Chapter 3

The evening was almost over and shockingly, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

After Lawrence's debatably complacent speech, I got to hear what Zachary had to say and I must admit, I was impressed. Every word that left his mouth was one of great adroitness and poise, as if his soul was stitched from the thread of charisma and allure itself. The more he enticed his audience, the more they seemed to commend him.

"A few years ago, when I came to visit my father here in New York for the first time, I went out to take a walk around central park. I felt terribly bored and lonely so I grabbed some pen and paper and started writing about all of my surroundings. Naturally, everything was beautiful. It was spring time, after all, and as Lady Bird Johnson once said, "Where flowers bloom, so does hope." As I continued to write, a man grabbed me by the arm. I was scared to death, as any teenage boy would be. I turned to look at him and what I saw had me taken aback. The poor man was in dirty, tattered clothes, reeking of smells I couldn't even place."

"What do you want?" I'd asked. The man looked at me dead in the eye and said, "What's your name?" After I responded with my middle name, he'd started to grin from ear to ear, "You look like an observant young man, Thomas. Promise me you'll stand up for what you think is right. Promise me you won't stay silent." After I nodded, the man turned on his heel and limped away. I was completely shocked. I kept coming back day by day, trying to find the man but to no avail. The man had given me an insight to life and now he was gone? When I told my father, he'd just patted my back and said, "Welcome to New York City, boy."

As a wave of laughter ran through the hall, I glanced around at the audience, trying to read crowd's expression. Most men stood still, wearing serious expressions and hiding their inner thoughts on the oration, while others openly glared at him, envious of the inconceivable attention he was attracting.

Zachary looked at everyone despite it all, standing strong in front of the cameras that relentlessly clicked photographs, hunting for the slightest blemish or defect.

After the oration, I made my way to the refreshment area and began stuffing macaroons down my throat. So nice for what??

Right before I went for the fifth macaroon, I felt a light tap on my shoulder. As soon as I turned around, I immediately regretted agreeing to come here in the first place.

"Annabeth, Emily. " I sighed, placing my champagne flute on the table next to me.

Annabeth the ogre grinned, her crooked teeth in view. "It's nice to see you too. I mean, who would've thought Nicole Grimaldi would grace us with her presence, am I right Em?

Emily the brute snorted, "Yes, We've missed you! And haven't you lost weight."

I inwardly rolled my eyes. "Thanks-"

"And Yale? You didn't tell us you got in-"

"Do not interrupt me." I warned her a grin, "And no, I didn't deem it necessary."

Annabeth cocked her head, the golden locks of her hair falling onto her shoulder. "Haven't you changed, what happened to that shy little girl who was too afraid to even talk to us?"

"She died. I killed her myself." I smirked, "How's your boyfriend, heard he cheated on you."

If you looked closely, you could see the vapour coming out of Annabeth's nostrils very well. "We broke up."

"Oh you did? Damn, I didn't know," I lied. "Also, not to burst your bubble or anything but he asked me out various times while you were dating."

The sound of her grinding teeth could be heard from miles away. "How's your Chinese bestie? What's her name... ah! Aera. She has such small eyes-"

I cocked my head to the side, almost sinisterly. "What. Did. You. Just. Say?"

Emily rapidly moved the frightened Annabeth to the side. "You've become so famous, I don't think I've seen a day go by without your name being mentioned by a celebrity on social media or just people over all... you also have a lot of Instagram followers. Maybe you could shout us out?"

I raised a brow. "People still do that?"

After a few more minutes of her unwavering requests, she told me her reason; "I'm just trying to get him to notice me..."

I turned my gaze to whom hers was fixated at. Zachary. Of course.

I looked at her, brows raised.

"What? You can't deny it. He's so hot." She sighed, burying her face in her hands.

"Looks shouldn't be your priority."

"But just look at him..." Annabeth chanted, her gaze still fixated over my shoulder.

As expected, when I turned around I found numerous girls clustered around him like insects towards a honey, all giggling and smiling.

"You do realise that his flirting with other girls, right?" I sighed, turning back around.

"Nicole, whatever. Also, you're clearly in denial if you think he isn't hot."

I turned to look at him again;

I liked his hair. His short curls were the brown of aged mahogany wood, so rich and deep- I wonder if they were as soft at touch as they looked.

Come to think of it, his hazel eyes looked dark from the distance too- One would only get to see their real color in a close enough proximity, for they were the darkest shade of the very color of honey and hazelnut assorted together and framed by his dark arched brows, almost like the wings of a soaring raven.

His chiselled jaw lifted as he smirked at one of the girls, most likely complimenting him.

He was handsome- there was no doubt in that- but it still didn't mean I was going to admit it.

"Meh. He's okay." I nonchalantly commented, watching both of their mouths fall to the floor.

"How-" Emily said, her eyes widening.

"I'll see you guys later." I disclosed, taking my glass of champagne from the refreshment table and heading off to find mamá.

"Where are you going?" Emily asked, ready to follow.

I smirked. "Wherever you aren't."

After exactly ten minutes, I found mamá talking among a crowd of people. The evening was almost over as the hall continued to empty with guests. As soon as we excused ourselves from the people she was previously conversing with, we made our way to the exit. Just as we were about to leave, mamá stopped in her tracks.

I turned around to look at her. "What's wrong?"

"I lost my phone." She said, skimming through her purse. "Wait here I'll be right back." She said turning around and heading off to the distance.

I sighed, puckering my lips. Patience, Nicky. You'll be out of here soon.

Before I could even consider my silken sheets awaiting for my arrival at home, the marble floor beneath my feet began to feel soft; not as much as even a firm carpet, but not right for Calcutta marble tiles.

Time seems to slow down when you're falling. In the seconds it took me to reach the ground, I knew it was going to hurt.

Throughout the inky space, my heartbeat pounded loudly; echoing in my ears, alongside my silent fading pleas for help.

The feeling in my body drained away until finally, all was black.