A Night to Remember

Alessia's Point of view

The atmosphere buzzed with animated chatter as I stepped into the elegant banquet hall for our college reunion, my arms linked with Hailey's. The soft glow of chandeliers reflected off polished tables, and laughter filled the air, but I felt a knot of anxiety twist in my stomach.

“I told you I didn't want to come to this event, Hailey. Look at how genuinely happy everyone looks,” I pointed out, scanning the familiar faces with a hint of jealousy.

“Ninety-five percent of the people here are faking it, Sia. Don’t be fooled,” Hailey replied, rolling her eyes. “Have you forgotten how it used to be? The various cliques and their fake friendships?”

“I remember,” I said, trying to suppress a smile at her bluntness. “But a lot of time has passed since then.”

“Exactly,” she stressed, squeezing my arm reassuringly. “Time has passed, and that means you’re not the same person you were back then. Through everything you’ve been through, you’ve evolved into a confident and beautiful young woman. I’m proud to have you as a friend.”

Her words warmed my heart. “Thanks, best friend. What would I do without you?”

“You’d go around this hall with your chin up, your signature smile on your face, and actually have fun! If anyone pokes fun at you, just holler at me,” she instructed with a half-serious, half-amused expression.

“Will do, Hailey.” Just then, a guy whose name I vaguely recalled—Geoffrey from Statistics—approached her. They exchanged greetings and walked into the crowd together, chatting animatedly.

I took a deep breath as I watched them go. The last few days had been a whirlwind for me; Hailey’s idea to come out here and socialize was meant to help me take my mind off things. She even suggested hitting the club right after the event, and I was all for it. After Dad had collapsed a few days ago and been admitted to the hospital, I needed a distraction.

The doctors had run tests on him and informed me that his kidneys were functioning at dangerously low levels; he would need a kidney transplant as soon as possible. I recalled sitting there absentmindedly, staring at the floor while they read out the cost of the operation and the rare possibility of finding a donor soon.

“Alessia?” Hailey’s voice broke through my thoughts as she returned from her conversation with Geoffrey. “You okay? You look like you just saw a ghost.”

“I’m fine,” I lied quickly, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes.

“You sure? You can talk to me about anything,” she said gently.

“Thanks, but really—let’s just enjoy tonight.” I took a deep breath. “I’ve taken two days off from the restaurant to look after Dad. Martha’s holding down the fort for now.”

Hailey nodded sympathetically. “I’m here for you, no matter what happens.”

I didn't doubt that one bit. Since our college days, she had been there with me through thick and thin. Although her parents were rich, she wasn't a snob like most people a.k.a Ethan Gage.

As we moved deeper into the hall, an unexpected shiver ran down my spine at the thought of him. His name flickered in my mind like an unwelcome memory. He was from one of those multimillionaire families that made it easier for him to get into our school—unlike people like me who got in on scholarship.

We had classes together, and for some reason, he always made me feel like dirt beneath his shoes. I didn’t like him either—despite how much the girls in my class gushed over him. Sure, he was handsome, but his arrogance and grumpiness made him utterly unappealing to me.

“If I see him now,” I muttered under my breath, “I’ll feed him a punch for all those times he made fun of me.”

“Who?” Hailey asked.

I didn't realise that I had voiced out my thoughts and knowing Hailey, saying ‘nothing’ would make her more curious.

“Ethan Gage.” I replied.

Hailey laughed lightly. “Just remember: you’re not that girl anymore. Whatever he did to you then doesn't matter any longer. You’ve grown so much since then.”

“That’s true,” I said with conviction as I pushed myself off the wall I'd been leaning against and headed toward the bar to get a drink. “But it’s time to get my groove on.”

As we approached the bar, I glanced around nervously. I wasn’t expecting many people to recognize me after all these years—but after that humiliating video Ethan had made back in college? I knew some faces would remember.

“Sia, watch out!” Those were the last words I heard before colliding with a hard chest.

I winced, bracing myself for the fall but strong hands held me up. “Watch where you're going or even better, book a session with an ophthalmologist.” a husky voice snarled.

I bit back the apology that was on the tip of my tongue and raised my head to see who it was. My heart sank as I found myself staring into a pair of familiar blue eyes towering over me.

Bloody hell! Of all the billion people in the world, why did it have to be him?

I did a mock gasp, “Oh, look who it is! The human embodiment of a bad attitude.” A collective gasp escaped from the bystanders.

I brushed past him but he tugged my arm, drawing me back to himself. I caught a whiff of his minty cologne, a scent that stirred memories I had tried to bury.

“I see you still haven't changed, Alessia. You still have that loose mouth of yours running like a tap.” he responded, his eyes lingering on certain features of my face as though he were memorizing them. His jawline was sharper than I remembered, and his hair—dark and tousled—framed his face like a Greek god.

The way his lips curled into that infuriating smirk made my heart race against my better judgment.

“Nice to know you’ve upgraded your charm since college,” I shot back, trying to mask how flustered I felt. “What’s next? A seminar on how to be insufferable?”

He chuckled softly, and for a fleeting moment, I found myself captivated by the way his smile lit up his face—his high cheekbones and deep-set blue eyes that made him look almost ethereal. Stop it! I reminded myself sternly. You’re not allowed to appreciate a fine specimen who has a foul mouth.

“Well, if you’ll excuse me, I have far more interesting people to reconnect with,” I retorted, spinning on my heel and striding away. Each step felt painfully calculated in my heels, the click of the shoes echoing my frustration. I could sense his gaze burning into my back, but I refused to look over my shoulder.

Some things were best left behind.