Are you game?

Chapter 4: Met Gala

In May, New York is at its most gorgeous season. With the temperatures hovering between a pleasant 10°C and 26°C, it is neither too hot nor too humid. At this time, the flowers are blooming, and the trees are lush. It is the perfect time to stroll through Central Park in New York and enjoy the beauty of nature.

Escaped the whole winter in the south, Emma finally returned home from the airport. It has been four months since she left this city. However, nothing seems to change when she returns. She is still alone with a scar on her heart.

Except for contacting related people for the new work by the new phone number, Emma had not kept in touch with anyone else in the last 4 months. The first thing she did when she got back to her small apartment was to load up her old phone card. Hundreds of text messages are coming in. They are from friends, old colleagues and her mother. Suddenly, a message from Austin leaps to her eyes. Its date is the 28th of February, a day etched in memory as their two-year wedding anniversary.

The message says:“Where are you?” Nothing else.

This message seems more like a casual inquiry rather than a heartfelt concern. Maybe the date is just a coincidence. How could he possibly remember their anniversary, given the lack of prior sentiment? Emma doesn't respond to him as she thinks it is not a big deal, and also three months have passed.

Emma calls her bestie Bonnie: “Hey, I'm back.”

“Oh my god, you have finally come back! When did you come back? Where have you been? Have you met any cute guys? Come on, tell me everything!” Bonnie’s excited voice comes from the other end of the phone.

Emma presses the speakerphone and puts the phone aside while taking off her clothes for showering:“Nothing happened. I have not done with my traveling yet, but I have to come back.I need a job to support myself. Luckily, I was invited to the Met Gala as a designer by my professor from Parsons School of Design. She plans to introduce me to the dean of The Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As I have got an internship offer from a movie, and I will be the assistant to the costume designer for this movie, My professor thinks attending this event will be good for me to develop my career path.”

Bonnie is screaming:“ Oh, my god, girl, good for you. Go out there and make a fortune.”

“Oh, by the way.” Bonnie seems to recall something:“I met Austin once, and he asked me if I knew where you were. You have been keeping your phone off all the time. How can I possibly know where you are? Even if I knew, I wouldn't tell him.” Her voice sounds a little bit angry.

Emma's heart trembled when she heard Austin's name:“Then What happened next?”

“What happened later? I said I didn't know and he left. I guess it was just a casual question.”

If he wants to find her, there are hundreds of ways he could try, and it would never be like this accidental and casual question.

Emma says lightly :“Oh.”

A corner of her heart tingled slightly. Emma couldn't tell how she is feeling right now. In fact, she couldn't help but read the gossips in the entertainment industry occasionally when she was gone. There is only news that the famous news broadcast host, Elizabeth, is taking a short break, and there is no news about her marriage. As for Austin, he is still the hot and eligible bachelor in the eyes of the media in New York.

“Honey, do you still love him ?” Bonnie's tone is a little bit uneasy.

Emma's hand movements suddenly stop. He has owned her heart for years. Something goes deep into the bone marrow ,which is difficult to uproot. But, in her opinion, they are just the sequela of a habit, and time will slowly wear them away.

At the Metropolitan Museum of Art

“Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” is the theme of The Costume Institute's 2024 Spring Exhibition and Met Gala Charity Gala. “The Garden of Time” has been decided to be the Dress Code this year, which is inspired by the short story of the same name written by the “King of Science Fiction” J.G. Ballard in 1962.

The story depicts a count and countess living in a utopia full of art, music and beauty. Their garden is filled with flowers that can manipulate time, but in order to deal with the threat from angry people outside, The Count has to pick a flower that can turn back the clock until all is gone.

Inspired by the theme of “fleeting beauty”, Emma is wearing a simple black dress with a fresh white camellia pinned on the shoulder. Even though there are no complicated embellishments, she still stands out among the celebrities with elegant light makeup at dinner. She shows confidence and calmness while chatting with the professors and the fashion giants.

Every year, the Met Gala attracts a host of A-list stars from the worlds of fashion, film, politics and sport. The attending list is drawn up and invited by Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue and a veteran of the American fashion industry. Of course, Austin is on the list too, as the helmsman of the Wells Capital . The Wells Family, being a mysterious and huge capital of New York, naturally received an invitation from such a luxury event.

As predicated, Emma sees Austin at the dinner, and Austin also sees her. Two of them are looking at each other from a distance. Even though she had prepared to meet him again tonight, at the moment she saw Austin, Emma still wanted to run away. However, tonight is a big night for her too. She can not just leave. She thinks: Now that Austin and I have nothing to do with each other, what is there to run away from?

Emma stands there without moving until Austin walks quickly toward her.

“Where have you been ?” Austin stares at her closely and asks coldly.

It is none of your business. Emma is thinking. However, what she really says is : “How have you been?”

Austin is about to say something, and then a person who appears behind Austin interrupts their conversation. It is Elizabeth.

In high school, Austin introduced her to Emma:“Emma, this is my friend Elizabeth. We have grown up together with each other.” Emma recalls that, on their wedding night, Austin held Emma in his arms and called her “Elizabeth”. Then later, Austin came to his senses and did not touch Emma on the wedding night. Elizabeth, Elizabeth, this name has become a nightmare that Emma struggled to wake up from countless times since the wedding night.

“Emma?” Elizabeth looks at Emma with wide eyes, her face has so many retouched traces :“What a coincidence, how have you been?”

Emma's eyes move down and land on Elizabeth's protruding belly. The tight blue gown makes her belly look even bigger. There is a big bang in Emma's head, and all the surrounding voices suddenly vanish.