The Formal Meeting
Georgina wakes up because of the sun rays from outside the windowpane. She feels something off, even without trying to open her eyes.
The bed is too small and feels cramped. There's a lot of noise outside from the neighbors or vehicles passing by the area. She's about to sit but feels something heavy wrap around her waist. Her instinct kick in, abruptly opening her eyes just to see a half-naked man sleeping beside.
A long silence came, trying to remember what happened yesterday but before she can think straight without knowing her body move to kick the man out of the bed. A loud slam on the floor can resounded inside as the man groan in pain holding his waist still half asleep.
On the other side, Georgina looks at herself from head to toe to make sure nothing happened, but her clothes change. She covers herself with a blanket and looks at the man with terror.
"Argh! What the f*ck is wrong with your unpredictable mind?" Henrick said, raising his voice.
Georgina look surprised to see the man from the bus and little by little the memories from last night came like a film, but not all. She remembers only until they are talking to the stool bar and the rest get blurred.
"Don't look at me like I harassed you. Ask yourself before you accused others."
He stand up and stretch up his body.
"W-what do you mean? Did I do something wrong?" She asked out of curiosity, although it made her feel embarrassed.
Henrick turn to her with disbelief look, he steps forward and shows him his arm and neck where she bit last night.
It's visible and bruised that she feels embarrassed and looks away, lowering her guard. She never drinks a lot before, so there's no way to know what her drunk habit is, but just seeing it in person makes her cursed to herself.
"It's not only biting, you kissed me in front of my band mates and keep nibbling my ear. You sure have a terrible habit when drunk, so never drink again." He said, picking up his shirt and wear it. Despite his calm side, Georgina is at a loss for words. Her ears are turning red while wishing to vanish like a bubble. "You must have a hangover. Drink water first. I'll take you home later."
She catches the water bottle he throws, stare at it for a second before drinking almost half of it.
"I-I'm sorry, you don't need to take me home. You don't know me much, but I always bring trouble for you so..."
"Georgina is your name, right?" He asked. It made her nod. "You sure act like a decent woman when not drunk but a monster when drunk. I never see a person change so much like you."
"W-well, I'll make it up to you so..."
She couldn't finish her words when her phone rings.
Both of them look at the bedside table, but Georgina frown when she saw her mother's name on the screen. She hesitates to answer it, but it rings again so she could pick it up and give a sign to Henrick to not make a noise.
"What do you want?" She asked.
"Are you desperate to rebel at me in silence? What are you doing in a shabby motel? Give yourself to others to step on my pride?" Her brows frown.
She stands up, letting the blanket fall on the ground, and looks outside the window. There's a familiar white car outside. The window on the left side was open. There she saw her evil mother lowering her sunglass. She tightens the grip on her phone while clench the other hand out of anger. First thing in the morning, it's only 8 o'clock, but she's already messing up with her.
"Are you just going to stare at me? Go down, we need to go somewhere."
"Where do you think you're bringing me?"
"You'll meet your fiancé. It's his birthday today. His family invited us to the party, so come down or I'll come there by myself."
"F*ck off, evil witch. Don't show your face before me. I'll come down by myself, so stay there and wait." She hangs up the phone, feeling frustrated, and closes the curtain.
"What's wrong with you?" Henrick asked, but she didn't answer and search for her clothes.
He gives it to her without a word, but the sudden change in her attitude worries him. It's the same eyes when they first met each other.
"Thank you, and I'm sorry for last night and today. I need to go. I'll treat you next time."
Georgina didn't wait for him to answer and go outside with her things.
One of the men-in-black escorted her towards the car, but she didn't resist and follow him in silence. Until she went inside, her mother intentionally spray some disinfectant that annoys her. She slap her hand away and it made the bottle slip in her grip and fall on the ground. They stare at each other with despise and madness. The tension inside arises. Even the driver and his secretary gulp in nervousness.
"Hey, get out and change seats with me. I don't think I can keep quiet with an evil witch sitting beside me." The secretary flinch when Georgina broke the silence.
"O-okay,"
They change their seats and continue to drive somewhere she didn't know. Her evil mother and the secretary are talking about business on the back while she keeps looking outside the window with heavy feeling inside. There are many thoughts running through her mind. It's all about Giovanni's family. As soon as she left the campsite yesterday, she called for help to his father's friend. He's a doctor and director of a famous hospital in the country. She's close with him and Warren. Without dilly dallying, she asked for favor and he accepted it without a second thought.
Almost three hours after her call, he called her back to tell that they had already transferred Giovanni's family into their hospital and did an urgent surgery. Until now, she didn't know what happened.
After a long drive back to the city, they stop inside the private boutique for women that only rich person can enter. There are different luxurious brand of clothes and sandals display inside. Some known rich family and celebrities are also inside searching for things to buy. It made her uncomfortable. Even when she was young, she never dare to enter on this kind of store.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Alvarez." The woman said as they stop in a dress corner.
"Did you get everything that I choose ahead of time?"
"Yes, let's go inside the private room for her to try it on."
The woman who's wearing a navy blue pencil skirt and a tucked-in plain white long sleeve polo leads them inside a room. As they enter, Georgina saw a clothing rack where different formal dresses hanged. Even if she wants to protest, in the end she tries all the dresses. She changes one after another without resting, but it does not satisfy her mother with everything.
An hour passed, she's already feeling tired and her mood seems off. The woman gives her the last piece of dress. It's a pink knee-length cocktail ruffle chiffon semi-formal dress. She heaves a deep sigh before going inside the fitting room and wear it. After a while Georgina came out feeling frustrated, but saw Marga sitting beside her mother. They look at each other, but Marga avoids her gaze, feeling guilt.
"I'll wear this f*cking annoying dress. Either you like it or not." She said. "Let's not waste any time and give me a pair of sandals that will fit this dress." She mandated to the woman, who look surprised at her sudden change of attitude but later on following her command.
"You're impatient, child. Remember, you're going to meet your fiancé and his family, so fix that terrible attitude. Don't embarrass me or you know what will happen." Her mother said. "Marga told me the place where you transfer your ex-lover's family,"
Georgina look at Marga with disbelief and anger, but she didn't make a single eye contact. She clenches both fists, gives a short laugh.
"It looks like both of you are having fun playing with me,"
"Don't get mad at your cousin, she's doing a good job to follow a person who has power than brain."
An awkward silence lingers inside. Georgina keeps breathing heavily to stop herself from bursting out.
"Fine. You should have fun while you can, laugh as long as you want."
"Ma'am, try this pair of silver three inches pointed stiletto." The woman came back with a shoe box on hands, not giving the two to talk back.
She glance back to the two sitting before following the woman and tries the sandals if it fits her size.