The Witcher's Hour

TWH Chapter 3: The wisher's wish

At Ethereal Ella’s modeling tutorial with some press conference...everyone’s wild with anticipation. The long table in front of the big LED-lighted screen is now waiting for the elegant Ella. The long table is beside the mini-stage. There is also a wide runway that was being set up there, serving dual purposes: For the modeling tutorial 101 and to showcase models of the previous years.

The event is held inside Ella’s grand mansion. The one-hectare property is defined as perfection. The house is spacious and wide, specially made for Ella's preference. The lawn is also big enough to accommodate big events, receptions, and events like this. There was a mini-bush maze at the back of the garden where the event is taking place. The buffet area is beside the round tables and chairs that are covered in white cloth embossed with classy floral designs. The chairs are adorned with fresh flowers and it suits tonight’s theme: Ethereal Ella’s night: A passion for spring fashion. Everyone is impressed with the preparations.

The weather is also perfect. The sunset is stunning. It shows the beautiful wavelengths of colors red and orange across the sky. It can be compared to that of sunset painters who would love to draw on their blank canvas. The guests are going inside the gate that’s also adorned with many flowers in vines, you'll think that it is just a 3D picture.

“How impressive! Everything is perfect for my taste!” One girl giggled as she grinned at her friends. She's wearing a glamorous, backless, green, cocktail gown. She slowly turned around for her friends to see the details of her gown's design.

"Yeah, and we will get to know some of her secrets at last!" Her friends said as they cheered and clapped their hands as they look around them.

"I can't wait, my dear! Let's go?" Chloe is only half a meter away from them. That’s Gracey. She knew her very well. She’s one of the most popular girls on their campus who’s also a big fan of Ella Grande. She and her friends are obviously in a well-to-do family that’s why it’s easy for her to get tickets. She can see that those girls are enjoying their time so much.

Unlike her, Gracey can follow Ella's fashion sense. While she's only wishing for Ella to notice her, Gracey loves to gate-crash Ella's events to also steal some scenes. Ella doesn't care anyway. She's loving someone who will copy her but can't be exactly like her because she's the only one.

Chloe’s stomach rumbled. She slowly looked down at herself and put her hand on her belly as she slowly massaged it in a circular motion. She remembered she hasn’t eaten since breakfast time. She knew that if she spends the remaining three dollars from her pocket, that 500$ once-in-a-lifetime ultimate pass for this event is not possible for her anymore. 

She softly groaned as she sighed. Good thing she’s naturally thrifty. She loves to save her money with hopes to add this to her tuition and yet she was able to spend it unexpectedly.

Before a lot of thoughts eat her, she’s able to tell herself that she's able to save money again but to make this show pass? Maybe she’ll regret this one if she can’t attend it herself.

“I hope I will know her secrets, too.” Chloe slowly breathes some air and happily grinned at last. She kept those thoughts in her mind because nobody wanted to be with her that night. She’s all alone, enjoying the feeling of finally getting into the parameters of Ella’s circle at last.

As she looked around the place, she's certain that there were approximately more than two hundred people, and they were guests alone. The media men that will cover the event are minutes late. She can also see photographers swooning around the popular girls because other women wore revealing clothes. Other guests wore a long gown with a slit on it.

She covered half of her face using her palm near her left eye to avoid flashy cameras around her. I guess she was also being filmed and photographed by some professional photographers roaming around to take some candid shots of the guests.

It was at half-past seven. The event will commence at exactly 8:00 PM. Chloe inched forward, making sure she'll be in front to watch and hear everything as clearly as possible. She can't miss any single thing, especially when it comes to her idols and celebrities.

"Hello everyone! Welcome to Ethereal Ella's night! Are you guys excited?" The voice came from beside the stage going out and walked towards the center stage. She's very beautiful. She's of medium height and she's wearing a sexy cocktail dress, wearing full makeup on her face. Chloe adjusted the frame of her glasses and she was able to determine the host right away.

"Well, I am thrilled as much as you guys! I am very happy that my favorite friend invited me to be here as her host. It is such a wonderful privilege to see all your beautiful faces tonight."

"Oh my. Am I being fooled by my eyes? Did I hear it right? Was it Serene Sanders? My freaking heart rejoices!" Chloe tried to calm herself down from screaming because she is seeing her idol for the first time. Serene Sanders is a legend. A pop artist that everybody loves because of her talent and amazing face for more than seven years.

Serene Sanders completed Chloe's childhood, literally. She's a fan that she hasn't missed any of her songs. She even bought a lot of her CDs and memorize every song to her album she's been releasing ever since.

She can hear wild cheers and praises from the audience as she looks around. For Chloe, I guess she deserved it pretty well.

"Serene! I love you!" She heard one girl shouted with full excitement as others cheered too. She saw Serene grinned widely. She looked very happy with what she heard from one of the audience.

"Gosh, this 1000$ event is worth it!" She just said to herself because this event is full of surprises. The bad thing though, Peter is not here to cheer with her and witness every good thing. She felt sorry for her best friend but on the other hand, she doesn't want to miss everything. She knew that Peter will do everything just to stop her from buying the ticket. He's been so vocal because by doing so, it's impractical.

She could understand him and his being practical but on the other hand, it is her happiness and nobody can ever stop her from doing it just for Ella…

And not just Ella, she was very motivated to buy the ticket because she knew that Axle Wiles will be here, too. Her all-time ultimate crush and the guy that she wanted to meet.

"To start this evening, we'll be witnessing the former models who were graduates from Ella's fashion modeling tutorial from the previous year."

The whole place was suddenly dimmed and the spotlight directed to the mini-runway that they had prepared for the models. Right there and then, the music "Fireworks" by Katy Perry started playing as their background as the show starts. Ten models are doing Ella's signature catwalk as they walk forward to the center stage. They gracefully turned around, some winking and waving to the audience that is looking at them with awe.

"Gosh, they all looked so beautiful and elegant! Their outfits are spring fashion themed. Glitters from their amazing fairy-like dresses captivated the viewers but what impressed Chloe the most is the way they are having fun on the stage with their graceful poises.

Chloe can't help but drop her jaw from being too amazed as she glued her attention to the details of their dresses, even at the model's body as she looks at them closely.

She slowly pinched the fat from her belly beneath the fabric of the simple T-shirt she's wearing right now as she looked down.

"Wow, I think I can't be slim like them." She softly said to herself as she sighs.

She never expected that most of the guests wore their signature gowns. She felt awkward and shy, too. On the other hand, she has no choice but to attend because she already paid for this show. She never had the idea that there will be a dress code either. She only wore a pair of jeans and a simple T-shirt that she regretted the moment she went inside Ella Grande's mansion.

Nobody even told her to wear something fancy because she doesn't have friends here.

"Can't get enough of them, yet? How about a bit of Ella? Everyone?" Chloe's smile widened. That background voice coming from Serene Sanders is setting up the mood for all of them, including her. She can't help but smile. She thinks all of the best people are here for her to enjoy the most.

Good thing she was able to see Serene Sanders. The smile from her idol made her happy despite this unfavorable circumstance.

The audience is getting crazy with cheers as they clap their hands to their heart's content as they see Ella doing her signature catwalk, passing among her models. The way she sways her hips as she touches her hair is way too perfect the crowd is getting louder and louder.

"That's our girl, Ella!" Serene cheerfully introduced her as she put both her hands on her waist. Chloe noticed Ella winked at her friend, Serene Sanders after her lovely introduction of her while she's on the stage. Ella held Serene's left hand with her right and raised it in front of the audience.

"Thank you, dear! Serene Sanders, everyone!" Ella said as soon as Serene handled her the wireless, pink-colored microphone. The loud claps never stopped. Chloe is almost speechless because of what she's seeing.

"I want you all to have fun. We have a lot of activities here for you to enjoy. Go around, meet new friends and above all, stay fabulous!" She announced so cheerfully that everybody in the crowd grows wilder— even more.

She's thinking that everything in this place is worth it. What she's witnessing around her is no joke and a fun fact! She's not even dreaming! Who can even bump into Serene Sanders? She's even having her world tour once in every two months. Her schedule is always full. Chloe knows that too well from her interviews. She can be only seen on TV most of the time. Chloe never thought she's this stunning in person even more.

The event started to roll with a lot of audiences catered. Chloe is just standing two meters away from Ella's table, with all the special guests sitting next to her.

Cameras were flashing, glitz, and glamour covering how she gracefully answered questions. Chloe can't help but stick her attention to Ella who is gracefully attending to her fans. She's never losing her smile whenever she's facing different personalities of people around her.

"Gosh, three minutes more and there will be autograph sessions," Chloe said to herself. It is also getting late at night. Her stomach continued to rumble. She hasn't eaten a single cookie even from breakfast. She can feel that her stomach is aching and yet she wants to endure it until this will be over.

She waited ten minutes in line for her autograph. Gripping the simple pen and her notebook, she's smiling as she slowly stepped forward to Ella's table.

"Hi. Thank you for coming." Ella warmly greeted her as she offered her hands for a handshake. Chloe suddenly felt her knees tremble, she didn't know how to react to that simple, friendly gesture.

"Hey, Ella wants to shake hands." Axle Wiles said as he smiled at her, too.

"I like you, Ella. I hope we can be friends." She said, she even forced herself to speak because her lips trembled as well. She also glanced at Axle Wiles who is looking at her amusingly.

"Sure." She answered right away. "Here you go." She returned the notebook she gave to Ella for her autograph.

She immediately hugged the notebook Ella wrote on. She was overjoyed and happy but when she started to walk away, most of what she's seeing suddenly became blurry. She can't help closing her eyes until everything becomes black.