The banquet (II)

"Young Miss, you're ready to go!" Anna cheered. The smile on her face widened as she stared more on the girl standing awkwardly in front of the mirror. It had been only a year and the Young Miss in front of her had changed so much.

If it was before, cute was the correct adjective to describe her, but today, pretty and beautiful were the closest words to explain the perfect specimen in front of her.

Her fair cool skin tone alongside her dark brown hair complimented the brown eyes she possessed. Anna couldn't tell how pretty she would become when she became a teenager or reached adulthood. She probably was witnessing a goddess in the making.

That was when Ava's room was knocked by someone. "Young Miss, I'll go and see." Anna hurriedly went to the door while Ava was watching from afar. Soon, she saw Zen's head popped out behind the door.

"Ready to go, my princess?" he asked. Somehow, it managed to make a smile lingered on Ava's face. "Where were you before? You stood me up!" Ava walked towards him while pretending to be angry. As she got closer the view of him increased her admiration. From day one, she knew how good-looking he would be when he grows up, but seeing him right at this moment, she felt lucky. He was truly a handsome boy!

"I'm sorry, I'm a busy person." Zen held out his hand and bowed a little. Ava frowned but soon giggled after knowing his intention. "Alright, since you're my bodyguard today, I'll forgive you." Ava gladly accepted his hand and they walked out of the room hand-in-hand.

Anna who was watching the whole scene giggled, almost shrieked at the cheesiness shown by the two of them but remained silent for she wanted to see more. In her eyes, the two children were always sketching new colors on the canvas of their own world. Both were the charming gardeners who make each other souls blossoms.

Anna closed the door and followed the pair of children towards the entrance where a limousine was already waiting for them.

Willow Sr. was already inside the black limousine. He watched Ava and Zen walked hand in hand. His face saddened as he saw them talking and laughing together but soon his face returned to its normal happy old man.

"Grandpa!"

"Good day, sir!"

He watched them take their seats in front of him. His eyes caught Zen's knowing smile and pondered, "This boy hasn't told her anything?' he wondered why.

"Zen? Do you have something to tell me?" Ava's question made the two people looked at each other. Willow Sr. could only sigh. He always forgot that he was an open book to his granddaughter. Zen maintained his blank expression.

"Grandpa?" Ava wasn't satisfied. She turned to her grandpa who was the main source of her curiosity. "Ava, please be careful at the party. You cannot simply asked the things inside people's minds." Willow Sr. reminded her. At the same time, it was the perfect excuse to avoid answering her question.

Ava's mouth formed an O and she immediately used the palm of her right hand to cover it up. Over the year, she had known that sometime she could read other people's minds. She freaked out once she knew about it but over time appreciated the gift given to her.

Besides, she had learned not to use her ability. If she didn't want to, the things inside their mind would be safe from her knowledge. She also held strong to her principle. To the people she cared, she wouldn't pry into their mind if there was no urgency to do so.

"How am I suppose to take care of you?" Zen looked at Ava while shaking his head. Then, he sighed implying the difficulty of the so-called task as her bodyguard. Ava frowned not believing what she saw.

"Then, you don't have too. Just play around with Ivy or Melyta or the girl's with green hair... urgh, what's her name grandpa?" she tapped her forehead several times, pretending to be in deep thought.

"Georgia," Willow Sr. chuckled at his granddaughter's antic. "Yep, Georgia!" she said the name out loud next to Zen's left ear.

"Ohh, then maybe I should." Zen immediately answered. His serious face indicated that he was really considering the option.

"It would be fun to hear their so-called self-appraisal or the lists of their expensive toys. Who knows they'll give me one as a souvenir," he nodded again, this time his face showed a determination that it was the right thing to do.

"Really? You're really doing that and leave me alone?" Ava knew that Zen was pretending but the thought of him spending time with those girls really wrecked her heart. Besides, they were a bad influence on him or to any good children out there.

"Hmm, you're the one who suggested it," Zen answered nonchalantly ignoring the sad expression on Ava's face. He wanted to see how far this would go until she gave up. Of course, he would never entertain those people she mentioned, not when all they did was acting narcissistic and boasted about the richness their parents' possessed. They were a total bore to him.

"No! You can't. Today, you must accompany me to finish all the cakes and chocolates. Yep, that's a deal!" Ava made an X with both her arms then proceed to make a pinky promise with Zen. Seeing him hesitating, Ava took matters on her own hand, she grabbed his pinky finger and intertwined it with hers. "There! No breaking the promise," she grinned.

Zen was astounded for he wasn't expecting her conceited self to show up this soon. Still, he gave her the smile he would only show to her. "I'll try my best!" he said while staring at his fingers, wondering if the trace of warmth he felt earlier would soon be gone. His heart sank the moment he remembered the conversation he had with Willow Sr. earlier in the evening.

Ava could tell that Zen was hiding something from her. She was tempted to read his mind but for the sake of her principle, she withheld her desire. She decided to let the matter off for now. Sooner or later, he would tell her, like he always did.

"Alright, here we are. Ava, follow grandpa first, Zen, you too. Once I introduced you to my associate then you can do whatever you want," Willow Sr. fixed his collar and realized the troubled expression on Ava's face. "Little princess, is something bothering you?" he asked, concerned.

"The man that supposed to be my father, is he here?" Ava met her grandfather's eyes. Her right hand was tightly holding Zen's left hand. The pressure was painful but Zen let her be. He knew what she was feeling at the moment.

Willow Sr. face darkened in that instant. "Yes, he will be here. He is one of the directors of the Smith Corporation, the twin of W&J Corporation. But don't worry, I believe no matter how bad he was, he will not harm you. His fatherly instinct will stop him from doing so," he explained. Soon, he regretted saying so for there was no guarantee to it.

Ava could only smile for she knew the contrast of what her grandfather was saying with what he was thinking. "Well, it will be better if I am to meet him. We can talk it out!" she said with animated gestures.

They all laughed once Ava's calmed her exaggerated hand motions. "Sir, I will look after her in case she decided to ruin the banquet," Zen added on to the joke. And the laughter once again erupted inside the spacious limo.

Once things cooled down, they stepped out of the limo and entered the tall building where the banquet was held.