Go, August, Go! FS2 ENGLISH

twelve: party

"Our daughter is too young for that, Rosie. Let's not rush things for now," Dad replied in a dismissive tone.

"What's rushing about it? The Sys and Abellas have planned it ahead to prepare the companies and the kids for the future. Besides, everyone in the industry knows both families will end up together. It's just about securing it and letting the people know… But then, we still have no one in mind right now. There are so many candidates but unfortunately, the decision wouldn't be solely on us once they found out about your records in school." Mom expectantly looked at me and raised a brow.

I took a discreet sigh and sipped on my wine.

"You should go to the party if you want." Dad elegantly sliced on his steak. I had no plans to attend. Yuna and Hyoshin knew that but I quickly nodded to Dad, once again grateful to his diversion.

"I'll try, Dad. Yuna and Hyoshin are both expecting me, so…" I shrugged.

I said I'd try. It was supposed to be Saturday but it was scheduled at the last minute. I received the message from Yuna although I knew she was not expecting me to come. She could really be irritating at times.

She's celebrating Hyoshin's overall ranking as her way of getting back at him for being rude. I was in a lower rank, too. Does she expect me to come knowing everyone who would be there surely were on the higher ranks? Who would dare come there and be surrounded by IHM's smartest kids?

Due to that change of schedule, I decided I wasn’t coming. Sunday morning, I had lunch with my parents at Kalli Hotel. I got back home to rest and by the afternoon, prepared to go to Bree’s again. I was there Saturday afternoon until the sky darkened. August was nowhere in sight, which was both fine and disappointing to me. Fine because I had focused on my readings. Disappointed that we didn’t get to talk about my proposal. I was even motivated to convince him because of Sandro’s challenge.

“I said I wasn’t coming,” I voiced out my reply to Yuna while I was on my way to the Bree Café. My thumb punched down the screen, pressing on the send button. I told her earlier this morning. And I knew she knew my parents were expecting me to be there. So far, she wasn’t using that card on me. But I had a feeling she would once she realized my persistence to decline.

“We’re here.” Sandro stood outside the car with the door on my side wide open. I hadn’t noticed him stepping out of the driver seat. I nodded and quickly put the phone back in my bag to grab the books. Weekends were Randy’s day-offs. We had other available drivers while he was gone but Sandro usually insisted on driving me around in Randy's absence. I honestly never remember a time Sandro took a day off. Perhaps, he did but it was quick and there were no consistent schedules.

“Thank you.” I smiled at him and hugged the three books against my chest. “I’ll be home before dinner.”

He nodded and glanced down at his watch. “I’ll be at the company. You can call me anytime you plan to go home earlier. It seemed like the café was crowded today.”

I followed his gaze at Bree Café and found the crowd inside. It wasn’t that crowded but it was evident there were too many customers on Sunday.

I smiled at Sandro. “It’s fine. It doesn't seem that crowded. But I’ll still call you.” Without waiting for his reply, I walked past him but halted when he called me. I closed my eyes and gritted my teeth, knowing already what he would say.

“What?” I demanded after spinning around to glare at him.

He nonchalantly shrugged. His hands inside his slack’s pocket. “Nothing. I see you’re serious with self-studying. I think that August doesn’t work here on weekends? You should have enough time to practice how to convince him?”

I rolled my eyes and scoffed. I told him August was not in the shop yesterday. He didn’t expect me to come back again on Sunday. I had to tell him my parents expected me to be out and attend a party but I’d rather study than go there. “I don’t practice the art of conviction, okay? August will definitely agree with my plan. He’s just being difficult because he’s aware he’s supposed to be dismissive of what I did to him. But he couldn’t resist my charm. Okay? What’s with you anyway and you seemed to be challenging me with this?”

He jerked his chin once. “You see this as a challenge, Miss Roxette. You see that man August as a challenge. I could tell he’s one of the kindest souls. I like seeing you occupied with a man like him than…” He tilted his head to the side, careful not to speak ill of Levi after I threateningly scowled at him.

My eyes widened. I grimaced with disgust. “I’m not into older men, Sandro! Can you hear yourself? He’s just a few years younger than you but still way older than me. What are you talking about?”

He regarded me with innocent confusion distorting his face before casually pulling his hands out of his pockets. “I didn’t say anything about dating him, Miss Roxette. All I said was to occupy your time with him rather than the troublesome Suarez.” His voice was sharp and cold as always. All nothing but honesty in his opinion. I didn't know whether to be glad with this transparency or what. I guessed I was.

My lips parted for a reply but it was left in my throat as his violent response registered on me. I blinked, dumbfounded. “Well…” He was right. Why did I think about that anyway? I sounded so defensive only to realize I got his statement wrong. Still, I kept my face straight and my chin high, gripping the books tight around me. “Never mind. It’s still good to make that clear to you. I’m here to study while August is not around. If he’s here, I’ll study, too, all while trying to do business with him. You heard that? All this case about him is nothing but a business matter to me. Stop challenging me how much I could convince him. My parents are into business. I had that in my veins, too.”

He chuckled. It startled me. But it was gone before I could point that out to him, or perhaps, insult him with it to get back for annoying me. The two of us kept a straight face and looked each other straight in the eye. Then he tilted his head and jerked his chin towards the shop before glancing at the time again.

“Get inside now, Miss Roxette. I need to go back to the company. I’ll be here on time but you should call me if you plan to go somewhere else… Get inside,” he repeated when I didn’t move.

Rolling my eyes at him, I winced and spun around for the café. I had forgotten about my irritation at him when I stepped inside the café. I had a huge smile plastered on my face for the people at the counter when I instinctively halted. My feet were planted on my spot at the sight of familiar faces. They all seemed to be happy to be here. Soon, all eyes were on me. Their faces contorted with bewilderment. Everyone mirrored each other’s reactions except for the two.

Hyoshin’s strangled chuckle reached me before his reluctant approach. His eyes brightened with amusement and surprise. “Roxette Go! You’re here!” He stopped in front of me, mockingly closely watching my face.