Fera’s Pov
She excitedly woke up early in the morning and face a new day with a smile on her lips. She just felt good doing things, she had notified Lora about the party and she promised to take care of the dress she’d be wearing for the party. Lora even sent her a picture of the dress and she agreed to use it. She heard a knock and she almost run to open it.
A wide smile greeted her and saw Nick in his normal wear still.
“Good morning, I forgot to hand you the invitation card.” He handed the card and scratched his head. “I know it seems childish but my grandparents arranged this all and I can not argue since I messed up recently. But yeah, this party would seem like a children’s party, I don’t know. hope not.” He seemed so embarrassed and she only smiled and nodded.
“Okay,” she answered.
“You’ll be there, right?” he made sure.
“Yup,”
“My driver will pick you up, this is not what I promised but they need me there by now and I won”t be able to pick you up but promise to drive you home.: He was very careful, he didn’t want Fera to change her mind.
“Not a problem,” and a sweet smile from her was enough to assure him.
“Okay, see you later.” And she did not bother to answer anymore, she only nodded and watched Nick leave.
Before she could get in her landlady showed up with a wide smile.
“Good morning, dear!” she cheerfully greeted.
“Good morning,” she gave her a small smile.
“It’s Saturday, aren’t you going out today? Last week you went out with Nick right?” She knew that the lady need some juicy information.
“I’d be staying home today,” she answered. No further information.
“Tonight? It’s his birthday today and his party will be held tonight, will you be there?” She asked and she nodded.
“Oh! I am too, he was too handsome on his invitation card, right?” And the Mama Tes glanced at the card she was holding.
“Yeah,” she only answered, she sounded uninterested but she seemed unbothered about it.
“Have you bought him a gift?” she asked which made her blink twice. That hit her, she forgot to buy him a gift.
“Yes, I was about to wrap it actually.” She immediately made an excuse to take care of it.
“You should wrap it now, I think I should go, I hope you know that the team was white, black, and blue.” She smiled in response and Mama Tes had finally exited. Once she closed her door, her panic went visible on her face. Nick told her to wear any dress so Lora prepared a marron dress.
She went to her room and message, Lora, about it and his gift too. But Lora asked what gift. She thought of giving him a simple shirt but she want something special. Then she consider a luxurious watch but that was too much and Nick would be asked about it. It was risky to give him costly things. And she ends up asking Lora to buy a grey sweater. Another problem was she could not cancel the dress anymore or change it. It was already delivered so she messages Nick.
“What color will I be wearing?” she asked to make sure that mama Tes was not lying.
“Red, or any color you want,” he replied.
Red was close to Maroon so she calmed down, maybe mama Tes got the wrong information, she thought.
****
Looked at the mirror in her fitted Marron dress, with simple make-up she did to herself. She even watched a makeup tutorial to do it right, she wrapped her gift but after that, she was all set before six pm.
Her hair was fixed into a cute braid and her heels were not so long. She was only waiting for her ride. She kept looking at her face checking if she did it right or was it fine.
At exactly six, someone honked a horn, which made her smile. She checked her appearance for the last time before going down. Once she got down she found a familiar driver, it was the driver who drove her home the last time.
“Fera dear!” someone called her before she could get in. She turned to it and saw mama Tes running to her in a sophisticated white dress. She got good curves and was petite, she looked rich in her elegant dress, oddly for a landlady only, she doubt that she was only a landlady. “Can we go together?” she asked with a wide smile. “Hi, Domeng,” she waved to the driver.
Fera found no words to answer her, she couldn’t decline her request so she smile.
“Alright, let’s not wait for Christmas here,” she said and got in. They sat together in the backseat and Domeng started driving to the venue.
“Haven’t I told you about the dress code, dear?” she asked. Fera awkwardly turn to her and gave her a shy smile.
“Nick told me to wear red,” she answered and she smiled meaningfully. Good thing she did not ask further about it. She went talking about something and Fera gladly participate. She was not talking too much but she at least listened until they reached the venue. When Nick said it was a simple dinner with family, it actually seemed a grand feast. Security was all over but everything was well organized.
The theme was black, white, and grey as mama Tes did. Her palm started sweating seeing the number of cars outside while mama Tes was excited to get down. She even thought of going home. Her anxiety suddenly attack her, people with huge cameras came into her mind and flashes hit her. Her heart started beating loud and she hugged herself. Mama Tes came knocking on the window cause she hadn’t gotten down but she was too afraid. Her breath went gradually increased.
Then she felt revealed and bare. She covered her face, all she wanted was to hide but the door suddenly opened, she almost cried but she saw his face.
“Let’s go?” he offered his hand and her eyes stared at it. But she moved away which alarmed Nick. “What’s wrong?” he immediately got in and closed the door.
“I don’t think I can walk in with that crowd,” she confesses.
“That’s nothing, you can stay inside if that bothers you.”
“Why would everyone wear white?” he pointed to his polo inside his black blazer it was marron.
“Everyone?” she rolled her eyes, it was lame but she was just scared.
“I am not the celebrant,” she insisted and even raised her voice.
“But you’re the celebrant’s special guest.” She almost dropped her jaw when he answered. It was pleasing to hear it but she couldn’t find the word to answer him. “Come on, it’ll be fine.” He offered his hand again but she was too afraid to trust his words.
“I need a few minutes,” she answered and Nick nodded.
“Should I wait outside?” he offered and she gladly nodded. He did go out and waited there.
While Fera was trying to calm herself, she didn’t want to disappoint him and wanted to be at his party. Suddenly, she felt her phone vibrate, she reached out and saw a message from Fred.
“It’s fine, everything is under control.” That message removed the lump in her throat and she could finally breathe fine. She glanced at her face again and checked for the last time. Once she opened the door, he immediately held her hand.
“Let’s go?” she smiled at him and nodded. A lot of his guests had turned their heads on Fera but Nick tried to cover her until they got in the house. She still felt nervous especially when she saw them curiously eyeing her. She spotted several familiar faces from her school. Teachers and their schoolmates were there.
“Calm down,” he whispered in her ears when he felt her tight grip on his hand. He massages her hand too using his thumb to calm her down.
“I’m fine,” she whispered back and they entered his house. She miss the outside setup cause she was too afraid to look around but she was smitten when she saw the inside setup. Few round tables were there with cute metal chairs painted with gold and tied with black ribbon. Everything around was just very elegant.
“Wow,” she muttered while looking at those beautiful candles on each table. It wasn’t her first time in that kind of set up but it was the first time that she appreciate it. Her past birthdays were that grand.
“Don’t flatter the organizer, ” he remarked which made her smile.
“Honey! I’m glad you came.” They immediately made their way to Lola Clarita. She wore a white elegant dress and her pearl didn’t miss the show.
“Hello, Lola Clarita,” she took her hand and she bent down so her forehead would touch the back of her hand. She was about to let her hand go when Lola Clarita held her hand tighter.
“Your palm was sweating.” She uttered and looked at Fera. “Is it your first time in this kind of event?” she asked.
She was too preoccupied to think of any answer, so she only nodded. She thought if she’d said yes, she’d definitely asked about her life and everything personal.
“Do not be nervous, honey. Nick got you, and you are so beautiful to be shy and afraid.” She pulled her into a hug, she returned the embrace using her left hand while her other hand hasn’t let go of Nick’s hand.
“Thank you very… much.”
“Welcome, honey.” And she gave her a warm smile, “now go upstairs and get ready.” She turned to Nick and ordered him.
“Sure,” he answered and gently pulled Fera. Fera on the other hand was too confused about what was to get ready for when she was already dressed. As they stepped on the stairs she tiptoed to whisper at him.
“What does she mean?”