25 AFTER PARTY

[ELLIS' POV]

"Where are you, Ellis?"

I'm changing my clothes into the suit and tie that Eros gave me while talking to Dione who is very excited to see me in this suit.

"I'm still in my place, why are you asking?"

"Because! I really want to see you wearing the suit and tie Mr. CEO gave you after you cheated on him!"

"Well, that's funny." I laugh sarcastically.

Making me more guilty.

"I'm kidding! Castor is the one who first cheated, so don't worry about it." She laughs.

"Dione, I don't want to tolerate cheating okay?"

"I'm just saying that, you are both in fault. Whoever comes first, no one can judge, because you are both in super fault, alright?"

"Thanks."

"Good!" She said and suddenly she panic, "Oh my god! I already see Mr. CEO here in Hotel M, he's super duper handsome!"

Eros is there? ALREADY?

"He's handsome in suit and tie!" Dione shrieks.

"He's handsome in any looks." I whisper.

"I heard that!"

I chuckle.

"I'm done, I'm going to get the pastries, see you later!" I said to her and we hang up.

I looked in the mirror and the suit and tie that he gave me, it does suits me than any other clothes that I wear.

He knows my size as well.

It makes me blush a bit, thinking that.

I can't wait to see him.

•••

[EROS' POV]

"Mr. Beckett, everything's ready." Griffin said.

I smile at the big celebratory room.

"Everything's perfect." I whisper.

"What time will the Chairman come?"

"In 20-30 minutes."

"You can already let the people in." I say and he nodded.

"You looked dashing, Mr. CEO."

I turned around and Eryx is there.

"How's the work going?"

"I've been busy, Eros. I don't have time for you and it makes me sad."

I chuckle.

"Do I looked okay?" Ares suddenly speaks beside Eryx and he shows his suit and tie.

"Yeah, you looked good."

"Ha! I bet there are girls around here with beautiful faces and long legs." Ares smiles.

"Beautiful faces and long legs? Is that you, Eros?" Eryx teases and I chuckle.

"Very funny." Ares reacted and he continues, "Anyway, let me just check our guests for tonight."

Ares walks out leaving me and Eryx together. Eryx looks at me and he grabs the end of my sleeve, "Anyway, Eros, can I talk to you later?"

"Sure, about what?"

"I can tell it later." He whispers while smiling and he walks out too.

I wonder what it is.

Knowing Eryx it is either related to his project or his feelings for me.

"Mr. Beckett, these are the programs for tonight's party." He hands me the paper.

"Okay."

I looked around as the people went inside, they are already chatting and drinking their wines serves by the waiters.

But, I have a specific person that I wanted to see and that is my little brother.

"Are you looking for him?" Griffin asked.

"He's going to come, right?"

He nods, "He must because he have the pastries with him."

"Do you think he will wear it?"

"Don't worry so much. Wrinkles will follow."

I sigh, "Okay. I will just trust my guts that he will wear it. I hope he likes it."

•••

[ELLIS' POV]

As soon as I entered the room, it was filled of people's laughter and beautiful evening gowns and decent attires. Everyone is sharing a chat with their colleagues and I don't know where to go, I've been contacting Dione but she's not answering her phone.

Some people are looking at me and I don't know if I wear my suit and tie correctly or do I looked ugly? Or does my face have dirt?

"He looks cute."

"Who is he?"

"He looks like a model."

"Maybe he's an actor!"

What are they saying?

"Ellis!"

Wait, I know that voice! I turned around and Dione came hugging me.

"Finally! Look at you! I think I'm going to cry!"

She said.

I chuckle, "Why? Is there something wrong?"

"No, silly. You looked perfect!" She smiles and nudges my shoulder, "Anyway, did you already gave your pastries at the back?"

I nodded.

"Good. Now, we can enjoy the party."

"Dione, actually, I'm not here to enjoy but... I'm here to see him. I need to talk to him."

"I expected that you will say that. But he is still busy because the party will start in a minute."

"Okay. Maybe, I can see him after."

I've been looking around just to see if I can catch a glimpse of him but he's not in the crowd, I think he's busy as per Dione.

"Are you going to join the after party?" She asked and I answered, "It depends if I can talk to Eros and we are okay."

I'm still looking for him. I want to see him so badly! Where are you, Eros?

"Ellis?"

I turned my head to my right side and seeing Ares with a lady in an evening gown.

"Um, hi." I said and Dione greets him.

"So, you are! Eros told me he already met you and I just can't believe it! I mean, I thought we're not going to see each other again. And you never told me that you're the guy in the elevator." He chuckles.

"Sorry, I was shy at first."

I think that was a lie? Or I just don't want to see Eros that time, that's why I hide.

"Don't be! But, you've grown up and looking good. Thanks to you, our life is amazing."

"What do you mean?" Their life?

Before Ares starts to talk, he got cut off by Eryx who suddenly shows up and says, "He means that, since Eros met you, Eros has been very happy lately and we think, it's because of his little brother."

I may not like Eryx that much but, he said things right now that made my heart fluttered.

When Dione sees him, he greets Eryx.

"You think so?" I asked and he looks at me.

"Of course." He smiles but the way he makes that expression, I know he's faking it.

Since I've met Eryx in high school, there's a part of him that gives me chills and until now, I still do.

Especially when it comes to Eros.

"Did you already see Eros?" He asked.

"Not yet."

"Oh there he is!" Ares points at the stage.

As soon as my eyes landed on him, my heart beats fast and I can't help myself but to admire him from a distance.

Everyone is facing at the stage and clapping their hands as he went in the middle.

"Good evening, everyone..." He greets and while he's speaking to us, I just can't stop but to feel so proud for him.

He achieved this all by himself.

"Let me introduce to everyone, the Pinetree Corporation's Chairman, Sander Vanderborg."

Everyone clapped their hands and an old man, I think in his 60s stood up at the stage, patting Eros' back, smiling at the camera and to the people.

So, that's their Chairman, the one who really owns the Pinetree Corporation.

"I want everyone to see the growth that the Pinetree Corporation had overcome all these years as we present to everyone our success."

Eros' introduces and a projector screens went down and a video plays.

Eros' is watching the video and I see how much he handles the company, I smile while looking at him.

"He might melt." Dione whispers and I nudge his shoulder.

Seeing him right now, makes me want to cry.

And a thought came that I've never even realized it before. My heart might explode right now.

•••

"You can send him a message instead, Ellis."

Dione said as we're standing here near the balcony of the Hotel M and looking for Eros.

The party had ended but there's an after party being held here in the big room, so I'm guessing Eros is still here. Or I think?

"But, I don't even know what to say."

"You can tell him that you want to talk to him and of course, he can't resists your endless cuteness." She smiles.

As soon as I saw him, I quickly went for him, trying to catch up wherever he's going.

"Ellis, wait!"

"Dione, it's fine, I can go ahead."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah!" I answered and I continue running towards Eros but he went to a room and I'm about to go in but my footsteps stopped me when I saw Eryx went in too.

Why are they together? Should I go and have a peek? But what if... what if, no, it can't. There's no way Eros and Eryx... I know it gives me the doubt but, I trust Eros, he would never...

I stand beside the door while they're inside.

"Eryx, what do you want to say?"

I heard Eros speaks.

"About us, Eros."

My heart is beating with panic and I don't want to conclude anything because I know Eros, he would never ever love anyone but me.

Or, am I being selfish?

"It's been awhile since I told you that I loved you, right? And today, I think you should consider my feelings now."

"Eryx..."

"I want you to come with me in Japan tomorrow for the business meeting. I know you want to come back, right? And maybe, we can stay since we have business over there as well."

Eros didn't say a thing.

"I know Japan is my favorite place and we have lots of memories there, Eryx. But-"

"Eros, consider it. If you come, I'll take that as a yes, okay? So, I'll be waiting at the airport." He says and suddenly I heard a glass shatters inside the room.

What happened? Did they fight? Did Eryx do something to him? Or Eros got angry?

When I sensed that someone will come out of the room, I quickly hide behind the tall vase with a plant on it.

As I thought, Eryx went outside and walks straight to the after party.

What happened at Japan?

He has lots of memories with Eryx there, as he said to him. So, that means something had happened between them. Shit. I don't know what to think anymore. I don't like this.

I put my hands over my head to stop myself from crying and I just can't imagine the fact that Eros will not choose me. If he goes with him, I will not see him again like what happened to us a few years ago.

"El?"

I slowly turn my head up and when I see Eros, it made me cry more. He is standing infront of me and he sits on how I'm seated right now behind the tall vase, "Why are you crying?"

How embarassed I am to him right now. I'm not a kid anymore but I'm like a kid that cries because some other kid stole my ice cream.

"Don't go... please."

•••