Danger Zone

The car ride back home has gone quiet after Aiden's mother tries to convince her "son" not to tell his father about what he saw earlier. 

Aiden did not answer her because his head starts to hurt from the scent of the perfume and the sudden shivers when he felt the man breathe on his ears.

His mother shuts up when she notices that Aiden is sleeping in Cassie's arms. Leaning on her shoulder as the car passes through the crowded market and the city lights.

Meanwhile, a man standing six feet five inches in height is waiting by the door of the tailoring service while his brother is fitting his suit for the engagement party. 

He scoffs and looks at his terrible suit and clicks his tongue.

"Do I really need to go to the wedding? Can't I just stay home?"

He talks to himself while the chauffeur is looking at him as if he is crazy. The man sighs and looks around the city as his brother comes out of the tailoring service.

"Stop sulking and get inside already. The tailor needs to get your measurement." 

The man rolls his eyes and approaches the tailor, who is wearing a blue vest and white long sleeves underneath it. His pants were checkered and he is wearing brown leather shoes.

He is holding a measuring tape and a pen in his ears. He is wearing an old man's glasses and his hair is brown. He has dark brown eyes and his smile is like a father's smile.

So calming and so contagious.

The man looks at him before facing the mirror in front of them.  The tailor starts to get his measurements. From his wide shoulder blades to his hips down to his long legs and his ankles.

After that, both of the brothers went home. The car ride is quiet yet comforting. But the man earlier is not excited about the engagement party on Saturday. 

Even the groom looks not excited about his own wedding; he looks out of the window of the car and wishes that he would have a fruitful life under the supervision of the oldest amongst them all.

Grandmama.

***

Humongous pillars standing tall and proud in the vicinity where the entrance is located. A heart-shaped metal-like figure welcomes every guest that enters the venue for the engagement party.

The red carpet is flown from a flight of stairs while flowers surround every small pillar as the guests arrive at the given hour by the hosts of the evening. Some arrive late while some arrive early.

The Matautia family arrives a bit early, taking pictures of the venue as well as the entrance. Aiden is not amazed by the decoration. He has much expected these types of decorations since Santoros are also wealthy like them. 

His mom is excited, though, as if she is the one getting engaged and not the names on the invitation card. He rolls his eyes and walks up to the red carpet, getting all the feels and the vibe from the entrance.

He smiles on his own, looking like an idiot, not caring about the random stares he is getting from the staff of the venue. He sways and even gives some flawless-looking performance on the stairs. 

Cassie is watching him as he moves. She does not know that Aiden can even dance like that. He dances like a flowing liquid; so smooth and so graceful. 

It looks so elegant and professionally made.

Cassie claps her hands and Aiden bows in front of her. He giggles loudly while Cassie laughs along with him. 

"You look awesome. That dance is extravagant!"

Aiden clicks his tongue and poses for the camera that Cassie is holding. He is smiling like a crazy person. His face is quite similar to the crazy Joker that they've watched on television minus the make-up and the over-the-top lipstick.

Once done with their picture-taking, they entered the venue as the big doors open and the staff gets their invitation. Master Evon handles his invitation to the personnel and waits for him to let them enter the main venue. 

The personnel nod at the other staff and lead them to their table while Aiden looks closely to the decorations as he takes a picture of the center of the stage. The Cleopatra chair in the middle of the stage is decorated with silver and gold.

[Classic.]

If the entrance did not amaze Aiden, this did. The flowers on the stands and the flowerbed all around, it is like a fairytale wedding in a form of an engagement party.

Aiden wonders if how the pairs met before. Is it unconventional or meant to be? 

He is roaming around the venue when he starts to think to himself.

[How will I meet my soul mate? How will I meet the one who will love me for who I am?]

He walks from table to table as his hands swiftly move from chair to chair as the guests enter the venue one by one. Staff is running around, checking everything, and making sure that everything is prepared and well.

From stereos to music, from host to the microphone, from the stage lights to the spotlights, everything must be in order or the head of the Santoros will not be satisfied.

Aiden wanders around when he accidentally bumps into someone much bigger than him. His eyes were icy blue and his face is the perfect ratio for men's beauty standard. 

Aiden begrudgingly stops in his tracks and stares at the man as those blue eyes stare at him back. Aiden tries to blink away and say sorry but those eyes were haunting his very existence.

Calling to him.

Aiden shakes his head and apologizes to the man. The man did not care about his apologies but he did felt something inside of him calling out to the person who bumps into him.

What is his name?

The man stops and watches Aiden's fading figure in the background. He sighs and fixes his mask as he strolls his way to the back of the stage, away from the people and away from the Santoros.

Aiden looks behind him, hoping to see the man again, but he only sees tall guys with perverted smiles. He grimaces and walks away.

[What a waste of opportunity to meet my only one?]

Aiden sighs and seats in between Cassie and his sister, Jasmine. Jasmine looks at him with wary eyes and Cassie continues to eat her bread, not caring whether Aiden is having his existential crisis or he had seen a handsome fella.

Master Evon stares at his son with worry. 

Truthfully, days before the engagement party, Aiden admits his second gender. He admits of being gay to his father, who is not shocked at all after what he had done to the butler and his lover.

He asked for them to come to the engagement party while wearing their uniform. Tasked them to blend in with the Santoros and sabotage the whole event. Knowing the maid's plan, the butler tries to disagree with his request; Aiden asked for Master Evon's cooperation.

The butler sighs and follows after the Master's order about this task. Even the maid can't do anything but say yes or she will lose her job in an instant.

Now, the two of them were blending in with the waitresses and other staff of the event while the Matautias were trying to look as innocent as they should be.

Aiden does not look forward to this event. He despises going to such an engagement party after seeing how the groom looks stupid in his red suit.

He sighs and puts his chin above his hand as he pouts his way through the night, hoping that something good will happen at this boring and awful party.