BENJIE BAKER

Valeria walk out with Benjamin as the girls watch, she felt so embarrassed and sad at the same time.

"I'm not keeping my life private" Valeria said and Benjamin smile

"Your outfit, the post and their opinion doesn't say that" Benjamin said

"The outfit was a gift and this is my most expensive outfit of all time, the post is something I still can't understand but will call the person that took my pictures and their opinion doesn't count yet because we don't know each others background" Valeria explain sadly

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have told Hannah the brand of your outfit" Benjamin said feeling sorry

"I was going to tell them if they asked" Valeria replied still sad

"Cheer up Valeria" Benjamin said softly and Valeria smile

"That's more like it. A beautiful smile on a beautiful lady" Benjamin said holding Valeria's hand

"Thank you for saving me from Catherine" Valeria said smiling

"Anything for Valeria" Benjamin said smiling at the blushing girl.

****

"You shouldn't have bombard her with questions like that" Priscilla said not liking what Catherine did

"She was lying to us" Catherine defended

"What if she has her reasons?" Margret said and Sandra nod in support

"I regret asking about the outfit" Priscilla said with regret

"Why did you ask about the brand?" Hannah who has been quiet since asked

"Because I knew it was from a brand but I don't know which" Priscilla replied

"So you two knows it was a branded outfit and I didn't realize then I must have looked down on her that much" Hannah said sadly

"Don't! She's a model for EmJay brand, check the post, she was announced as their newest model" Catherine said still looking at the post

"But she said the entire outfit was a gift from a friend...." Sandra said and Catherine cut her off

"....What if it's the owner of EmJay?" Catherine asked trying to connect the dots

"Valeria isn't that type of girl. If she said it was her friend then trust me it was her friend" Hannah said defending her.

"Let's apologize to her" Priscilla said and they nod as they saw her walking in with Benjamin

"They look perfect" Hannah said admiring them

"Are you sure I don't look better with him?" Catherine asked with jealousy

"Maybe you should shoot your shot with him" Priscilla said and Catherine nod

"We are sorry Valeria" The girls chorused as she and Benjamin got to the table

"I'm sorry too" Valeria replied with a smile. They did not ask any further about the clothes or picture, they all just want to enjoy the party.

****

Few minutes later, Mr and Mrs Baker moved to the centre of the room to address the guest.

"Good evening everybody" They greeted together and the guest cheered making them laugh

"Thank you all for gracing this occasion" Mrs Baker said smiling

"If we were told twenty five years ago that we will be celebrating our anniversary trust me, we would bet with every dime of ours" Mr Baker said smiling and remembering how sour their relationship was then

"Relationship might not work out at first but trust me when love is in involve, it takes control" Mrs Baker added

"And to celebrate the love, our son, the first child of the family will be playing the piano while we dance" Mr Baker said and the guest cheered as Benjamin walks out of the guest to where his parents were standing.

"My daughter will choose what song to play while we dance to it" Mrs Baker said and the guest cheered for Hannah as she walk up to her family.

"We have a surprise for my parents" Hannah said and the guest cheered

"For their anniversary, I will be singing while Benjamin will play the piano" Hannah added and the guest cheered again. Benjamin went to the piano at the end of the room and Hannah said miles away from the center so her parents can dance freely and smoothly.

Hannah started singing 'THINKING OUT LOUD BY ED SHEERAN' while Benjamin plays the piano and their parents sway their bodies to the rhythm. Few minutes later, they were done dancing, the guests cheered and clap for the family. The DJ play the original music and every couple starts dancing to it, Hannah's roommates could see Hannah and her brother dancing gracefully.

"Let's dance too" Sandra said

"We will be left with one person" Priscilla said

"Don't bother, I will pass" Valeria said and the girls stand up to dance like couples. Hannah and her brother exchanged with their parents, everyone was dancing while Valeria watch. She wondered what was in the gift box, she hopes it wasn't something too expensive that will make her roommates doubt her again, she doesn't want this life if it comes with doubt and misinterpretation of her character and person.

"May I have this dance?" Benjamin asked putting his hand forward, Valeria was lost in though and didn't see this.

"Hey are you okay?" Benjamin asked touching Valeria who became startled.

"Oh what's that?" Valeria asked still startled.

"Are you fine?"Benjamin asked sitting next to her worriedly

"I am just that I wonder what's in the gift box I gave your parents" Valeria said not knowing why she was telling him about it

"Didn't you pick the gift yourself?" Benjamin asked

"Hannah called me late last night and I've been busy trying to pick an outfit since morning aside that I didn't know what to get rich people" Valeria replied sadly

"Your friend got the gift right? If she's as expensive as I can see then expect something crazy" Benjamin said

"Like a trip to Maldives" Valeria said surprisingly

"Or a paid spa treatment or even a diamond necklace" Benjamin added

"This girls will never believe me" Valeria said sadly

"As you said earlier, it's a new relationship so allow yourself to breathe" Benjamin said holding her

"I really don't want to be misunderstood especially by them. We will be staying together for the rest of our university years" Valeria said and Benjamin hold her face in his palm as if he wants to kiss her.

"If anyone misunderstands you I will be there to support and understand you" Benjamin said looking into her eyes as she's salivating.

"Enough of this lovey dicey" Hannah said smiling at them

"I will go to the restroom" Valeria said and leave the siblings.

"Her friend gave her the outfit so she won't feel left out and she also picked our parents gift so no matter what is there please don't misunderstand her" Benjamin said looking at Valeria's back view

"I trust Valeria even if I doubted for some seconds but it won't happen anymore" Hannah said looking at Valeria's back view too

"When is the club party?" Benjamin asked

"Once she's back we will leave" Hannah replied smiling

"I will be around" Benjamin said as he stands up to leave

"If you want to kiss Valeria then don't smoke" Hannah said knowing what he was about to go outside to do

"Hannah!" Benjamin called and Hannah knew she won which means he won't smoke.

"I love you too brother" Hannah said smiling mischievously

"Don't do this anymore" Benjamin said and leave. Hannah knows he's angry but she doesn't want him to smoke anymore and if using Valeria will make him stop then why not.

****

After few minutes of searching, Valeria finally found the restroom, she entered making sure no one else was inside, she look at the mirror as she breathe in and out trying to calm herself.

"Valeria you love Dennis and this is a phase in relationships where you are fighting with your boyfriend and another guy comes all loving and caring. It's a phase" Valeria told herself as soft as she could that anyone standing next to her will only know she's talking but won't hear a word. She look in the mirror again and saw Benjamin's face behind her.

"This is my illusion, am I starting to see him everywhere I go?" Valeria asked cleaning her eyes but his image was not leaving the mirror, she looked back and didn't see anyone there. She looked at the mirror again and saw his face.

"Benjie Baker stop tormenting me! You are handsome and all that but please not now! I don't want love right now" Valeria said looking at the image behind her in the mirror

"I will wait till you want love" She heard Benjamin voice reply

"No he's talking. What do you want Benjie Baker?" Valeria asked the mirror

"A kiss from you" The voice replied again

"Okay, I don't kiss anyone but since it's the mirror then I will" Valeria said and close her eyes to kiss the mirror.

"Wow that felt real, soft lips" Valeria said and looked back to be sure he wasn't there, she went out of the restroom touching her lips.

"Let's go the club" Hannah told the girls and they all follow her upstairs where the club is. They entered the designed hall that looks like a club, the theme was 'FAREWELL HANNAH'

"This is slick" Catherine said as they walk inside the club

"Let's party girls" Hannah said as the loud music comes on, the girls start dancing while Valeria walk to the bar to drink juice.

"Any juice please" Valeria said to the bartender before focusing on her roommates who were dancing.

"Apple juice is the best" Benjamin's voice said and Valeria turn to check if he was the bartender but it was all her illusion again.

"Bring it please" Valeria said and the bartender gave her the apple juice. She sips the juice while watching her roommates partying, she could not see Benjamin anywhere in the party. Few minutes later, new guests starts coming in all dressed sexy and cute, some were Hannah's friends while some were Benjamin's friends. The party continues as they all keep dancing and drinking cocktails. Her roommates were not concerned if she was partying or not, only Hannah came a few time to talk to her.

"Are you fine?" Hannah asked and Valeria nod. That's all she asks anytime she comes to get new drinks. Valeria wished Benjamin was there to keep her company while in her thoughts her mother's message popped up

[Are you on your way Valeria? Or you want me to pick you up]

She smiled seeing the message, she checked time and saw that it was almost midnight. She walked up to Hannah to let her know she was about to leave.

"My mother texted" Valeria said and all Hannah did was nod and leave her there. She knew they were probably drunk from the cocktails, a part of her wanted to see Benjamin before leaving and a part of her wanted to leave the party without seeing him. She left the party without greeting the other roommates and getting downstairs she saw that the limo was still waiting for her, she board the ride and it zoom off