Early in the morning, Stella and Marielle were already busy. Finally, the date for the engagement party was all set. It was 2 months from now that’s why the two of them were busy finding a great venue.
They went to different resorts, searching for the best place where they could celebrate the engagement party of their children. They have already visited several resorts but they don't like any of them.
This event will only happen once in the lifetime of their children so they want to make sure that it will go smoothly. That everything will go according to what they have planned, from the venue, invitation, things, and until the day of the engagement.
The two madams were in a pastry shop at that time. Because after they visited the fourth resort, they decided to rest for a while.
Theo's mother put down the glass of fruit juice she was drinking. Then, she shifted her gaze to the woman in front of her. “Stella, I thought Hazel will be coming with us in choosing the venue. How will we know her preference if she's not here?” Marielle complained.
Stella smiled before answering the question. “Hazel said that she was just taking care of something. I already messaged her where we are, and she already replied that she will follow sooner.”
Just a few minutes later, Hazel arrived. Theo would not be able to join them because he is busy with work. He needed to focus on the new project of their company, especially since he was the one managing it. Also, Marielle can handle all the things about his engagement celebration with Hazel. The elders know what is needed and what must be done.
“Good morning Auntie, sorry if I arrived late.”
“Don’t worry about it anymore. What’s important is you are here already. We still have a lot to do so today we should be able to find and reserve a venue.”
“About the venue, my friend recommended a place. I’m sure you will be glad about it, the place isn’t only beautiful but they also have a good reputation.”
“Let us hear what the name of the place is?”
“It’s the Sky City Resort. I suppose it’s the best resort we could ever have to hold the party.” Hazel excitedly explained to them.
Marielle frowned after hearing the name of the resort. She shakes her head before speaking. “We can’t. As far as I know, we need to get a reservation at least six months in advance.”
Hazel smiled. She already knows what will be her response. “Don’t worry Auntie, my friend has connections in that resort and she assured me that we can get a reservation.”
She’s been dreaming for so long of holding their engagement party in that place. That’s why she talked to her friend even before the date was set, to help her make a reservation at the resort.
“Then, that’s good. Call your friend so we can visit the resort and make a reservation now.”
Hazel happily followed Marielle. Everything was going according to what she wanted.
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Cruise Ship.
“I feel fresh. It’s really different when you’re fresh from the bath.” Lauren talked to herself upon stepping outside the bathroom.
She’s already back in her cabin. After the messy breakfast earlier, somehow the headache she’s feeling subsides.
Lauren breathes a sigh of relief after Kaizer explains that the one who dressed her up last night was also the one who did her make-up for the party. Because Kaizer knows that Lauren is no longer in her right mind to change her dress due to the influence of alcohol, and that's why he ordered Jason to call that woman to change Lauren’s dress.
She wouldn’t sleep comfortably if she was still wearing her party dress.
Lauren was embarrassed. She even bothers other people. But even so… even so her heart softened a bit for Kaizer because of what he did for her, still, it couldn’t remove the irritation she was feeling for him.
The man didn’t even clarify what really happened last night. Here she is right now, overthinking about it.
Lauren wears a printed light brown shirt and simple jeans. She also wears beach sandals to complete her outfit. Somehow Lauren knows a bit about fashion. Thanks to the clothes that Hazel gave to her.
When Lauren was sure that all she needed was in her sling bag, especially her cell phone and wallet, she headed to the door to leave.
“Ah stray cat!” Lauren shouted. She held onto her chest due to being surprised. “You surprised me! You know, if I have heart disease, I might have a heart attack right now because of you.” She complained to the man.
She was surprised that when she opened the door, Kaizer was standing there. His right hand was up in the air. He was about to knock on the door but before his hand touched it, the door suddenly opened.
He was welcomed by the woman’s shocked face that he can’t control himself and laughed at her.
“Reduce your coffee intake. Don’t drink it as if it was water.” Kaizer jokingly commented.
Lauren rolled her eyes. “Is that a joke? ‘cause it didn’t make me laugh. You want me to pour the coffee to you.” She remarks with a frown on her face.
“There’s no room for violence here.”
Lauren led the walk, but she also stopped when she noticed that Kaizer didn't follow. He was only looking at her.
“Hey! Don’t take to heart what I said earlier. Or else you will be glued to where you’re standing right now if you take it seriously.”
She went back in front of him and then pulled the man away. She clung her arm to his arm before resuming their walk.
“Are you sure that you are really Kaizer Alvarez? What if you’re just pretending to be him?”
Kaizer looked at the woman’s hand. He was surprised at what she did as if it was a normal thing for them to do. There’s no awkwardness. He also didn’t feel annoyed at what Lauren did. Instead, he felt happy.
Kaizer frowns as he speaks. “Do you think I would impersonate someone?”
“No. How about you, did you think so?”
“Ha? About what?”
“I don’t know. You were the one who was thinking about it.”
Kaizer's forehead furrowed even more because of what she said. It’s a mess talking to her!
Lauren holds herself from laughing because of their conversation. He still didn’t notice that she was intentionally messing up their conversation. But what Kaizer noticed is Lauren looking down and covering her mouth with her left hand. It was only then that he realized what happened.
“You surely love to tease me.” Kaizer casually commented.
“Oh, I thought you would never notice.”
Lauren then kept laughing.
Meanwhile, Kaizer was smiling beside her. From time to time, he’s glancing at the woman.
“So, to my oh-so-lovely ‘girlfriend’, what are we going to do now?”
Lauren stopped laughing. She adjusted the sling bag that hung over her shoulder. Sometimes Kaizer is really a smooth talker, so she’s wondering why his attitude is so cold to Claudia.
Lauren wondered what would be the first recreational activity they will do on a cruise ship. After their breakfast, she invited the man.
***Flashbacks***
“Hey, Mister… aside from your business work, do you have anything else to do?”
Kaizer stopped typing on the keyboard. He looked at Lauren who was now eating cheesecake and chocolate cake after also eating all the cookies.
Too many sweets.
“Nothing. Why?”
“Life was boring if all you could do was work. Trust me. If you don’t mind, wanna go for some fun activities? I saw in the brochure some recreational activities that we can do.” Lauren's suggestion.
“Are you asking me for a date, my love?” Kaizer teasingly asks.
Lauren drops the fork she’s holding. “I’m really curious why you still don’t have a girlfriend if you’re like that. You’re really good at flirting.”
“Well, because it doesn’t cross my mind to change my relationship status.”
Lauren just nodded. “Anyway, back to our main topic. I know for sure that all you could do here was work. Therefore, I wouldn’t ask for your decision at all or agreement on what I'm going to do… because I made up my mind. You will come with me later. Whether you like it or not.”
The world surely was small and they were in the same country after all, but… she knew that after this cruise ship vacation, she couldn't reach him anymore. Their status won’t let her meet him like this casually. And she developed some sense of peace at him and she would hold it tight… while she can.