Chapter 5
1849 Words
The next morning, Alya woke up earlier than usual.
The moment she opened her eyes, she remembered her plan for Grey's birthday.
She immediately sat up.
Today, she was finally going to start learning how to make the engraved flower vase herself.
Alya quickly got ready and went downstairs for breakfast. She was too excited to sit still, constantly thinking about the birthday gift she wanted to make for Grey.
After breakfast, she grabbed her small bag and headed toward the entrance, where Lyjohn was already waiting.
“Good morning, Miss Alya.”
“Good morning, Mr. Lyjohn!” she greeted him brightly. “Did you find someone who can teach me?”
“Yes, Miss Alya. I found a shop that specializes in glass crafts and engraving. The woman who will teach you is named Jessica.”
Alya's eyes immediately lit up.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Then let's go!”
Lyjohn smiled at her excitement before opening the car door.
---
### The Glass Workshop
After a short drive, they arrived at a small but elegant glass workshop tucked along a quiet street.
The shop was nothing like the luxurious boutiques Alya usually visited. It was simple and cozy, with shelves filled with handmade glass decorations, engraved vases, personalized frames, and other delicate crafts.
Alya stepped inside and looked around in amazement.
“Wow…”
She slowly walked toward one of the shelves.
“These are beautiful.”
Lyjohn smiled.
“I thought you might like the place.”
“I love it.”
Before Alya could look around further, a friendly woman approached them.
“You must be Alya.”
Alya turned toward her.
“Yes. Are you Jessica?”
“Yes.”
Jessica extended her hand, and Alya immediately shook it.
“It's nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too.”
Jessica glanced at Lyjohn.
“He told me you wanted to learn glass engraving.”
Alya nodded eagerly.
“Yes. I want to learn how to make an engraved flower vase.”
“Have you done anything like this before?”
Alya shook her head.
“Not even once.”
Jessica smiled.
“Then we'll start from the beginning.”
“That's okay. I'm willing to learn.”
Jessica led Alya toward a worktable where several tools and pieces of practice glass had already been prepared.
“Before you work on an actual vase, I'm going to teach you the basics. You'll need to learn how to control the engraving tool first.”
Alya sat down and watched carefully as Jessica demonstrated.
“Hold it like this,” Jessica explained.
Alya carefully followed her instructions.
“Like this?”
“A little more gently.”
Alya loosened her grip.
“How about now?”
“Perfect.”
Jessica placed a small piece of glass in front of her.
“Now try making a simple line.”
Alya took a breath and slowly moved the tool across the glass.
*Scratch.*
She immediately stopped.
“Did I do it wrong?”
Jessica examined the glass.
“No. Not bad for your first try.”
Alya's eyes brightened.
“Really?”
“Really. But don't expect to create a masterpiece today.”
Alya laughed.
“I'll keep practicing.”
And she did.
For the next few hours, Jessica patiently taught her how to control the tool, how much pressure to use, and how to follow simple patterns.
Alya made several mistakes.
Sometimes her lines were uneven. Sometimes she pressed too hard.
“Oops.”
Jessica laughed softly.
“That's why you're practicing.”
Alya looked at the messy design in front of her.
“This is harder than it looks.”
“Most things are when you're learning them for the first time.”
Alya smiled and picked up the tool again.
“But I'll learn.”
Jessica noticed the determination in her eyes.
“You really care about this gift, don't you?”
Alya's expression softened.
“Yeah.”
She looked down at the practice glass.
“It's for someone very important.”
“Your boyfriend?”
Alya's cheeks turned pink.
“No.”
She quickly shook her head.
“He's... someone I really like.”
Jessica smiled.
“That explains the determination.”
Alya laughed shyly.
“I just want to make something special for him.”
“Then keep practicing.”
“I will.”
By the end of the session, Alya's fingers were tired, but she was smiling.
Jessica looked over her practice pieces.
“You're improving.”
Alya smiled proudly.
“I'm going to keep practicing until I can make the vase myself.”
“I'll see you again, then.”
“Definitely.”
Alya thanked Jessica before leaving the workshop with Lyjohn.
---
### Back Home
When they arrived home, Alya hurried upstairs.
She still had afternoon classes at Bethany Academy.
She quickly changed her clothes, fixed her hair, grabbed her bag, and headed downstairs.
“I'm leaving for school, Mr. Lyjohn.”
“Have a good afternoon, Miss Alya.”
“Thank you!”
She gave him a bright smile before leaving.
---
### Bethany Academy
By the time Alya arrived at Bethany Academy, students were already filling the hallways.
Alya walked toward their usual meeting spot and soon spotted Jen, Chelo, and Kishi.
Jen immediately noticed her.
“Girl! Where have you been?”
Alya smiled.
“I had something to do this morning.”
Kishi narrowed her eyes.
“Something about Grey?”
Alya tried to hide her smile.
“Maybe.”
Chelo laughed.
“You're still working on his birthday gift?”
“Yes.”
“What are you making?” Jen asked.
“An engraved flower vase.”
Kishi's eyes widened.
“Wait. You're actually making it yourself?”
Alya nodded proudly.
“I'm learning how to make it.”
Kenneth wasn't with them, so Chelo asked, “Where's Kenneth?”
“He said he had something to do,” Alya replied.
Jen smiled.
“Well, at least he's not here to lecture you again.”
Alya laughed.
“Exactly.”
The girls continued chatting before heading to their afternoon classes.
---
### After Class
When their last classes ended, Alya met Jen, Chelo, and Kishi outside the school building.
The late afternoon sun was beginning to set as the girls walked toward the parking area.
Jen suddenly remembered their plan.
“So, we're still going shopping, right?”
“Of course!” Alya replied.
Kishi immediately linked her arm through Alya's.
“We need to find your birthday dress.”
Alya smiled.
“I want something really pretty.”
Chelo gave her a teasing look.
“Pretty?”
Alya raised an eyebrow.
“What?”
“Don't you mean something that will make Grey unable to take his eyes off you?”
Alya's cheeks turned pink.
“Maybe.”
The girls laughed.
They all remembered how they had originally convinced Alya to try more seductive clothes after she turned eighteen.
They had told her that men would notice her immediately if she dressed that way.
Guys will look at you.
Grey might even become possessive.
Alya had listened to them.
But after what happened at Grey's office, she realized that wearing revealing clothes wasn't enough to make him see her differently.
Still, his birthday was important.
She wanted to look beautiful.
And her friends were determined to help.
“Come on,” Jen said. “We know exactly what we're looking for.”
---
### Finding the Perfect Dress
The girls headed to one of the upscale boutiques inside the mall.
They immediately began looking through the racks.
Kishi pulled out a short fitted dress.
“This one!”
Alya looked at it.
“Too revealing.”
Chelo laughed.
“Since when are you scared of revealing?”
“I'm not scared. I just don't want Kuya Jericho to have another heart attack.”
The girls burst out laughing.
They continued looking.
Jen held up another dress.
“How about this?”
Alya shook her head.
“Too simple.”
Kishi pulled out another.
“Then this?”
Alya examined it.
“Hmm... not really.”
They went from one rack to another until Kishi suddenly stopped.
“Wait.”
She reached behind several dresses and pulled one out.
“I think I found it.”
Alya looked at the dress.
It was a *deep wine-red, off-shoulder dress* made from soft satin-like fabric that shimmered subtly beneath the boutique lights.
The fitted bodice followed her figure elegantly, while the skirt flowed down to just above her knees.
The neckline was delicate rather than overly revealing, leaving her shoulders bare and giving the dress a subtle, feminine allure.
A thin ribbon-like detail wrapped around her waist, emphasizing her silhouette before the skirt fell naturally around her legs.
It was attractive without looking too desperate.
Elegant without being too formal.
And somehow, it still looked like Alya.
Kishi held it against her.
“Try this.”
Alya looked at herself in the mirror.
“You really think so?”
Jen nodded.
“Absolutely.”
Chelo smiled.
“This is much better than the outfits you've been wearing lately.”
Kishi added, “It's still attractive, but you won't look like you're trying too hard.”
Alya took the dress and headed into the fitting room.
A few minutes later, she stepped out.
The three girls went quiet.
The dress fit her beautifully.
Her bare shoulders gave the look a subtle sensuality, while the fitted waist and flowing skirt made her look elegant and mature. The deep wine-red color made her complexion glow, and her long hair fell naturally over one shoulder.
Jen's eyes widened.
“Girl…”
Chelo smiled.
“That's the one.”
Kishi proudly crossed her arms.
“I told you.”
Alya slowly turned toward the full-length mirror.
She couldn't stop looking at herself.
For once, she didn't feel like she was forcing herself to look attractive.
She simply felt beautiful.
“Do you really think Grey will notice?”
Jen laughed.
“That's the wrong question.”
Alya looked at her.
“What?”
“The question is whether Grey will be able to look away.”
The girls burst into laughter.
Alya covered her face, embarrassed but secretly pleased.
“Stop!”
But deep down, she couldn't help imagining Grey's reaction.
Maybe this time... he'll finally look at me.
She turned toward the mirror one more time.
A small, hopeful smile appeared on her lips.
“I'll take it.”
The girls cheered.
As Alya paid for the dress, she felt a strange excitement building inside her.
Her birthday plan was slowly coming together.
She was learning how to make Grey's gift with her own hands.
Now she had the perfect dress.
All she needed was the courage to face Grey again.
And perhaps, just perhaps, this birthday would be the day he finally saw Alya not as his best friend's little sister...
But as the woman who had been quietly loving him all this time.
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