Blue Flower

Chapter 46

-Chester-

            I held the invitation card and stared at it. If this was meant for an insult, well, Noah didn’t get me there. I never dreamed of him accepting me, even just as a friend of his sister. He hated me as if I was the most despicable being in this world. I wanted to laugh in front of him.

            Andrew called me a while ago, asking if I had any plans of going to the party. I told him I was undecided, and would just call him back if I already made up my mind. I pouted and let go of the card. He’s too childish. Hera told me he was planning revenge against me. I didn’t take it seriously and just shrugged it off.

            Naomi kept on calling me, but I wasn’t ready to talk to her. After what she did, she should suffer for making me upset. I knew right from the start that it would yield something unfruitful. Being pregnant was difficult, how much more pretending to be one. I regretted it that I tolerated her, but I never expected this to happen. She took her own trick seriously, and now it’s upsetting me to just think of that.

            I picked the invitation card and stared at it again. Then I went to my room and rummaged my closet for some formal wear. The place became a cluttered mess when I found one. A black suit and an off-white long sleeved polo, black pants and navy blue tie. Way to go, I thought.

            I smiled to myself, thinking of how crazy I was at this moment.

            “You’re here!” Andrew exclaimed when he saw me coming in at the garden of Naomi’s house. There were many people dressed formally and I think the party had started more than half an hour ago. I gave him a radiant smile as he put an arm around me and guided me to where the rest of the gang was. Reese, Sam and Hera looked beautiful in their dresses, and they all greeted me a very good evening.

            “We’re glad you came here. I thought you’d lock yourself in your room the whole night.” Andrew joked. Some of them chuckled, and I answered him clearly. I glanced at Naomi before turning to him.

            “Yeah, I’m getting bored in there. And I wound be such a waste if I turn down the celebrant.” I said.

            That small talk had gone into a healthy one. All the time I noticed Naomi looking at me. When our eyes met, she looked away first, and I smirked secretly. I was still upset at her but almost close to forgiving her.  And my real purpose for coming here was for Noah, to make him see that I wasn’t moved by his stupid game.

            We ate on the table that Andrew reserved for us. There were seven of us including Robert, who, as usual, gave me the coldest treatment. I haven’t heard Naomi speak a word this night. She just indulged herself with her cellphone, or staring at people and sometimes at an open space.

            I checked my phone for the time. It was nine in the evening.

            “Hey guys, how are you doing?” I heard Noah’s voice ask us.

            “Fine, we’re just fine.” I saw Sam smile at him.

            “Hi Chester! I’m glad you’re here.” he said. I knew it was a fake remark, so I faked my answer as cleanly as possible.

            “Yeah, and thanks for inviting me. Happy birthday.” I replied sarcastically. I smiled at him and returned the gesture back, unfortunately.

            Naomi looked at me again after his brother left. I met her eyes and stared at her. None of us tried to break the silence.

            “Are you going to kill each other with your deadly glares or talk seriously?” Hera blurted out.

            Our gazes had turned deadly indeed. I fixed my expression.

            “Ask her.” I said.

            “Is that why you came here? Are you trying to provoke my brother?” she asked.

           “I’m not trying to fire him to anger. I just don’t want to be rude by declining him. Oh well, what friends are for.”

            “So, you’re close friends now?” she faked a laugh. “You’re in real danger.”

            “Who cares? Don’t speak as if you haven’t done it yourself. Stupid.”

            She pouted her lips and kept her mouth shut. Just then, Noah climbed up the stage. He picked up the microphone and brought it closer to his mouth.

            “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.” As soon as he began to speak, we all turned our heads to him.

            I want to thank you all for coming here and spending the night with me. Life is a God-given gift, and I’m thankful to him that I’m now celebrating my thirty-first birthday.”

            Thirty-one. Too old. “And along with this, as part of my plans for the company and my family, I’m announcing the engagement of my sister, Naomi Rivers, to my long-time friend Robert Blakely.”

            Everyone in our table froze in astonishment. This was unbelievable. How could he say such thing on his birthday? Was he cracking some sort of a joke? Our expressions were drowned by the loud claps of the guests, congratulating them for the engagement. I felt my heart twist in pain, for the first time, for Naomi.

            That moment, I realized something. I was upset at her because I was afraid to lose her... because I love her.

            Noah’s bright smile turned to me. He really meant this for me to hear. It totally sank in my mind that this was his revenge.

            Her face turned pale. She couldn’t find the right words to say. A grin spread on Robert’s face, a sign that he was pleased at the way things happened. It was really on his favor. He stood up and held out his hand for Naomi.

            “You’re my fiancé now, so you better take my hand.” I heard him say. It hurt me to see them in that way. I was losing her more than I could imagine, and I have no power to take her back.

            When Naomi gave her hand to him, it seemed like a bullet punched a deep and searing hole inside my chest. Not being able to bear the scene before me, I stood up, walked away and tried to find the bathroom. I found it after a couple of minutes; went in and instantly locked the door. I cried my heart out. The thought of her marrying Robert drove me insane. We haven’t made it up for each other, and as I let the tears fall, pain took over every inch of my body. That moment crushed my heart a million times. She gave herself to someone she barely knew.

            Feeling that the bad vibes pass away, I washed my face with water, and went out of the bathroom.