Love Is Symphony |✓

| 38 |

* disclaimer: I have never been to Drago Centro and all that is written here is based on Google and my imagination.

Drago Centro turned out to be a lot more intimidating than I perceived. For an expensive place, it had a light atmosphere with the constant chatter that I didn't expect to be surrounded with. Lush and healthy green plants that stood in tall clay pots dotted the room, yet despite its warmth, I couldn't help but make myself a little smaller. I hated the fact that the intimidation didn't come from the beauty of the restaurant and the people inside it, but rather from my insecurity that had my tail curling behind me.

It was almost pathetic. Gone was the woman who stood straight and proud just moments ago, now replaced by a meek girl who felt dirty and underdressed in her plain white shirt and faded, light jeans.

I was standing by the entrance, eyes sweeping over the room and rubbing my elbow when a Maître D came walking over to me. He was wearing dark gray pants and a crisp long-sleeved, button-down shirt that seemed to match his perfectly coiffed dirty blond hair and pearly-white teeth. Albeit smiling, the way his eyes briefly traveled the whole of my length in a scrutinizing way some aristocrats do, didn't go by missed.

"Good evening, madam, do you have a reservation?"

"Oh!" I pulled my backpack to my chest and dug for my phone. Relief filled me when I felt the cold metal against my fingertips and I grinned, raising the phone up in victory. "Hold on."

It only took two swipes of my finger to find Cherry's text message that had her complete name and reservation details. "Cherry Howard. I'm with Cherry Howard."

His eyes widened a fraction but the smile on his face remained terse. He straightened up his back. "Right this way, ma'am."

I followed him. With every step I took, it felt as if there was something holding me back. It was as if my feet were made of lead and my heart was as heavy as metal. Questions started to plague my head, Sean. As I traced the Maître D's steps, all I could think about was one thing: why?

Why? Why was I here—feeding myself to the wolves and all for your love? Was it even worth it? All this pain and agony... will the end ever justify the means?

My thoughts were cut off short when the Maître D stopped in front of a huge double doors with sharp and clean edges that reminded me of tall buildings and the exterior of the restaurant. He turned to look at me with a smile on his face, his hand placed on the gold-plated knob and the reality that behind those doors were you and Miranda had my stomach in knots. Was I ready for this?

"This is the executive room, ma'am."

He pushed open the door and I was greeted by the sight of a long white table surrounded with white chairs that sat more people than I expected. Three men in dark suits, Cherry, a woman in yellow, Miranda and... you. Instantly, as if bound by magnets, my eyes found your bluish-gray ones. The knots in my stomach loosened a little but they were still there, looped and tangled between nerves and anxiousness.

"Serenity." You rose from your seat, and everyone else at the table turned to look at me.

A man in a charcoal suit stood. He had a huge smile on his face and a pair of knowing brown eyes that made the turmoil in my stomach run a riot. "Ah." He gave you a mocking smile that had my insides twisting. "You must be the girlfriend. Come in, come in."

Pursing my lips, I turned to look at the Maître D—for some guidance, answer, I didn't know. Yet all he had given me was an encouraging grin that stretched too far out to be real and a door that was pushed even wider for me. There was no going back now. Tentatively and with a fast beating heart, I took one step forward and into the room of wolves. My eyes met yours, mine filled with insecurities and unsure while yours filled with encouragement and understanding.

I know, I'm sorry. Don't worry, it'll be alright, your eyes said.

Will it really ever be?

You blinked and all of a sudden the connection was lost and I was left there, walking all by myself without even the slightest bit assurance that the road I was taking was really my destined journey.

"Here, come have a seat," Cherry who I didn't notice earlier, said. She was wearing a short, soft pink dress and her hair tumbled down her shoulders in big curls. She pulled out a chair that sat at the corner of the table and beside her. I walked over to her, keeping my eyes trained on you and most especially to the woman you sat next with. Because my love, you were sitting right next to the person who was the exact representation of everything that I could never have.

With eyes as dark as chocolate, and a face that teased even the most faithful men, Miranda was the epitome of beauty. She was wearing a black dress with a plunging neckline that the men inside the room couldn't seem to ignore. Even sitting down and at her meekest, she was a true siren—calling the attention of everyone who dared to look away, and that was her without trying.

My throat tightened. I was no match against her. I was just this girl from a broken home with a shattered heart in my chest. I was no shining star nor a firework. I couldn't light up the night. I was just me and I doubt that it'd be enough for a man with such big dreams like you, my love.

"I can't believe you're late," Cherry hissed at me under her breath while maintaining an overly sweet smile for everyone else. "We were waiting for you for twenty minutes."

"I had to call Vanessa to cover for me so I could go here."

She wrinkled her nose. "Who?"

"Vanessa, my co-worker. I had to call her a hundred times and beg her to cover for me so I could leave."

"That's no excuse." She rolled her eyes and motioned toward the group of men at the other side of the table with a flick of her manicured hand. "See those guys? They're very important and busy yet they came in on time. So if you want this to work, you better start saving for a watch. Get it?"

I nodded, not bothering to even mumble a response. Honestly, Sean, I was beginning to feel tired from hearing what I've got to do from everyone else. I was beginning to get sick of it.

"Okay." The man in the charcoal suit clapped his hands together, gathering the attention of everyone at the table. "Now that we're complete, I say let's discuss the party this coming weekend."

The woman who sat next to Miranda in a soft yellow suit nodded. "I've already talked to the organizers. Sean and Miranda would enter the party together. That way, it'll be easier to get the crowd buzzing. Maybe we could add—"

The sound of glass breaking cut the woman short and a mix of gasps and curses filled the room and all our eyes landed on you. A sheepish smile was plastered on your face. "Sorry," you said, sounding the least bit apologetic while raising both of your hands, "slippery fingers."

"As I was saying," the woman sighed, "we should add more teasers on social media to spark things up. A couple of photos that hides Sean's face or maybe a bouquet of flowers."

I felt an insistent poking in my side. I turned to my right and found cherry nodding her head in your direction. Our eyes found each other again. Smiling softly, you touched your phone that was placed in front of you and my eyes fell to mine that sat in lap. There was text message waiting for my reply.

You okay?

No. I'm not, I typed down. I want to get out of here now.

And this time, I really meant it.

- 

Guys I have a major writer's block. Save me :'(