At 1 a.m. sharp, Jeremy has gone with Jake to the airport to pick up his ex-gf, Hayley. I’m wondering, is it okay for exes to meet in such way? I thought it would be completely inappropriate, you know, meeting exes, picking her up at the airport, go to a party together. I mean, she must has another life after Jeremy, right? It is impossible that she kept clinging to him and wishing they will be together again…..hey! why not? They’re both as cute and as rich and they look perfect together.
“Hey! My cousin has just shown up, come on! I want you to meet her!” Vi says, pulling my hand and drag me all the way to the backyard garden. There, a girl holding the latest Chanel bag and a cute green dress is playing with Billy and Ruby.
“Hey Lulu! This is Sugar, my friend from
Lulu turns to see me and examines me for a while from top to toe, “Oh! Right! Hi, I’m Lulu, Vi’ best cousin!” She says with a perfect british accent.
“Nice to meet you.” I shake her hand with a smile. Her eyes are deep blue and her skin is pale white, the usual glamour Caucasian, only with slightly more pointed nose.
“Vi! I have something to tell you actually,” she says, looking at me. I know, that means I have to go away cos she doesn’t like me and she just wants to talk to Vi. ok fine…
“Really? What?” Vi asks, biting her chocolate chip cake.
“It’s about Aunt Harvey…” she says more obviously, talking about family which has nothing to do with me.
“I’m sure you want to talk about this without me, I will just…” I say
“Oh ok. And by the way Sugar, where is Ian? I haven’t see him since Jeremy’s off to the airport.” Vi says.
“I don’t know. I’ll just search him then.” I say, leaving those two girls alone.
This gathering is more than just normal gatherings. All Vi’s relatives from south to north, from rich to poor, old to young, all are in here, no one’s left behind! And the whole house is full with people, the last time I went to the toilet, there are a girl who is making out seriously with a boy. Aren’t they relatives? This is insane!
And even a middle-aged woman is now crowded by people, wanted to get their predictions for future or something. She can do palm-reading and everybody is making a queue, some even ask their kids to do the queue while they’re taking foods but of course they run away and play with other kids.
It’s not that I really believe in horoscope and future-prediction kind of thing, it’s just that fun to read the prediction and even though usually they just tell us common thing like “start saving your money!” and “take an exercise everyday” but they’re fun to know. And this one particular moment, I am one of the people queuing down the porch.
“Sugar!” a voice suddenly calls me and when I turn round, there is Ian, holding two glasses of red wine and he hands me one. “What are you doing?” he asks, sipping his wine.
“Oh, you know, just queuing to get your future prediction.” I say nonchalantly.
“What?”
“That woman is good at palm-reading and everybody’s queue up to get a sneak peek of their future.” I say.
“What a waste of time! You’ll know it later! It’s the essence of life, isn’t it? To get a surprise in every turn you go..” he says.
“Well, uhm…”
“Come on! Let’s take a walk.” He says. Ok, a “walk” sounds better than queuing to get a life-prediction.
“I met this guy, he said he is from Vi’s father side and his name is Peter. He is nice, though. How bout you? Have you met someone?” he asks as we walk past an old woman sitting with another old woman and they’re talking seriously.
“Yeah. I met Vi’s cousin named Lulu.” I say.
“And where is she? And where is Vi, anyway?” he asks.
I sip the wine and pondering its taste on my tongue as the warmth comforts me. “They both wanted to talk about something related to their family so I left them alone.”
“Oh, okay.” He replies.
For some minutes, neither of us talk but suddenly Mrs. Freyson’s voice come alive to my ear, “What?! This is terrible, Jeff! If you want to do this, at least you could tell me first!!” she sounds angry and as I look to my left, there she is, standing face to face with her husband.
“But what’s with it? It’s just a small thing, you don’t need to know!” he replies as mad as his wife.
“You always do that Jeff!” She shouts back, unaware of her surroundings where people are staring at them now. This is the first time I consider Mrs. Freyson’s face as scary instead of kind. Cos she always looks kind and care and nice and patient, but now both of them have this angry face. I just can’t believe it! They’re the perfect couple! I look up on them and almost make them my muse when I have got a husband someday later. But now, they’re both look terrible.
“Fine! I’m wrong and you’re tight. I’m sorry okay?!” Mr. Freyson says
“It’s not about the apologizing words you speak! You always do that and you said you won’t do it again! That is such an important decision to make! and what am I? I am your wife, Jeff!” she screams uncontrollably.
Suddenly a limo purrs on the carport and it makes all of us stares at the limo. It’s so distinct among all of these people. Then Jake comes out, OMG! It’s Hayley and Jeremy. They’ve come! I wonder what Hayley looks like! And even I got this little nervous heart pounding thing.
Jake opens the limo car door and from the inside, Jeremy comes out, followed by a girl from the picture I saw in US. she even looks better than in the picture! She has this white lively skin with brunette curly hair and pink cheeks. Her lips are red and her body is slim even though she’s not tall. And she just look perfect as Jeremy offers an arm for her.
It’s like a lightning struck in the middle of the party when they both come. Everybody is staring at them, they look like a prince and a princess! No wonder they both got all the attention.
Hayley Manson is the name. She’s almost too good to be true and now she’s been friends with almost everybody in the party. Some of them even give her their business cards in case she wants to become a model and they’re the modeling agency people.
This is overwhelming! And where’s Vi, anyway? I’ve tried to call her to inform that Hayley’s here but she’s not answering my calls. And now, as I flashback of how people in Jeremy’s birthday party commented about her, it’s absolutely wrong! She’s pretty with great sense of style! They’re just jealous of her. And how on earth could she get Jeremy? That must be a good question and I’d like to know that in….
“Hey Sugar!” Jeremy calls. As I look to him, he’s walking towards me with Hayley by his side. “I’d like to present you, Hayley! And Hayley, this is Sugar. My friend in America.” He says, introducing me and Hayley.
“Hi Sugar!” she says, showing rows of white teeth and well-shaped lips.
“Hi!” I reply, shaking her hand.
“So, you’re at the same school as Jeremy, right? He told me about that school you all in.” she says warmly. No wonder she has got loads of friends even though she’s been here not more than 30 minutes.
“Yes, yes I am, In Bardwood High!”
“Oh, great! He says it’s such a great school with nice friends.” She says.
“Oh yes they are!” I reply. And I swear to myself that that would be my one and only time to say Bardwood High in a proud tone.
“Hey! You two, hold on!” Jeremy says. “You still should meet this guy, Ian Somer!” he now introduces Ian.
“Oh yea Hi! Nice to meet you!” she says, smiling and they’re shaking hand.
“Where is Vi?” Jeremy asks, turn his head around.
“I don’t know, I’ve called her several times but still, she doesn’t answer me.” I say.
“Ok. Well then, come on.” Jeremy intimately rounds his arms on Hayley’s waist and they’re walking together while smiling and laughing. They just look perfect!
After 30 minutes or so, Vi finally shows up, her hair is messy and she looks unconscious. “My goodness! Where’ve you been?” I ask, running towards her.
“Just doing several fun things.” She says randomly. She really is terribly unconscious and her breath smells wine. She’s drunk!
“Vi! where’ve you been?” I ask again.
“She seems not right. Let’s get her inside.” Ian says, helping me bringing Vi inside and sit her on the couch.
“Vi! you’re drunk!” I say.
“Yes, yes I am. Where is everybody? Where’s Jeremy?” she asks.
“He’s outside with Hayley.”
“Hayley? Is she here already? I haven’t seen her! Come on! I have to see her!” she tries to get up.
“No! You stay here! You can go after you are sane enough.” I say, pushing her so that she stays on the couch.
“Could you please fetch her a glass of water?” I ask Ian.
“Oh, sure!” he says then he goes outside.
“Ok, now tell me, what have you done?” I ask.
“Just drinking some wine and champagne with Lulu.”
“No way! you must have done something or do something or anything, I don’t know. Tell me the truth, what have you done?” I shake her body, make sure she understands me.
“Okay, okay. She told me something….about my parents….” She says slowly then she lays her head on the pillow. “My Dad is run out of money. He has sold half of his investment and we’re going to be poor.” She says.
“No, you’re not!” I say, although I’m a bit shock to hear it. I thought their money is unlimited! They have got this huge mansion and another huge house in US. Her dad got the Freyson Perfumery Company and they have done well!
“Yes we are going to be poor, eventually….” She says, looking me in the eye, “he’s sold this house, too, Sugar.”
“What?” and now, it’s more than just ordinary “what?” cos the problem her father’s facing right now must be pretty terrible that it takes the whole mansion to take the money from it.
“But, what about the horses? And Mr. Badge? And Mary? And other servants? And…” I falter as I say their names, they’re great person and I even can’t come to the word ‘Jake’ and it turns out to be a small whisper.
A footstep tells me Ian’s back with the water and he hands it to Vi. Vi quickly drains it like it’s nothing and then she pushes her head back to the pillow, trying to cast away all her problems.
“But…” I swallow hard, trying to figure out a simple question that represents all the confusions on my head. “But….is it that terrible? The problem your dad’s dealing with?”
“Yes, yes it is. Sugar, could you please leave me for a moment?” and with that she’s off to her bedroom.
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