Chapter 3: Love At First Sight

"Underneath the universe, I caught myself smiling as I watch the moon shine upon me. I thought it meant nothing, but then I realized- it was you whom I was thinking as I close my eyes."

"How's the company doing Mr. CEO?" The man in a red suit approached Zack as he handed him a glass of Whisky.

Zack was quietly drinking in one corner when his favorite cousin in the world, came to disturb his peace.

"This place is cool! The ambiance is just perfectly romantic. So who's the lucky girl and when are you planning to get married?” Darren asked with a curious tone, when he placed his hand over his shoulder.

"Stop being nosy about my private life, you spoiled brat!" Zack laughed.

"And to answer your first question, our Company is doing great. Compare to last year’s revenue. I think we nailed it on top till the end of this year." then he bragged about his achievement in the company.

Darren slightly nodded, he was impressed with Zack on how he smoothly manage the family business, on his own.

While talking to his cousin, his eyes were moving around. It seemed like he was looking for something...perhaps, he was looking for someone.

"I told you many times that you should attend board meetings, since your family holds 20% of the stocks, it is just right for you to know and learn the process since you are the successors of your father's wealth."

"Zack! You are nagging at me again! Please spare me. I already had enough from my parents.” Darren exclaimed while looking at his cousins eyes.

He noticed that Zack was a bit uneasy while talking to him. He tried following his eye's direction, but the moment Zack realized that Darren caught him in that manner- he felt shy.

"I'm not like you who is good in everything he does. There's only one thing I am passionate about, and you know how good I am when it comes to that." still curious about Zack's gesture.

"Pottery!" Zack whispered.

"I want to be a famous Ceramist someday, and I want to showcase my work in an art gallery. As a matter of fact, I will be joining an art exhibition at downtown Brooklyn by next month. And I would be very happy if you will come and see me"

Darren convinced him with a soft voice and with his charming eyes.

"You will come and support me, right? You will be my one and only guest, I suppose. Since we all know that my parents hate what I am doing. I messed up so many times back then, and I can't blame them if they won't trust me on this."

With a cracked voice he burst out suddenly, feeling a bit regretful about the wrong things he had done, back in his college days.

"Oh please don't tell me you're going to cry!" Zack joked as he brushed Darren's hair with his hand.

"Get the hell out of here... I want to be alone." He laughed

"I get it! All this time you've been watching those two ladies over there.” Darren looked at the ladies direction and smiled at Zack as if he was teasing him.

"They are both beautiful, but who attracts you the most?" he couldn't help being interested to know who stole his cousin’s heart for a moment.

Zack simply looked at the girl in black and narrowed down his eyes, looking at the floor- feeling shy.

"Oh my goodness, for the very first time I’ve seen you blushed." Darren continue to tease his favorite cousin.

"Shall I help you out?" he asked closely on his face, and Zack flinched an inch to keep a distance.

"Don't you dare, you playboy!!! Get lost! "Zack yelled at him and threw a lite punch at his back.

"Alright then, I'll see you around my dear cousin. I'm just a phone away in case you need my help. You know I'm a love expert. "

Darren loosen his necktie and began walking away from Zack.

"I'll have another glass of whisky please." Zack grabbed the glass of liquor from the waiter's tray when he passed by.

And as he tasted the wine, their eyes met.

Suddenly he started having Goosebumps, when he felt the butterflies in his stomach.

For some reason, he doesn't know why his heart was throbbing so fast, when it was just only a quick glance.

He seems to develop an infatuation to that girl.

He dropped his gaze while shrinking, but every now and then he threw glances at her, and each time their eyes met- he could feel his heart fluttering in his throat.

He felt nervous.

The Girl who's in red dress joined the other guest inside the ballroom, and the woman in black was left alone, looking sad.

From a distance, Zack noticed that the woman's gesture after her friend left was a bit uneasy.

The girl was rubbing her nape, while tilting it from left to right. She must have been tired, he thought.

There's sadness in her Hazel orbs too- he noticed it the moment her eyes stare at his.

While being seated on the bench next to her, with 5 meters apart…His mind was having random thoughts.

"Is it rude if I ask for her name? Would I sound arrogant if I offer her a drink?"

He started asking himself, but none of the many ideas he has, have provided an answer. He still don’t know what to do, as time passed by.

He cleared his throat. Ironed his suit with his own hands, and fixed his necktie before he gathered all his courage.

And just when he started to walk towards the woman's direction, a man in a Black tuxedo came to her and covered the lady’s back with a fur coat.

Then he held her hand and kissed it gently. He lost hope.

Quickly, Zack turned his back and asked his self, "Who is that man? What's their relation with each other?" Under his breath, he mumbled.

"He kissed her hand- perhaps he is the boyfriend."

Zack started to feel upset. His face became gloomy all of a sudden, and he felt his heart was slowly being pinched.

He walked away as if he wanted to vanish instantly.

"Mr. Murphy!"

Someone called him, and it was such a relief that it was his secretary. He can easily make an exit anytime with her. But that's not what he really intended to do during that time.

He wanted to stay longer to observe the couple. And he did.

He turned his head to Cindy's direction and smiled at her the moment she stood in front of him.

"Do you need anything sir?" Cindy asked.

Zack slightly shook his head and glanced at the woman once again.

From there, he noticed the coldness between the two- and that state made him more curious about their relation.

He turned his head and looked at Cindy. "Just stay where you are, don't go anywhere!"

He ordered, and Cindy felt strange about his demand.

Knowing his boss- he was not the type of guy who will ask her to stay around him for no reason - or if he doesn't need anything from her.

She found that intriguing.

She studied his movement, most especially his eyes and she confirmed that his boss was acting strange because of the lady next to them.

She giggled quietly but Zack caught her and his eyes grew big when he asked.

"Why are you chuckling?"

And Cindy burst out and laughed right before his eyes.

"I'm sorry boss, but you look cute when you blush"

Zack was surprised to hear that "Did I?" he confirmed and Cindy nodded.

Zack cupped his face for a moment. And indeed he felt his cheeks were warm. He looked at Cindy and grabbed her wrist immediately.

"Let's go back inside, it's getting cold out here!"

But before he make his final exit in the garden - he glimpsed on her beautiful face once again, and that very moment he felt the warmth of her smile in his heart, when she gave it to someone else..

It was sweet. Though those smiles were not for him, but it warmed his lonely heart for a while, and he told his self...

"I want to see those smiles once again- I want her to smile for me next time!"

He left the garden with high hopes, that one day she'll smile for him too. That one day, their path would cross, and he promised himself that when that time comes...He will do everything just to meet her and know her name.