It's Still You

Chapter 6: The Party

Staciel

Monday came fast and tomorrow it's gonna be Talia's birthday party. The dress I ordered came yesterday and it fits my body so perfectly. I matched the color with a silver necklace, silver earrings, and silver 3 inch heels. My hair is styled in a bun with a little loose hair on both sides. I didn't put much make-up on my face. In fact, I prefer not to do make-ups but Talia would whine endlessly if I didn't put effort into her birthday party. I sighed. She's going to be 22 today and in a few months, it's gonna be my turn.

A knock broke my train of thoughts, followed by the voice of my uncle. "Are you done?" he asked behind the closed door.

"Yes," I answered back. I walked in and opened the door of my room. A smile crossed my uncle's face the moment he saw me.

"Be careful out there. I have an urgent business meeting to attend so I'm afraid I cannot be with you," my uncle said.

I nodded. Carefully, I walked my way past him and towards the staircase with my uncle following me from behind. A guy was standing at the bottom of the staircase with a huge grin on his face which made me stop in my tracks.

"What are you doing here?" My forehead creased at the sight of Jace. He looks so handsome in his formal gray suit.

"Escorting you to the event, of course," his grin became wider the moment I rolled my eyes at him. I looked at my Uncle, who gave me an apologetic look.

"I forgot I called Jace to be your escort. I don't want you to come back home with another guy while drunk," he said.

"Uncle!" I stopped him from talking.. My cheeks are blushing while remembering that embarrassing night. They didn't know I had been assaulted so I kept my mouth shut. I didn't meet Kevin after that incident. I have to thank him when we crossed paths again.

"Shall we?" Jace reached his left hand towards me and I had no choice but to accept. He led me towards the door that he opened and saw his shining black car at the gate.

"Be careful kids," Uncle waved at us and Jace saluted at him, which made uncle laugh. He opened the passenger door and he looked at me in the eyes.

"You look beautiful," he said in a low voice. His eyes were full of admiration for me. I avoided his gaze as I sat in the car. He closed the door and turned to get into the driver's seat.

The whole ride went on in an awkward silence. Well, at least for me, because he doesn't look like he's in an awkward position at all. In fact, Jace is smiling like an i***t as he drives towards the venue. If I was another girl I would definitely fall head over heels for him, but no. In my opinion, he's a standard guy for women only if he doesn't play with girl's feelings back in high school, but I feel like he has changed now. I don't know why, but I didn't feel any kind of attraction towards him. I had a few crushes in my entire high school and college life that made my heart skip a beat, but not with Jace. So why me? Why of all people did he choose to fall in love with me when I cannot even reciprocate his feelings? I don't know if he is aware that I don't feel the same way, but I did make a hint that I don't want to be with him as a lover at least.

"Care to share your thoughts?" He spoke suddenly. For the whole duration of the ride, all I did was face the window, so he started to have a conversation. Did he realize that I was uncomfortable?

"Jace, I don't want to give you false hope, but I am sure you are fully aware that I don't like you romantically," As much as possible I don't want his false hope to go higher just because I agreed to be with him today.

"I know," There was sadness in his voice. I instinctively looked at him with surprise. He briefly locked his eyes with me, but even I could tell the hurt in his eyes. He looked back at the road as the hotel where Talia's birthday party came into view. I opened my mouth to answer but I couldn't form words in my mind. He stopped at the hotel entrance and got out of the car. He turned and opened the door of the passenger seat, his hands reached into mine as he assisted me out. He then handed his keys to the parking valet.

Jace wore his smile as if nothing happened during the ride. He grabbed my left arm and enclosed it with his right arm. We both presented the invitation card to the guard and went inside. A woman in her formal suit led the way towards the banquet hall. The place was decorated elegantly. The tables had the names of the invited guests I was not familiar with. Even if Uncle has business, he doesn't involve me with it, instead tells me to focus on my studies. I am lucky I have friends who are rich.

When we reached our assigned table, Jace pulled the chair for me to sit on. He still wears his smile, so I returned a smile at him. Suddenly, someone behind us called his name. A tall man in his late thirties approached him with a woman beside him. Probably his wife.

"Stace, I'll leave you for a bit. I need to greet some business partners," He informed me, so I nodded. He left me alone at the table and heard him greet someone he knows in the business world. No other guests recognized me here other than Jace and Raptalia. I guess I really don't have other friends aside from those two. I fished out my phone from the purse I bought with me. At times like these, I know a phone is a great help for some distraction.