Prologue

BEST LUCK

"You...What are you doing here?" 

Cassidy, my cousin shouted at me the moment her eyes leered on me like I do not own any right to be here. It's obvious also that she doesn't want to acknowledge me as her relative, nor her cousin.

I don't know how to react on her but just like the same, I remain low-key and silent.

"Who told you to come here, huh? You know that already, aren't you? You have no place in here, Carmilla."

I'm still silent when she added those words. I feel so low and out of place most especially when people surrounding us inside this hall, stared at me with pity and some are profusely disgusted.

Tears are forming at the side of my eyes,

"I...just wa-want to see Draco."

I said with my head bent low.

Few seconds of silence before she laugh.HARD. Making me feel like I am the dumbest person in this entire world.

"Really? Are you out of your mind? And you really did choose a wrong timing, eh?" 

She violently sighed before instantly pulling my hair to the core and drag me backwards my direction. I muttered a curse in my head due to the extreme pain I felt before I forcefully withdraw myself from her rage.

And while looking at her reaction just by now, I perfectly noticed how her expression changed from anger to shock.

"Woah, you know how to defend yourself now?" she uttered, like it is so unbelievable.

It is not my behavior to talk back to the people I loved. To the people I treasured the most since I'm just an orphan. To the people I treated, as my family. They hated me at all times but I am still not giving up of hoping that one day, they'll become the opposite, that they'll be good to me, they'll accept me as a family, and they'll love me. 

All hits, bruises, scars, and heartbreaks they give me, I accept it wholly with no complains. I accept it for an exchange of a thanksgiving to Aunt Alodia and her daughter Cassidy, for allowing me to have a shelter, food, and many more of my needs as I grow up.

My breathing slightly hitched when Cassidy slowly traces her pace towards to where I'm standing. Wearing a long red off shoulder serpentina dress that really hugs her curves accord to its perfect size, together with her well-made messy bun hair, cute size of bangle onto her right arm, plus her well-defined features by only applying a fresh make-up look, her aura screams nothing but elegance.

The sooner she arrived just mere few inches away from my face, she shamelessly examine me from head to toe with her arms crossed and one brow shot up. 

"You really have no delicacy, Carmi." she said it with full of disappointment according to the way she shook her head while saying that statement.

I only came here to greet the love of my life for his 24th birth anniversary and to tell him something important, then no more and much no less.

"Cass, believe me. I just want to see Draco, that's all." I pleaded, hoping she'll grant my request.

She shook her head again, but this time, slowly. Disbelief can be seen through her eyes. She turned her back and I witness her graceful moves as she walk past by some round tables and immediately snaked her slim arms to a man's forearm whose standing approximately four meters away from me. They talk for a bit before excusing both of themselves to their guests.

I curiously stared at the man's physique. I do not want to assume but the moment he turns around together with my cousin by his side and already tracing some steps coming my way, I just realize...he had grown. A LOT MORE.

The way he walk with his formal glittering suit, nothing's changed...he is still so handsome, and ruthless at the same time due to his a-not-so-friendly face. Those gray eyes whom I fell superlative, well-built physique I once held onto, stubble that is very accord to his perfect-shaped jawline that made him look more arrogant, and his silky and smooth hair that's now gorgeously arranged sideways, Draco screams authority and pomp. 

"Drac, your EX is here. She said she wants to see you." Cassidy clearly emphasizes that two letters, 'EX’.

Not minding too much of her statement, Draco's hypnotizing eyes bore into me. By the time our eyes locked, I won't deny it, I miss him. Bad. I've been longing to him. It's been a year now since our last meeting. Memories of him driving me away to set me free filled all the access of my mind. All the pain he caused me, were all still fresh like he just inflicted it yesterday.

"What are you doing here?" he spat out with no filter and half-angrily. Giving signs he isn't happy to see me here.

I still had not enough of surveying his more mature self now. For sure, admiration is truly evident from my eyes. I noticed how his forehead creased due to irritation together with his naturally thick well-fixed eyebrows.

"You are not invited here." he sharply added. My insides flinched for a second, pang attacked my system most especially my fragile and sensitive heart.

I wanna run and beg him to come back, but that is not possible in any way now. I'm not numb to not know what's going on between him and Cassidy. But on the contrary, I still want to try my best luck. After this and still nothing will change, I myself will go away and won't ever bother him anymore.

I step two-steps towards him, "Draco, look...I-I just want to see you."

But before he could even utter his reply, I immediately rush onto him and hug him tightly. I closed my eyes as I savor the moment. I miss him so much. I sniffed his fragrant rare smell. Strong yet so manly.

"Drao, please come back. I didn't cheat on you, please believe me. You are the only one I love the most both since and then. You know that, right? You've got the wrong info. You know I can't do that--”

Before I could even finish my words he immediately withdrew himself from my touch that I almost trip by that sudden move from him.

"Stop it, Carmilla. I'm done with you, WE ARE DONE. I don't love you anymore, can't you see that maybe it's just only YOU who forces yourself too much although we all know that I would never come back to you? Listen, why don't you go on with your life and pity yourself? I am sorry but I am devoted now to your cousin. I love her, more than I loved you, actually." 

I'm just staring at his eyes all the time he said those, not minding the ache I felt to both of my eyes cause of crying. It's like, the way he deliver those statements, he wants to instill every bit of it inside my head. Like he's explaining a lesson to the dumbest person in the whole world.

"You are so unbelievable, Carmi! How dare you say that when I'm just beside him? You are insane! How in the world God gave me a hypocrite and thick-faced cousin as you? Mom's right. You really have no delicacy! I hate you so much!" Cassidy's interference.

And the sooner I discover that maybe she'll lay a hand on me, I immediately cover my tummy for instant protection. But that supposed to be a hard slap didn't come, Draco get a hold of her with utmost gentle as he whispered calming words just right at the ear of my cousin. Thousands of sword stabbed my chest in no time while I'm observing of the way he took care of Cassidy. 

I'm now starting to hiccup, and I hate the fact that I'm at this situation whereas they look down on me with so much judgment and pure disgust. 

"Cass, please tell Draco the truth. I know that you just twisted the situation, I didn't che--"

With not finishing of what I'm saying, Draco instantly came to me and grab a handful of my right arm with full force, dragging me outside the hall.

"Draco, it hurts. Please let me go." I pleaded while my left arm is protecting my tummy from any incidents that may happen.

When we arrive outside he immediately removed his hands and let go of me harshly, not even caring about my condition.

"Cassidy gave you a wrong information. Why don't you believe me? I was your girlfriend that time."

I barely asked as I could not bear the stinging grief anymore. I don’t know how I’m going to accept all of that, when everything that just happened earlier were already too much to take in.

"Will you stop acting like I'm the one who have sinned? Bullshit!"

It's not the first time he muttered a curse in front of me, but it still hurts me so much that I guess, I also can’t cope if more of this will come.

"Drao," I come near him and held both of his hands, gently pleading that he will listen to my words and comprehend it.

He instantly lingered his eyes on me with pure of dislike. But before he could even make a move to distance his self away from me again, I just felt a slap at my right cheek. A hard slap that is reserved to be supposedly done a while ago. I don't have to take a look to confirm the owner of that palm.

"Get your filthy hands off my fiancé if you do not want me to ruin your face," Cassidy’s frigid voice appeared.

But I didn't follow her command. Instead, I look again at the gray eyes of my Draco while his sight direction is opposite to mine.

"Drao, for the last time...Please come back...to us."

I lastly pleaded.

He look back at me and creased his forehead in no time together with his well-fixed eyebrows like he got confuse all of a sudden.

While I was waiting for a response, Cassidy pulled my hair again and this time, it's harder than I expected,

"Didn't you hear me? Then let me do the move and teach you a lesson."

I close my eyes as I endure all the access of pain right through my body. Covering my tummy for whatever may happen, Draco stopped Cassidy when he noticed my reaction.

"Cass, that's enough."

he said while eyes are still glued to my arm covering my stomach. 

I thought he'd protect me the moment he noticed my condition but...yeah...I just inflicted another pain on myself, for he did otherwise. Cut it out, Carmilla. You're just getting your hopes up.

Grabbing Cassidy by his side with so much gentle, he held her hand and said,

"She can't tame us, Cass. You have nothing to worry about. You are the one I love now. I don't care about her anymore." 

I sighed before planting my remark, "Draco, I love you. Be happy, okay?"

Then lastly I uttered, "Happy 24th Birthday Drao,"

"Good bye."

And so...I guess that's already my best luck. I smiled bitterly, I failed.