You Can Paint Me

Sequel Ch.19: Running Late

Author's P.O.V.

"Crap, crap, crap!" Olivia cussed as she packed her bag for the wedding. Hair pins, earrings, make-up, the bridesmaid dress. "Mia's going to kill me, oh dear. I'm dead. I'm dead, I—" she stumbled on her sandals and crushed on her face, mere millimeters away from poor Boblizabeth. She brazed herself and continued her ever-lasting profanities, imagining all the ways Mia would kill her if she was a minute late.

Which, she was. By five whole minutes to be precise. Mia would be furious and rightly so. As the maid of honor, Olivia ought to be there on time on her friend's wedding day. But she overslept.

In her defense, everyone was running late as well—all because of last night's date. Had she went to bed early last night, she wouldn't be huffing and puffing right now. But a certain someone kept her awake till late in the night, making sweet small talk and stroking her hair to the point she would doze off.

Oh, how sweet these moments with Chan were. Had she known she would be facing Mia's death glare early the next morning, she would have reconsidered staying up so late with him, though. With their rooms being opposite from one another, Olivia and Chan spent time together even after the date was over. Even when everyone else was asleep, they stayed up talking. Talking about the lost years of them avoiding each other. Catching up on every single detail.

Chan had also elevated her nickname from shortcake to my shortcake or my shortcake girlfriend, being too smug about them finally getting together. He wanted to remind her each time about it.

With a goofy smile on her lips, Olivia zipped up her bag, ready to step outside of her room. It was a good thing that all the bridesmaids had to get their make-up done by a professional before anything else. She had time to grab a bite and chill while waiting for her turn. That was unless Mia decided to pester her the whole time for being late.

Her parents arrived to Positano late last night, but she hadn't had the chance to greet them yet. She hoped she would do that while getting get make-up done. She had a couple of exciting news to share with them. Like, for example, Chan.

Miss Claire had always had a soft spot for him. She loved the boy ever since the very first day he dropped by their house and gifted her a fresh bouquet of peonies and chocolate truffles. Peonies became her favourite flower from that day. Chan was so bright and kind, a true gentleman. Only Olivia knew how thrilled her mother would get upon hearing that they got together after all the things they went through. A mother's heart could only bear so much, and seeing Olivia suffer all these years was too much.

As for her father, Philip, Olivia prayed that he would act less indiscreet that what she expected of her mother. She loved her dad, but sometimes he tended to act like an investigator when he got curious about something. And his daughter being in a relationship with the man his wife Claire never stopped talking about was enough to make him beyond curious.

She just hoped he wouldn't ask Chan any... weird questions.

While thinking of her parents, Olivia remembered that Miss Jessica had said that she and her husband would be arriving to Positano the day before the wedding as well. Chan didn't mention anything last night, so she only wondered if they had arrived safely. The thought of her future in-laws—Excuse me, Chan's parents, being in the same place with her own parents made her cheeks heat. Miss Jessica had always been upfront with her. Always told her how much she would love to have her as a daughter-in-law and that it was only her Chan would ever love. Perhaps Miss Claire's thrill wouldn't be nearly as much as Miss Jessica's at the big news.