XIII - Party Full of Secrets

"Got any plans?"

"No, not yet..."

By 1 pm, the preparations of the venue had been finalized and it has finally begun, the event has still been continuous for 3 hours now in the afternoon. They both in seats with among other colleagues.

Across their table are bunch of friends taking selfies, and savor the meals served too, meanwhile for the two students, they're both huddled close consistently observing the autograph on Denise's notebook.

"Denise, remember when you told me that people might mistook her as a staged prank?" He asks while his focus remain on the paper.

The hazel-haired girl doing the same, but confusion hints on her reply, "Yeah, why?" She answers.

"Don't get mad but..." As she's distracted, he immediately snatched her notebook and while he dramatically waves it around above her head, he points the written signature like a madman "Girl, what if THIS is the stage prank, huh? What do we do? Maybe we're taking this too seriously."

The girl narked by his sudden pestering, she goes grabbing it back to her and putting it down onto the table, irritated as she gapes her mouth open ready to argue. But unfortunately, not a single word would come out.

His glasses sparkled white, wearing a smug look on his face as he watches her slowly go speechless. "Got anything to say?" He says so teasingly.

All there to respond is nothing but a disappointing sigh, "Look out for the cameras then, we don't have to wait for our faces get exposed on the stage."

"Aannd what if I can't find one?" He taunts in singsong, glaring back at the poker-faced friend, fed up even then she just answers, "Simple, I'll just leave."

"What, hey, don't leave me behind."

"I'll go call the police and report the shit, might as well start suing them because what convinced them to do that on the day of their family anniversary? Talking about timing, that is the worst thing they've ever done, considering what happened with Naria and her aunt, Amber Elyas." She follows a sarcastic yet a fretful reply.

Subconsciously forcing Isaac to justify his assumption, he continues "I know it's a cruel joke, but I mean like, what if there's a setup, an experiment instead to see who'd care enough to an incredibly wealthy but helpless star like her?"

She pondered his question for a while, then he enthusiastically adds with his hands waving around, expressing the positivity might come out as a result; "Imagine that! You might even get a thousand pesos prize because you're the only one so far got her up so close and personal, and the best part is you care for her well-being."

"What if we're just nitpicking things?" Her thumbs circulate at the edges of the bridge on her nose, aggrieved as her voice went tremulous "Maybe it's just a meaningless set of symbols, or a handwriting style. We'll be made fun of, my god, I'm so stupid..."

"I'm so sorry for getting you involved to this!" Her groans muffled within her hands covering her face. Isaac goes immediately patting her back.

"No no don't apologize please, to be honest, I'm glad we get to do this together. Miss attorney, you're prepared a lot for this moment."

He comforts, but as soon as he lets go, his smile seems more forced as he adds,

"But if we must take this case seriously and ignore the What-if situations, there's nothing we can do. I'm sorry."

She leans back on her chair; her eyes lay out far and wide as she contemplates situations after situations. Her sight ventures an observation to her surroundings, it was crowded but they still smile and parents happily feeding their children. As if everyone eventually has moved on from an incident full of rollercoaster of emotions.

The way she sighs in relief, believing it's a good a thing that people have already calmed down, though what caught her attention are her recognizably dollish colleagues, as usual, they're altogether sat on one table, but Cheska is missing, leaving one chair empty. Just like what they saw before, it seems they're fine without their rich friend.

"Why is Cheska missing?" She asks out of the blue, then Isaac discerning another one of Cheska's absence on the event too. "Does her 'friends' ever wonder what's going on with that woman?" asks Isaac, "Like honestly, they've been alright with this for a few hours."

"I would be deathly worried if I were them."

Her friend in surprise from her response, he assumes she must have said that out loud by accident, so he looks back at her, "You still do care a lot for Cheska, don't you?"

"Please, she didn't only embarrass herself, she embarrassed our university, her family's reputation. Everyone's going to attack her, Isaac. And if anyone's ever going to mention the name, we'll be recognized for her humiliation!"

"So you do care for her."

"I-.." She paused, she couldn't bear to look the genuine curiosity on his face, neither the fancy place she's in too.

The quick change of mood in the museum, then everything moves on by the next hour with the narrative introduction of family's history and amazing performances.

She couldn't look at everyone the same after all the things have happened before, it churns her stomach feeling something is not right.

"I'm going home." Instantly changing the topic as she quickly packs her bag, "Wait what, you're actually serious about leaving?"

"I just, I don't know... " Zipping open the bag, she brings out a ridiculously big plastic with a Tupperware inside, "It's gonna be a long weekend, I live in this city, remember? I barely seen my parents ever since I started staying in dorms."

She makes a big scoop from her clean plate of crispy fried chicken drumsticks and fresh pork stew mixed with carrots and potatoes.

The white swirling smoke still visibly seen from the steaming hot 'Ulam', the side dish as an important part of the meal besides rice.

The man watching her fit all in the food, he mutters "I didn't know you prepared a leftover surprise."

When finished, she carefully wrapped it up tight with the plastic as she puts it back in her bag alongside the notebook. "It's an eventful day, I prefer to be on my own than be in a party full of secrets."

"Okay." Finally, he just lets it go, the two friends shared their farewell hugs rubbing each other's back. "I'm so sorry for leaving you, but I just really can't take it anymore, would you be okay in here?"

He hesitated at first, as soon as he breaks their embrace, he gives her his tired smile "Of course don't you worry about me. Just be safe out there, Denise, I hope you get enough rest."

Nodding and waving goodbye, she then went straight to the exit at a blink of an eye. Isaac sits back on his seat after watching over her leave the event, accompanied by many yet still felt lonely. So he brought up his phone and let the screen buy his time, but by the corner of his eye, he spots a familiar figure walking back in the venue.

"Cheska?" He thought to himself, the group of friends had puffed pink cheeks and widened smiles when the missing friend has finally returned. "My god, Denny," He gasped, watching the trio came complete and back to normal as if nothing happened, just like others, his fingers instantly tapping on the way to their chat giving her an update; "Don't you waste your time on the wrong girl."