Chapter 71

I don't know why it came to my mind even though I was aware that it was impossible to happen. Even if Baki invited Jas to come to the party, I knew he wouldn"t come so I forced myself to erase the things that were going through my mind. Maybe I just missed him so he suddenly entered my mind. We last met when he came to my apartment before the tournament started and we didn't get along well. I regret that I acted that way and I don't know how he felt because of how I treated him.
I"m always waiting for his text and call, but my wait came to nothing. Maybe he was waiting for me to text or call him, but I was afraid to try to talk to him because I didn"t know how to explain to him what bothered me that day. There is a right time for me to explain everything and I will have the courage to hear what his response will be when I have told the truth.
Soon the service that Aly and I were riding in arrived at the venue. We were just outside the gate, but I could already feel the presence of many people inside. Aly and I inter-wined our fingers as we started walking toward the gate with two bodyguards. It wore all while formal attire and stood seriously at main entrances.
We stopped quietly in front of them and they immediately held out their hand. I looked at Aly to ask what the bodyguard wanted to convey, but she was also confused. Can"t they speak so we know what they need? I don"t know if they"re asking for anything or we"re going to lay our hands on them to help us get into campus.
I cleared my throat before I asked one of the bodyguards and I felt Aly suppress her laughter when the bodyguard replied that we had to show the invitation card to enter. A simple display of the invitation card didn"t enter our minds so I knew it was in the minds of the two bodyguards that it was our first time to attend a grand party.
After we were shown the invitation that Ivan had given us, they opened the gate and the people sitting at their respective tables welcomed us. Every visitor at each table are know each other because they were talking and I was thankful that I didn"t see someone look in our direction when we entered. The instrument that serves as everyone"s background music is just low and I can the design of the venue that they prepared well for Ivan"s 18th birthday.
I can"t see where Ivan is and I also don"t know any of the people I see. Some of them were familiar with my sight so others who knew me smiled at me. I also smiled at them and I didn't let them notice that there was a tremor in my chest. Aly and I kept our fingers inter-wined and we looked for a table that was on the side part so that people wouldn"t notice us. I"m sure we won"t be the last to arrive because there are so many seats available.
It"s already 8:30 p.m. and another 30 minutes before the party starts. I wanted to talk to Ivan before starting because I wanted to greet him. I already greeted him in a text message, but that wasn"t enough for me so I wanted to see him. I also want to give him directly the gift I bought for him. I hope that he will appreciate it even if it is not as expensive as the gifts he will receive. I had a hard time figuring out what to give him, and I wished he could use what I gave him.
As time goes on, the number of visitors increases. It"Theye from luxurious families when you look at their attire. I don't know what I would look like without Aly's Mom's offer because I can't afford to buy expensive clothes that I can only use once. Maybe I'll be mistaken for a waitress if I happen to come here with only the clothes I'm wearing from the side vendor.
I wasn"t looking at Aly because I was watching the people at the venue, but I turned to her when she mentioned my name. "Why?" I asked her.
"Ivan's friends saw us and it looks like they're coming here," she responded. I looked at what she was looking at and there I saw Ivan's three friends. My eyes first searched for Baki, but I could not find her. Aly's suspicion that they were going in our direction was true and when they reached our table, they immediately pulled up a chair. They wear formal clothes and they also look very handsome. The first time you look at them, it immediately comes to your mind that they are not ordinary teenagers because of their parents "professions.
As the three men sat at our table, people were looking at us. The people who are not familiar with Aly and me are curious, especially the parents. The students from CU already knew us so they were not surprised by what the three did.
"You are so beautiful tonight, young ladies. I didn't recognize you when we were far away," Teren stated while the smile on his lips never faded. They smiled as they approached us except for Raf who seemed to be just forced to join the two friends.
"There is still a table available, but why did you think to come here with us?" I asked. I didn"t know how to respond to what he said so I just asked.
"We are not close to Ivan's guests except you. When we find another table, someone will approach us. We don't want to interact with them so let us share at your table," he responded.
I could do nothing but nod at him. Aly didn't speak and neither did Raf so Teren, Carew, and I was the only three who were speaking until I thought of asking if they had seen Ivan.
"Do you want to see him?" Carew asked and I nodded as a response. "He is with her mom and dad. Do you want to go with me to visit them?" He asked again and I shook in disagreement of what he said. "Why not? Did you know that he wants you to introduce you to his family? He is just waiting for you to decide. He's sure of you, El so why don't you face her parents? Dean and her husband are kind so you don't have to worry," he explained.
I could not speak and I was swallowed. I averted my eyes from him and thought of the words he had uttered. I feel like a bad person. I feel like I"m too selfish. Every woman dreams of someone like Ivan, but here I am and I can't give back her feelings.
"You are a really bad person. It"s good that you know you"re selfish." I swallowed again when I heard that whisper accompanied by a weak laugh. My whole body trembled and when I looked at Aly, she wasn't looking at me and she wasn't talking. I don"t know where that voice came from, but I"m sure it was the voice of a girl I didn"t know.