~Chapter 38~
The wedding would be in two days and I had done nothing but sulked in some or the other corners of my sad apartment.
My dad, Angela and Chase had booked themselves a room in a hotel because apparently they didn't want to disturb me. Embarrassingly, they had seen my recent pictures with Skye as well since like before they were making a big hit again.
Least to say, after losing my job and Skye, the only song my mind could stream was 'I'm A Mess' by Bebe Rexha. Even Keith's freelancing was moving at a slower pace than a snail. Even though it didn't bother him, it did to me more than anyone could fathom.
Sighing out loud in frustration and sadness, I glanced at my alarm clock which read 10:17 am. I've been sitting on my bed for more than an hour since I woke up.
As I was running my hands through my hair, it got stuck in somewhere and I groaned out of annoyance. "Great. Just… great!"
Not wasting another second, I decided to take a long, clean and fragrant bath to feel better. Readying everything for my bath, I made a pact with myself to forget about everything for a moment and pay attention toward caring for myself.
After an hour of cleansing myself, I changed into some old pajamas and trudged toward the kitchen. My appetite has been low lately but right now, I decided to make something good for breakfast.
Overnight, my head was churning up with various thoughts when it stopped on the point of looking out for myself. After I had seen that paparazzo through my window, I had filed a complaint against him the next day itself. Although it was dismissed by giving me a reason that I was "too drunk and must be hallucinating".
Not even once did they think that my pictures were being used for gossip everywhere and that my case was true. I couldn't blame them though because I was already an item for the media. What more could they do about it? Besides I had no proof against him because he didn't even do anything to me. Yet. And that very simple thought sent chills down my spine.
Just as I had taken a seat on the barstool, my doorbell rang and I exhaled through clenched teeth. Scuffling toward the main door with my weary feet, I wondered who it could be.
To be cautious, I peered through the peephole and was shocked to see Angela along with my… friends? What are they doing here?
Quickly opening the door, I passed them all a befuddled look. "Am I in trouble?" I joked but they didn't in the least bit seem amused by it.
Angela's concern skyrocketed as she placed her hand on my arm. "Sweetie, are you okay?"
Before I could reply, Shivaay spoke, "Jeez, no offense but you look like shit, VVJ." And with that, he sauntered inside my house with everyone reluctantly following behind him. "But I'll give it to you that you can damn well pull it off."
Chelsea shook her head, annoyed. "Shut up, Shiv. You're not helping," she scolded him.
However, I, on the other hand, started laughing at his words. "I'll take that as an insult. And no matter what, I don't wanna pull off the "shit look"."
Shivaay winked at me. "That's my girl. You people should stop fretting over her. She doesn't even seem to mind besides she's such a cool drunk."
Everyone started smiling at that while I felt like I was left out of the loop. What was even more puzzling was how did Angela know my friends? "Okay, what? And how are you all…?" I trailed off with uncertainty.
Angela came forward and slung an arm around my shoulder before leading me toward the living room. The structure of my place was pretty simple and everything could be spotted at the first glance, making it easy for Angela to see it as well.
"So what's going on?" I asked as I sat down on the couch while she sat opposite me with my friends sprawling around us.
"Um," Angela began, scratching her nose awkwardly. "So I wanted to see you since I am here and uh, I know that you've been feeling low lately because you weren't picking up any of your dad's calls. I tried too but…" She smacked her lips together. "They went straight to voicemail. And so I decided to check up on you and thought that maybe we could spend some time together. It'll help you feel better."
I passed her a small smile with a nod. "Thanks, Angela. That's very… thoughtful of you."
"Yeah, and as you've been going through a lot, I decided that we should go dress shopping as you might not have…" she trailed off, biting her lip.
"You're right," I muttered sheepishly. "It slipped my mind actually."
"No worries and that's what I am here for!" She clapped her hands with a huge grin. I joined in her enthusiasm by passing her a wide smile. Chelsea also giggled at her top notch excitement.
I then turned to my friends who were silently watching the exchange when Keith handed me his phone from over the coffee table. They were all sporting these weird looks which almost made me nervous.
Tentatively, I took it from him with furrowed brows before looking at the screen.
Valerie: Hye, gays! Can we meat at my place tomorow?????? I am boarddddddd!
I choked on my own spit after reading that more than embarrassing message I'd sent last night after finishing a full wine bottle.
DID I SEND SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO SKYE TOO?! Since I was so drunk?
As soon as I read that message, my lip curled up in disgust and I visibly cringed at my "uncalled for" shenanigans. "Urgh," I grunted, rubbing my forehead.
Shivaay took that as his cue to explain. "You sent that text in the group last night. We knew that you're drowning yourself in alcohol and so we decided to join in the party as well." He grinned, wiggling his brows.
Emika slapped him at the back of his head and signed with her hands angrily. He must have understood it because he scowled at her with a pout.
"I was just kidding. You are all so boring. Oh, wait, "boaringgggggg"." He laughed and not long before everyone joined him.
I couldn't help a small smile forming on my face either. "You're annoying." I shook my head.
"Okay, kids!" Angela said loudly to catch everyone's attention. "Let's not drive away from the important thing. It's my wedding and Valerie is basically dress-less so chop chop! No more teasing her. So! Get ready, Val."
I groaned but silently, I wasn't complaining at all. In fact, I needed this breath of fresh air so badly.
"Oh, and um, this is gonna sound completely weird and random but since you guys are really close to Val… do you wanna join us?" Angela asked my friends with an expectant look shining in her eyes. "For the shopping, I mean."
And my apartment was filled with excited hollers and cheers. I beamed at their effulgence. It was contagious.
"Don't worry. We're gonna be there for the wedding too because… who doesn't love free food?" Shivaay joked and again, we all laughed at his stupidity.
"I'll go get changed. Be right back," I excused myself but I felt like I was talking to myself since they were all busy talking about the next thing already. "All right then." I mumbled to myself.
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Once inside the mall, Shivaay and Keith went their separate ways while Angela took us girls under her wing. She was literally gushing over everything for her wedding and it just brightened up my whole drowning mood.
"And my dress is so beautiful, gosh, I seriously teared up when I saw it," Angela told us, her voice lacing with thick emotions. "And that's when I just knew that that's my dress!"
"Aww, that's adorable, Angie. I mean a wedding dress is like a-" Cheslea was saying something but I didn't hear her due to some obvious reasons.
Just as Angela had taken a left turn, leading us inside the shop, my legs stopped on their own accord. My wide eyes landed on Skye but his head was hung low to not catch anyone's attention. His blonde hair was hidden under his cap. Like usual, he was rocking the casual look. Even though I couldn't see his face, I recognized him by the way he was walking. Or maybe I just know him too well to not observe those little things about him.
He hadn't noticed me thankfully but if I continued standing there, it wouldn't take him long to spot me. He was carrying a bag of Nike while heading in my direction. Just one look at him and my heart was yearning to hug him and tell him that I love him. Not only that but I also wanted to whisper to him that let's elope and move to Japan and never look back.
"Valerie? You coming?" I heard Angela's voice. When I turned my head to look at her, she was already at the entrance of some shop with a quizzical look plastered on her face. Chelsea and Emika were nowhere in sight so I presumed that they must be already waltzing in the aisles inside.
I threw a quick glance in Skye's direction and to my horror and surprise, he was already staring at me with an unknown expression. I quickly turned my attention back to Angela. "Can you give me a moment? I'll be - I'll be back," I promised her.
She must have seen something on my face because her features softened and she smiled. Nodding her head, she trudged inside the shop without another word.
With a beating heart and my body on high alert by Skye's presence, I slowly faced him. He had stopped walking and the next thing I know, my legs were automatically carrying me to him.
His face didn't show even an ounce of surprise as if he was expecting to see me.
There was a two feet distance between us when I reached him. The air was screaming with ringing awkwardness. None of us knew what to say to the other. I wanted to say 'hi' and ask him how he was doing but all I did was gaze at him, reminiscing about all our beautiful moments together. Most of them at his tree house.
Just then I remembered about my drunk text to my friends and I mentally crossed my fingers that I didn't pull off such a bad stunt toward him.
"Val," he whispered but it sounded full of worry. He took two quick steps and was now directly standing in front of me. Before I could know what was happening, he cupped my face and gently swiped two fingers under my eyes. I was crying in front of him for God's sake. "Hey, shh, it's okay."
My blurry vision saw the look in his eyes and it was like he wanted to pull me in his arms but he couldn't. Not when his father had strictly ordered us to avoid each other at all costs. Not when I had a hollow feeling that someone was following me. A paparazzo, to be specific.
As soon as that realization hit me, I softly pried away his hands from my face and took a step back. I didn't want to damage his reputation more than I already had and the hurt crossing across his beautiful face made my heart break into a million pieces.
The reason why I walked up to him was because I wanted to have a closer look at him. To know how he was coping up but the bags under his eyes gave me the answer that I needed. We were both sailing in the same boat for that matter. "Take care, Skye," I said all of a sudden and passed him a forced smile before turning around to walk away.
Not even one step when I felt his hand gripping my arm firmly. Those tingles that seemed like a far away thing were back now. "How are you doing?" He asked me in a low voice.
Looking over my shoulder, I sighed. "I am fine," I assured him, pasting that same smile on my face.
"You don't seem fine to me. I can see through you. And why did your "take care, Skye" sound like a final goodbye?" His voice was teetering on an angry edge and when our eyes met, his jaw was clenched while his eyes were narrowed into two tight slits.
"Maybe because it is?" I gritted, getting mad as well. Not at him but on our situation, our luck and everything about our different lives. "So…" I wrenched my arm out of his grip and looked him in the eyes. "It's true, yes. I am not fine, Skye."
We stared at each other, both of us sporting angry visages and both of us too stubborn to back down.
That's when I saw a movement from my peripheral vision. Furrowing my brows, I noticed Shivaay and Keith throwing discreet glances at us. I knew at once that it was their plan to call him here.
I turned back to Skye when he exhaled through his nose heavily. "I promise to you, Val, that once this is all over, there's nothing that can stop me from being with you." With that said, he walked off.
I, on the other hand, was stumped to say the least. The butterflies in my stomach were dancing around in glee because he seemed really hot with that dangerous and angry expression on his face. Unknowingly, a smile stretched onto my lips slowly. His promising words were like fuel to my entire being.
Without another thought, I walked inside the shop Angela had headed in. Just at that moment, something halted me in my steps. The words Skye was about to say just before he had received the call after our pool shenanigans the other day. It never struck me before now because I was literally swimming in the ocean of sadness and not a single good thing was able to bring me out of it. But right now, those words came back to me at the speed of light.
"Will you be my gi-"
Did he… did he mean girlfriend? I gasped before covering my mouth instinctively. I couldn't wait for the day when this all would be over. All I wanted was to catch Kyle M., whoever he is. And mostly, all I wanted was to be in Skye's arms forever.