I quickly grabbed the makeup box and walked past him, brushing my arm against his in the process. “Chun cha, please listen to me,” He said tearfully at my back, but I didn't even stop to glance at him.
I dug my free hand inside my bag and brought my phone out. I better call Audrey before she starts coming. “I've been searching everywhere for you since the day we met Chun cha, please just hear me out”
I pressed the phone to my ear, waiting impatiently for it to start ringing, but it got disconnected. “Gosh!”
I hastened my steps, more like I was running, and redialed Audrey's phone again.
“Excuse me”
“Please excuse me”
I kept saying as I bumped into people on my way out of the building.
“Please not today, just ring already” I prayed silently, tears rolling down my cheeks already.
I got to where my car was parking, I opened the backseat door and threw the makeup box inside, carelessly.
“Chun cha!” He yelled after me.
I turned around and opened the driver's seat door. I made to hop into the car, but I felt my wrist been held back by a huge palm.
I became enraged and yanked his away with all my strength. “Stay away from me!” I flared up, bringing out the leg I had taken in.
“And don't even think you'll ever get to meet my daughter because I'll make sure I prevent it by all possible means”
He just watched me as I talk with a sombre look. “Go back to your family, and never come running after me again,” I concluded sternly before sliding into the car and shut the door. “No Chun cha, you have to listen to me, please,” He begged, hitting the window of the car with his palms. I ignited the engine and sped out of the compound, not minding if he had just hit his head against the ground.
I handled the steering with a hand while using the other one to continue trying Audrey's line. Same result, still not going through. Jeez!
Why is her phone not going through, for Christ’s sake?!
I tossed the phone on the passenger seat.
No, I prefer not to believe she has left home already. Please, Audrey, don't go.
***
I parked the car roughly at the front of the house and hurried out of the car. I knocked on the gate twice before the gatekeeper opened up. “Madam…”
“Where's Audrey?” I asked him impatiently, beating him to whatever he wanted to say.
“Audrey?” He asked me like this is actually the first time he was hearing the name.
“Where's my daughter?!” I yelled to his face, he cowered. “She… She… Leaving the house just now” He stuttered his wack foreign language, but this is not the right time to correct him like I normally do.
Oh my goodness!
I went back to my car and picked my phone from where it was lying on the passenger seat. I dialed Audrey's line for the hundredth time, but it kept disconnecting.
Oh lord, what do I do?
Audrey POV
Ryan and I pressed our palms to our cheeks as we watched Hazel bring out all the dresses in her closet, still, she hasn't found a suitable dress to wear for the birthday party.
I was sitting on the bed, while Ryan was sitting on the small couch in Hazel's room.
She turned around and caught our eyes on her, “What?”
“Why are you guys staring like that?” She asked with an eye roll.
“I don't understand a thing Hazel, with all these nice dresses Audrey and I had picked for you, you still don't want them, then what do you want?” Ryan asked her, obviously annoyed. She heaved a small sigh before turning to the closet again. “I don't know, Ryan” She said, tiredly, “Can't you see those dresses are outdated?”
Ryan and I glanced at each other, I shook my head. “Do you know how many hours we've been here?” I spoke up, and she turned to me with a pout. “Audrey…”
“And I told you I already promised Kwa young that I won't be late,” I added, glaring at her. “Sorry”
She murmured with pleading eyes as she rubbed her palms together.
She quickly turned to her closet, riffling through the closet. I sighed deeply and made a facepalm in frustration.
“Just hurry already!” Ryan shouted.
“I found it!” She shrieked in excitement, I looked up. Finally.
She brought out a beautiful red gown, she started grinning as she walked up to the bed, showing the gown to our faces.
“How is it, girls?” She asked and I rolled my eyes. “It's beau…”
“I prefer that pink color” Ryan cut me off, pointing to the pink gown on the bed.
She hissed and turned to me.
“What do you think, Audrey?” She asked, blinking her eyes.
“It's the prettiest of all girl, hurry and get dressed already, forget about Ryan” I said in a convinced tone with a smiling face, her face brighten up immediately. “Thanks, Audrey”
She stuck her tongue at Ryan before walking to a corner of the room. Ryan just rolled her eyes, I smiled. Hazel is a headache.
***
“Whoa, whoa… it's so obvious Kwa young's parents are wealthy” Hazel said as we counted our steps into the living room, looking around like aliens.
This place is so beautiful.
I kept darting my eyes everywhere, it felt like we are in another world entirely. They were many people and with no doubt, majority of them were elites. Uhm mm… It feels good to be rich. A big smile appeared on my lips when my eyes landed on her big picture frame.
She looked lovely with a real smile plastered on her face. “Waiter!” Hazel called upon a man, dressed as a waiter.
“I hope I found a soul mate here tonight,” Hazel said dreamily, fanning herself with her hand. “Dream on, girl,” Ryan told her, and she glared hard at her.
She and Ryan picked two glass cups, filled with wine.
The waiter stretched the tray to my direction,, but I shook my head negatively. “Thanks”
“And where's the birthday girl?” Hazel asked, sipping at her wine.
I let my eyes searched around for her, but I didn't see a trace of her.
“I'm sure she's somewhere around, let's find a seat first,” I told them and started walking ahead. “Audrey!
I looked up to see her climbing down the stairs with two body guards at her back.
I smiled as I watch her pure with adoration.
She was clad in the most beautiful ball gown I've ever seen, a velvet color to be precise.
She got where I was standing and pulled me for a tight hug. “Happy birthday, sweetheart,” I told her before we disengaged from the hug. “Thanks Audrey” She shot me a bright smile.
“Happy birthday, Kwa young” Ryan and Hazel chorused and smiled wider.
“Thanks girls, I really appreciate”
“We got you a present Kwa young, but it's with those securities- we were not allowed to bring it in” Hazel groused, folding her arms on her chest.
“I'm sorry about that, but I'll surely receive your presents, Thank you”
“You're welcome”
She turned to me and took my hands.
“You look beautiful, Kwa young” Ryan complicated, and she blushed.
“All thanks to Audrey's mom” She said and my eyes bulged. “You mean my mom came here?” “Yeah… I was taken aback too, but there's one thing I still don't understand, and I've been trying to ask my Dad since your mom left here this noon, but he wouldn't provide an answer”
“What's it, Kwa young?” I asked her and she twisted her lips. “It seems your mom and my Dad knew each other before today” She said, I smiled. “That's possible, Kwa young”
“They might be old friends or something” I told her,, but she kept shaking her head sideways. “You don't get it, your mom left here angrily immediately she saw my Dad”
I furrowed my brows confused, I don't understand. “Oh. Dad.”
She called, and we all turned to that direction.
Whoa… Her Dad looks so young.
“Your Dad is quite handsome, Kwa young” Hazel whispered, I nudged her arm. Silly.
Her Dad approached us with a small smile on his face, and we'll bow in greetings.
“Good evening, sir”
“You're welcome, girls” He replied, and we'll look up with a smile on our faces.
“So Dad, meet Audrey, the same girl I told you many things about” Kwa young introduced and I felt a bit shy, so I looked down at my feet. “And these are…”
“Hang on, Kwa young” His Dad cut her short and I lifted my head. He stared at me, but the look on his face was what I couldn't decipher.
“You're Audrey?” He murmured, and I nodded curtly, glancing at everyone faces.
“You're Chun cha's daughter?” He asked in a shaky voice, and I felt my heart tremble.
“How did you know my mom's name?” I asked him with popped eyed and his jaw dropped. “You're my daughter, Audrey,” He said silently, and I could feel my heart struck.
What?!