The spectacular day

Athena's pov

"Don't beat around the bush Athena"

"I do, okay?"

Liam rolled his eyes and raised his brow at me. He made me articulate it plenty of times. He placed his hands on his hips and was looking at me in a judgemental way.

"Stop looking at me like that, you know I have a slight crush on him" I muttered while rummaging through clothes.

"You could've said it competently in English it would've been gratifying but no, you just want to extend this"

I just ignored his comments after that as he can be pesky sometimes.

I saw him again roll his eyes and place his hands on his hip while just staring at me.

"What?"

"If you don't want to say it, that's completely fine but I will make you say it someday" then he started smirking at me as Asher was coming this way.

"What about this?" he asked while making eye contact and showing me the outfit. I timidly looked away as my confidence was a tad if you ask me.

Liam chimed in and said "that dress is exquisite, give me that" while putting it inside his FOURTH shopping bag.

Liam was ardent about fashion and took it seriously but this seriously? He wouldn't stop rummaging through clothes, shoes, and accessories, putting them inside a shopping bag one by one. I was speechless by his behaviour but Asher just sighed making it seem like it wasn't the first time his brother had acted this way.

I didn't even know what was in the shopping bag but he picked one dress and handed it to me while pulling me to the fitting room area.

When we three reached there Liam spoke in a motherly tone "Go try on these" while placing the bags in a fitting room "Show me how every dress looks" he exclaimed while clapping his hands. He was jumping and squealing and was more hyped up than me.

I showed Liam and Asher every clothing and shoe item by trying them on and for the first time, I noticed Asher wasn't making any eye contact with me anymore and just took one or two glances without saying anything. He kept looking down like I do which was kind of odd.

After I was done trying on the dresses, Liam took out a gorgeous white dress with flowers printed. He also took out a comfy pair of shoes and a pink cardigan.

Luckily, I didn't have scars on my legs. I was glad that he chose that as it was my favourite among them all. Although I wasn't aware we were planning to buy all the dresses, I found out when Liam gestured for Asher to give his credit card to pay. Asher handed it to him without thinking twice.

"I will tell the person at the cash register that you are wearing that now" and then he practically snatched the card from him and ran away with the bags as I looked with wide eyes. He indeed left me speechless.

I looked down fidgeting with my hands and darting my eyes.

"It's okay, just consider this as a late or early gift for your birthday from me"

I smiled while biting my bottom lip. I was extremely nervous so I walked inside the fitting room to hide the redness on my cheek.

While changing I looked at the colossal scars on my body and I felt like a freak again. I just shook my head and wore the exquisite outfit.

When I came out, I mumbled "thank you so much, Asher"

"My pleasure," he said smiling. I was shocked as I didn't expect him to smile at all. It was the most heavenly smile and I would love to see it often.

Then together we walked to the cash register when Liam came running towards us with four bags and giving Asher his card back along with two bags. I offered to help multiple times but both of them didn't let me pick up anything, and stopped asking until we reached the car.

Liam swirled around like a princess "Ta-da! We are done with the shopping" he screamed at the top of his lungs which he later regretted as there were people in the parking lot giving judgemental looks. The three of us have to learn how to behave in public.

Then Liam insisted that I sit at the front beside Asher again. He was making it quite obvious! But I couldn't say anything as I was extremely shy.

After sitting I saw Liam through the rear-view mirror, closing his eyes while pinching the bridge of his nose. His exaggeration is impeccable, and his performance is Oscar-worthy. "Liam, what happened?" I knew he was acting but some part of me was still worried. I needed confirmation that he was alright.

"Let's go to one of Asher's restaurants as it's not that far away".

"You do know I can cook for both of you at home, right?" Asher replied blandly.

Liam started acting again. It felt like I was seeing one of Shakespeare's plays.

"I'm exhausted and hungry. You will let your brother starve like this?" Asher rolled his eyes and hesitantly agreed.

When we reached the restaurant, I gasped as it was fetching, I must say. While gazing at the restaurant I blurted out "This restaurant is immaculate!"

Asher gave a small smile again. "Thank you" he responded. While walking inside the restaurant we were greeted by the waiters. We were led to a table by one of the waiters, but I couldn't help but notice the exquisite decoration. There was also the smell of nature, so it was just perfect! The restaurant had a small bridge at the entrance. There were a lot of tiny as well as enormous trees with modest artificial waterfalls placed in front of the bridge near the entrance. The restaurant was remarkable. They also had a bar at the side and there were a lot of people. Asher's restaurants must be famous, I speculated in my mind's portal of cognition.

When we settled down, a waiter brought a tablet and greeted us with a welcoming smile.

"what's that?" I asked curiously.

"it's a tablet and the menu is on the tablet; you just click on the food items you want"

I still had this confused look plastered on my face.

Asher continued by saying "You don't need to tell the waiter anything as it will directly reach the kitchen" that sounded interesting, I thought.

I didn't know how to use a tablet so Asher taught me how it works and how it is used. I was a quick learner so I picked it up immediately but I still didn't know what to order.

"Can you both suggest to me what to order? This is the first time I have had this many options in food."

"You could try the pasta with the garlic bread, it's quite famous here" Asher added.

"Sure then I will go with that"

"Do you want any drinks or something?" Liam asked.

I looked at the menu and didn't know any drinks so I decided not to order any.

"I'm fine with water"

We ordered the food and started talking. I could feel someone staring at me. So I looked around and found the same waiter staring but as soon as we made eye contact, he looked away. That was weird but I didn't pay attention to it.

Later I excused myself to the restroom but when I reached, I heard small sobbing noises in the bathroom cubical so I just knocked to check if that person was alright.

"Is someone there?" I asked the stupidest question I know but I just needed confirmation.

I heard that person muttering "Y-yes"

When the door of the cubical opened, I was shocked to see her again.