loping along through the cosmos

44: JADE'S FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE

The group chat JP created was alive the night before the gala. The boy asked how the visit to Hiraya went, but Jenevieve only mentioned Malcolm and his mother, not even bothering to mention their surnames.

JP was the only one keeping the conversation going by asking those who went to Hiraya about what happened.

Jade kept reading the messages, checking to see if Theodore bothered to read them as well. To her disappointment, the boy never checked their group chat for the next few days.

Friday came by, and Jade couldn't be more excited about dressing up.

She has never dressed up—as in a formal one—her whole life, as far as she could remember. She has never attended a graduation ceremony since she grew up being homeschooled. Other celebrations were either spent in a private place booked by her parents or in the comfort of their home in Hiraya.

Jade found the outfit she was eyeing the day after her talk with her parents.

After school (which was boring, by the way. Theodore still hasn't shown up. JP was the only one trying to entertain her to distract her from thinking about him), she went to a less populated mall in Cerise to shop. She didn't have any trouble walking around a mall. Mainly because she has Ren, Fino, and Kieran walking alongside her.

What stressed her out was the different fashion sense these three men have.

"White looks pretty on her!" Fino said through gritted teeth, giving Jade a pretty white lace dress with a firm bodice and multi-layered skirt.

"No, black looks good on her," Kieran said, taking the dress away from Jade's hold and giving her a floral dress.

"Everyone shut up." Ren stood in between his two younger brothers. When all three were quiet, he smiled at Jade and took the black floor-length dress that Kieran chose. "Here, wear this instead." He placed another white dress on her hold. "I can already picture you with a bun and soft makeup with this. You'll look like a modern-day Audrey Hepburn."

Kieran scoffed. "My vintage floral gown would look good on Jade too. She can wear a bun with that too! Your white dress isn't really something to brag about."

"Excuse me? My short white dress would make her-"

"Dude, that dress is too short for Jade." Ren eyed his brother.

"It's not about the length of the dress. Let Jade wear whatever she wants!" Fino exclaimed, getting some attention from the store's salesladies.

Jade's patience with these men was about to break until a woman, probably the manager, finally stepped up and asked. "Is there a problem here? Would you gentlemen like some help?"

The three brothers looked at her simultaneously, all ready to defend their choices. However, Jade pushed them aside and squeezed herself forward.

"I'm sorry. My brothers can't pick a dress for me." Jade took the two other dresses from Ren and carried them. "Do you have any suggestions? I'm attending a formal event. I'd like a simple dress but it could still make me look, um, formal."

The woman smiled at her brightly. "I have the perfect outfit for you. Please come with me."

Behind Jade, the brothers started to protest, and Jade couldn't have any of it.

"Shh! Wait for me here. Your picks will still be considered, so stay put!"

The woman gave her a black dress that was enough to get her attention. Even with the different vibes the dresses were giving, Jade couldn't disagree with her bodyguards' opinions. In the end, Jade paid for the four outfits.

On the night of the gala, Jade and her parents were gathered in the study.

Before a full-length mirror stood Jade.

Her mother curled her hair half an hour ago, something she never did again once Jade hit puberty—Leila being too busy to spend time with her, Jade being someone who doesn't dress up much.

Jade glided her hand from her short-sleeve sheer top to the upper half of her long, ruffled black skirt. Before she could forget, she took her Dior D-lace corset belt from the chair and wore it.

Smiling at herself, she felt proud that she finally got to dress up for a formal event.

This was her first formal event, so she wouldn't miss dressing up. However, she felt like there was still one more accessory that could complete the ensemble perfectly.

She touched her ear.

Leila understood the gesture so she brought out a box from her study's drawer. With an expectant smile, she opened the box in front of Jade.

"It's a Panthère de Cartier white gold and diamond earrings!" Jade exclaimed, touching the earring carefully. "You're going to let me borrow it?"

"Of course. Just don't lose this, okay? The earrings cost me a lot."

Jade chuckled. "Sure, mom."

"Let me put it on you." Jade gave Leila the earrings and let her do what she badly wanted her mom to do with her for so long - to be taken care of and be present. When their eyes met on the mirror, they smiled. "The onyx detail of the earrings brought out the dark vibe of the outfit. Is that alright? Or do you want a soft chic vibe instead?"

"No." Jade touched the earring. "This represents me best."

When Jade wore them in front of her dad and her bodyguards, Leila couldn't be more proud of her daughter's beauty.

"You look so pretty," Ren said, a hand covering his mouth as he gushed.

"Please." Jade waved a hand. "I know."

Fino shook his head, smiling. "It's like seeing my younger sister attend prom."

"Except she doesn't have a date tonight," Kieran snickered.

Jade's foot was quick to stomp on his bodyguard's foot but the man was quick to slide them sidewards to dodge. Kieran stuck a tongue out at her.

Annoyed, Jade pretended to look around . "Where are my heels?"

"My, darling, calm down." Leila chuckled at her daughter. "Kieran, Fino, please prepare the ride now. You've got your first look at my daughter already."

Satisfied, Kieran and Fino stood up. "I'll text you when we're outside."

"Thank you," Leila said before proceeding to get Jade's heels from a shoe box one of their maids brought.

"You can stay with us in the main hall," Philip said as Leila took care of theit daughter. "Or stay with Ira in another hall with the other children your age."

"Didn't you say that you want to have friends?" Leila asked Jade. "This is your chance."

"Er-" Jade winced. "I think I'm already good with the number of friends I have now."

Philip smiled. "Care to have two more? I know two boys that wants to be friends with you."