PARTY INTRUDER

Minutes later!

Getting out of the cab half an hour later, I walk in through the gate, and my eyes pop out of their sockets at the sight before me. Oh, dear! These girls went through with this? It is too much!

"OUR HEROINE, GIA WILSONS. WE LOVE YOU." Is the statement I can make out of the silver laurel wreath the girls are holding, the words in red shining on it? They are standing on u-curved lines. The compound is filled with balloons of different colors, and there is a very sweet aroma coming from inside the house. How did they know I was arriving? Thanks to them, I am tearing up.

At the end of the line, on the left, stands an old couple besides Mayleen and Paul. I don't need anyone to tell me that the lady, who I suppose is in her late fifties, is Mayleen's mother. The resemblance is self-explanatory. The man who appears to be in his late sixties is definitely her father. The young couple, Ajay and Bernie, are on the far left. It's funny how these two are managing their relationship maturely. I'm rooting for them as early as now.

I shuffle my legs and walk to them, and after hugging everyone, they cut the ribbon into three parts. They wrap the part with "our heroine" around my head, the one with my name goes around my neck, and the "we love you" part around my waist. "For rescuing all these lives, including our daughter, may God bless you, my child. You did what we were not able to do as parents. If God has only one blessing left, may He shower you with it, child. You indeed are our heroine." Mayleen's mother says, and more tears flow down my cheeks as she opens a box of mouthwatering white forest cake.

Honestly, they didn't have to do all this, you know! I received the cake after murmuring a thank you that came out too loud due to hiccuping. I give the lady a smile. What should I say now? I can't just stand here and continue sobbing and smiling at the cake like an idiot! "Thank you so much, everyone, for going through all this trouble. I want to tell you all that we are all heroes here, all of us. Everyone played a great role in our being here today. Your endurance, even when there seemed to be no hope, is the reason why you are all free today. I pray that you all face this new chapter of life with the same spirit and courage." I finish, and while the compound is filled with applause and cheers, my eyes scan through the girls once more, hoping to see that one soul, but I guess she meant every single word she told Deep the day when he went to talk to her. That disgusts her. She has nothing to do with me. I should stop showing myself to her. I hate to say this, but she is acting so immature.

"Time for the feast!" Mayleen says, and we head inside.

The aroma—my, oh, my! Just what did they cook? It's making my tummy grumble. I am so hungry now. We cut the cake first, and I now look like a four-year-old celebrating her birthday. My face is all white. The girls enjoyed messing up with me this much. I sent Mayleen a piece of cake to take to the boss lady upstairs, but she returned with it. The arrogant brat refused to take it, and you know what? She is not ruining my mood today. I will assume she is okay, just being a snobby bitch, and enjoy this day. I can't let the girls down by frowning.

I am served a plate of delicious food. Chapati with chicken curry stew and some pilau and vegetables on the side. This really is a feast. I don't know if I will finish all these, but I need to dig in like now, but a car pulling up at the parking lot stops me.

A car? Who on earth could that be? I stand with my plate of food and stroll outside to see who the guest is. That black limo? Let it not be who I am thinking, because even the thought of him is making my heart skip several beats.

A pair of black, shiny Easy Roos Horsebit collapsible-heeled leather loafers. Royal blue three-piece suit. Royal blue leather tie. Black shades. He had a gold watch and a phone in his hand. A perfect criterion is that allure matches me, which is why I gasp for air to calm my nerves. A few steps away from me stands another delicious meal in the form of a man—the beauty god himself, shining like a star under the shades of the setting sun. I don't know which one is more delicious anymore—the plate of food in my arms or this mouthwatering dish called Deep Moore Azzua.

He takes bold steps towards where I am flabbergastedly planting my feet, his steps exuding boldness, dominance, and authority.

'Courage, Gia, do not fall. Thou thy temptation be as irresistible as thy one right before you. Strong, Gia. Stay strong!’ Ahem! I clear my throat once, looking up to this definition of sin in front of me, only to be met with a smile on his sugar lips that sends jolts of shivers down my spine. He moves the black shades to his forehead to have a clear look at me. I look like a doll painted white, and I feel like begging the ground to swallow me up right now. I'm no comparison to my Greek god right now, and I feel so unfit before him. After exhausting all his smiles, he looks away for a minute, and I take the chance to speak. "I know I look funny, so you can laugh all you want. When you are done, please tell me what you are doing here, looking like Prince Ali.

Well, he looks just like that—like a real prince. Prince Moore! That would suit him perfectly. He takes a spoon from my plate and squeezes some pilau and stew. As he takes it to his mouth, he does me the honor of stating why he is here. "To pick you up for our date. We have a flight to catch in forty-five minutes."

I think the earth just made a spring up to heaven, and heaven took the place of the earth. A flight! Just how does the mind of this guy work, huh? A flight in forty-five minutes, and yet I need to go to his house, which is about thirty minutes from here, to shower and change? Wait, why even a flight? Aren't we taking a walk in the park or going to a restaurant in town, just like I anticipated? I thought he would take me on a tour of one of their hotels. What then is with the flight thing? Come the fuck on! I didn’t even know this date was still on, and now this?

I look up to bombard him with questions, but a very eye-catching sight of how his sweet lips are moving as he chews the food catches my attention. I even assist him in swallowing the food I haven't even tasted, and another sight of the movement of his Adam's apple as the food goes down his throat scatters my brain. This is the man I am going out on a date with? I don't think I can handle this.

"Sorry to cut your celebrations short, but you need to say goodbye to them now." Damn! He caught me staring again.

Wait. Right now?

"Okay." I thought I was going to say no or ask questions, but I guess the word had maneuvered its way and stood at the gate of my mouth, escaping my mouth the moment I opened it. A date, then? With my irresistible sin! I wish myself well!