Chasing You

Chapter 17

ADDIE

After what has ended as an Apollo 1,2 in Australia, with Fabio coming in third and Chris on fourth, we are currently finding ourselves in Japan, where a certain guy has planned our first date for today.

"Knowing Chris, you would better dress in something practical", Yvonne suggests, sipping from her matcha as she is relaxing on my bed as if she would own it. Apparently, our date has quickly become breaking news between his friends, hence why Yvonne and Aria invited themselves in my room to help me get ready.

"This top looks so cute", Aria says, bringing me one of the few 'going out' tops I had packed in my suitcase. A red one that includes a nice V-neck. "Not to mention it would work so well with a bit of red lipstick."

Yvonne nods agreeing, hopping off the bed as she notices me walk over to the once desk, now improvised makeup table. The two even came prepared, both of them carrying huge bags filled with makeup and hair products.

"I really like that too", I think over what I could do. "You said practical is best, so maybe I could match it with some jeans and red Converse."

Yvonne and Aria both nod agreeing, just as Aria pulls out a small iron from one of her bags and begins to iron the top for me. Yvonne chuckles as she sees me raise an eyebrow, yet she also rolls the sleeves of her blouse and goes stand behind me, ready to help me with my hair. "Any preferences?", she asks me.

I shrug, fashion not really being my area of expertise. Yvonne analyses my hair for a bit, before she proposes: "I'd say we make it a bit curly, then tuck it together with a red claw clip, that would match the top and lipstick."

I nod approving. She takes out the curler and begins to work.

"Thank you so much for coming", I tell them for what must be at least hundredth time. "It is really nice of you. Thank you."

"Don't even mention it", Yvonne assures me. "It's what friends do."

It's either the honesty with which she said that or the surprise that I feel as she says it, for I freeze. I have never imagined we'd be friends. Never even dreamed of it. But right now. The three of us in my hotel room, hanging out. I could see myself hanging out more often with them. I realise I even want it.

The smile on my face is nothing but filled with gratitude.

"Enough with the cheesiness now", Yvonne says, and I could swear I saw her wipe away a tear. "You'll cry and it will ruin your makeup."

"I remember doing that at my wedding", Aria muses. "The stylist wasn't happy at all."

"They almost kicked us out", Yvonne adds chuckling.

"How was your wedding?", I can't help but ask.

Aria smiles at the memory, something that looks so dreamy I can already tell it was perfect. "We got married at an estate next to the beach. Lewis knew I wanted to get marry by the sea side, so he surprised me with the venue. I will never forget how Lewis gave me a letter before the ceremony, holding a vow of our own."

"Oh, I remember that", Yvonne muses. "That was so sweet of him."

"And how was your wedding?", I ask her.

Yvonne and Aria side-eye, before the first one chuckles and answers: "Oh, Levi and I started as a marriage of convenience."

Cue the jaw drop.

"But...but you're soulmates", I can't help but reply. What if their marriage is still out of convenience? It does not look like that to me. I saw the way they talk about each other. And the way they look at each other. That's real romance book shit. Maybe Ane Enar could write a book about that.

"We know that now", she chuckles again. "But we didn't start off like that. My parents, they... They wanted me to marry a duke. I was born in a small country with monarchy, and my family has always been close to the royals. Anyway, I didn't like the man. Levi also had something going on. It was the best for both of us."

"How did you know you were in love with him?", I ask her. I don't dig deeper into the backstory, I notice it seemed to be rather painful.

"See it like this. The first time he asked me to marry him, I said yes because I didn't want a life with somebody else. If he would ask me again now, I would say yes because I can't imagine a life with anybody but him."

Both Aria and I halt from whatever we were doing as we hear that. Aria is the first one to recover from the trance, as she says: "Shit, that was deep."

Yvonne only chuckles, cheeks flushed. "What can I say? I'm in love."

"I'll cheers to that", I joke.

Yet I can't help but wonder how that type of love feels like. And I can't help but wonder if the guy I'm going on a date with today might will have something to do with it.