Dress

It was the day before the ball. Since classes are over, senior students are busy doing last minute shopping for their outfits and gifts for their dates.

He Zifeng never planned on selecting a nice suit, but he went to a popular shopping area, keeping an eye for Chen Kaori. He was hoping to bump into her as he knew she never went shopping for a dress, since even on weekends, she was pestering him. Well, that was before.

He looked into his phone. Still nothing from her.

.

He was used to her being all around his personal space. Since she is a family friend living away from home, his parents treated her like their own daughter. She was free to come and go whenever she wanted to, as if their house was also hers.

However, sometimes his temper gets the better of him so he either totally ignores her or scolds her. Even so, she still would not stay away from him. She would chat or call him whenever he is away from her for more than four hours. He seldom replies.

.

Now, he was waiting for a message, a call, anything, from her. Maybe he felt guilty, guilty because he knew she cried when he agreed to go to the ball with someone else. Maybe he regrets that he did not ask her first.

.

He Zifeng looked around the shops. He had bumped into several classmates already, but no sign of her.

His finger finally tapped call on his phone after looking at her number for a minute.

After multiple rings, she finally picked up.

"Hello?"

"What took you so long to answer?!" Before she could reply, he continued, "Chen Kaori, do you really have a date?! Do you at least have a dress for the ball? Do you need me to buy you a dress? I'm in the shopping district." his tone was in between scolding her and being worried about her.

There was a sigh from the other line, then she replied, "He Zifeng, I will not lie. I have a date and I have a dress. Besides, it is not your obligation to find me a date or a dress." Chen Kaori's voice was almost monotonous.

He Zifeng could not respond. Indeed, no matter how much she pesters him, she never lied to him.

Since he did not say anything, Chen Kaori continued, "If that is all, I'm hanging up."

Before he could protest, the line was cut and he could only hear the beeps.

He Zifeng went into a shop to buy a suit. He was in the area already and thought he might as well do something worth the trip.

While he was inside the shop, his phone sounded.

He excitedly took it out of his pocket and checked, anticipating to see a message from Chen Kaori.

To his disappointment, Wang Zihan sent him a photo of her blue ballgown, obviously a designer piece. In her message, she was asking him to match her dress for the ball.

He Zifeng frowned, placed his phone back in his pocket and looked around the shop.

He saw some pieces that could match the grand dress, but his frown deepened.

He wondered what kind of dress Chen Kaori will be wearing. Her mixed Asian features can match with any color. Then he remembered her favorite color.

He started browsing the hanged clothes, looking for something that could match her dress, that is, if his guess is right, at least for the color.

He stopped when he got his hand on a suit. Then he called the attendant. "Do you have a tie?"