Black Is The New Orange

"What do you think of the musical, Dana?" she asked the girl busy with her phone.

"Hmm, the piano piece I played was really good," she answered without looking away from her phone in hand.

She was busy making a Weibo account to share her sketches. She was messaging Jess to help her decide what name she will use. An online profile name is crucial in making a good impression, especially that she'll be sharing her arts. She's thinking that her mother won't find out about her drawing if she will share it on a foreign platform and hide her real identity. She won't make the same mistake she did in that manga drawing contest.

Her aunt and Nancy are busy talking about the production of the musical play at the backseat of the car. She's sitting in the passenger seat while the man that is driving, according to Nancy, is Ellise's driver and security guard. She's intrigued why Ellise needs a security and driver when all she does is stay in that club and play games. She doesn't even have time to answer her calls and messages. She's unhappy about what's happening but it looks like she doesn't have a choice but to wait for Jess to arrive.

"Where are we going?" she looked back at the women in the backseat of the car and asked.

"Restaurant." her aunt terse replied. Then ignored her and continue to talk about work.

Dana slouched on her seat and moped. There's nothing interesting with her phone anymore, so she just turned her attention to what's outside the car's window.

To overcome her boredom she started taking short videos of whatever she sees interesting outside while listening to music in her Bose headphones. She can't help smiling by herself like a crazy person with the idea that she is using the same headphones as the Orange guy.

"Ting what time do you think we will reach the restaurant? It looks like there's a bit of traffic now." aunt Joy suddenly asked the driver.

"Thirty minutes."

"Okay thank you, I'll send a message to Nina so they could tell the chef when is the best time to serve the dishes."

"Nance, extend my apology to Mr. Wang later, for not being there in person for the meeting with the investors. I prepared a gift for his wife, don't forget to take it."

"Yes. We are having issues with the photographer we booked for the promotional photos of the cast of the play."

"Changed him. How come even photographers are acting like primadonna nowadays."

Dana is half-listening to the conversation that is going on in the car but her mind is drifting to what her aunt said regarding inheritance. She knew the story of her birth. Deep down she knew that she must be grateful and happy of whom and where she ended, and she swears to God she is happy and can't be thankful enough, yet there are times she can't control the apprehension that was planted in her heart a long long time ago.

---

"Is it Dana?" A very kawaii Chinese girl named Nina is fussing over her as soon as they arrive at the restaurant. She even stood up from her chair beside her husband, - the infamous Mr. Wan, she thought this man would be as grumpy as hell because her aunt described him as a tyrant, but boy, isn't he a feast for the eyes.

She grinned at how Nina showered her with compliments and started moving all the food on the table in front of her, telling her to eat because they're delicious.

"Baby, I'm also hungry. Feed me." Mr. Wan called his wife to come back to his side.

Dana was stunned by how Mr. Wan shamelessly acts like a child with his wife in public.

"Ellise just stepped out to answer a call," he said, winking at her. Her face heats up when she was caught staring at them.

"Is Ellise doing fine?" she heard her aunt asked.

She hunched over the mountain of food in her place and started nibbling her way out of possible indigestion. Miss E, must be Ellise, she thinks while chewing, and half-listening to the three adults having a conversation on the table.

"Sorry I had to take a call." a dulcet voice interrupted the adult talk and she excitedly raised her head to face the owner of the voice, and gape dumbfoundedly. This couldn't be the Ellise she met in Tokyo two years ago, is she?

The one standing her isn't a girl but a woman! A very beautiful sophisticated woman!

She's wearing a red floral back-bow sleeveless dress from Carolina Herrera and nude Chanel flats. And with her cascading wavy hair reaching her thin waist that could be snapped in seconds, Dana was rendered speechless like a boy smitten over his first love.

"It's been a while." she smiled and bent over to give her cheeks a light peck, and she was assaulted by the scent of her expensive perfume. And for the second time at that dining table her face burned red with embarrassment, she is going to be a cooked prawn in no time.

"Yes, it's been a long time." she heard her voice tremble.

"Sorry, I always replied to your messages late. Do you have a WeChat? she asked.

"Ah, no. I mostly used Instagram," she said.

"I don't actually use my Instagram." she smiled apologetically. "You can reach me quicker in WeChat."

"I see, that's why you don't have any photos on Instagram, I thought you just don't like posting photos. I'm sorry." she smiled back awkwardly.

She wrinkled her nose playfully at her and said, "Why apologize? It's not something you should be sorry about."

"Yes, you're right. Sorry," she murmurs.

An uneasy silence ensued between them until Ellise laughed gaily, and said "You've become reserved."

She averted aunt Joy's questioning look as she answered Ellise quietly, "You think so? You on the other hand became so beautiful."

"Stop it.", she said laughing. "Tell me about the photoshoot instead. I'm so excited when you send pictures of those dresses. What are they called again?"

"They are traditional dresses called Pilipinyana."

---

"Ellise, We'll be heading to Nina's parent's house to spend the weekend there, should I ask Tian to pick you up?"

"No need. Ting can bring me back. Thank you for the dinner. Enjoy the weekend you two." she said, smirking at Nina.

She was in a daze watching the interaction happening before her when she heard her aunt whispering in her ears, "Are you okay?", with a voice full of concern.

"I'm just tired," she answered in a small voice.

"We'll drop Miss E first then get back to our hotel. There's no more traffic at this hour, it won't take long." her aunt said and reached for her forehead, she flinched when her skin touched hers.

"You don't have a fever. But you look pale."

"Wan, Nina, let's meet again before we go back to Tokyo. Will go ahead now because it seems like Dana isn't feeling well."

"How do you feel?" Ellise rushed to her side and asked with worry.

She said nothing and tried smiling nicely in front of this girl. She's feeling guilty because of the bubbling insecurity she's feeling and she doesn't know why. She's not the type to get jealous and envious of something. This is new for her, and she doesn't know how to approach it.

When the car stopped on the curb, she quickly got on the passenger seat. She didn't see the puzzled expression on Joy's face.

"Do you want to see our club? Mr. Wan isn't there so I'm sure they're still awake. I'll introduce you guys to my team." Ellise said in excitement.

"Okay," she said absentmindedly.

She badly wanted to put on her headphones and escaped in her favorite song but she knew her aunt would interrogate her once they're alone and she can't use the excuse of not feeling well by then.

She sits stiffly on her seat and pretends to follow the conversation in the backseat.

"Should I bring the car to the parking lot or could we park in front of the building?" Ting asked as they approached a building that looks like your average establishment.

"You work here?" she asked Ellise unimpressed.

"You should see the inside," she said grinning from ear to ear.

Dana despite herself smiled broadly with Ellise enthusiasm. Besides, it's difficult to be angry when someone is just too pretty. She thought as they followed Ellise to the glass door and smiled in front of the screen, which opened the door instantly.

"Nina made that facial recognition system," she said with pride.

"She's that awesome!?" surprised she asked. She can't imagine a kawaii girl to be that cool!

"Hey, hey! Look who's back from having fun, while all of us are dying to crash DT's attack!" A loud voice full of mischief welcomed them when they entered the building.

"Shut up Grand!" Ellise answered teasingly. "Hey, guys do you want to meet someone pretty?"

"Your aunt looks fabulous, no offense, but we want someone cute, unlike someone who has a fetish for mature women." he laughed like a maniac, then glanced at a tall boy, with eyes fixed on the computer screen.

"Well, you're in luck!"

Ellise steps back and pulls her from aunt Joy's back, where she's been hiding after seeing the face of the guy who greeted them.

When she comes into view all the boys jump out of their seats and circle her, introducing themselves all at the same time.

She's rooted in place, her eyes glued to the tall boy at the back showing no interest and with a grim face.

After the burst of names dies down, the boys finally sense her disinterest and follow her gaze then all stepped back slowly, and in unison said teasingly "Ooooooohhhh!!"

She steps forward like she's walking to an ocean of boys parted by Moses, and says, "My name is Dana Hasegawa.", as she extends her hand for a handshake.

"Grand." the boy said with a tight smile.

Roaring laughter can be heard from the rowdy boys in the background, but Dana only hears the thundering of her heart. The corner of her lips is painfully pulled in a very wide smile, when she mischievously thought, - His name is Grand and he's as grand.