Chapter VII

The incandescent lights from Reighly's room reflect her dress that went off like a disco ball.

"How do you like it?"she asked while twirling and glancing in front of a long mirror.

"Definitely inspired dress from the 90's if you think". I picked and pulled a string from my dress. "You're just gonna steal attention for sure".

Reighly turned back at me and gave me her look. "My lies won't help", I suggested.

"As if I am convinced", she said.

"Exactly", emphasizing my point.

She stops her show off in the mirror and goes straight outside, but before she could even step foot on the doorway she looks back.

"Two weeks ago, you remember what you said when we were at Carso right?"

I stare at her straight, "Wait, you mean about the deal?".

She nodded.

"Don't tell me you have already met someone for that?", I shockingly utter.

"Actually, I have, he's gonna give us a lift to the event. I bet he's gonna be here soon", then she left.

I went after her. "Reighly, why didn't you tell me ahead about this guy?", I complained.

"You said I can pick someone so I picked. Besides, I will make sure he's your preference", she confidently said.

"But I don't even have a background idea about this guy", I once said.

"That's the best part of having a blind date. You don't have any idea who you will be with". She gently slapped twice my cheeks with her four fingers and left.

I went back inside her room. I sat down on her bed. I pout in my position and sigh afterwards.

On the other hand, I felt nervous inside. I never been with a man alone, except with my Dad of course. I don't have any idea how to give impressions for a man to know my motifs. I probably should have read ahead of time about this stuff. If ever Reighly tapped me about this coming guy maybe I could be more prepared.

There's a ring in my phone. I grabbed it in my purse and looked at the caller's ID. It was unknown. I stopped for a moment to contemplate the possible callers. Then, I just remembered that this might be the publishing company that I recently sent off my resume since I never got any response from them.

I touch the accept button. "Hello?", I answered.

A long frequency sound can be heard on the phone. I repeated, "Hello, who's this?"

For a moment of hearing there still that same sound then it hangs up. It left me hanging in my seat. Not knowing who it was or who it might be.

"Maybe just a wrong number", I convinced myself.

"Who's wrong number?".

Reighly came into her room. I look at her, "Someone's trying to call me on my phone but there's no voice so maybe it's just the wrong number". After I finished explaining the call there's a knock on the door. Reighly excuses herself to open it and I went following her.

There, he stands wearing a tuxedo. He looks tucked and sharp. I nearly thought he could be the one I'll be dating tonight but I was wrong. He gave Reighly a cheek to cheek kiss while both hands were flying away in the air, seemingly, like wearing a handy bag, a designer bag to be fit.

"Karrole, I want you to meet Carlos. He's a freelance fashion designer in New York. And, Carlos, this is my best friend Karrole", Reighly introduces.

"Ow, darling, it's a pleasure to finally meet you". He gave me his usual cheek-kiss and went straight to look at my dress. "But, why with this dress?", he asked.

I lost in his question, "Pardon me?".

"Nuh-uh!". He clicked his hand. It seems like he didn't hear me. "Do you have other dresses dear?", he keeps on scanning my dress.

"No", I answered but the doubt was there.

"No, not you. Reighly dear do you have to spare?", he switches to Reighly.

Reighly things for a second to answer, "I have, but most of them are too sexy and Caroll doesn't like those things' '.

"Show me", he turns me back and pushes me inside Reighly's room.

He open Reighly's wardrobe. He scans every dress and sorts them according to her best advice.

"Did you call him for me?"I confronted Reighly, who was standing beside me.

"No", she answered.

"Then why is he here?"

"He's also invited to the wedding. He's the one who's gonna give us a lift".

"I thought the one who you set me up with is the one who's gonna give us that?"

"I know, he is his uncle"

"THE WHAT!?"

"I know right. I was also in the same reaction as you now when I found out about it"

"He looked too manly for his identity", I whisper.

"I met him when I was at a convention a few months back. I never thought he knew Claire not until I heard about his name as Claire's wedding designer"

"And his nephew?"

"Oh, Peter. Carlos introduced me to him. He's well mannered actually that's why I want you to meet him"

Carlos continuously raid the dresses. Some are too fit and some are too daring for me to wear. I instantly felt uncomfortable and regret to whatever dress he would pick.

"So, his name is Peter? You never said his name earlier", I complained.

"I thought, since you're gonna meet him eventually, the exchange of names is included in the process. Besides he didn't know your name nor your background as well", she answered.

I slowly looked back at Carlos and I was shocked at what dress he had in his hand.

"No. I will not wear that", I quickly said.

The dress was a silky backless gold dress that is inches above the knee. It has a silhouette gold sleeve attached to the dress.

"My advice is never wrong dear. This dress will suit you perfectly", he said.

I am still not convinced.

"I agree", Reighly seconded.

Now, I am against the two.

"With your skin tone and the shape of your body, the dress will compliment your statistics. I am sure of that". Carlos gave me the dress and pushed me inside the bathroom.

I battled inside but I came to the point of ending it. I put on the dress and came out after a few moments.

There are basic reactions I can recognize and one of those is shock. As I came out, the look of shock from Reighly made me feel excited and happy inside. Is that really a big deal? Carlos, on the other hand, smiled at me. As if he knew he was right, on which is right.

"Now, let's go", he said and went out the room to the door. Reighly grinned at me before he followed Carlos out of the room.

"This better be good", I said and closed the door.

When we arrived outside I saw Peter waiting for us. He wears a black tuxedo while both hands are in his pockets. I was astonished as he smiled at me. He removed his hand in his pockets and face towards us.

"Karrole, I want you to meet Peter, he's my nephew", Carlos introduces.

"Pleasure to meet you Karrole", he said and hugged me.

"My pleasure as well", I awkwardly answered.

I didn't know he was this polite.

"Shall we go?", he turned on his uncle and Carlos eventually nodded and went to the back car along with Reighly.

"You're in the passenger seat", Peter said when he saw me confused for a second.

"Yeah, yeah", I chuckled and received his hand while opening the door of the passenger seat.

"Thank you", I said and he nodded with a smile at me.

*********************************************

The bride and the groom said their vows in front of the altar. Later on, they both look happy and eventually the groom kisses the bride after the priest announces to them, "You may now kiss the bride".

I never understood how could that be so sacred and a must when both of the couple have already kissed before. Or, it represents their first kiss as man and woman?

After everything that happened in the church the event continued in the reception area where lots of attendees filled their guts with various kinds of food and beverages. The bride and the groom slowly danced on the center of the dance floor and eventually, gradually joined by a couple of pairs syncing their feet and hips to the music.

Suddenly, I felt sadness pouring inside of me while watching both the groom and the bride happily dancing on their feet.

"Penny for your thought?", Peter said out of nowhere. I look at him. He still wears the same smile when I first saw him. He had two drinks in his hands.

"No, nothing", I answered and looked back in front. There's a long silence. He sips his drink.

"Did you know that I find events like this unnecessary? I actually almost don't want to attend", he whispered to me.

"So, you didn't believe in marriages?", I asked.

"I do. I do believe it, but the flowers, the excess decorations, nuh-uh!", then he leaned and whispered in my ear". "I prefer a small and a literal sacred one".

I took a glimpse of him and I saw him grin. I chuckled at the thought.

"Then why do you attend if this is unnecessary and out of your preferences to attend to?", I asked.

"Because of you", he said.

That never made any sense to me, "What do you mean by that?". I spoke while nervously chuckling beneath my sighed.

"Reighly told me about you and the dating matters and I decided why not. Besides, it's awesome to have your first date in a place like this right?", he answered. "By the way, you look lovely in that dress", he commented.

I look down on my dress. It immediately sends shivers and shame on my body, "Well, it must be paid off after all the strength I mustered just to walk up those stairs". I am referring to the eyes of the people while I'm going up the stairs in the front of the church.

I said it after adjusting the hem of the dress to level it with my knee but unfortunately the dress is not stretchable enough to suspend it that way.

"To inform you, there's actually lots of couples that meet in events like this. I guess those are their first dates?", I commented and faced him.

"Really? tell me", he said then face in front.

"Well, I thought you would tell me. I'm sure you already went to several events not limited to this and came out with a date even though you never had one when you arrived", I spoke and looked down. I can feel that he looked at me so I faced him.

He never showed emotion but eventually he grinned and stared at me for a couple of seconds before he spoked. I didn't know he had a pair of fine blue electric eyes.

He leaned towards me, "How about you? I assume you also attend events like this and end up having a date?". He threw back the question.

"To be honest", I shake my head and then take a sip of the drink.

"Why not?", he asked.

I chuckled, "I never like dating, actually it never suits me", I answered.

"Now, I'll tell you, dating suits you. That's the only thing you must remember starting now", he said. He looked at his empty glass and stood up.

"Will you excuse me for a second? I'll just have to go fetch some drinks, I'll be right back".

"Okay not a problem", I answered.

I bring my eyes on the dance floor and watch as they dance to the slow music. I smiled when I once again had my silence.

"So, hiding behind the background?", I turn my head towards my left side. The least person I wanted to see right now had just appeared holding a glass of whiskey in his right hand like a billionaire with his side chicks.

"Dylan", I uninterestedly said and came back watching the couples dancing. I can't imagine right after we arrived at the church that Reighly's plus one was Dylan. That can be reasonable since Patrick was already out of the option for her. But picking Dylan is not what I anticipate.

"It's sad how you pronounce my name in that way", he commented then walked straight to Peter's chair and sat there carelessly. I rolled my eyes the moment he made himself comfortable with the chair.

"Yeah, like it's been unpleasant ever since just as the owner of that name", I answered him.

I never used my disrespectful tone to someone before intentionally unless it is necessary and under obligatory conditions. I would like to think that this situation with Dylan is under that certain condition of mine that permits me to use it.

"Look Karrole", he put down his glass of whiskey on our table, "I never wanted this to happen. I didn't like what I did and I'm so sorry for it. Those were only just a joke and it's my fault that I didn't see the consequence of that action. I do apologize for that".

I took a sip from the glass of alcohol in my hand and thought for a second. I gradually felt guilt and shame. This man wanted my forgiveness but I can't even give it to him. What he did is insensitive but it never broke me inside, only just disappointment and acceptance of his behavior.

I look at him. His green and intimidated eyes stared back at me. It causes me to look in the other direction to prevent myself from being caught.

"If you can't forgive me that's okay, I understand. I just wanted you to know that I'm sincere with that apology and I promise that it won't happen again", he followed up. I look at him once more but this time, I can see from his face that he's serious.

It hit me. The image of the accident came flushing in my head like a bullet train. I have the forgiveness all along but I never gave it. I always apologize, I always, but there's no forgiveness given. I always say sorry but there's no response of fine or okay. I once said at home. Twice in the fall. Several in the winter. Always in the Summer but there's no response.

"A-are you okay?", Dylan asked me. He tried to wipe my left cheeks when I realized I'm in tears.

"I-I, I'm sorry", I said to Dylan and left with my purse in my clutch.

I immediately ran outside, clacking heels in the cobblestones and head facing downwards. I can hear the people's laugh, their chattering, mumble of words from their mouth, the music from the loudspeaker. They don't know what is happening. Suddenly, I heard the voice of Dylan shouting my name. It never stops me from running because I know I should. The crimes that I did cannot be reversed nor can be right. Forgiveness? Who gives forgiveness to a criminal. A criminal who killed her own father and made her brother miserable and a drug addict.