at her with a wide smile so she bowed slightly and smiled.
"She's Jina, the makeup artist, and her team, who'll take care of you." Nick introduced the designers. She didn't know how to greet them, she usually doesn't talk in that kind of situation, she was wishing that she had many friendly words in her vocabulary to communicate with them easily. "This is Fera."
Fera offered her hand for handshakes, that was the first thing that came into her mind. "Hello," her voice came out very low and visibly shy.
"Hello, ma'am Fera." Their energy was exactly opposite from her.
"Okay, you need to start you only had a few minutes to finish everything." Nick took her hand off and pulled a chair across the huge mirror. "I'll go now." But Fera hold his clothes to stop him and stared into his eyes as if she was asking him not to go. She couldn't say it in front of them.
"I'll be back in no time." He assure her and she left with no choice but to nod.
"Let's start?" Jina asked.
"Okay,"
She then started putting liquid on her face and some powder. She was brushing her face endlessly using a fluffy brush. She was watching every move of those people around her. One was doing her hair and one was searching for something in their bag.
"Do you suggest any, Miss Fera?"
"I am not good at makeup, it's on you, I think," she politely answered.
"I only did a no make-up look since your feature was perfect, I am afraid to overdo your face. I might ruin your natural look. Now we're down to your dress. Is it okay if we will change it?" she instantly nodded. All she wanted was to get over this make-up session.
"I was thinking of sticking into her dress, mamsh. It was undeniably gorgeous on her." A man said flirting with the voice, his gay and the stylist. He went to her and searched for something in her dress. Fera heard him gasped when he saw the brand of her dress.
"Is this real?" he couldn't believe what he saw. He got his phone and searched for something. "Gosh look at the price of this dress. It was labeled sold, this is one of the limited editions I have been eyeing, Miss. The last time I checked it was still available."
"My secretary send this just this morning," she panicked when she heard his reaction so she instantly answered.
They noticed her panic so he instantly slid his phone into his pocket. "I was just surprised, Miss. That was nothing, are you satisfied with your look? Would you want to change or not? I think any would suit you well."
"I think I'm fine with this," she answered. But she noticed that they looked down at her heels so she simply hide it.
Before anyone could talk, they heard a knock. The door went open and Nick's face popped in. "Done?"
"Yes, sir," Jina answered and Fera noticed her flirty smile, she even changed her voice when she talk. "She's all set, sir."
"I see," he came in and stood behind Fera and looked at her reflection in the mirror.
"Beautiful, but you're more beautiful without it." He carelessly complimented her.
****
The host had opened the event and started introducing people in front. While Fera was sitting alone at a table in the corner, Nick was called a while ago. She was so stressed when Nick told her about a dance. She'd been scratching her palm, he said, they'll be dancing in front. He also said that does not to stress out since the dance was mellow and calm. They will not be dancing alone too.
"Hello," she almost jumped when someone touched her shoulder. She saw a woman in a white blazer and skirt. Her boy cutting her was empowering to her. She immediately stood to show respect.
"Hello, ma'am." She nervously greeted her.
"You are Fera Luzares, am I right?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"I am Margaret, Nick's aunt," she introduced herself.
"I'm Fera, ma'am." Her back stiffen when she heard her introduce herself and she manage to act normal and accept her hand for a handshake.
"Nice meeting you, Fera," Fera observe her movements and she wasn't sending a negative sign to her so she calm a bit.
"Pleasure to meet you too, ma'am." She answered and smile at the lady.
"Let's take a seat?" and she sat where Nick was sitting. Fera carefully took the seat too.
"I am his mother's sister if you don't know." She opened a conversation and Fera only nodded and smile. "How much do you know my nephew?" she asked.
"Not that much, ma'am. I only know Lola Clarita and Lolo Nikolas from his family and something about him but not that well." She honestly answered, she went serious with her question and she became too invested in their topic.
"I see, I've seen him escort you inside. You seem close." She commented and Fera felt uneasiness with her in interrogation. And didn't know how to answer her, causing her to smile and drank her water.
"What can you say about the party?" she asked when she noticed Fera tensed up.
"Ahm, it was quite grand, it's beautiful."
"It's his first time celebrating his birthday after his parents' death, that's why." She carelessly drops the bomb in Fera's face. She took a moment to process what was happening. The party was indeed a big deal to his family.
"I didn't know," her voice came out almost a whisper. Margaret only smiled at her and looked around.
"Clarita was very happy when he agreed and prepared this party." She said and Fera wander her eyes around too. Then she saw Lola Clarita, she seemed very happy and hands-on in everything. She kept checking everyone and walk around to make sure everything was fine. "I wonder why he agreed this time."
Fera turned to her again and looked away. "Why did he stop celebrating his birthday?" But she was answered by silence so she looked at her.
"Not my story to tell." And her eyes started glistening but she immediately blinked them away. "Please enjoy the party, you seemed special in this celebration, I mean special to him." She whispered in her ears.
"Aunt Margaret," she heard him from her back.
"Nick my favorite nephew!" she stood and kissed his cheek. "Happy birthday!"
"Thank you," after their little catch-up, Margaret left and check the other guest. While Fera couldn't move on about their conversation earlier. It was understandable that a child would not find interest in celebrating his birthday without their parents but she thought that there was another reason aside from that.
"Are you alright?"
She turned to him and raised both of her eyebrows as if she was asking. "Do I look like not?" And his lips cracked into a smile.
"Yes," and she noticed that his smile did not reach his eyes. She stared at it while Nick sat next to her.
"You're right, I have no interest in any kind of party."
He only chucked and took a sip of his drink.
"But I might change my mind if I taste that chocolate fountain." And she pointed to the table full of sweets.
"Sure," he called one of their waiters and asked him to get chocolate for her. As the chocolate arrived she immediately tasted it. "How's it?"
"Good," she shortly answered and stood after she finished it and got another. As she returned to her seat she continuously drank it and completely forgot Nick.
"And good supposes to mean great, right?" he asked.
"Partly," He laughed at her reply and got a tissue, he wiped her upper lip and she realized how messy she was. "Oh, sorry."
"It's fine, we can cancel the dance," she stopped and looked at him.
"Why?"
"You were so scared earlier, I think dancing in front of them is too much for you." She blinked twice and recalled the conversation she had with Margaret. Especially when she said please enjoy the party.
"I can, it's fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes I am, trust me I can," he assured him. She surprisingly used the word trust when she despise that word. Despite the nervousness in her veins, she promised to face it. She didn't want to ruin the flow of the party by refusing to dance with him.
"Okay?" he was not so sure about it but he trust Fera's words.
Until they were already called upon the stage. Nervousness had risen in her stomach making her feel sick so she snatched a glass of wine on the nearest tray. She drank it straight to ease her fear. And Nick saw it, and after she drank it like water he got the glass and put it back for her.
"Are you sure about this?"
"More than sure," she answered. But the liquor was burning in her throat down to her stomach and he faces started burning.
They went on the stagehand in hand and she put her hand on his shoulder and Nick manage to pull her closer. The music started and Fera regretted drinking that burning liquor. She came closer and tiptoed to whisper in his ears.
"That too bitter, what kind of wine was that?" And Nick failed to suppress his laughter.
"It was not for minors," he replied.
"Shit!" And Nick bit his lower lip to stop laughing. He was too amused by her reaction. "I shouldn't have done that." He found it very cute in addition to her face which has turned red. She looked up at him and frown at her browse.
"Do not laugh at my misfortune," but he only spin her away and pulled her back. And she lands on his chest. The twist was they change the music into hype music and she started jumping. The crowd started joining them until the alcohol had corrupted her. She started dancing with him, and she never miss a beat. And Nick happily goes with her. Soon she'd been losing her balance and her vision was running around her.