CHAPTER 9

C J

I woke as the sunshine hit my face. I open my eyes and noticed that 5his isn't my bedroom. Where am I again?

I jumped out of shock as I saw Zack and we stare at each others eyes.

"Good morning." She said smiling.

"A-ah, good morning. I'll use the bathroom." I greeted back and took my toothbrush with me.

A S H L E Y

I'm on my way back to Zackira's room, I have here with me the breakfast, cereals and milk. I put those down on the center table and saw Cj went out from the bathroom.

"Good morning." Cj greeted.

"Good morning. Ah, I will just wake them up." I said.

"I can do that, help Zack to eat." He said.

"Okay." I replied.

I took a bowl of cereals and put some fresh milk on it. I went to her and was about to feed her but she stopped me.

"Bes, you eat your breakfast. I can handle this." She told me.

"Can you eat properly?" I asked.

"That's easy." She said and i gave the bowl to her. I turned around, surprised to see that the four guys are now eating. That's fast. I didn't even heard Cj waking them up.

"Come on Ash, let's eat." Clarence said.

I walk to them and grab a bowl and put fresh milk. I mixed it and went to Zackira's bed. I sat beside her.

We just finished our breakfast and the maids immediately took them.

"I'll be right back bes, I will just take a bath." I said and went to my room.

Z A C K I R A

When Ash returned, the four men said goodbye to go home. Ash took them to the main door and left me in the bedroom.

I have been fine for almost one and a half weeks.I just woke up and immediately went to the bathroom. By the way, dad and brother went home immediately because their business matters in England seemed to end quickly. Yey! Finally, I had a roommate in the mansion though I had a roommate when they left. Hehe. I'm currently taking a bath now when my phone rings, I actually bring it here and do a soundtrip.

I tap the answer button and turn it to loud speaker.

I'm currently putting on some shampoo.

[Zack, you have a visitor. Hurry up!] I was stunned by what my older brother said. Yah, the older brother is the one who called and was lazy to knocked on my door.

"Who?"

[Secret. I just know you miss her. Hurry up.]

"Okay. Give me ten minutes." I immediately ended the call and quickly finished my shower.

I immediately got out of the bathroom in a bathrobe with my under garments and went straight to my walk-in-closet. The first thing I saw was a short violet and a white t-shirt. I just wore that. The towel was still wrapped around my hair so I just went out, because it was ugly to look at my hair when it was wet.

I immediately went down to the living room and there I saw an unfamiliar figure, because her back is facing me so I could not see the face.

"Ahmm.. Excuse me?" I said to get ger attention. Geez. She's so white! She got the curves.

Slowly he turned and smiled. She's very beautiful!

"Hi miss? Do I know you?" I said.

"Oh come on. You forgot me huh?" My face seemed to heat up spontaneously.

"Omg! Rica is that you?!" I almost kept saying.

"Yep. The one and only." She said.

"Have a sit." I said.

"Nah, I won't be long. I'll just hand over this invitation card for my debut." She said and handed me a red invitation card. "Hope you'll come." She added.

"Sure. Ahm, can you please stay for like 20 minutes okay? I missed you." I said.

"Yeah. Just 20 minutes okay? I will still measure the gown. By the way, I missed you too sissy."

Well. Sissy is our endearment when Ash and I are three. Rica is our bestfriend way back in England. We know each other since we're kids.

We sat on the couch and I started blabbering on.

"I don't wanna waste time sissy. Ahm, you've changed. Not your personality but you've changed physically, why?" I ask out of curiousity.

"This is a gift for my mom, you know she passed away right? This is what she wants for me, so I grant her wish before she died." She said, sadly.

"Hey cheer up! It suits you. You are pretty!" I said.

"But I already moved on, one year has passed."

Sabi niya. "Ah sissy, I better go. Talk to you when I see you, I will just send you a message." She said. I nodded and we made our way out. I stood up at the door while watching her getting inside her car.

I went inside as she left. I took the invitation card that I left on the couch and started reading it.

I immediately search for the 18 candles list and I saw my name beside the number seventeen. There's no list for 18 roses, but there are a lot of guests invited. Maybe her 18 roses will be a surprise.

I went upstairs and called Ashley.

A S H L E Y

"Bes!" I greeted.

[Seems like we have the same idea to talk about?]

"Ah, yeah. Did you meet sissy?" I'm talking about Rica.

[Yeah, bes what to wear? The event is scheduled tomorrow.]

"They will provide the gown."

[Really?]

"Yup! It it because they really want it organized and they want to match the theme, which is black and red. She really changed, right? She's now a model and she really became more beautiful. I'm surprised that she's still the Rica we met, her personality didn't change. She is still our sissy."

[Yes. Anyway, let's go to the salon.]

"Great idea!"

[But I wouldn't change that much, you know I'm really not into make up.]

"I know, right. I'll just go get dressed and I will pick you up. See you!"

[See you!] Then I hang up.

I wore a denim skirt and a spaghetti top, I partnered it with a pair of wedge and a sling bag. I packed my things in my sling bag.

I went to the garage to pick up my car.

I am already near at their mansion and laziness hit me. I called her.

"Bes! I'm already here. Come outside, I'm too lazy to bring my car inside. Bye!" I said and ended the call.

Suddenly, their gate opened and Zackira went out. She's wearing a jogging pants and an oversized shirt. She has a string bag with her and she's wearing flat sandals.

Z A C K I R A

We arrived at the salon and as we enter, some of the staffs were bowing their head down as tgey welcome us.

"Ma'am, this way." A lady told us. We followed her until we reach the VIP rooms.

"Please have a sit, I am just going to call the staffs." She said and went out.

We opened our phones and scroll while waiting.

Few minutes later...

"Hi ma'am, what suggestion do you want for your hair?" The assigmed hairstylist asked me. I looked at Ashley but she was busy with her phone and she have her earphones on.

"Not really. Do as you please but just make it simple." I said.

"Okay." She had no choice so she said yes.

Hours passed and now it's done. I'm still closing my eyes because I'm scared to look at myself.

"Omg!! Bes, you are so beautiful! Let's take a photo!" Ashley said that made me open my eyes. I was shocked because I saw my face with make up on. I told them to make it simple.

We took a photo and headed to the cashier to pay.

"Thanks, guys." Ashley said.

We went out and I was surprised that we headed to the photoshooting shop.

"Why are we here?" I asked.

"Let's take a photoshoot! Please? My treat." She said.

"Fine, but make it fast." I said. And went inside. She talked to the photographer and we wait until it was our turn.

"You can go in, ma'am." The photographer said.

We went inside and I just saw a black background and other photoshooting equipments.

"Do you have any pose references?" The photographer asked.

"Yes, here." Ashley said and held her phone to the photographer.

"Okay, twenty shots all in all, ready?" The photographer said.

"Yes, please collage it and put it inside the frame, and two copies, okay?" Ashley.

"Okay, clear." The photographer answered. "Let's start." He added.

Every shots and pose we did was being assisted by the photographer for better results.

Finally, we're done now. It's obviously more on bestfriend poses.

"The photos will be processed and will be ready after a week." The photographer said.

"Is there an option that these can be delivered?" I asked.

"Yes, do you prefer that?" The photographer asked.

"Yes!" Ashley answered and wrote down their address.

"Just wait for the delivery. Thank you." The photographer said and introduced to us the one who will deliver the photos. We just greeted him and smiled at him.

"Okay, we're going now. Thank you!" I said, Ash just bid goodbye and then we went out.

"I want to eat." I said.

"Me either, come on." Ashley agreed and took me to a fast food restaurant.

We ordered and went to find us seat. As we found a double seat, we went there and wait for our order.

Minutes later, our order arrived and we started eating.

We just finished eating and now we are heading back to the parking lot, it's past five pm.

"Ah bes, I'm taking you home. I'm having a dinner date with Clarence. Don't worry, mom permitted me." She said. That's why we went out for salon.

"Okay, take care. Enjoy your night." I said and we went inside the car.

On the way home, we just shared a little chitchats.

"Bes, our gown for Rica's debut will be sent right away, together with their hired make up artist and hairstylist. They—" I cut her off.

"Nope, I don't need that. I already told Ruca about that." I said.

"Oh, okay."

We're finally home, I hop out the car and said my goodbye to Ashley.

"Bye, bes. Take care!" I said.

"Yeah." She replied and then she drove off

C L A R E N C E

This is it. Our first ever date will happen.

It's five thirty in the afternoon and I'm on my way out. Well, I will pick ashley up. I can do this!

I went down the lobby and waited for my butler to arrive with my car. After a while, he arrived and the he gave me my car keys.

"Thanks." I just said.

"Good luck, sir." He cheered, I just nodded and went inside my car. I drove fast to get to their mansion as soon as possible.

I texted her to tell her that I'm already here. She replied that she'll be out and then I did saw her. She really is beautiful.

"Shall we?" I asked her.

"We shall, and don't forget to bring me home before ten." She said.

"No problem." I said and winked at her.

I opened the car door for her and then I went to the driver's seat. I drove off to the hotel's secret garden. My cousin, who basically own this permitted me.

"Wow, it's pretty in here." I heard her said. I grabbed her hand and put it on my arm as we walked to the prepared table for two with candles. There were fairy lights and balloons with ribbons attached to its end.

I took the roses amd gave it to her.

"Thank you." She said and smiled. Suddenly, our food came and then we sat down.

"Let's eat." I said, she nodded and we started to eat.

As we finished our food, the waiter took it. After a while, the band went out and then they started playing music. They used their violins in chorus and played a sweet and calming melody.

"Can I have this dance?" I asked her nervously and took my hand out to offer her. She happily took it and stand. We walked towards the grass with petals on it and danced.

We just danced and danced until all the lights went out. Total darkness.

I heard Ashley scream and then she hugged me. I stiffened for a second until I heard her sobbing. Is she crying?

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"I am scared of the dark. Like, super." She said and hugged me tighter.

"Listen, I'm here okay?" I said to comfort her.

"O-okay." She said. I put my thumbs up behind her as a sign to open up the lights. She turned her back to me and then fireworks blew up at the night sky, saying "Will you be my girlfriend?"

Ashley turned to me, smiling and teary-eyed.

"Clarence...Yes. I'm willing to be your girlfriend."