Chapter 8
1112 Words
Blossom called Kayla and dragged her out shopping for the company banquet.
Kayla chose a beautiful red dress that fit her figure perfectly, and Blossom chose a white one, elegant and simple, but impossible to miss.
After grabbing matching shoes and a few accessories, they headed to the cashier.
Before Blossom could take out her purse, Kayla placed her card on the counter.
"I'll pay for everything."
Blossom blinked.
"Kayla, are you sure? I can pay for my own things."
Kayla waved her off.
"It's fine."
The cashier smiled and swiped the card.
A moment later, the machine beeped.
DECLINED.
The smile on Kayla's face vanished.
"That can't be right."
She pushed the card forward again.
"Try one more time."
The cashier nodded and swiped it again.
DECLINED.
This time, several people in line looked over.
A faint blush crept onto Kayla's cheeks.
"There must be something wrong with your machine."
The cashier remained polite.
"I'm sorry, ma'am. The machine is working perfectly."
Blossom frowned. "Why are you so sure the machine is broken?"
Kayla looked down at the card. Her fingers tightened around it.
"Because this card was given to me by—"
She stopped.
The color drained from her face, a strange expression flickered in her eyes.
Shock. Confusion. Embarrassment.
For a moment, she looked completely lost.
As though she had suddenly remembered something.
Or someone.
Blossom studied her. “Given to you by who?”
Kayla didn't answer. She simply slipped the card back into her purse.
Silence settled between them, heavy and strange. Blossom didn’t press. Instead, she pulled out her own card.
“I’ll get it.”
The cashier processed the payment, and minutes later they left the store.
"What was that about?"
Kayla remained silent.
People passed around them, carrying shopping bags and chatting happily, but it felt like the two of them stood in a different world.
“The card,” Blossom said. “Who gave it to you?”
Kayla lowered her eyes.
"Nobody."
Blossom knew immediately she was lying.
Before she could ask anything else, Kayla forced a smile. “Let’s just keep shopping.”
Something in her tone warned Blossom not to push. So she let it go.
The rest of the afternoon passed quietly.
They bought handbags.
Jewelry.
Shoes.
Everything they needed for the banquet.
Yet Kayla seemed distracted the entire time.
Now and then, Blossom would catch her staring into space.
As if she were remembering something.
Eventually, the two women parted ways.
As soon as Blossom stepped into her apartment, her smile faded.
The shopping bags slipped from her fingers and landed on the floor with soft thuds.
The apartment was silent.
Too silent.
For a long moment, she simply stood there.
Her knees gave out, and she fell beside the couch. She stared into space as the afternoon’s events replayed in her mind.
The shopping.
The laughter.
The dresses.
The card.
The look on Kayla's face.
Blossom pressed a hand against her chest.
Why did it hurt so much?
She closed her eyes.
For a second, she thought she heard a voice.
A familiar voice.
Warm.
Gentle.
Her eyes snapped open. Tears began to fall, but no sounds were present; only silence remained, and a bitter smile appeared on her lips.
"Get a grip, Blossom."
Her voice sounded hollow.
The tears came anyway.
One after another.
She couldn't stop them.
It wasn't fair.
None of it was fair.
Yet no matter how much she cried, the ache inside her never seemed to lessen.
Her phone rang.
The screen lit up.
Kayla.
Blossom stared at the name.
The ringing continued.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
She couldn't bring herself to answer.
Instead, she wiped her eyes and forced a smile.
The same smile everyone knew.
The same smile that hid everything.
Then she recorded a voice message.
"Sorry, hun. I just saw your missed call. I just got home. I'll see you at the banquet tonight."
Not a single hint of sadness could be heard in her voice.
After sending it, Blossom lowered the phone and stared at the ceiling.
The tears finally stopped.
Later that evening...
Kayla reached the banquet but didn’t want to go inside by herself, so she waited for Blossom outside the entrance. While waiting, she greeted several colleagues and chatted with them. Suddenly, she heard someone scream her name. When she turned around, she realized it was Blossom. She waved to her in excitement. She waved goodbye to the people she had been talking to as she entered the building with Blossom.
"I was waiting for you. What took you so long?”
Blossom turned to her and pinched her cheeks. "I am sorry, babe. I was doing something, and I rushed here as fast as I could." "Kayla nodded to reassure her it was alright.
As they entered, a stunning banquet hall greeted them. Crystal chandeliers glowed overhead. Elegant tables lined with fresh flowers and sparkling glassware filled the room. The aroma of fine cuisine filled the air.
They were both stunned by the sight that was in front of them.
Kayla grabbed hold of Blossom's hand; Kayla began to lose her breath. When Blossom felt her sudden grip, she looked over at her and said, "Are you alright?”
She shook her head. "I'm all right."
They began to walk around the banquet table toward the lavish dish placed on the table.
***
Roland entered the hall, and his eyes immediately caught two women eating a slice of cake. When they turned, he recognized them—the women he’d seen at the office.
Behind him, Tia followed his gaze.
A mischievous smile slowly spread across her face.
“Hehehe…”
Roland immediately frowned.
That laugh.
He knew it.
It never meant anything good.
“Tia.”
“Hm?”
“Why are you everywhere?” Roland asked, a headache already forming. “Don’t you have anything better to do than follow me around?”
Tia tilted her head innocently. “Nope.”
Then, without another word, she started walking toward the two women.
Roland’s eyes narrowed, he didn’t trust that smile. Not for a second.
“Tia.”
She ignored him.
“Tia.”
Still nothing.
The smile on her face only grew wider, a bad feeling settled in Roland’s chest. As Tia got closer to the women, he reached out to grab her arm.
Tia saw it coming.
With surprising speed, she sidestepped his hand and slipped away.
“Tia!”
“Too slow, cousin.”
Roland pinched the bridge of his nose. His headache instantly got worse.
Whatever Tia was planning…
He already knew he wasn’t going to like it.
- Writer
