Chapter 9.1: Engagement Party

“Shall we?” Fire extended his hand towards me, gesturing me to get out of the car.

It was already dark when we arrived at our destination but the tall mansion in front of us didn't disappear in the dark because of the sparkling lights hanging around it.

Fire stood outside the car waiting for me to take his hand. Behind him, the yellow light scattered making him look glowing in my view.

Now that I’ve gotten a careful and closer look at him, I realized how neatly and carefully done his hair was. The black tuxedo he’s wearing made him look so formal and clean, the exact opposite of how he looks on a daily basis.

I felt my heartbeat double. *Was he always this handsome? Why is he exceptionally handsome tonight?

“What are you thinking?” He asked, which surprised me.

I coughed. “Nothing, let's go”, I grabbed his hand and got out of the vehicle.

As I got off, Fire gave me his arm to cling onto. *I can't understand the feeling of safety he brought to me now that I’m holding him and can physically feel him only centimeters away from me.

As we walked inside, I was amazed by the amount of sparkles that shone to my eyes. Everything seemed to shine because of the abundance of light.
The garden was filled with many visitors clad in their luxurious dresses and coats. The dripping accessories of the women visitors helped the surroundings shine more. One look and I know that they all came from wealthy families found in the higher echelons of the society.

I suddenly felt nervous but it was quickly erased when Fire took my hand in his. “Don't be afraid.” He said before pinching my cheeks.

We walked in the middle of the crowd where I felt numbers of eyes watching us as we made our way to the center of the garden. I even heard murmurs which I ignored at the back of my head.

“Dustin, sweetheart! I’m glad that you made it here.” A woman from her mid forties, wearing a black gown came up to us. Beauty and elegance exudes from her.

Her attention was drawn into me and I forced a smile that I knew turned out awkwardly because of the nervousness that started to creep into me.

“And who is this beautiful, young lady?” She asked Fire, smiling.

“She Solene, Auntie,” Fire looked at me then at his aunt, “she’s my girl.” Fire smiled.

*“My girl”, he said. His girl, I’m his girl!

My cheeks heated at what Fire just said. My heartbeat doubles in pace too. I feel like butterflies erupted in my stomach that I can't even think where to look, or what to do.

“Nice choice, couz!” I heard a voice that interrupted the conversation between Fire and the woman which he calls aunt.

I looked at the source of the voice and saw a man wearing a blue tuxedo. He jokingly hit Fire in the neck.

“Don't worry, they're just playing.” The woman Fire calls aunt told me as she saw the concern on my face.

I looked at the man and smiled. His presence and aura is sure to be intimidating. He smiled back at me and then looked at Fire teasingly. He looked more mature than Fire. If I’m right, he might already be in his late twenties. But they have a slight resemblance to each other. They're both handsome.

“Happy birthday, bro! I hope everything goes well tonight.” Fire said to his cousin.
His cousin just shrugged off Fire’s greetings.

“Anyway, I haven't formally introduced you guys to each other.” Fire said in a more serious way as I felt him grab my waist and pull me closer to him. “Aunt Carla, Kian, this is Solene . . .” He then looked at me before looking back to Kian. “And, unfortunately . . . we're cousins.” Fire chuckled. Which made me and his Aunt Carla laugh.

I smiled at them before speaking. “Good evening, it's a pleasure to meet the both of you.” I said.

“The pleasure is ours.” The two replied almost in sync. After that Kian bid his goodbye to us. He’s off to attend to his other guests present at his party.

Fire’s Aunt Carla also left us alone and went somewhere. A moment later, a crowd formed at the center of the garden with people gasping and somewhere even clapping their hands.

Fire pulled me to watch what the commotion was all about. When we reached it, I saw Kian kneeling on the grass in front of a lady wearing a red dress. The lady’s beautiful white face was red as both of her hands covered her mouth in shock. When she put down her hands, tears streamed down her face. Kian was just looking up at her as he steadily held up the engagement ring in front of the lady. The people around held their breathes, waiting for her answer. Seconds later, the lady shouted “YES” and Kian stood up and put the ring on her finger. Us spectators were overwhelmed and clapped for them. After congratulating the couple, the crowd started to slowly dissipate.

“Congrats, bro . . .” Fire shouted at his cousin. Kian walked to Fire and gave him a fist bump. “At last, you've finally managed to fool someone into marrying you.” Fire whispered at him.

“Crazy, you're just jealous!” Kian replied and both of them laughed.

So this party isn't only Kian's birthday party but also a surprise engagement party that he had planned. And Fire seemed to know about that plan too judging how he greeted his cousin earlier.

“Are you hungry?” Fire asked me while we're walking back to our spot earlier.

“A little bit.”

After hearing my response, Fire pulled me into the buffet table. After filling our plates with food, we spotted an isolated table in the garden away from the other guests. We immediately decided to sit and eat there.

We were not even halfway yet when someone suddenly bumped on me. When I turned to Fire, I saw him in a tight embrace of a woman.

“Dustin, I miss you!” The woman said while hugging him. I looked at Fire and his eyes glistened in her presence. Something I haven't seen in him before.

He hugged her back, the same way she hugs him. My heart was breaking at the sight of how Fire stares at her.

“I can't breathe love.” Fire groaned in the middle of their embrace.

*Love? I almost stopped breathing when I heard that endearment.