Encounter a bad luck

"Celestine..." Lianne delightedly said her name. It’s been a while since the last time she saw the young lady.

Celestine warmly smiles, then bows her head. “It was nice to see you again, Aunt Lianne.”

Lianne shifted her gaze and looked at Kathline. Looking at her fine daughter, the worry she was feeling earlier was now gone.

Before Lianne could say anything to her daughter, Marvin butt in and seriously said, "Kathline we will talk after this."

"Yes, Dad."

Marvin shifted his gaze to Celestine, he smiled at her. "Celestine, I'm really glad that you came."

When the couple left to greet the other guest, that was the time Kathline sighs in relief. “Omg! Thank you, Celestine! You saved me big time. Really... really big-time" Kathline pulled Celestine in a tight hug.

Celestine tapped Kathline’s shoulder. "Don't thank me. I did that because I know it's the right thing to do. It is even difficult to handle the situation if they scold you here. Your family will surely get everyone's attention for tonight.”

Celestine doesn’t want to cause any disturbance or issue for the guests. If there’s a misunderstanding, the people involved need to discuss it privately.

"Still, thank you. It's good that you're here." She smiled gratefully and grabbed Celestine's hands. "I know you're hungry, sit down first and I will get our food," Kathline added, but Celestine shook her head.

"Nah, I will accompany you."

The hall was large and could accommodate more than a hundred guests. After the song played earlier, a piece of melodious music had once filled the hall. Prominent people were in their lavish gowns and suits. Happily chatting with each other.

It is a European-style mansion. A three-story building. The extravagant chandelier was hung from the ceiling. Aside from it, vintage paintings were hung on the wall, and sculptures were all displayed.

Kathline and Celestine were walking to go to another table when two people blocked their way.

Kathline was walking ahead, thus when Kathline suddenly stopped, Celestine bumped into her.

Celestine was very entertained by the things around her, so she did not notice that Kathline stopped walking. She almost bumped into her.

Celestine noticed that Kathline was quiet and just looking straight ahead, therefore Celestine turned her gaze to the front.

There are two men in front. Celestine stands beside Kathline to look at them clearly. Her brows creased when she saw a familiar guy. He was the one who played the piano a while ago.

"I thought we're going to eat?" Celestine looked at Kathline.

Kathline was startled when Celestine spoke beside her. She awkwardly answered, "Oh, y-yeah. We need to go, please excuse us."

They took only a few steps when a man suddenly spoke.

"Won't you introduce us to the beautiful young lady beside you?" Clarence was smiling. The way he smile looks like he was a model of any toothpaste brand, and he was endorsing it.

Kathline faces him, her face shows that she's annoyed by him. "It won't do us a good thing if I introduce my friend to you. Instead of luck, the two of us might encounter a stroke of bad luck instead.”

Kathline even rolls her eyes and flips her hair. Instead of feeling offended, Clarence widened his smile, showing his white fair teeth and even his dimples.

He enjoyed seeing Kathline's annoyed face. It was an amazing feeling for him, he was happy that he got some of her attention.

"Let's go." Kathline turned to Celestine and took her hand, then pulled Celestine away. Not minding people's stares that she gets from their conversation.

Celestine saw how the guests whisper to each other and looked at the two of them. She clearly knew who they were talking about.

Celestine did not ask Kathline who those men were. It might be best to avoid that topic. She just followed Kathline, until they reached the table where the food was.

After the two ladies got what they wanted to eat, they sat down at a table where there were not many people around. When Celestine sat down, she observed that Kathline had been glancing at her from time to time.

That night, Kathline was tired and hungry thinking of all the things she did for the whole day. She was craving steak right at that moment and might eat a mouthful of dessert after. But she just can't start eating because she kept on looking at Celestine.

"Why?" Celestine confusingly asked.

"You are asking me why, when I should be the one asking you that question. Why are there only vegetables on your plate? I don’t think you were a vegetarian." Kathline's left eyebrows raised.

Celestine's plate is almost full of vegetables. It barely had meat.

Kathline just held the knife and fork, she could not continue eating while Celestine was indifferent and quietly ate next to her.

Celestine chuckled because of her actions. "Just eat, Kath. Don't mind me." She laughed so Kathline looked away and started eating.

Celestine thought that between the two of them, she thinks that Kathline would be the one who is a picky eater and strict on her diet. Especially, she needs to maintain her figure because she's a model.

Celestine needs to balance her food. She must observe what she eats every day. Due to her weak body and being a sickly child, her parents hired a nutritionist to make her meal balanced. Because of that, she was used to it and those types of food became a habit.

***

The two ladies were peacefully eating their food when Kathline's parents joined them at their table. Kathline's nervousness arises again. Kathline paused for a moment to look at her parents, then continue eating. Pretending to be calm.

"Are you fine here Celestine? Something uncomfortable? Just tell us what you need."

"I'm good Uncle Marvin since Kathline was there to accompany me," Celestine answered gratefully. "By the way, happy birthday Uncle Marvin. Sorry I didn't prepare any gift for you."

Celestine felt embarrassed for a moment. She only knew that it was Marvin’s birthday because of the incident earlier. Kathline’s manager scolded her for not remembering her appointments thus it overlapped, especially for a special occasion like this. She really thought it was a simple party that Kathline’s parents held.

"It's fine, it's fine. Don't think about it, I'm happy that you are here. It’s like I’ve gained another daughter today, you rarely went here.”

"Your uncle is right. You only went here once so we are happy that you attended the party. You even turned into a beautiful fine lady." Lianne tapped her hands and adoringly looked at Celestine.

"Thank you, Aunt Lianne. And it's been two years since the last time I saw the two of you. I only see Brother Brent at the Hacienda." Celestine commented. She did not see Brent today, therefore she could only assume that the man was busy with his work.

Kathline turned to Celestine in shock. "You know my brother?"

"Of course. Brother Brent often visits us in Moonves. Besides, he was with Aunt Lianne when he went there." Celestine explained. Kathline turned to Lianne. Shaking her head and was unable to believe what was heard.

"Mom! Why don't you even take me with you?" Lianne laughed at her daughter’s reaction. "You're the one who refuses Kathline, every time we invite you to join our trip to Moonves, you refuse. Your reason? You have a lot of things to do."

Kathline lightly slapped her forehead, not knowing what to say. Indeed, she always rejects it. But they didn’t even mention that there’s a girl around her age there. Or… they did?

She's always busy with her part-time job and aside from that, she didn't think that she would enjoy her life in the province. Kathline believes that it would be boring.

Growing up spoiled and surrounded by people who will serve and take care of her. Moreover, things in the capital were too different from the province and Kathline thinks she can't handle that.

Marvin ignores his daughter’s complaint and talks to Celestine. "How's your Dad, Celestine?" He asked after he drank the wine.

"He's doing good Uncle. Well, I'm always busy like Mom." Marvin laughed at Celestine’s response.

"Like the old times, eh. Amanda and I still haven't changed, both workaholics. And even my naughty friend turned serious as well.”