The Taste of Wine

"So? How do I look?" A large smile was plastered at Avy's lips while checking out the long black fitted gown she picked, they are currently at a designer shop and she actually wanted the designers to make a new style for her but the time is limited and it won't make it to the ball for tomorrow night. Xierra, her adopted sister gave her a smile in response which made Avy raise an eyebrow. "Sis? Any um words you might want to say or comment?" She said twirling around with her dress, adding a tone of expectation for her sweet sister to compliment her dress or something. Xierra only rolled her eyes and let out a heavy sigh. " I've been complimenting you for hours Vy, you already know that with that blessed beauty of yours, you look literally good at every-" Before Xierra could finish her sentence, Avy cut her off and picked up the white dress she tried earlier and showed it to her sister. "This or this one??? Be honest and brutal xierraaaa" Avy cried in a pleading tone which Xierra ignored and didn't waste a minute to answer. "Black, it looks good on you especially with your bright hair" she simply answered giving her sister an assuring smile, and finally with a decision that Avy agreed upon they went their way to pay for the dresses. Even though they only need a two pair of dresses for the two of them, Avy still bought everything she tried to wore earlier while deciding for the best gown for her. Recalling the number of gowns she tried earlier, the price won't look pretty to some people even to herself Xierra, as a person who saves up everything she can for her art materials, that sum of money that Avy just spent on could literally cost all the things she bought for years in total, but anyways, good thing the first black gown she tried on fits her well and pretty much made her look fine, she doesn't have to tire herself out to search for other dresses that isn't too plain or too much. 'Too plain brings shame to Avy's family and too much makes them angry.' Xierra Armani, as much as she want to change her last name it can't be undone, and as much as Avy's parents want to throw her out they also can't, as an adopted child of the Armani's it would be a scratch to their image if everyone found out their adopted child got thrown out like a trash just because they finally have a real borned child by blood. 'And now i have to attened a masquerade ball hosted by Avy's family.' It was a celebration for the success of their new project, so of course its a huge project with a lot of investors so with that success it is just right to celebrate it. They only need Xierra for these type of events, to show her presense and attendance, thats all that matter. Parties or ball doesn't entertain her, how could it be fun when no one approaches her? Its expected, and Avy as usual will be busy talking with the officials as she will someday inherit all her parent's business and companies, and when that times. 'I do wish i can get out of this suffocating clutches by her parents.' "Would you like to take a break and eat somewhere sis?" Avy asked as when right timingly an annoying rumbling sensation occured at Xierra's stomach. "Sure" she agreed making Avy let out a whisper of yey! In excitement, after all their both tired from spending a whole day for outfits and makeups. Avy already asked her maid to assist the items she bought to send it at their house, and as expected she also have reserve a table at a restaurant already for the two of them. "Are you sure you like the gown you pick for yourself? You haven't even try the others?!" Avy asked as they finally sat on their reserved table, They also have ordered food as what Avy said to her. "Yes Vy, the gown is comfortable and it looks nice for me- Ah right, Nine said he wants to talk to you, what happened? He even asked me to say this to you" Xierra asked, not because its a burden but its rare for Avy's friends to ask or even talk to her, they knew she's only adopted, therefore talking to her is quite a problem for them. Avy turned silent for a moment while looking down a bit at her phone with her cheeks turning red, Xierra noticed this behaviour, and just with that observation of hers she knew exactly what happened, or what had happened between the two of them. "A-actually, he confessed his feelings" Avy explained it short, although she's the type to say a whole essay about what happened, meaning this is unsual and quite new to her? "Mhm" Xierra respond, she can't say anything yet because even tho its short she knows Avy would like to say more. "And i couldn't answer him so i only said.....Ok" There was a moment of silence between them, at the same time their order has come and is being served in silence, the waiter even look at the both of them feeling a bit tense. "U-uh e-enjoy!" the waiter said immediately leaving and the moment he did the two burst out. "What the hell?!" 'Ok?! I know she likes nine, and with her respond resulting like that it could give mix signals of 'ok i guess' 'sure' Nine might think like that and Vy would lose a chance? Wait, im not Vy so why am i the one overthinking here' "I know! I know! I was so nervous that i couldn't think straight?! I never expected someone like him to confess! And to tell you more he said it like this!" Avy immediately sat properly and tried to mimik Nine. "Aviella, as much as i hate you i actually like you" she said trying to deepen her voice which made it even more funnier for them! And there they burst out laughing, Xierra didnt expect that, she knew little about Nine because of Vy's rants sometimes but in those rants she could clearly tell her sister likes that number. "Then? What did he said after your response?" Xierra asked taking a bite on the food at her plate. But unexpectedly Vy's expression turn sour at that question. "He said..... Oh, cool" - After their chat and finishing their food they finally made their way home, as expected because of the big party, the whole mansion was getting a whole preparation, Xierra doesn't have that much concern about the party thats why she simply go straight to her room after greeting Vy's parents that didnt even gave her as much as a glance. Her new gown was already hunged ready at her closet, and some of the shoes and a bit of makeup was placed neatly at her table, she ignored that and fixed her gaze at the floor, she let out a heavy sighed at the sight of her left artworks all around, because Vy dragged her out of her room while making a plate for her school earlier she didnt get to cleaned up. Morning pass and its almost for the ball to start, but with a blank expression Xierra stared long at her reflection a problem circulating at her mind. At least 10 important VIPS will come and 40 others, and her as a lazy dumb girl who is literally procastinating right not now, and instead of asking for the list of their names she embraced the problem and just prayed that no one will approach her. She doesnt know who the hell the people are coming, and that is bad because what if someone approached her and she doesnt even know who they are? It would be rude of course, afterall the house she's living in is the one that invited those people. And worse its a masquarade party Mr. and Mrs. Armani might scold her and cut low her allowance which is the last thing she wanted to happen, the Armani couple hate her but even so she can't deny she needed their money. To be honest she at least imagined herself leaving the house and running away and while imagining she realized there is no other choice, she's not a perfect person that could easily support herself and her studies, the only thing she has worth of herself is her talent in art and no other else. She let out a heavy sigh and just shrug off the problem and just focused more on trying to put a bit of makeup since she cant do the hard one's without Vy's help. The Armani family having an adopted child is very well known of, but everyone didn't give that much attention the moment Aviella was born, everyone has the same thought. :The child by blood had been born, the adopted is good as nothing 'Of course, i was treated as if i never existed, as if in my first 5 years of living they didn't do everything just to give support for me and did their best to get good points from my so called parents before, aaaah i still remember their sweet smile at the age of 5 and after a few months they immediately acted as if i wasnt there, as a 5 year old. I cried as if i lost a family that time' 'But that was before anyways, it honestly doesn't matter now that, just a year left then ill be able to leave this mess' She took a glance at the clock just at the side of her room, 7:00pm. Just a few minutes before the party would start, she wondered if the Armani would make her go out with them to greet the visitors, she prefer not to tho, there are only a few times where the Armani would let her go and greet the visitors, since sometimes when she's not really needed then she's not, she's only needed when a bunch of not so close business owners are present or a bit of media. A knock made her jolt a bit, its probably time for the party so the maids are coming to inform her. She stood up and took a few seconds to feel comfortable with the heels she's wearing or she might fall, she looked at her reflection again not bothering to fix her hair that is simply lay down long at her waist, her eyes then took a moment to examine her black gown. Unlike what Vy has, she has a tube styled black gown that goes way down with a slit right at her right thigh and a bit of butterfly design, it fitted her perfectly especially with her nice figure. While Xierra had more of a v-shaped sleeveless gown, it made her look more classy and simple, She looked down at the table and wore the black mask which has a bit of golden designs. After checking if she look decent enough she got out of her room, the maid was patiently waiting at the side of the door and escorted her out the hallway and down to the stairs where in the main hall the ball is held. "Has Vy had gone there now?" She asked the maid which only responded with a nod, she could tell even thought the maid is patient it has a bit of an attitude towards her, though she forgot the name. She took a deep breath first before walking inside the hall where everyone masked in multiple classy designs glanced over her way, and there in an instant, it felt suffocating and the pressure she's feeling is unbearable, she can never get used to this kind of crowds, she tighten the grip of her fist, a forced smile appearing at her natural like colored lips. They only nodded or ignored her as they went back to what they are usually doing before she even came, she sighed a relief as she won't need to trouble herself on faking a smile at them when they themselves ignored her. She immediately wondered her eyes around trying to check where her sister at, and when her eyes lay on the most beautiful but clumsy woman at the front a small smile formed at her lips. 'I guess going to her right now won't be nice' She said on her mind as she saw her laughing with the other daughters of visitors, she then tried to look for a spot where no one will bother her and thankfully there is a corner where a single chair is situated at, and thankfully there is not much people around the place.