THE GALAXY IS YOURS

THE GALAXY IS YOURS
None of us came here with a ball in mind. So while Christopher’s staff set the house for the occasion, we went shopping.

Christopher and Nectar went on their own. Zeath and I also left together. I don’t know where the hell Beavan took Yolie to.

Choosing Zeath’s tuxedo wasn’t an issue. It was selecting my dress that became the hassle. However, we finally make a choice by picking a black velvet dress with a fitted bodice, which transitions into a voluminous, floor-length, layered, flare skirt that is longer at the back and has a tulle underneath.

The entire design of the dress fits my fancy. But what throws me off is the fact that it’s strapless, exposing the shoulders and the collarbone.

There’s also the fact that the bodice has a subtle sweetheart neckline. But those can be managed. After all, the ball will only last for a few hours.

Zeath gets me a pair of black kitten-heeled pumps with red soles and some diamond jewelries to match.

After that, we dump everything in the car and proceed to have lunch at a restaurant.

“A grain bowl for my wife, please. Avocado toast and salad for me,” Zeath says to the waitress as I use his phone to go through the internet.

“I really don’t know what goes on in these people’s heads. What do their lives look like?” I mutter to myself, albeit Zeath’s responds.

“It’s topnotch entertainment to them. That’s why it’s left to us to pick what they should know. What do you intend to do about the rumors?”

“Well, I’m certainly not going to write a long note on my social media, stating how Christopher and I are not dating. That would be the worst, as they would only slap back with unreasonable facts. Christopher and I talked about it. He said he’ll clear the air first. I would do nothing if it was left to me alone, but I need to say something as well.”

The waitress serves the dishes. And while I’m still invested in his phone, Zeath starts eating.

“When did you say was the Chairmen conference again?” I ask.

“Within the first quarter of next year,” he replies. “We haven’t really discussed it yet.”

“Before the conference, I’ll show up to fully clear the air. By then, Christopher would have revealed himself to the world.”

“I wish it were possible to erase every damn degrading comments on the internet, but it seems you’re too popular,” Zeath mutters. “Everyday, my people work to remove at least a million bad posts and about three million bad comments, yet it keeps multiplying on a daily basis. Even the bots crash from time to time.”

I can’t help but chuckle at that. “If the netizens had enough work on their hands, they wouldn’t be so bored.”

“Thankfully, your supporters are out there too, battling them.”

I place Zeath’s phone on his side of the table. “Those battles aren’t even what I want. I just need everywhere to be calm. But it seems like every time one issue settles down, another pops up.” I understand that’s the sacrifice of being well-known. You just won’t enjoy your privacy anymore. “Anyways, on to new matters. I’ve been a bit surprised that you aren’t minding Christopher dating Nectar. It’s so unlike you.”

“I’m old now, Mellow. The previous me would mind. But now I’ve reconciled with the fact that Su Pointe is obsessed with my family. It just shows how priceless the people around me are.”

“Why did I still sense a hint of the ‘previous you’ in those words,” I say with a chuckle. “You sound full of yourself, like you’re bragging.”

Zeath smiles, shrugging. “What’s there not to brag about, my love? You’re literally all the good packages in one.”

I can’t help blushing at his words.

We may be having a very nice lunch, but the view in front of us is very surreal.

There are the hills and the greens, as well as doves engulfing the clouds in elegant veils—the fabulous blessings of nature. And above all, Zeath is beside me.

Even though I go through trying moments from time to time, having Zeath and my kids by my side is still more than I can ask.

“Before I forget, Nectar told me she saw East,” Zeath mutters before flushing down his food with gulps of sparkling water. After that, he adds, “he’s a taxi driver in Country P now.”

“Are you willing to find him?” I ask.

Zeath nods. “I am. And I will. One of these days. He’s my only remaining family, after all.”

I pat Zeath’s hand.

If anyone would ask me, I would say I’m very much satisfied with how things has gone so far.

Mom, who is now quite old, is being taken care of. Oasis, though spent some time clearing herself publicly of the issues that arose from her drug addiction and getting her medical license back, is now a head doctor at the headquarter of Pointe Medicals.

And while Zeath handles the company, I’ll continue with my therapy. I’m currently forwarding my education to get a psychological license. After that, I will build a center for mentally or emotionally burdened individuals.

Now, finding out that Christopher’s still alive, and reuniting with him, has topped things for me. I only hope it continues this way because while I’m able to handle online issues, I don’t think I can deal much with another series of offline threats.

>>>>>>>>

Evening arrived too quickly.

When Zeath and I prepared for the ball and came down to take in the decorations of the sitting room, it was around 7pm.

All the stuff in the living room had been stashed away. Now it actually looks like a hall, the windows open but draped in heavy velvet curtains that are parted in a sophisticated way to reveal the gardens and the moonlit night outside.

There are a few prop installations of decorative pillars to give the hall a regal look. And, lastly, crystal and glittering chandeliers hang from above, scattering soft lights that turn every moment magical.

Yolie is dressed in a green ball gown. Beavan is clad in a black tuxedo to match Yolie’s dress. Christopher was with Nectar, and only comes down now.

It’s almost 8pm, and we’re all standing by the stairs, looking up to receive the belle of the ball—Nectar.

She shows up soon, and I can’t help but gasp at the similarities between us.

As the rest of cheers and applaud the girl, they also note that as Nectar is dressed in the same gown and shoe as I am. Except, her gown is red colored and her shoe is golden, and she is more gorgeous in it.

The dress’s design, with its strapless top and full skirt, accentuates her figure without ditching the air of grace revolving around her.

Irresistibly, I look at Yolie to see the joy in the woman’s eyes as she stares at her daughter. It’s then I realize the one thing I envy Yolie for—not knowing the pain of losing a child.

Quickly putting that aside, I watch as Christopher nears the stairs to receive Nectar. But the girl, who now notices me, shrieks and skips down by herself, and halts right in front of me.

“Aunt Mellow, we’re twinning!” she screams. Before I can say anything, she adds, “I want to see aunt Mellow and Blank dance. Both of you should open the ball tonight.”

“All of a sudden?” Christopher asks, he seems nervous as he looks at her. He’s probably scared of her sudden actions. Anyone would be.

“It doesn’t matter, Nectar,” I say.

But the girl insists. “You both are the OGs at this, aunt Mellow. Dad once mentioned you two danced a lot. I’ve been curious to see it. And now I can satisfy my curiosity. Please do it—for me, at least.”

Christopher and I exchange glances. I’m not against us dancing. After all, it won’t be bad to see if we still have it in us to move like we did before. Zeath doesn’t care about dancing so we never danced. I think I may have lost my steps over the years like Christopher said he did.

“Let’s try?” I tell him.

He nods with a smile, stretching his hand to me. I take it, and he leads me to the center of the hall.

While I place one of my hands on Christopher’s shoulder, his snake to my waist. Then we link our remaining hands, starting the slow dance just as the music strikes.

“It’s a good thing that your eyes remained the same after all these years,” I say to Christopher as he leads me backward a few times. “They never changed.”

The man smiles. “But yours did, in a good way.” He leads me sideways this time as a wave of cold air coming through the window hit us. “A while ago, our past cut through my mind, and then I look at you now and wonder ‘the sky really has been your limits, Mellow Lupin.’”

I didn’t know I had been smiling before. I only now realize that as the smile widens. “And the Galaxy is yours, Christopher Su Pointe.”

“You’ve said nothing about Blank Patriarc so far.”

“Well,” I shrug, “we’ll see about that.”

PLAYLIST.

Young And Beautiful (Lana Del Ray) DH Orchestral Version — Theme.