Chapter 1 ____ The Proem

|| KATHERINE HARPER's POV ||

" Welcome Back To New York, Kat! You look ravishing as usual!", Ezra welcomed me warmly at our very first reunion party. She was cheerful as usual and never changed, always giving out her big smile.

I smiled back nervously, eyes swiping over the number of familiar faces that I had seen in the past. They were all grown up like me. I was no longer the seventeen year old girl who would cry at a corner just because someone called my hair ugly. Reaching at the age of twenty seven, I had crossed all the immature levels of my life.

This reunion party came out as a surprise for me. Right after I landed in New York yesterday, my old friends contacted me to tell me that they were throwing a big reunion party. I was invited as well. Despite the uneasiness, I wanted to come just to see how they changed over the years.

Riverview was one of the most promising schools of that time. We came in first from every sector and held the reputation until today. Ezra was the main organizer of this event. So, she showed me everything excitedly,

" I can't believe that you will come. What good luck indeed! Anyways, catch up with our section girls there. I will be back soon."

She left in a hurry and I gazed up to see the girls from my section. The one with a big bun called Siara waved at me happily before swaying her ass to come on my way. She gave me a small hug before telling me,

" Katherine Harper!! Long time! My goodness! Ezra said that you won't ever come back to this city."

Well, I thought the same because this city has nothing to give me except pain and my bitter memories. Even breathing there was a curse for me. I smiled back awkwardly, trying to seem unaffected by my emotions,

" It was my plan honestly but now it's changed."

I tried my luck in foreign but it didn't go well. Now, I thought that it was my best chance to shine in New York with the best degrees that I had earned. Nothing special..I just wanted to start a shop of my own but before that,I needed a secure job to gather some money.

Siara nodded with understanding and asked in a doubtful tone,

" Well.. about your father.."

Oh damn! I didn't want to talk about the bitter memories that I was trying hard to forget. Everyone in the town knew that my father wasn't a good man but this didn't mean that she had to bring it up everywhere.

My face became uncomfortable without realizing. Before she could push more questions on me, a warm voice soothed my soul,

" I think, it's better that we avoid personal questions here. It's a reunion party, dude."

I looked behind my savior with a warm smile. There, my perfect boyfriend,Rowan Katteso. Whenever I thought that I was a miserable being in the whole world, his presence comforted me. His deep brown eyes pinned on Siara who eventually stopped asking.

Rowan and I had been dating for almost six years. We completed our graduation in Canada together and even came back to our home in New York together. I could never ask more than him.

Siara went off with a huff. Rowan smiled big, coming next to me. His hand casually wrapped around my waist and told me,

" You okay?"

I nodded with a small smile and heard Ezra's voice through the speaker that interrupted our conversation,

" Hello Ladies & Gentleman! Welcome to the reunion party of our favorite Riverview High School. We have many many special segments for everyone. But right now, I would like to start with our most interesting game, The Guess Kissing Game."

The crowd chirped together happily. I made a puzzled face, not understanding the game at all. I had never played something before. Ezra continued, explaining the rules through her speaker,

" So the boyfriends will stand on the stage when the lights go off. One girlfriend has to go over there with her eyes wrapped and find her right boyfriend to kiss. It's okay. It's just a game. Don't take it personally guys. Am I clear? Brace yourself girls."

" Holy shit!", I cursed, shooting Rowan a baffled look. What if I kissed someone else?

Rowan assured me, pulling me into his embrace,

" It's a game. Don't be so nervous! I know, you can find me easily. Remember, last time..You managed to recognize my scent?"

I bit my lips together tightly. Yes, I won last time hence today wouldn't be anything different. After spending so many years with him, it was easy to track down his facial features.

______

I never thought that the game would be so exciting. Most of the girls in my class had come with their boyfriends or partners. So, it had become a sort of loyalty test for the girlfriends. I was standing in front of the stage. Ezra had already tied the black clothing around my eyes. The lights were off already but they still had to put this bandage.

Ezra shouted through the speaker again, sounding more excited than before,

" Come on, Katherine! The one who finds it fast is the winner. I know, you can do it. Come on!"

I took a deep breath and stumbled to get on the stage. There were more than fifteen boys on the stage who came with their partners. God knows where Rowan was standing. After the first few steps, I used my nose to track him down. Rowan used his dark chocolate flavored scent always. Usually the smell was very rough and strong. After wandering around the stage for a while, I finally got the smell that I was looking for. He was standing on the left, a few steps away from me.

A proud smile crawled on my face to think how I knew my boyfriend better so quickly. Dragging my footsteps that way, I anticipated the moment to grab and kiss him in front of everyone.

My heart sped up like a teen who was going to have her first kiss with each step on his way. When I was just a step away from him, someone pushed me on the other side. Before I could fathom anything, a cold pair of sinful lips caught me by surprise. I felt blank momentarily, too blank to do anything.

At the moment,my mind started to get fresher, the same familiar feeling of bubble gum hit my nostrils. It was the same intoxicating like before, carrying the same craziness that I never wished to witness again in this life. The kiss froze me at my steps until I heard a whispering voice into my ears,

" Welcome back, Principessa!"