Emery by Miu

"Zoe and... Emery?"

We turned around to see Mrs. Lee's warm, jolly face and found the smiling woman walking towards us.

"Hello, Mrs. Lee." I politely greeted while the pink haired girl was blunter.

"Mother-in-law! I'm happy to see you again!"

Zoe zoomed towards the woman, and they kissed each other's cheek while I just stood there, feeling envy.

"Come, come." Mrs. Lee grabbed our hand and guided us from all these crowds.

I felt all eyes were staring at us while Mrs. Lee held her head high, seemingly proud.

After seconds, my eyes finally found the young boy that was constantly appearing in my dreams.

"Lawrence! Lance! Look who's here to greet you on your birthday!" Mrs. Lee announced which made the crowd of teenagers huddled around them glance in our direction.

"Is it sis?!" Lance excitedly exclaimed.

However, his beautiful smiling face turned sour when he saw me behind his mother.

"No silly. Your sister already said that she wouldn't come." Mrs. Lee stepped aside, exposing us in full view for the audience to gawk at.

"Wow! Who are they?"

"They look breathtakingly beautiful!"

"Are they celebrities?"

"The air around them is very different from us. I felt smaller just by looking at them."

"Hey! Pretty Lady!"

Lawrence broke the trance as he smoothly made his way towards Zoe, kissing her cheek which made the girl stunned as the audience gasped. Then he turned his pretty eyes towards his brother and motioned his head in my direction.

Lance sighed before he slowly made his way towards me.

He secretly glared at me when he stopped just inches in front of me.

....

....

I was lost just staring at his deep mesmerizing brown eyes that I did not notice that he was signaling me for something.

"Bent down a little. I can't reach you, you know." He mockingly whispered with a mixture of embarrassment in his cute voice.

"O-oh...."

I was like a robot and obediently heeded his command.

Whenever it came to this boy, all my grace and poise just vanished before me.

Lance awkwardly tiptoed and dinted his cheek against mine as a greeting.

It was just a faint contact.

Not even kiss.

Yet my legs lost its strength as my arms flew around his neck in an embrace for support.

Lance was stunned for a moment; then he awkwardly patted my back.

....

....

"You can let go now."

My body automatically released him when I heard his angry and somewhat annoyed voice.

"H-happy birthday..." I said instead to cover my embarrassing behavior.

A pretty young girl with smooth, silky black hair. Brown eyes highlighted by that long lashes. Cute nose and thin pinkish pouty lips with smooth porcelain skin and oval shape face.

She was beautiful, and oddly...

She reminded me of Leanna.

Only, this girl was much more girly, demure, delicate and gave off an aura of supremacy.

Like she was cut above the rest.

"Sorry 'bout that."

Lawrence's apologetic voice woke me up.

I slightly tilted my head.

I did not know why he was apologizing.

I was not really offended by his brother's crass actions.

Nothing can really offend me when it comes to Lance.

"Come. I'll guide you two to your seat."

Lawrence grabbed Zoe's hand which made the girl blush.

"Lawrence, bring them to the family table." Mrs. Lee winked at us before she strode off to greet some guests that came pouring in.

Lawrence just slightly shook his head while smiling. Then he led us towards the front family table where no one was sitting at the moment.

"I'll leave you two pretty ladies here first. Find me if you need anything." Lawrence winked at us, then he motioned to dart off, but Zoe grabbed his shirt.

"H-happy Birthday!"

Zoe shyly said and handed a small neatly wrap box to Lawrence which the young boy accepted with all smiles before giving the blushing girl a peck on her lips.

"Let's talk later."

He whispered before he walked away, carefully sliding Zoe's gift inside his pocket while the stunned blushing girl remained paralyzed on her seat.

I glanced enviously at Zoe.

Are they going out?