The party went on, with everyone chatting and drinking.
Unlike the parties Smiles attended, this was different…classical and full of filthy rich men and women, dressed in expensive suits and their women with expensive ball gowns and jewelry.
She never had any jewelry and she wasn't complaining, bit like she wanted any.
Watching the crowd dancing left a smile plastered on her face. The atmosphere was so lively and good that she felt drowned in it and never wished to go.
Her gaze caused the sight of Keane walking in her direction, her smile broadened but was quick to fade at the sight of the brunette beside him. She was the lady he'd been hanging around with, Lisa…. his first love and girlfriend. Smile hasn't seen her since she came unless it's just now she's coming.
The sight of them holding hands like couples ache her already bleeding heart making it bleed even more. She staggers, almost falling. Thanks to the man behind the counter, she didn't fall.
"Be careful, beauty" He said and she nodded before saying
"Thank you". He just flashes her a sweet smile and continues his way.
Seeing how they kept on approaching her direction, she turned her head in the other direction, not wanting to look their way, deliberately pretending not to have noticed them.
"Likewise" she heard him respond to Lisa's questions. Only then did she turn to them, faking a slightly surprised face.
"Hi!" She breathed out, smiling. It took her all her strength, the stress pattern could be seen clearly on her face.
"Hello!" Lisa's tiny voice came.
"Lisa Warren…" She extended her hand for a shake. Smiles were taken aback by words…did she just say Warren? Or is she over-thinking?
Only one family is going by that surname and that's Mark's.
Her eyes grow wide at the realization that they might be related…but how? Mark never told her anything about his sister.
"Smiles…Smiles Laverne" she says, accepting her hand for a shake.
Her gaze met with Keane, he didn't say anything and just stood there by Lisa, watching them. Normally he was the one to introduce the ladies but him being himself, Lisa didn't wait for him and just proceeded.
"Can I have some wine, please!" Lisa said to Keane putting on a puppy dog eyes. He couldn't turn her down, she's his love anyway. Nodding, he walks away leaving the two girls.
"He's such a loving man, bestowed with everything a girl will ever wish for in a man, " Lisa said, staring at Keane's broad back. Smiles could only nod, there was basically nothing she could say.
"Got a guy?" Asked Lisa, taking Smiles unaware of her question.
"No!" Came Smiles's response.
"Not like I've never dated before though…just not having one now" she added and Lisa nodded.
"What happened before you septated?" Asked Lisa. She couldn't recognize Smiles because she'd never seen her face, even when she had the chance to. Little did she know that Smiles was her boyfriend's pleasure bag.
"You mustn't answer…sorry for jumping into your personal space…just like chatting with new people," Lisa said, noticing her sudden silence.
"No…it's ok…just don't know where to start," Smiles said smiling. She didn't know Lisa could be this friendly, and she felt bad judging her after their first encounter. It wasn't her fault though, she was so hurt because Lisa injured her and didn't bother saying sorry.
"Anywhere is cool," Lisa tells her.
"I was cheated upon by him with my best friend," Smiles said, recalling the time she walked into them making out. It hurts, but not like before and she's glad she's getting over it.
"So sorry…didn't mean to remind you about your terrible past" Lisa apologized feeling guilty.
Smiles chuckles seeing her reaction.
"You don't have to…I am cool with it anyways" She tells her. Lisa nods.
"We started dating when I was eighteen and him, twenty-two" Lisa said smiling. Smiles could see the love in her eyes and there was no lie about her feelings for him. This made her feel guilty for being the mediator between two people who are in love.
"I was young and naive but with him, love was real" she continues.
"How old are you now?" Asked Smiles.
"Twenty-three…our relationship didn't last actually, we broke up after almost six months of dating for some silky reason" She chuckles, finding it funny again.
"And what might that reason be?" Smiles are curious to know.
"I wanted to go study in the country and he didn't want me to go…and me, as young and vibrant as I was, I just couldn't fold my hands and say yes to everything…a girl must do what a gi mist does…so, I broke up with him" She explains.
"The saying that love never dies is the best fit in this case…we are back together after five years of being apart, he never stops loving me" she explains with a sweet smile plastered on her face.
Her cherry red lipstick enhances her beauty, making her look more like a seductress. She had a red open-neck straight gown with an exposed back.
"Do you love him?" Smiles questions.
"You don't expect me not to love him, do you?" Lisa said the obvious, smiling.
"Of Course, I thought…though not like before, the love is there" She further explains leaving Smiles still holding her breath. Only after a long time did she exhale, nodding.
"It's good then" Smiles watch Keane walk them, handing Lisa the drink. With a nod, she excuses herself, unable to take any more sight of them
How was she supposed to deal with them now? She feels like the bad person trying to separate both of them. But why didn't Keane introduce Lisa to his family as his girlfriend? Why her? What are his plans?
Only unanswered questions lingered in Smiles's head, leaving her hanging in space, in the world of questions.
Trying to calm herself down, she saw them, Mark and Xena. Walking towards her, it's like a test on her self-control. Watching them with the malicious smile on Xena's face was no good sign but her being Smiles, the only last one of her kind, she could only brave up herself, putting in a straight and happy face.