Chapter 6 - First Time

Elisa's POV: aside from the pajamas and school uniform I have never seen Henry wear a Tuxedo before, how can that schoolboy turn into a man in the flash of an eye. I saw him waiting there at the gate. It must have been so cold but for half an hour what I could do was just watch him. I suddenly got conscious of what I was wearing. I have seen some other girls entering the party with luxurious dresses and if I know Henry could have enjoyed these girls entering the room aside from they're beautiful and rich some of them glance at Henry showing interest in him. A girl stopped in front of Henry and he leaned down to her " What is he doing? ".

I imagined a scene from a theater of a man proposing to a girl so I had to step up and go meet Henry. I was his partner after all. Few inches from Henry the beautiful girl in a lavender dress started to walk, it seemed like he was just getting the invitation from her bag and not actually talking to Henry and I found him fixing his shoes that were untied.

" Henry, I'm here ! " he looked up to me and just stared at me . I don't know what those looks mean or maybe my dress cannot be paired to his tuxedo. I was too simple and I thought I don't belong in parties like this. But when I was in doubt and my feet turned in another direction Henry pulled my arms that made a slight body twist and landed on his chest. I almost couldn't breathe when I found myself wrapped around him and almost kissed his lips. I have saved my first kiss from a 1-inch control of completely getting there. then he said

" No, you are beautiful tonight "

Oh for the love of the Lord is this Henry the shy student, how did his voice become so deep like a man. He started to loosen up his hand and helped me stand straight. I thanked him for the compliment and he offered his arms to me and escorted me towards the entrance.

I was blown away as I have seen the beautiful ornamentals and design of the venue; everything was so magical and elegant. In my mind, I thought.

" so this is how the rich spend their money those expensive wine in which one bottle might cost my whole year salary of delivering milk and flowers combined "

Thanks to Henry because aside from the fact that I will be able to hand my gift to Ms. Rebecca. I am able to taste these world-class wines. Every time I see wine I always remember my father's patience in making one when he was still alive. He smiles from ear to ear by just watching the fermentation buckets in line. He once said to me reminiscing those days when sometimes he brought me to his winery workplace one of the Constantines winery manufacturing companies.

" Wine is not like any other product out there that you make overnight. it takes time and patience. This is why it is served on special occasions to celebrate because just like the success of every people it takes time before you can taste sweet success "

My dad doesn't make any sense in those times but it finally did when I started working.

" Wine maam ?, Don Nicopolous wine 1902 is ready to serve" a waiter goes closer to us serving wine. My eyes beamed with excitement when I heard him say the kind of wine he is serving. Don Nicopolous 1902 wine is from Spain which was named after the late expeditions of Juan Miguel Nicopolous.

I got one glass of it and smelled the aroma first before finally drinking it. Oh God the smell, it was like a drug for a wine-savvy like me. I couldn't contain my happiness when I first had the taste of Don Nicopolous 1902. It was surreal. It felt like I was a princess from the Spanish empire. When out of nowhere I heard a bottle drop to the floor, it wasn't the glass that I was holding nor a bottle of wine breaking and I realized it was the perfume that I was about to give to Miss Rebecca I quickly lean down to the floor to look for it but a lot of feet was getting in the way

" Excuse me, Excuse me " I was already crawling down the floor when I finally spotted it under the feet of an old man, he started walking and unconsciously kicked the bottle like a soccer ball I saw the perfume bottle cap departed, when finally I had a gasp of perfume

" finally there "

I stood up and held the perfume with my right hand up.

" got it !" I accidentally pressed the spray button and the perfume fragrance started to spread. A loud and alive party became silent. Everyone was staring at me, my right hand was held up frozen. I didn't know what to do and I heard Henry says

"I found the bottle cap" I didn't realize that Henry helped me look for the perfume. I found the bottle and he found the cover. We shared the same embarrassment at that moment.

" That smell, ... what is that smell? "

The guest gives way to a lady walking towards me. She was walking with elegance and authority that gave me shiver and my knees started to tremble.

" Lady, that perfume? Where did you get that? "

" Ammm Ms. Rebecca, first of all, happy birthday, umm it was supposed to be a gift for you but then I spilled one spray. I don't think it worthy anymore "

" What do you think made this perfume special "

" I created it for you, Ms. Rebecca, I called this perfume " the blue rose " I made sure that this is the only bottle in the world made for you, I don't have enough money to buy you expensive brand but for 2 years I worked for it to give it to you as a present but I think I messed it up"

Rebecca opened her palm as a sign of acceptance of the gift.

"Give it to me my dear. If there is anything priceless in this world it is human perseverance and determination. You remind me of myself when I was young. I wholeheartedly accept your gift I have never had this fragrance in my collections before and for the record, it was the first time that someone created something for me, I really appreciate it "

Was it my lucky day ... that everything turned into my favor. It's surreal that the woman behind the Constantine empire just accepted a gift from a nobody like me.

Everyone was gossiping about what happened. Some say I was an attention seeker but some wanted to know how I created the perfume. Whatever it may be my heart is in cloud nine right now knowing that what I have worked on for 2 years has finally paid off.

Henry and I sat on a table where the waiters started to serve the main dish while eating. We were talking about what just happened.

" Henry, thank you very much for everything nothing could have been possible if you did not help me"

Henry just smiled at me and started to laugh " You're welcome, but I can't really stop thinking about how we raised both of our hands like a criminal a while ago, it was funny " he can't contain his laughter.

" here's the bottle cap ! " demonstrating his hand and then burst out in laughing once again

The sound of his laugh was contagious that I can't help but laugh as well. Our most embarrassing moment turned into a blessing in disguise because we get the attention of Ms. Rebecca.

The mood started to change when the harmonica orchestra started to play romantic music, every couple in the room started to ask for a dance to their partners and fill up the center of the dancefloor. To release his nervousness he even drank a glass of wine in one shot. I don't know if he will be able to stand after this but Theodoro 1894 was really a strong one. He clears his throat and offers his hand to me.

" Elisa, oooooh! ( exhaled ) ... I can do this 1, 2, 3 "

" Elisa, can I be your first and last dance for tonight ? his hand was shaking that you can tell it was his first time asking a girl for a dance.

Elisa smiled at him and gave him permission to dance with her on the floor. They held each other Henry's hands on her waist and Elisa's hands wrapped around Henry's neck. The music was so smooth like the wind that it sways in the rhythm of their feet and body. Henry's eyes were only focused on one girl, the only girl that shines throughout the night--- Elisa. He was drunk but his heart and mind were completely convinced that he was in love with her.

Elisa's POV: As we walked to the dancefloor Henry held my hands. It made me feel safe and secure. He is not an ordinary man, he is selfless and caring. He makes me laugh in simple ways and keeps my secret like a trusted friend. I haven't met a man like him before the kind of man that makes you feel special. He wrapped his hands around my waist and started to dance to the sound of music like prince and princesses in a theater play. He looks so different I knew it he would get drunk with that strong wine his cheeks were red and his eyes were sleepy.

He looks at me only and I can't help but look at every detail of his face as well. His eyes look so sad but his smiles are full of hope. I never saw him close like this before. He is dashing, not just physical but his soul was also beautiful. I can't really tell my feelings right now. Am I in love with him? But I wonder when did I start falling for him. I am uncertain but my heart was beating so fast right now and I can't help but cherish the moment.

Henry started to get dizzy and smile and then laugh trying to convince me that he was not drunk ... but look at him transforming into another person in front of me, he was really funny that I couldn't get mad at him. I put my lips closer to his ears and whispered.

" Let's skip the dessert, you got to go home."

I put his arms around my shoulders and tried my best to support him but I was on my heels that we almost fell many times while walking.

" wait.. wait, no ... I don't wanna go home, please please "

He tries his cutest facial expression to convince me and then pout his lips every time I disagree.

" Let's go this way " Henry was pointing in the left direction. He dragged me towards the garden area of the Constantines. It was really wide that it could be a park or something right in the middle was a fountain with an angel statue holding a jar. We both sat there because Elisa was really tired. The night was cold but the colors of the flowers still reflected the light coming from the moon and the fireflies started to gather around them. Elisa thought that the elegance of the party amazed her but it's nothing compared to where they are right now.

Henry's head was on Elisa's shoulder; he was too dizzy that he cannot sit up straight. He was half asleep when he heard Elisa say.

" Hey Henry, how can you sleep on this beautiful scenery? " she starts to look around and enjoys the fireflies around them "

Henry tries to wake himself up and as he widens his eyes he sees Elisa's face like a wonderful eclipse on the moon with fireflies around her like stars in the night. The only light she had was the one coming from the moon but Elisa's face shines like a star that every detail of her beauty was so clear even at night.

" Elisa .... "

" hmmm ? She looked at Henry . " what is it? "

" I've been trying .. really trying hard to resist your beauty. I just wanna say that you're beautiful not just tonight but even from the first time that we met "

His voice was raspy due to the combined cold weather and alcohol. Henry's face gets closer to Elisa's face; her eyes were only focused on her lips.

" I'm really trying ... trying ....not kiss your lips " his eyes were teary-eyed like a child begging for something, He looked at Elisa's eyes and said.

" But ... can I give up now, please? "

Elisa slowly closed her eyes and Henry gave up on resisting her lips and kissed her with gentleness and love. It was their first kiss in the garden where only the witness was the moon and fireflies.