TA Chapter 5 Party
Bantu Continent, Dugavu State, Mazi City, The Monument.
13th Blue, 2043. 7:49PM
Ril Milena(POV)
Earlier today had been both exciting and exhausting. I had never laid eyes on such a large number of people gathered in a single place! The plaza had been filled to bursting, with some even spilling out into the road and the nearby buildings! It had set my heart aflutter with excitement!
Then the crowning moment came when my idol had stepped up on the podium. He had been dressed to the nines in a black tailored suit. His jet black inch long hair combed perfectly. His chiseled jawline plus the driven gaze had accelerated my heartbeat to the point where I had thought the organ would burst from my chest. I had only gotten a brief glance when he had been welcoming us, but I got to stare at him for a long time during his speech and the subsequent time when he sat down along our row of seats. I had wanted to speak to him then. The topics we could discuss were many, yet I had still failed to catch a lone moment with him. After the public appearance, he had vanished before I could approach.
I was feeling as if my energy had vanished. The sun had baked me during the day. Whose fault had that been? Dan Mpologoma! The beady eyed man had to yapped on and on without pause! If it hadn't been for Miss Snow's interruption, I was certain he wouldn't have stopped any time soon!
I was now standing before a double door, having paused to gather myself. I straightened my back, adjusted the yellow fabric gloves, whose sleeves had crept all the way above my elbows, and patted down my dress, a flimsy two strapped golden thing with glittering micro beads woven into it, reaching all the way down to my ankles. I had chosen it myself, this time making sure to firmly reject my mother's choice. She had agreed owing to me being baked inside the gaudy heavy thing I had donned earlier today.
I inhaled deeply before exhaling. In reality, I didn't want to be here. Mom should have been the one to attend, but had given the excuse of being tired, as if I too, hadn't been through her earlier experience! The only reason that she had managed to persuade me was the fact that Mr. Luthor was going to be here. I don't know how, or why my mom got her hands on such intelligence, but it didn't matter. Before this night came to an end, I would make my introduction to the man!
I walked through the doors, my eyes taking in everything around me, from the decor, composed of crystalline glass chandeliers bathing the soft red-carpeted floor with their light, to the spaced out tables, each covered in a white cloth and topped with all manner of beverages and food.
Even from here at the entrance, the aroma of the food, the various perfume scents, human odours, and wine, had intermixed into something that at first, made me wrinkle my nose, before acclimating just a few seconds later.
The gentlemen were clad in dull colored suits and matching pants, black shoes that had been polished to a mirror finish, glinting in the light from the chandeliers when unveiled briefly from among the shadows. The hairstyle range was wide, as I spotted dreadlocks, mohawks, and even the rare afro. Though, most who had such diverse hairstyles had most probably fought in the beast war.
The women were another matter entirely. Dresses in all styles and colors lit up the room like a bouquet made up of various flowers. Most had their hair bundled upwards, or in ponytails, having taken the chance to show off their slender and fair necks adorned with necklaces carrying gemstones like peacocks. I even spotted one woman, among a group of others surrounding a table, caressing the large diamond collared on her neck as if the others hadn't already seen it, judging by their subtle glances.
Faint piano music drifted within the room from somewhere, with the conversations sometimes smothering it. People had already segregated themselves into various groups based on gender, social standing, and familiarity. Most of what I picked through the conversations was about mundane stuff, but as I walked by, people still stared. Some yearned to speak with me, I could see it within their eyes, especially the men, yet they lacked the courage to approach me due to my standing. The women on the other hand either gazed at me with blatant scowls, or indifferent masks as I waded by them. They wanted to be me. It was something I had realized from a young age at school.
My eyes, which had been trailed to the front captured a male who finally picked up the courage to block my path. He was a youth, maybe about the low twenties in age, fair skinned with light blue pupils that were almost white, and a face akin to that of those young masters I had read so much about in my novels, handsome, yet not musculine. His blond locks had been slathered with something to make them obey, falling towards the back of his scalp, with his sideburns a crimson, probably from dye.
A faint pompous smirk was plastered upon his face, his left hand within the pockets of his dull yellow pants matching with his suit.
"I believe you must be miss Ril Milena. It's a pleasure." he said before taking my left hand and kissing it's back.
Now I was starting to understand why ladies loved carrying those fans around. They hoped to hide changes in expression! Disgust had almost planted itself upon my face, but I held it in with sheer will, plastering a faint smile upon my lips.
"People are supposed to start by introducing themselves." I squeezed the words through my teeth with difficulty.
"Oh! Now that can be solved. I am Maximus Lubowa. My father is the owner of Maxi Properties in Mpologoma State."
This was the problem with those that grew up with a golden spoon in their mouth. Instead of focusing on himself, he had just flaunted the power behind him.
A palm slithered into mine with my heart leaping to my throat because of the invasion. I almost yanked it away, with the embers of anger budding within my mind only to vanish when a familiar brutish voice entered my ears from the side.
"I am taking her away! Now, scoot away, pompous brat!" a feminine voice snarled.
"And who are you?!" asked Maximus, the beginnings of a frown on his features. I was pretty certain that if I hadn't been here, he would have rained hell. But he had to play the decency card because he cared about his image in my eyes.
"Move away, boy! Antagonizing me will be your doom!" Marissa threatened, her short brown locks, which were usually free to whip around, now tied into a short ponytail, with her chubby cheeks framed in a cute pout. Her brown eyes were glaring at the youth, daring him to do something.
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"Honestly, some brats have to be taught their place." huffed Marissa, pulling me through the crowd, her steps clearly stomping with rage.
"What if he had called your bluff?" I asked, allowing myself to be pulled along. Her actions were doing me good, preventing other opportunists from approaching.
"Please! In this place everyone is someone, or has someone behind them. There is no way he would try to antagonise me without first doing his homework!" scoffed Marissa.
"Besides, you and I both know you would never give him the time of day, after all, your crush is way better!" she turned to me with a wink. I felt a heat rise up my cheeks.
"Anyway...have you seen him around?" I asked after releasing a fake cough. It was embarrassing of me to ask that question, but I had just arrived, and the people were so many that I didn't know where to start.
"So far... No! When he does arrive, I am very certain you won't miss him."
I nodded at her words. Among all the heads of the five States, Luthor Dugavu was the most sought after by the people in high places. The business opportunities he could provide alone were staggering compared to the others, mine included.
"I don't see any gems on you. And I had thought you would join the Gem measuring contests I see going on around here."
"Please, Ril! I'd win by a landslide! You and I both know that. There is no way to flaunt myself among the lesser." Marissa's voice carried thick pride.
Before I could come up with a retort on top of my head, we finally appeared before a table, one whose composition of people made my lips curl upwards. This was most definitely the place I wanted to be!
"Ril! I have been hoping to have a conversation with you. I want to know more about the kinds of discoveries Milena has made related to the space outside our Planet." an elderly man with white hair chottled, his eyes bright with eagerness.
"And I too, would love to listen to your theories about some of our discoveries, Professor." I answered, my heart racing in both excitement and anticipation.