Chapter 143
**Acacia Point of View**
This is so strange and awkward.
This feeling is so unknown!
I have a smile on my face but it is not exactly a smile. I was talking attentively but it was not really focused.
I glanced at each and everyone who was sitting around the table with me and couldn't help but feel fuzzy inside.
I'm so dizzy by acting natural and casual at this moment that if this goes on, I will faint.
"We were present at the convention previous year as well. I remember, you gave a small presentation on the fusion designing and your new idea at that time. Everyone were spellbound by your presentation and even those in the highest positions praised you to no end. It was amazing." Anne grinned with obvious admiration in her eyes flowing towards me.
Her tone, her actions, her mannerisms are just like I remembered them to be. The overly exaggerating hand gestures have always been her signature mannerism.
For a second, I had to pinch myself and stop myself from pinching her cheeks because she was being so adorable.
"Thank you. I heard the team of 'Dream Architects' got the slot to have a short presentation. I'm waiting to support and enjoy it." I smiled.
The convention is a large event where hundreds of firms and thousands of people gather to exchange ideas and become acquaintances. This workshop also paves way for small and medium firms who have good and creative roots to be approached by larger projects.
So these slots of presenting latest ideas and designs can be said as the starting point to get noticed and enter the grounds with real deal. Only a few would get this chance every year and they have to grasp this opportunity to hit it off.
"Um hmm, actually our presentation can be said to be the result of inspiration we got from yours last year." Damien said with a soft chuckle.
I wiggled my eyebrows at him trying to see if he is teasing me. Surprisingly, Damien's face and eyes are oozing with bright light of sincerity.
"Uh, I don't know what to say. I can only wish you all best of luck. Dig a hole in everyone's heart and fill it with fascination for you all." I could only laugh out a little and give them my best wishes.
Actually, the fusion design from last year was one I created from my understanding about the architecture from Jerk place. If I wasn't there and saw their buildings, I wouldn't be able to come up with the design.
"So, you said you and Miss Winters has been friends for many years now, how did we not know about it? We have been with each other since middle school." Carter asked casually. At the same time, the waiter came with our orders and arranged them neatly on the table.
'We have been with each other since middle school' That sounds so not straight.
I bit my lower lip in order to hold back my laugh but seems like Damien understood what is going on in my mind and for the first time in a very long time, he glared at me ferociously.
"He did not mean it that way. Don't you dare let your mind spin its own tale."
"Hey, I didn't say anything." I shrugged, giving a polite smile to the confused Carter and Anne.
"You don't have to. Your eyes and that silly smile is enough to tell hundred stories." Damien then turned to Carter and Anne after giving me an earful. "For seven to eight years we lost contact with each other so I did not think of mentioning her. But she is one of my best friends, just like you both."
With that Carter and Anne nodded knowingly and continued to eat. All along the dinner, we had small chats and when it was time to go back to our hotel rooms, they stopped me and asked me where I and my team are allocated to sit in the workshop.
Surprisingly, we all found out that both of our teams are sitting beside each other.
Before walking back to their rooms, Anne held my wrist and turned me around. I and everyone else looked at her in puzzlement.
"Acacia Dawn Winters, why do I feel like I know this name?" She asked in a whispering tone. She was actually staring at me like she was trying to decode something on her own.
"Uh, did I give the presentation last year? It is natural to find my name familiar." Although I did not take her familiarity with me name seriously, I still had a very small hope in heart that she might have recognized me.
"Maybe, but it feels like this name has some kind of impression in my heart even before the event last year. Hah, I must be over thinking." She shook her head and left my hand while I and Damien exchanged silent gazes.
Carter and Anne left while Damien dropped me at my room before leaving to his own. There was no need to talk about the sudden familiarity that Anne felt.
After Damien got his memories back, I became much calmer in accepting that one day, the others might get back their memories too.
Except, I don't know how their reaction would be. It is not easy for everyone to be understanding and accept such a sudden change.
On my part, I could only hope that the others don't distance themselves from me at that time.
The workshop would start at seven in the morning tomorrow with speeches from legends for half a day followed by an exhibit of dioramas that were considered excellent in the past three years.
There will be few tens of diorama models of which, I got a notice that, two of them belong to ID Designs.
I went to bed early after speaking to Igses for an hour before sleeping. The following day, I and my team met with Damien and other in the hotel restaurant at six and had breakfast together.
Any kind of eatables are not allowed into the stadium where convention is held. Drinks are allowed and anything we eat should be provided by the organizers. So having heavy breakfast is a must because sometimes, serving snacks for hundreds of people would be a little difficult as some may get food early while some may get it a long time later.
Fifteen minutes before the workshop starts, we were already there, seated in our respective seats while the staff of organizers is hurrying to make the final touchups.
"Your slot is tomorrow around three afternoon right?" I looked at Damien and the other two and asked.
Carter nodded his head, "We exchanged the time slot with another team. Our actual slot was at six in the evening. Since it was the time to end it up for day we were initially not satisfied. But luckily the other team has something to do afternoon so asked to exchange; we couldn't be happier."
"What is the concept you are presenting then? I heard that the strongest team among all the attendants was 'Purple Clouds Powerhouse' and they are doing a presentation on Industrial society with a hint of ancient Chinese designing in it. I did not see the design but as per what I heard, it will be unique establishment which will be a feast for eyes." Damien, Carter and Anne had their eyes slightly widened as they gaped at me speechlessly.
What, they didn't know about it?
"You didn't know?" The three shook their head and slowly sobered at the information.
"The presentation details are usually protected till the time of presentation, how did you get such confidential information?" Anne asked while Carter and Damien took out their phones to look at their own presentation.
"I have some friends here and there so I heard the hearsay from them."
"Thanks for telling us. If what you said is true, then we might need to improvise our design and presentation a little bit." Soon after, Carter and Damien busied themselves with the possible changes needed to be made while Anne quietly worked on penning down everything on notes.
In a blink of time, the morning opening speeches were done and everyone proceeded to have lunch before going to the diorama display.
This time, the whole Dream Architects team is unusually attentive when looking at the model displays. They discussed among themselves like mosquitoes in a low whisper and took books and books of notes like possessed poets.
When we reached the place where my team's models were displayed, they actively asked several questions and I answered them clearly.
Just as we were climbing the stairs to the next floor, I heard a familiar voice calling my name from behind.
I and Damien went frozen at the same time as we slowly turned around. There, a few steps below, stood a familiar figure stood beside an unfamiliar man.
She looked at me with a kind of confusion and recognition. My heart palpitated when I saw a hint of recognition in her eyes and my heart went thump when I saw her leaning close to the man beside her.
Oh Damien!
"Acacia? You are Cia right?"
"Ruby!" I breathed out.
Ruby called me Cia, it means...
**~*~*~*~*~*~
Hello Sweeties,
Next chapter is here. Enjoy!
What do you think about the chapter? Boring?
Finally, the friends met again but with awkward and strange air around.
Wait, Ruby? Ruby called Acacia, Cia?
Does that mean Ruby remembers something?
Poor Damien, he must be going through a heartbreak already but now it must be even more sad for him seeing Ruby with someone else.
Please shower me with votes and comments.
Share my books with your friends.
Lots of Love
Lady Prim**