The Bill

It had been an idyllic evening for Ashtrid until she spotted my gaze roaming on the ocean "That is just disgusting" she could not help but say it out loud "You look like you're about to dive in for a whiff of your desire. Stop it and eat, the foods getting cold" she nagged, maintaining her eyes and fingers occupied on her food attempting to grab my attention back on the plate where the food had been barely touched yet I remained oblivious.

I had been completely lured sinking in the ocean's depths, "I'm not starving..." I claimed, "This place is pretty" I refuse to pay any less interest to my food or my companion "you're being pathetic" Ashtrid blurted, despite knowing how much I hated it when others called me pathetic, but when it comes to Ashtrid I careless about it.

"You were pathetic once too" finally I draw my attention back to the table where Ashtrid sits across me. I grabbed a glass and poured some of the wine Ashtrid bought when she found herself abandoned and alone, "Wow, this taste great" I had been curious about how the red star tasted for quite some time, but it had not piqued my interest as much.

Because my interest is already diverted to someone else.

Ashtrid emitted her hand in the air to call out the waiter for the bill, considering that we consumed the entire bottle of wine, yet we were no near the brink of being wasted, although our cheeks were blushing crimson, still we remained perfectly fine and capable of going home.

"How come you never cry?" I ask to my companion, who was sipping the last drop of wine from her glass.

"...I thought my first boyfriend liked me back, turns out he didn't, at that point I felt naive and pathetic, I couldn't even cry about how humiliating it was," she giggles, her complexion painted with thrills as she recalls, nevertheless there's a hint of annoyance in her voice, perhaps because of how absurd it turned out for her. I'm relieved she moved on. It makes me wonder if I'll ever talk about my first love in the same manner she does.

Will I ever be able to move on just as she did? When what we have can barely be considered a relationship.

I reached for my glass as I demanded for more wine "We emptied the wine, Ele" Ashtrid reminded me. "Is there anything bothering you?" she asked.

"No, I'm fine. I'm just thinking how nice it is that people can be open about their first love so easily after they've moved on."

"Could you refrain from calling him my first love? The only time I'd consider someone my first love would be when they love me back or I love them back."

"These days, you don't date and have only been flirting with other models from your agency. Are you telling me you don't intend for anyone to be your first love?"

Ashtrid simply grinned at me, dismissing the matter as she waved her hands for the bill once more. A few minutes, one of the waiters who looked strangely familiar arrived at our table and handed Ashtrid the bill "Good evening, madams," he said gently, and it was lovely to hear, like a gentle breeze rustling through the ear.

"...What's going on?" Ashtrid wonders perplexed by what she seen. "Why don't we have anything to pay?"

"The young master, Harris Zay wished to express his gratitude for dining here at the restaurant" He then halted briefly as he glances into Ashtrid's honey-colored eyes that peers thoroughly to his, as if she's consuming him "Also, the Madam appears to be very attentive of the rumor of his devotion toward the woman he loves."

Ashtrid, had her hand tightly gripped on the tablecloth, almost dragging everything down to the ground, "Did you say that Harris Zay footed our bill just because of the rumors I heard? Did I upset him?" she couldn't hide her excitement. Ashtrid glows as she inspects the tab again that he delivered.

Why in the world would the mysterious Harris Zay pay for our bill, did Ashtrid play some scheme when I was not around?

"I am sure he was pleased, madam," he promises Ashtrid, whose eyes gleamed dazzlingly, making him grin playfully "How often are you going to woo me, Ashtrid?" I couldn't help but applaud. Ashtrid seems to be fascinated not only with her agency's model but also the Harris Zay itself.

I'm curious what it would look like if Ashtrid Silva and Harris Zay marched down the hallway together.