An Invitation

"Where are the boys?" Nancy asked when she returned and there were just the three of them and the photographer who's getting ready to leave.

"They went ahead," Ellise answered.

Nancy, with her trusty judgment, took Ellise's answer at face value and didn't ask any more questions despite the palpable tension in the air.

"Mr. Zhang let me walk you out," she said to the photographer, before facing the girls that are unnaturally quiet on the table. "Finish your meal, Ting will be waiting in the car to take all of you home."

She was answered with silence.

"Could you tell us now, why were you crying inside the bathroom?" Jess asked as soon as Nancy was far enough for them to speak without being heard.

"Grand said, he hates my type.", she answered, stifling a sob. "I asked him why, but he didn't give me a reason."

Jess and Ellise exchanged a bewildered look. Ellise was the first one to look away and decided that brooding over the pork and leeks dumplings on her plate are easier to do than explaining the ludicrous crush Dana is feeling right now.

"Dana, in all honesty, I don't understand why do you expect Grand to give you a reason why he hates you, other than hate is a strong word to use for someone you met twice." Jess sighed in resignation.

Dana looked at Ellise who's picking on her dumplings.

"I told you, I don't know much about him."

"What do you just do when you're in that club?" Dana asked curiously.

She stopped dissecting the dumplings on her plate and answered, "Training."

"There's a reason why I don't understand geeks." smirking, she said.

Jess wanted to reprimand Dana, but it seemed like no one was offended either with the two, hence, she just bit her tongue and wished to be back in her hotel room to end up today's drama.

"The pictorial will happen Monday, right?, Ellise confirming the schedule. "How about the fitting, since we only have two days in between?"

"Fitting and makeup trials are scheduled tomorrow in one of the penthouses of this hotel. The makeup artist, hair and fashion stylist will be available for us the whole day, so you can come anytime, whilst Sunday will be for resting."

"How about, on your birthday itself, do we have any schedule?"

"Nancy said you'll have a game on the 29th to 31st, so I'm not planning anything for my birthday because most probably you can't get out of training a day before such an important game."

Ellise nodded on everything that was said, and "Then let's call it a day, and till tomorrow then."

"Yes, let's! I have no more energy for anything today." Jess agreed.

---

27th August, 11:00 PM

"Ms.E, don't you think this is too much?" Grand is asking about the flowers, balloons, chocolates, and the panda stuff toy wearing a necklace with the initials HD. Basically, he's carrying the whole nine yard of the starter kit for, - what a girl wants on her eighteen birthday.

"Don't forget to give her the tickets for the game on the 30th," Ellise said, with her - no room for argument here, face.

A tall boy standing behind a McLaren MP4 in the WIZ parking lot spits his coffee when he spotted them.

"What the flying fuck are you doing here?" Grand asked in annoyance.

"Me, being here isn't the question, the question is, how in the hell will you fit all of that in my car?" the guy was doubling over in uncontrollable laughter.

"And who told you, you can come with us?" he sneered behind the bouquet of eighteen yellow roses.

"Ms. E, you're looking good as always," he said, giving Ellise a playful curtsy bow. "You sure your friends won't mind my presence?" he asked the question jeering at Grand who's having trouble carrying everything in his arms.

"How about helping me?" he asked, pissed.

"How about you two stop bickering, and get in the car?"

"Ms. E, all these won't fit in that ugly car," Grand said, that got him an arm punch from the owner of the car.

"How dare you call my McLaren ugly!"

"Put everything in my car, my driver will follow us with all of your apology gifts," she said to Grand.

A man standing quietly behind a four-wheel drive stepped forward and helped Grand put everything in the passenger seat.

----

-Hotel Parking Lot-

"Dude, why are you really here?"

"I was invited," he answered while holding the birthday balloon. "You look good with flowers lover boy."

"Let's go, Jess said we can go up now," Ellise said while walking to the elevator.

---

"Dana, Jess, Ting is coming up with some big boxes. Could you two get the door, please?"

Dana stood up from lying down on the sofa, put on her slippers, and walked to the door. She wanted to go to bed earlier but Jess insisted that they should wait for the clock to strike twelve because she wanted to greet her happy birthday right on the clock, but then, her birthday has been an hour over since Tokyo is one hour ahead of Shanghai, yet Jess was persistent with her idea.

Now, there are more boxes of presents coming, but she's too sleepy to be excited at all.

She heard a soft knock on as she approached the door.

"Coming."

There is some scurrying sound behind the door, and it's getting on her nerves, that she can't help pouting. If Ting has time to scurry around, why can he open the door!

That's what was on her mind when she carelessly opened the door.

"Surprise!!"

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday, happy birthday. Happy birthday dear Dana!" the people in front of the door, sang the birthday song in such enthusiasm that she can't help but grinned in happiness.

And also because one of the five people singing was Grand, holding a bouquet of flowers and a stuffed toy. There's another good looking guy she doesn't know, grinning at her joyfully while holding a bunch of balloons!

This is the best birthday ever! Dana thought.

"Make a wish and blow your candles." Ellise is all smiles, holding a small cake.

"Bring the party inside." aunt Joy said.

Everyone gathered in the living room, while Ting piled up the boxes of gifts together with the already opened presents, from an hour ago.

Dana steals glances from Grand and the handsome balloon guy, who seemed like annoying Grand over something based on the deep lines etched in his forehead.

"By the way Dana, this is Bobby." Ellise finally introduced the balloon man.

"Happy birthday Dana," he said, offering his hand for a handshake. "I hope my presence isn't an intrusion in your special day," he added, smiling brightly.

"No, it's a pleasure to meet you." Thank you for coming." she smiled back, and Dana would admit that he's quite a looker.

"Dana, aren't you going to open your presents?" Ellise asked.

"I've been opening gifts before you arrived since my birthday in Tokyo is an hour ahead of here." she smiled sheepishly.

"Well, how about opening my gift, for your birthday in Shanghai," Bobby said, handing her a small box that would make you guess without a doubt, what's inside of it.

"Thank you." She accepted the small box graciously.

"When did you prepare a gift for her?" he's hissing in anger in Bobby's ear.

"I'm gatecrashing a birthday, the least I can do is bring a gift, don't you think?" he mumbled in Grand's ear.

"Oh! It's beautiful," she said admiring a white gold tennis bracelet with Peridot stones, which is her birthstone.

"Let me put it on you," Bobby said, taking the bracelet from her hands.

Grand chooses that moment to stand up and grab her wrist and said, "May I speak with you in private?"

Dana, flushed red, looks around the living room for a place for privacy.

"Why don't you guys step out on the balcony?" he said. "Don't worry about your bracelet, it could wait." winking, he said to Dana.

It gets another blushing incident from Dana, that Bobby seems to enjoy and irritates Grand.

"What do you want to say?" Dana asked, as Grand didn't say a word, and seemed dazed and amazed by the beautifully lit skyscrapers of Shanghai.

"Uhm, first happy birthday, I guess, and I'd like to apologize for my action from the last time. I know I'm in the wrong and I don't have any excuses except admitting the truth that I was quite rude. I hope you'll forgive me."

"Honestly, I don't understand why you'll hate me since we don't know each other that well. But I think Jess was right, I don't need to ask for a reason why you find me hateful since we don't have any relationship, to begin with," she said, staring at him, admiring the chiseled jawline, overcast by the soft fluorescent light as she said her piece.

"Hateful is a strong word," he admitted, embarrassed.

An awkward silence floats in the air, as Dana chooses not to speak after.

"Uhm, you've heard from Ellise that we'll have a game on the thirtieth, right? When she didn't answer, Grand continued and said, "Do you want to watch the game with Jess? I have extra tickets."

Upon hearing the invitation, Dana's eyes lit up like a Christmas tree, and nodded eagerly.

Grand, without his control, smiled at the eagerness displayed by this girl.