Admiration
1080 Words
CHAPTER 005: Admiration
Cassie’s Pov
We got to my cousin’s friend’s birthday party and I sat quietly to myself on a round table that had three more chairs to it.
The hotel was quite classic, expensive, and opulent. It got me wondering how rich Rhain’s friend may be.
Beautiful Chandelier lights sparked brightly in a symphony of peace, love, and excitement, and I couldn't help but smile at the feeling of the place where I was.
Pain still consumed me inside but seeing new people and breathing in the sterile air made me happy again.
Shortly after we came in, Rhain showed me a seat and dashed off to meet her friend, the celebrant.
So sad, I'm lonely without her. I was feeling shy already, especially with the way men were stylishly peeking and smirking at me.
“ Gosh! Rhain, where are you?” I muttered to myself, narrowing my eyes everywhere if I could catch sight of the lady in red–my cousin
“ Hello, Angel,” A male voice interrupted me, and I jerked, bringing my attention from the crowd to him.
“ Hi…Hello,” I stammered, my confidence deflated and buried in the mud.
I managed to glance at the tall man who stood in front of me but suddenly became shy.
“ I am Young Freddie,” The man introduced and smiled. “ What's your name?”
“ Can you please excuse me? I think I need to use the restroom.” I grabbed my bag and Rhian’s and walked awkwardly away, consumed in shame.
“ Okay, I’ll be waiting for you, my beautiful lady,” I heard the man say loudly.
Weird!
I could not look back but just walked in no direction with the bags on my shoulders slightly pulling me backward.
How did I become so timid like this? I was not like this with Alessandro because we went to public places together.
Damn!
As I was walking in the direction of nowhere in the large event hall, I heard the voice of the emcee struck from the microphone.
“ Ladies and gentlemen, please let's welcome our celebrant for the day. He is no other than, Alexander Phelps”
Hands thundered in applause as the celebrant began to walk up to the stage.
Keenly, I stood at attention to see the celebrant, Rhain’s friend who just turned thirty today.
I was a tall lady so the heights of the people who stood clapping and cheering the celebration did not hinder me from seeing the face of the young man.
The man finally climbed the stage and my lips parted on its own
“ Wow!”
That word escapes my lips. I don't know why but my lips parted that way.
But—
The man I was seeing from here surpassed my definition of a fine man.
He and Alessandro, my ex-husband, had the same broad shoulders and chiseled jaw that was a bit covered but smooth beards. I could say he was perfect like my Alessandro is.
I joined in the clapping as the man flashed a genuine handsome smile from the stage.
Little did I know that everyone had stopped clapping and that I was only still clapping.
Whack!
How awkward!
“ Wow!” The word escaped my lips again.
When he was finally done and left the stage, I managed to locate another seat and sat.
I know Rhain must be searching for me in the large Hall. Her bag was with me but I guess she was with her phone.
Wine was been served but I bluntly refused to have a taste of it. It could mess me up. We ain't cool together.
Suddenly, my phone rang. It was Rhain.
“ Thank goodness you called Rhain. I'm flushed and need to go home” I complained.
“ Cassie, where are you now? I told you to wait for me” Rhain lashed me.
“ Sorry, Rhain. I'm at the back, close to the entrance door,” I replied, and Rhain fumed.
“ Huh?” She said from the phone and hung up.
It took Rhain a full moon to locate where I sat but I did not mind. As long as all the men were now scared of my polished exterior, then it was fine.
Suddenly, I saw the lady in a red nude dress, my cousin walking towards me with the celebrant by her side.
Heavens!
Rhain was so good with men. She was even holding hands with him as if they were dating.
I was already feeling nervous and my timidity, too, just possessed me again like an evil spirit from nowhere.
“ Cassie!” I heard my name audibly. It was Rhain.
Pinned to my seat, I managed to fake a sweet uneasy smile as Rhain and her friend began to approach me.
“ I told you to wait for me,” Rhain fumed at me.
“ I'm sorry” I apologize, my eyes on her friend who has not taken notice of me.
He was still greeting a few friends.
My cousin and I were still chatting when he suddenly joined us at the table where we sat.
Our gazes suddenly met and I quickly looked away—As if he was an evil spirit.
“ Alex, meet my shy cousin, Cassie, She's the one I told you about.” I heard my cousin say to the man before saying to me,” Cassie, this is my bestie, Alexander. We met in my first year in college” Rhain introduced the man to me.
Stylishly, I glanced at the man, Alexander. His eyes were fixated on me with a palpable smile on his face that could heal a broken heart.
Flushed in my timidity, my hands reflexively caught a stranger's half-consumed wine on the table and I began to gulp it with my eyes buried inside the glass in shame.
“ Hello, Cassie,” I heard Alexander’s sweet voice say to me.
When I would awkwardly put my glass down, Alexander had extended his hand for a handshake.
My cousin winked at me to act maturely and I obeyed immediately.
“ Hello, Alexander “ I faked a smile and took his soft hand.
Our hands remained clenched tightly together and I could feel the way Alexander coaxed my fingers affectionately with his thumb while smiling handsomely at me in admiration.
“ Rhain, I'm taking your cousin to be with you already. I like her”
- Writer
