'This is insane. This is so freaking insane!'
Venz's hysterically shouted in her mind after changing her dress in her room. She was deeply breathing continuously in so much uneasiness she felt since earlier while leaning on the cold wall of her room, so freaking pissed off at that moment and so frustrated and confused if she would still go downstairs and face her visitors, especially him. But if she won't go back there, she was so sure that both their parents would be so curious and would suspect her and his actions even more. She knew that both their parents were already right-suspicious on her and Francis' reactions earlier but the old ones didn't commented any further at all. Her father just asked and good thing she had answered a stupid one, but at least, she answered immediately. But she knew both her parents were really suspicious already. And she felt like it was all because if her, she was so obvious. And one thing she's so mad about even more was Francis' answer. He finds her so attractive huh? Psh! In his face! Such an alibi he has earlier. Darn him! She closed her eyes tightly and gulped hardly.
"Dang! What kind of sick joke is this?" She murmured frustratedly while her fingers were on the side of her temple. Why on earth did that happen? Was fate really loves playing her around? That was so not funny at all and she really hated that utterly sickening joke! 'I left him right? I left that demon way back then! For me to totally forget him and forget about the pain he caused me! But why on earth is this happening to me?! Darn!' She irritably complained in her thoughts and groaned in uncontrollable frustration. And worst, Francis was supposed to be her husband to be back then! 'Holy crap! Freaking blood-boiling fate! Grrr!'
She breathed deeply and filled her lungs with air. Eitherway, she needs to face her bloody nightmare and she needs to clear things first with Francis later if she will have time at last with each other, that they need to act like they still didn't know each other and all that. So for the meantime, she should act like nothing happened. Like, there's no creepiness and awkwardness happened in front of their parents. So again, she blew some air in irritation and went out of her room.
With a smiling face, she walked towards the dining room again and gazed upon her parents and Francis' father. Except him, who's probably gazing at her right at that moment. She really didn't look at him on purpose because her entire self would probably react again if their eyes will meet once more. Argh!
"Oh there she is again!" Her father happily announced and guided her at last at the front of her visitors, but not so near. But even so, she still wants to back off immediately. 'Relax, Harem Vennelicka. You can do it. Just act as if you barely know him.'
"Nelica, daughter, I want you to meet Don Omar Al Gala." Her father introduced excitedly and smiled happily at the old man who was smiling happily at them too.
"H-Hello, Sir. Glad to meet you in person."
She obediently and shyly said. Then she was shocked when the old man abruptly hugged her tight. So she shyly hugged the latter back.
"Well hello to you too, hija! Oh it's so nice to finally see how beautiful my supposedly future daughter-in-law is! It's just so sad that my wife can't make it today because she has something to settle first before following here. Otherwise, she'll be able to see how enchantingly beautiful our future daughter-in-law is! And drop the " Sir" because I have a feeling that it won't be long and you're going to call me "dad" sooner or later!"
Everyone laughed so hard of the old man's joke. Well.. Except her. And probably except Francis because she didn't hear him laugh nor chuckle. Well it's not funny anyway. At least, for the both of them.
But she just faked a laugh though. Hopefully it's still sounded so sincere.
The old man gently pulled away from the hug and smiled at her proudly and meaningfully. Then the old man said..
"And finally, hija.. Without further ado.. I want you to meet your long-waited visitor, the one who's supposedly your husband to be back then and my eldest son.. White Francis Al Gala. And, hijo.. This is your supposed to be wife back then.. The beautiful only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dikkinson.. Harem Vennelicka Stenley."
'Alright, this is it.' She said in her thoughts and calmed herself down. That's it. They were already in front of each other. She can actually see his shiny, black leather shoes. She gulped continuously. 'Oh please.. Heart, get a grip. Mind, please work out for me. Don't react! Don't react!'
"Hi."
And that's it. She was almost become deaf due to the loud pounding of her heart when she heard that deep and utterly suave voice of his. 'God. He still has the same effect on me.' She can even hardly breath that time and she freakingly hate it! Darn! She calmed herself. Then she held her breath while she slowly, so slowly, raised her head to face him just to gulp so hard secretly when she finally see his face that close again after so many years.
'Geez.. Six years..' Six long years yet his overflowing charisma and drop dead gorgeousness never fades, instead, that ever so handsome face of his became more handsome now after so many years that passed. She held her breath when their eyes finally met. Those intimidating pair of grey eyes. Those intimidating pair of grey eyes that she wanted to see back then everytime she wakes up. Her gaze went down to his lips. To those lips that's too sensual and too pinkish and thin for a guy like him who's strict and grumpy sometimes but also had a playboy image years back. And to those lips.. That was the very first one to taste her lips way back then. She blushed with the thought but she couldn't look down to avoid his gaze. She just stood their like a statue while staring at him, who was also deeply staring at her at that moment. She gulped again. Jesus! Why was it that White Francis' pair of grey eyes were still so intimidating and bone-melting to look at? And good heavens! Why does he looked so handsome even more now in her eyes? That's just so unfair! She immediately calmed herself. 'Love? Help me calm down. Please help me calm down.'
"Ehem."
And just by that, she felt a million ice cubes pour down to her body when she heard White Francis' gentle cough to obviously attract her attention. She then shyly looked around and saw how her parents, White Francis' parents and the maids who were surrounding their big dining table, looked at them while smiling so sweetly at her and him. Oh darn! She failed to act natural in front of the crowd and especially in front of him. And maybe he was now thinking of so many things she probably won't like! So she must put in her mind that he hurt her so bad back then, that he took her for a fool and played around her feelings! So she will never! And ever let him deceive her by that deceiving, charming stare he was using with her at that moment. Never again. 'Oh God, Love.. Give me strength.. Give me strength..'
She cleared her throat and masking that dead serious facial expression, she bravely took White Francis' hand that he extended at her after he greeted her earlier. Then she said in her thoughts, 'Act natural, Nelica. Act natural.'
"Hello, White Francis. Glad to finally meet you." She seriously said. But inside her, her heart was immediately boiling as she said that while staring at his decieving handsome face. 'Really? I'm glad to see you? Huh! In your dreams!' She hissed in her thoughts.
She gulped. Now she felt so awkward evrn more being introduced to him for the thought that he already knew her six years ago. She nervously cleared her throat and waited for his response. Then her heart abruptly pounded inside her chest when Francis suddenly smiled at her meaningfully and gently lifted her hand to level his face. Then her eyes widenes when he slowly lowered down his head and kissed the back of her hand so.. Very gently. She gulped. 'What the?' Now she couldn't help but arched her eyebrow in annoyance. 'What the heck was he doing? Showing some gentleman effects to our parents is that it?'
"Miss Harem Vennelicka Stenley.."
She gulped harder again as he said those words so softly as with a meaningful tone and a meaningful smile. Then he continued that made her entire body shiver.
"We met at last."