Stars

Diana was silent during the drive. A thousand thoughts ran through her head. The memory of her being happy with her family was a distant past already. It seemed like all they do know is becoming more estranged to the other.

Will Lucas be discouraged with her? Chantal and the others' behavior at the party wouldn't give anyone a good impression.

Can't they be happy for her the way they are happy for Chantal and Henry?

Diana wondered if Lucas would change his mind.

To be with her meant having to deal with a troubled family life,

Glancing at Diana once in a while, Lucas tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. He could sense her somber mood. All he wanted to do at that moment was to take her away from them and never bring her back.

He parked a car in the bay area.

Diana wondered why they stopped here instead. She followed Lucas's movements. The latter went around and opened her door.

"Come?" Lucas beckoned to her.

She took his offered hand and got down from the car.

Lucas rested her hand against his arm and led her to one of the benches. He made sure it was clean first before letting her sit down.

"Tell me. What's on your mind?" He queried, looking into her eyes.

Diana was startled. "It's nothing." She withdrew her gaze.

Lucas leaned back on the bench. He looked up to the night sky and sighed.

"Look up." Lucas quietly told her.

There was a comfortable silence between them.

Diana marveled at the stars. "It's beautiful."

"Indeed." Lucas gazed at her. 'You are indeed beautiful.'

"Do you know about constellations?" Diana asked.

Lucas chuckled. "Unfortunately no. I have buried my head in so many books, that I probably neglected to look up what's above my head."

Diana was amused at his response.

"Me either. It's not every night I stop and look at the night sky. I guess it only reminds me how the night is quiet and peaceful sometimes. We're too caught up with all sorts of random tasks in the daytime that when night time comes we just ignore that there's a beautiful scene right above us, unappreciated."

"Mmm-mm. That's true." Lucas nodded. "It's a natural beauty that is more often overlooked."

They stared at the night sky in silence. When it was starting to get chilly and Diana started to rub against her arms, Lucas took off his coat and put it around her.

"Thank you." She said softly. Lucas didn't let his arm go from her shoulders. She instantly felt warmer. She could smell the scent of fresh cologne that stuck to his coat. Breathing in, the memory of their first kiss resurfaced. her cheeks and earlobes flushed red.

"Ahemm.." She cleared her throat. She needed a distraction from her thoughts.

"When I was younger--I used to wait until my father would come home and read books to me before I head to sleep. But then my sister's choice of books will always get picked. I was more into mythologies or science stuff, and my sister likes those classic Princess stories. My sister would complain that the books that I choose are boring. So my father would always give in, anyway those Princess books are shorter and have an easier plot. Even if there's a child's question about the story, the adults won't have a hard time explaining it." Diana chuckled at the memory.

"And so, you started to read books on your own." Lucas deduced. He could imagine the small version of her doing this. 'She must have looked so adorable.'

"Hmm.. It was just as well. My grandfather has a big library in the house, I've read all of it already. So whenever I can, I go to the public library and read more there."

"I just noticed. The way you refer to your father.. I don't mean anything by it, by the way. It's just curiosity."

Diana glanced at him and smiled wryly. "I sound so formal when referring to them, right?"

Lucas nodded. He noticed that her so-called sister called Osmond less formally.

Diana sighed. "It's become normal for me, I guess. Other than being related to them by blood, I don't really have such a close relationship with them. They've always been firm with me that I saw them more as authoritative figures."

"They're not the same with your sister?"

Diana shook her head. "Chantal has her own charm probably. It's easier for her to make them submit to her whims."

After a while, Lucas suddenly remembered something.

"By the way, when is your birthday?" Lucas asked. Although he had commissioned an investigator to compile information about her, he thought it was an error when he saw that she and the other girl shared the same date of birth.

"Hmm? It's done already. It's the day we first met." Diana chuckled.

Lucas stared at her with a dumbfounded look.

"So the two of you are twins and the celebration was only for her?" Lucas frowned.

She understood his surprised look. The people around them have also had difficulty associating her with Chantal.

Diana laughed. "Surprised? It's always been that way. Chantal likes the glamorous parties with her friends."

Lucas still found it unsettling. "Hmm.. why don't we celebrate it?"

"Huh? It's fine. It's only a birthday." Diana giggled.

Lucas shook his head. "I'll plan something. Look forward to it." His eyes crinkled with promise. He offered his hand which she took.

"Let's get you home." Lucas held her hand as they went back to his car.

"Really though. You don't have to do anything." Diana chuckled.

"What kind of boyfriend will I be if I'll just neglect my girlfriend's birthday?" Lucas looked at her funny.

Diana's breath caught in her throat. Blush creeping on her cheeks. "Who's your girlfriend?"

"Tsk. If not you, then who?" Lucas snapped the seatbelt in place and closed her side's door.

Diana was still in a daze at his response that she can't even think of what to say.

It seemed like she was continually swept away by him. And there she was, allowing it. She really had her guard down in front of him. At times she would question herself if she had let this progress too fast. But then she would also realize that her excuse before was that she need to earn her degree first. And now that she have it, she should give herself the chance to find love.