Film of Love

A Meet With Him

Party lights, disco balls, loud music, chattering and yelling. There are many people in the pool, yard, balcony and inside the house. The sight is new for Aryn but not for Dem. It is a full house party for the welcoming of Moulin.

“They are really rich!” Dem whispered in my ears. We are still outside their house and luckily it is still not loud. “So here’s the catch: why do I really want to go here?”

“Okay? What is it?” I asked as we walked towards the grand entrance of Moulin’s mansion. It is grand and structure wise, it looks more like a palace than a mansion with its architectural design.

“Well, I am going to meet my first love–”

With wide eyes and a shook face I asked to cut her off. “Your first love!?”

She rolled her eyes at me, yes, I still can see it because of the warm light from the two lamps above the walls. “He is not just an ordinary person, he is actually well-known.”

“Dem!” a voice from afar called Dem. We both went towards the petite lady wearing a red dress and…no shoes. “I bet she feels tired just by wearing heels on this kind of occasion.”

“Dem, cela fait longtemps!” (It’s been a long time!)

“¿cómo estás?”(How are you?) Dem replied in spanish as the girl she was talking talked to French. I bet they learned each others tongue. I left them there to chat and give themselves privacy so they can catch up with each others’ lives and decided to go in by myself although I do not know anyone except ,of course, the owner of this party and the reason why I am even invited to this such party.

This is not the typical and classic party though— at least that's what I know. Frankly, this is my first time and hopefully it will provide me with a great night.

“S-sorry!” I said even though they don’t quite hear me and never mind what I did.

I spent a good minute finding a teeny-weensy place without much clutter on the table and the sofa. “I chose a good spot!” Wholly proud of myself at the moment. The music is not that loud anymore and the chattering from the people and people itself is lesser than earlier. I bet it is the location that matters.

“So…what should I be doing here?” I utter to myself.

“Yes, Lady! What should you be doing when you are at the party?” a man's voice that startled me coming from my right and saw him sipping his…wine? A beer? Whatever is that but he is sipping something out from the glass he is holding.

“My bad! Do you mind me sitting in?” he asked.

“I mean you are already sitting in though,” I replied to his late query.

He chuckled and I would not be a human if I didn’t find his voice charming. Nevertheless, I don’t care at all. I just need a quiet environment, atleast, so that I can finish the evening peacefully but I guess my wish is not being fulfilled already.

“Want some drink?”

“No, I am fine,”

“First time?” he asked. I just rolled my eyes to the man to make him stop from asking questions about me and to anything at all.

After a long silence he is the one who broke it too. “I am Tristan, by the way, and you are?” He even extended his hand.

I side eye him before breathing out. “I am January.” I introduced myself firmly. I know it is rude to not reciprocate his handshake but it is really clear with my tone and my body language right now. He smiled a little and withdrew his hands made me feel bad but there is no turning back at all.

He is now in front of me and tilted his head. “So…Moulin’s little friend?”

“No. I am just her blockmate way back years ago,” I replied. This is really awkward but I can see him trying hard not to have this kind of atmosphere— so maybe a little bit of push— I might be able to run away with this awkwardness in me.

“Before she went to states, I see.” His last remark before he slips into his glass of whiskey.

“You are really not a party-goer? But you are not also a party popper?” he said.

“Oh! That's interesting.” “I actually don’t know either. I’d say I am in between, if that is accepted,”

“Well, we will see about that as the night gets deep.”

Our conversation ended when someone just screamed his name from the crowd I saw behind him. As the night grows and the party begins to reach its peak, the people also grow. That was a minute of extreme awkwardness turn

“OMG! Tristan is here!”

People just scream their lungs away making it the sign for me to slip away before the crowd gets any bigger. I thought they were only screaming for Moulin because she is known to be a well known student and a person but my thoughts might not be well educated that her friends are also well known.

“Hey! Where have you been?” I asked Dem once I finally spotted her for so long. Neither did I check the time not until now that it has been an hour passed by.

“I should ask you that,” she raised her brows and I frowned.

“Why?”

“You left me with her,”

“Well…You two are busy catching up so I thought I better go in alone, and I am not a kid anymore so that’s alright.” I sip on my cold water. I finally had a drink after refusing for some time now.

“Are you hungry?” she asked. I looked at the empty cup in my hands and to the table full of foods and less people, I nodded. “Shall we? I heard she is really pulling out great dishes into her homes— even the dishes from states.”

Maybe going in here is not that bad since I get to taste different foods like that is my agenda actually and maybe to have a bit more connections, build more friends and meet acquaintances.

I am munching some bread that is left by the people in the corner of the table. Wondering why there are breads in this kind of party, not complaining though, I’ll be in the bread haven, minus the carbs and fats I will be getting. I did laugh silently at my thoughts running inside my head before they could label me as a weirdo.

I don’t know where the hell the crowd was earlier but now it is starting to hear the cheers again and again. I rolled my eyes and just continued eating my bread. They have a lot of kinds, they have croissants, baguettes, Brioche, Fougasse and many more.

I saw Dem end another conversation with the guy in the leather jacket with big black earrings with a smile. A smile that gives no hint of interest towards the opposite gender, a ‘That’s it. Don’t bother me again.’ The type of smile Dem gives off every time a guy happend to spot her like a target, the red dot in the center of the board.

Dem went towards me rolling her eyes as she turned her back at the poor guy— I can’t help not to let out a chuckle and looked away.

“Ain’t that guy is from a band?” I ask curiously as she stops beside me and joins me to eat some bread.

“Yeah. They are flop anyways,” she bluntly said. Earning a good laugh at me. I wonder what happened back there to make her be like this. “Tsk! Making a move but not making sure it can appeal her friend.” I thought and saw that the guy was now out of nowhere.

“Do you have any idea if Moulin is here?”

She looked at me like I was kidding. “What the hell do you think? Of course, she is here.it is her party anyways.”

I nodded my head continuing to watch people at the same age having fun with the others in the pool and in the yard.

“Why don’t you go there?”

“Nah. Those grown up kids are not fond of me and neither I am,”

“But I thought you would not give a damn about those people?”

“Don’t you remember?” she asked. “Or are you just pretending not to remember it?”

I sighed as I understood what she meant clearly but smiled sheepishly. “Can I just say both?”

She snorted. “Whatever!”

She just frustratingly drinks her whole glass of beer or anything alcoholic while I turn my eyes to them again just remembering old things from the past. It is not great and I don’t even know why I am remembering like there should I be remembered?

—

As I walk down the hallway I shouldn’t be bothered by the whispers of people or let say schoolmates as I go in our designated room.

“Hey! Isn’t it the daughter of a killer?” they whispered although I heard it.

“Shh~ Don’t talk too loud. What if she go and tell her parents and then we will not see the sun again!” another girl replied with the shaky voice forming ‘what ifs' with her friend. I ignored them and their nonsense and continued walking my way.

“Hey don’t be like that,”

“It is scary!”

“She’s weird!”

Another voice to another one. The whispers seem not gonna end but they are like dominos that we once in their places silent not until one of them was pushed and they all stumbled one by one and faster.

I was almost relieved when I saw the door of my classroom was just a few feets away and let my feet move faster but then I was forced to stop when a group of girls stopped in front of me.

“Hé, morveux!” the brunette girl said harshly. She is on the left side of the girl in the center. I don’t know their names and much more care to know them all when this is my first appearance after I came from being bedridden in my home.

“Ain’t you the kid who has a killer parents?”

I frowned, what she meant by that. “Where do you think getting those humor kids?” I know I am older than them so it is just right. “And please don’t call me brat. You guys should be called that because it suits you better than I do.”

They were mad like dogs and kept barking when I went away and intentionally bumped slightly at her shoulders.

“Awww!” she cried.

“Too weak for someone who is brave in words.”

I am about to get scolded but I just nonchalantly said “You guys are too dramatic for a petty little bump that can be an accident.”

Pretty brave to talk back because I know that I am not the bad one here. They are just too confident and I don’t know why. If I only had a recorder at that time I might record their voices every time I am walking in the hallway.

For what I know at that time I was a very hyperactive and naughty kid. One day when I was playing with the other kids I slipped on something and that made me sleep for a month more or less. I actually didn’t recall this event that happened in my past years and now that I did it makes me think why I didn’t look further more about what happened to me when all the rumors started to spread like a wildfire.

Many days passed and I did not bother to know— I am just lucky that they don’t move physically to me but their words are there whispering but really it is making me deaf not until my final season is figure skating has come and thanks to that it makes me much more busy that I sometimes advance lessons and let me take a break much earlier than the other until my mom decided to drop the school I am in and move out to another school.

I am more focused on my figure skating and school and now I am here I do regret somethings that I didn’t look deeper why the hell those kids keep accusing my parents and slipping is the real reason that I don’t remember things past that event and keep on having nightmares?

“You’re unbelievable too, you know?” Dem asked.

“Why?”

“Well, you know them while they don’t know you,”

“You are not sure,” I shrugged.

“The towns’ is small so you won't see them anyways.” She put her cup down beside my cup and ran towards the pool. I took the cup and smelled it, hoping not to smell any alcohol which I should be expecting.

“Seems like I’ll be driving.” I thought and shook my head.

“Ehem!”

I heard a fake cough and saw him again. Him means Tristan, the one who made a large crowd earlier.

“What now?” I irritably asked him, while he scooped some of these colored drinks with lemon out of the big bowl made of glass.

I saw him smile a little. “Well…how’s the night, pretty?”

“Nah! It is annoying, and speaking of annoying, you are also adding to my annoyance,”

“Oh! C’est mon honneur!” he replied with a hint of teasingness.

I took a glimpse at his back and said. “Where’s your company?”

Tristan chuckled and replied. “Get them out of my sight when I tell them I am going home.”

“Do they really believe you? You coming home it is not even dawn,”

“How do you know a party lasts that long huh, party popper?”

I rolled my eyes at him. “Well, I am a designated driver for Dem.”

“Oooh! Character unlocked!” he cheered. “So where the lady is now?”

My brows furrowed at his statement. “What will he know, huh? New interest unlocked?” I let out a snicker at my thought and felt like I could throw down the gauntlet back at him. Only if I can and my confidence can. I don’t want to feel people around me awkward towards me, but can I really hinder the time it can have that feeling? Of course, no.

“So…where is she?”

I was startled a little. “I…s-she is somewhere in the pool.”

“Do you work here? I mean around here?” He asked.

“Not yet actually,”

“Really? But do you ever have the thought of going to Paris?”

“Uh..yes, I do. Why do you ask?” I asked him back. “Do you work in Paris?”

I didn’t know what was funny so I confusedly looked at him, who was laughing in front of me, hard. After a while, he wiped his eyes like he actually cried after he laughed that hard.

“Uhm…may ask why are you laughing?” I awkwardly asked.

“You are fascinating! I like you!” he announced, still letting out a laugh. His eyes seem like he has a good laugh every once in a while. If that is great for him because he seems stressed, it is wonderful to see that. “I don’t mean to offend you but you are something.”

“Oh-Uh thank you!”

—

“I told you, bro! She is something,” Tristan said enthusiastically.

“She just meant that you are not that famous,” someone replied, adding a laugh.

“Out of line, Jace!” he said. “I think I need more exposure in the north.”

“Sure. You need it,” he agreed nonchalantly. “Anyways, what is her name again?”

“J-Janice?” he hesitantly replied. He damned forgot her name but not until his eyes spotted the calendar left in the table untouched and that’s when a bulb in his head lit up. “Ah her name is January and the other one is Dem!”

“January and Dem,” he whispered. “Nice name. I think I would like to meet them and see if they know me better than you.”

“Yeah! Yeah!” Tristan just replied before standing up from Jace’s couch. “I’ll be going now! Let’s be rivals again.”

Jace just shakes his head when the door slammed shut indicates that the man left his house already. “Tsk! That kid going for two? Well, it seems like he is just like the January girl.”

Jace also texted Tristan for helping him move out in his new house, a penthouse to be exact. Jace and Tristan had been friends when he was in state. He is new and met Tristan and found out that they are born and raised in the same country, not until they just moved out when they are a little older.

Jace and Tristan were street casted to be models when they were in highschool. They are already fine with their paths being close with each other but the company’s CEO is more favored by Tristan and made Tristan stay at the CEO’s company while Jace went to another company. Still his manager is Melvin since then.

The two young men are actually studying in the field of business because both of them are sons of the CEO of two different companies. Although, the companies may seem rival but the two stayed being a great friend of each.

Rivalry is no old news to them. It is like all their life they all have sorts of enemies, rivals and many more beside them. But they don’t actually care about that because that will cause them unhappiness and stress, so they chose to be friends, best friends.

“WHAT THE f**k!” Jace shouted while catching his phone in the air when a sudden loud sound startled the hell out of him. “Melvin!? What the f**k did ou just did?”

“Oh! Chill, Jace! Relax!~” he said, motioning to calm down the hell out of Jace who seems still not moving on from the shock.

“I’m sorry! I am sorry—” he was cut by his own laugh when recalling Jace’s face.

Jace on the other hand is still syncing in what he just did to calm his racing heart beat. “I should think you must go back to school to learn how to f*****g knock someone’s door.”

“Sorry, bro!” He said, hindering himself from laughing hard.

“Anyways, we are even,” he announced.

“How can we— Did you do that because of that?” he asked, while shooting daggers at his manager. “How petty of you to get revenge back at that petty thing, huh!”

A week ago, Jace just made Melvin life a nightmare when he didn’t answer his phone and found his car in front of an abandoned factory and it feels like they are in a horror movie or something suspense or thriller when Jace almost gonna headbat Melvin because he thought he was some guy from his suspected people.

“I shouldn’t even call it quits and even because in the first place, yours is too much for my mind and heart. Please! Please do not do it again! If you want, let me come with you.” Jace looked at him and felt bad for him.

“I am sorry,”

“It is alright and I am sorry too.” Jace nodded his head accepting the older’s apology.

“So, I saw and bumped at Tristan in the lobby,”

Jace scratched his head. “He just did me a favor.”

“Yeah, seems like I am no need here,”

“It’s not like that,” he chuckled. “But are there any free dates for me next week?”

“For what?”

“You know, Meeting with him,”

“Ohh! Right!” he remembered. “I’ll set you up as early as possible and clear all of your sched for that day. Hope you don’t mind, this is going to be hard on you and much more on me.”

“And hope that the brands can wait for their new schedule that day and be grateful for it, kid.” Melvin added and left his penthouse.

Jace sighed and flopped himself on his couch. “He is always like that. Going in without a notice and going out without one too.”

“Finally, a meet with him.”