chapter one

"Love exists between a woman pretending and a man pretending"

"So who's the host?" I asked the girl who stood beside me while clutching my arm a little tighter over the loud chatter around us. Glass hitting against one another and people's voices fill the big hall, a soft and vague melody coming from the band playing as a piece of background music. Rosa, my stepsister or more like my best friend giggles as the look of discomfort contorts my thin makeup-covered face.

I didn't feel good today to put on heavy makeup over my breakout face but what can I say when Rosa De Luca, the girl who wouldn't shut up if I refused her offered of this great idea to accompany her to this- another one of the party.

I mean is not that I hate parties but is it just not my thing- especially when I am struggling with the girl problem right now but since I've been isolating myself in my small apartment over the past weeks- why not.

She gasped an exaggerated gasp when I asked her that but I ignored her little comment about me being too unsociable.

Our heels make a loud sound over the shining tiles as we make our way around the big hall filled with well-dressed people surrounding us and suddenly I feel small being in here, totally out of place as I notice some of the people throwing us or more like me every once in a while glance in my direction.

This is not my first time being in this kind of situation but somehow this has always made me feel nervous, unlike Rosa, who is used to this kind of party and I know that she loves attention- I mean not in a bad way, she's confident with herself and I love that about her.

I threw my gaze to look at her walking confidently, head looking up straight and her smile never left her face.

Somehow I am thankful for her not to leave me every time she promised me she wouldn't leave me alone or I would die out of nervousness and panic attack.

Rosa squeezes my arm as she notices my stiffness and pulls me with her away from the crowd to the corner, where all the food is situated. Once reaching the place she begins to stuff her face with dessert and I followed after her. Her head whirled to have a better look at me in the process.

"I am shocked that you don't know who's the host for today's party" I rolled my eyes at her words, "oh I'm sorry that I'm stupid" she shook her head a little as she shrugged her shoulder.

"Well, I'm just shocked that you don't know my uncle?" I studied her face silently as she kept stuffing her face with food and when I replied with a simple 'No' her eyes widened as if I had committed a crime.

"What? Really?" her nose crinkled, "Vincenzo De Luca? Ring a bell" I shook my head this time as for the answer to her obvious question. I frowned a little at the mention of the name. Vincenzo who? But ignored it nevertheless.

"You shouldn't expect me to know everyone in your family Rosa" she gives me a half-smile and patted my arm while muttering a soft 'Sorry' and we continue stuffing our stomachs until we are not able to eat anymore.

• • •

The night went by just like I imagined. Nothing ever changes- same people, same topic, a little show off here and there, and honestly, I am getting tired by now with the feeling of aches and pains on my stomach.

I walked a bit farther as no glimpse of Rosa was around the area I was at while searching for her when I caught a glimpse of my mother figure walking elegantly with someone by her side, hands tangled with a man beside her. She smiled once she saw me and a tight smile stretched my lips when I approached the couple.

"Angela De Luca" the unpleasant feeling run down my spine at the mention of the name but I nodded in acknowledgment, not wanting to be rude or create a scene.

"Angela dear, where is Rosa?" my stepfather asked me softly as no sight of her daughter around with me, "she told me she's going to the restroom" he nodded in understanding and offered me a seat with them and the other family members which I refused without hesitation.

"It's okay, have a goodnight Mr. De Luca ..... mother" from the corner of my eyes I could see his smile fell a little before a big smile form on his lips when I looked at him and because of that I made my way out of the suffocating hall towards the balcony that caught my attention.

One thing you should know is that- I am a scaredy-cat and the farther I can make roaming around these unfamiliar places was around the near exists- don't go around playing hero inside an unfamiliar place kid- It's dangerous, you might get lost and the last thing I wanted was to get lost in this big mansion but instead I see the wide-open door leading to the balcony.

My eyes gleamed in admiration as I take in the night scenery display right after my eyes, so far this is the best moment since I arrived here. The feeling of the night breeze hitting my face makes me let out a sigh of contentment.

Fly Me to the Moon

Let me play among the stars,

Let me see what spring is like.

On Jupiter and mars-

I turned my head slightly at the sound of faint music echoes around the empty and dark balcony as I stood in the middle of the big spaces and I frowned in confusion.

In other words, hold my hand

In other words, darling, kiss me-

I jolted out of my standing position as the music followed with someone soft voice, hitting my ears. I spun to the side, following where the song came from when it sounded louder as I made my way near it,

I paused on my step as I saw a man leaning against the railing with one hand holding the mobile phone- where the music came from was looking ahead of him, staring deeply into the night.

By now he was humming to the rhythm of the sound, oblivious to the stare behind him or so I thought.

"Are you enjoying the song too?" he asked suddenly and I snapped out of my trance and started to walk away when he voice up again louder this time.

"I am not asking you to leave now am I?" I spun my head around and crossed my hands over my chest and he too did the same.

"It's lovely" I smile a sincere smile as I feel a little bit challenged by the demanding voice he let out a few minutes ago.

"But don't you think the song is a little bit too-" I pause as I look at him up and down. For some reason, I couldn't see his face clearly due to the poor light-emitting around the area and I needed to narrow my eyes but to my luck, only a shadow covered his whole face.

I am not judging him but looking at his appearance and his intimidating self, I do not think he's into this type of song, a really rare type of him.

He raised his eyebrows as I studied him slowly and he walked closer towards me, hands in his pocket as his shoes made a sound of his every step over the cemented floor.

"You look pretty up close" huh? I stood there dumbfounded, as he walked past me to the exits, leaving me alone in this cold night before the empty and silent atmosphere accompanies me.

Who's that man again?