Engagement Party

"Danish, here is my cousin …," Luna seemed to wrap up her sentence, Yi Xiang had moved forward; her hands extended out. Her mouth muttered certainly, presenting herself.

"Hi, my name's Yi Xiang." She smiled in flirt. What she got was his obliviousness. That man apathetically moved past her, strolling toward Luna who stood still in her place, but then ceased and swivelled around to see her.

"Could you please put the jar back to its place, Miss?" His words should have jabbed her yet she didn't look bothered; she slowly fished the object out of her suitcase and returned it to its place. Danish took the next steps toward Luna. He had been side by side with Luna shortly. "How could you take her into this room?" His face tensed in irritation. "The outsiders are prohibited to enter this room," he paused, "including you."

"It turns out that he, the one you are proud of, even detests you. How pathetic your life is, Luna, he didn't even treat you well," Yi Xiang insulted her.

"I mean you, not Luna!" He emphasized his words in a high tone. Out of Luna's expectation, Danish held her hand and in a second his hand had circled Luna's shoulders. Now his expression was altered. Friendliness appeared there. "I am glad to have your visit, cousin. Enjoy your stay." Danish turned to Luna. "We still have something to plan for our engagement party tonight, babe." Luna, who was still drowning in shock with Danish's unexpected action , jerked up when Danish suddenly guided her away from the art room.

Luna pressed the thumps against her heart. This man acted differently today like someone she didn't recognize. What possessed him that he changed drastically?

Hurrying out of the room, they had been in a completely quiet area for a short time. With no one around, Danish pulled his hand. He took some spaces from Luna. That girl knew that what he did in front of her cousin was just a part of his acting. Still, he had saved her from her cousin's disdainful words.

"Thanks."

"I didn't do anything for you. I just dislike that harsh arrogant girl."

"Still, I owe you…"

"How could she be your cousin?"

"What?"

"She is going after you." Danish said other things rather than responding to her. Yi Xiang appeared behind Luna's back. "I suggest you stay away from her." Danish left after his last words.

"Yi Xiang...where have you been?" Jin Xin jogged toward her in panic.

"I just watched an intriguing show."

"What do you mean?"

"Jin Xin…" Luna intervened, "you and Yi Xiang, please go to the living room. I'll meet you there." Jin Xin led Yi Xiang to the living room.

***

All the people had assembled in the living room and engaged in a conversation when Luna joined them. They rejoiced with her presence as it was Luna, the center of the attention.

Relief washes over her; Danish sat among the people there. At least, he showed his respect toward her family with his existence in the room. Only Sandra wasn't with them. That woman was blatantly against their engagement. Sadness pierced Luna's deepest heart knowing that her mother in law wouldn't bless their engagement.

"Luna…., " having her name mentioned, she focused her attention back to the talk. "I have to apologize to you and Mrs. Yang that my son and his family who live abroad are unable to attend your engagement but they will certainly attend your wedding."

"That's alright, Mrs Li. We understand their situation." Luna's mother took the opportunity to speak up.

After that short conversation, they proceeded to the dining room for lunch. During all the events, Luna kept Yi Xiang under her surveillance as that girl could do embarrassing things anytime. And what mattered the most was to prevent her from stealing something in this house.

It was only when the night fell, Luna let her guard down. Luna had to do all the preparation for the event, hair do and make up.

Luna was in her room with the makeup artist finishing her work, putting some make up onto her face. Once the last touch up was done, she opened her eyes but still had no courage to study her face in the mirror.

"How is it? Do you like it?" That woman, the make up artist, in a mini black dress directed Luna's face to the mirror and asked her opinion if she was satisfied with the result.

In Luna's eyes, no matter how much that woman's effort to beautify her appearance, her look would remain the same. Nothing changed. The ugly duckling like her wouldn't turn into a beautiful swan in one night. Cynderella only lived in a fairy tale. Luna sneered at herself.

"Maybe, I need to add…."

"No, thanks." Luna cut it off. "It's enough. You may go out. I want to talk to my sister." She didn't argue with her.

"Hi, sister...you look so pretty. I bet you will be the prettiest girl at the party tonight."

"Why does it sound more like a tease than a compliment?"

"I am serious, Jie Jie."

Their conversation was interrupted by the knocks on the door. Standing in a rush, Jin Xin offered to open the door. Grandma Li popped up at the door.

"So, are you still here?" Grandma Li asked Luna. That girl rose then walked toward grandma Li.

"Grandma...you should wait downstairs."

"That's ok. I don't mind seeing you here. You look beautiful as always anyway." Luna responded to her with a smile. "Danish will be the luckiest guy to marry a kind and sweet girl like you." Her praise was too exaggerated in Luna's ears. But, she stayed positive and appreciated her compliments. "Danish is waiting. The party will start in one hour. So, we have to hurry up to the hotel."

***

Luna and Li's family had arrived at the hotel where her engagement would be held. The crowds of the guests had filled the huge ballroom in one of the biggest hotels in Beijing. Grandma Li was swamped with her guests. Danish was busy welcoming his relations, too. With no one Luna knew well except her mother, sister and cousin, she just stood foolishly in the center of the room. Once in a while, she shook hands with grandma Li's guests.

"I guess you know no one in this city," her cousin, Yi Xiang used that moment to mock her. As if always finding a way to embarrass her, that girl always took advantage of any situation to bring Luna down.

"Yi Xiang… '' Luna was lucky as her mother found out that she didn't' feel comfortable with Yi Xiang around. She required Yi Xing to go back to her seat. Yi Xiang obeyed her aunt.

The crowds became thicker and thicker with the number of guests attending the party.

The main agenda would get started in a few minutes. However, Danish was still conversing with the guests. And grandma Li was standing in the other corner. Luna felt agitated for the reason she was clueless about.

From the open enormous door, a beautiful woman in a pink gown ambled elegantly. She was the one whom she was familiar with, Ana Wang. What shocked Luna the most was that the girl was wearing the same gown as she wore.

Walking like a queen, she headed toward Luna confidently. As though she had power to control people around her, all eyes in the room shifted to her gorgeous figure who now had been closer to Luna.

"How could she wear the same gown as the fiancee ?" Murmurs started fulfilling the room.

"I heard that it is Lilyana Wu who designed the fiancee's gown. But, why are there two same gowns? To my knowledge, she never designs the same gown for two different people." A middle aged woman who stayed a few feet from Luna commented.

"You mean, one of the gowns is artificial?" Another woman asked to rest assured.

"Congratulations Luna for snatching someone I love," Ana Wang shamelessly congratulated Luna. That girl's expression changed when she came to realize that they wore exactly the same gown. Her evil eyes dilated in embarrassment and pique. "How can you wear this gown?" Ana's eyes squinted in disbelief.

"Who invited you here?"Grandma Li admonished Ana who turned to her in surprise.