CHAPTER FOUR
1074 Words
Tiara ended the call with Sarah, her hands shaking as the phone fell to the ground.
She looked at the clock on the wall and realized that she had been unconscious for a couple of hours.
She had missed the exam. The reality of her situation hit her as she slowly walked and sat on the couch close to her wardrobe, tears running down her face.
“What am I going to do?” she said to herself, her voice choked with tears.
Her mind flashed back to the plan she and Luciano had for that day. And soon she swung into action. She wasn't going to let him down the second time.
As much as she wanted to see her father, she knew she had to be at Luciano’s father’s party that evening.
She took a deep breath, wiped her tears, and stood up.
She stood in front of her wardrobe, the doors wide open, staring blankly at the arrays of clothes hanging inside.
Her eyes raced through the fabrics, a mixture of casual outfits and a few semi-formal pieces, none of which seemed suitable for the party.
She pulled out a simple black dress, holding it up against herself in the glass.
It was straight, lacking the fitness she wanted.
Sighing, she placed back the dress and looked through the wardrobe again. Her eyes landed on a blue blouse and a white skirt. “Perhaps if I paired these with the right jewels?” She murmured to herself but as she tried to imagine the ensemble, it was totally off.
She started to sob as she continued to sort through her clothes.
Just as she slammed the door of her wardrobe in frustration, Sarah burst in.
She immediately ran to her, hugging her tightly, Sarah hugged her and they both wept.
“What happened? Why did you miss the exam?”
“It’s a long story,” Tiara replied, pulling back and wiping her eyes. “I will tell you everything as soon as we return, I promise.”
“Alright. But we need to get you ready for the party.”
Tiara’s shoulders drooped. “I have nothing to wear, Sarah. I can’t go to the party like this?” Her voice, more firm.
A smile played across Sarah’s face. “I know you will say that. So, I brought you a surprise.” She reached for her bag and pulled out a beautiful red dress and a pair of shoes. “Happy birthday Tiara.” Sarah said with a smile.
Tiara’s eyes widened, as she burst into tears again. She soon realized it was her birthday.
“Sarah, thank you so much,” Tiara blubbed, hugging her again. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”
“Come on, let’s get you ready, “Sarah said, sending Tiara to the restroom. “You need to look your best tonight.”
While Tiara bathed, Sarah laid out the dress and shoes, and trolled through her bag, pulling out some of her mother’s jewels.
“Here, put this on,” Sarah said, handing Tiara the red dress and her mother’s jewelry. “You will look stunning on this.”
“Sarah, this is your mothers’?”
“You have nothing to worry about. Besides, we need to hurry.”
Tiara dressed snappily, the fabric of the dress fitting impeccably.
Sarah helped her with the jewelry, and soon, Tiara looked as stunning as she had imagined.
“We are running late,” Sarah said, looking at her watch. “Let's go.” They rushed out of the house, flagged down a taxi, and sped off to the party.
Tiara’s heart pounding with a blend of anxiety and expectation. She could not fathom how Luciano would feel, when he saw her.
Tiara and Sarah arrived at the party, stepping into the hall that took Tiara’s breath down.
The tables were decorated with expensive centerpieces of roses and candles, and the air was filled with the soft hum of classical music mingling with the murmurs of the guests.
“Wow,” Tiara whispered, her eyes wide as she took in the beauty of the scene. “This is incredible.” Sarah smiled, watching her friend’s reaction.
“Come on, let’s find Luciano.” Tiara was so absorbed in the beauty of the decorations that she nearly did not hear Sarah.
It was not until Sarah tapped her on the shoulder that she snapped back to reality. “There he is,” Sarah whispered, pointing towards Luciano.
Looking handsome than ever in his black suit, his dark hair was perfectly styled, his eyes stylishly scanning through the crowd as he exchanged pleasantries with the guests.
“Go to him,” Sarah urged, giving Tiara a gentle push.
“I can't, Sarah,” Tiara hesitated, her heart pounding. “I messed everything up. What if he’s angry?”
Sarah gave her a reassuring smile. “You will never know until you go talk to him.”
Tiara took a deep breath. As she walked, the noise of the party seemed to fade, and it was just him in her sight.
Suddenly, Luciano turned and their eyes locked. They stood there, staring at each other, lost in the moment.
Luciano’s face softened as he saw her, and soon he spread his arms wide, inviting her over for a hug.
Tiara’s eyes widened in surprise, as she felt Sarah’s gentle push encouraging her to go.
She walked slowly, her heart racing, until she came to a stop, standing right in his face. He held her hand and pulled her into his arms.
His grip brought a feeling of hope and a renewed sense of peace.
“Luciano,” she whispered, her voice filled with emotion.
He held her close for a while before pulling back slightly to look at her. “You look stunning, Tiara,” he said softly.
Tiara blushed, her heart soaring. “I... I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to mess…” Luciano immediately placed his finger on her lips and said, “Shhh. We will talk about it later. Let’s enjoy the party.”
Leaving Tiara standing there amazed, she could not believe he wasn’t mad at her, which brought tears to her eyes.
Immediately, Sarah ran to her, smiling. “See? I told you it would be okay.” Tiara nodded. “Yeah, you were right. Thank you, Sarah.”
- Writer
