FORTY FOUR

Lila had gotten to know that the island was hosting a party and since she had nothing else to do, she decided to go to the party. As usual, Levi was gone all day so she sent him a message informing him about the party before she went dress shopping. She knew her mother would approve of them going to the party so she made plans to do so.

She and Jasmine spent a bit of time shopping for dresses before getting their hair, nails, and makeup done. By the time they were all done with it all, it was already close to the time for the party. Lila checked her phone for the hundredth time in a second; Levi had not replied to the message she sent and he was nowhere to be seen. Knowing that this was an opportunity for them to get their names out there, she was sure he would not miss it so she left a note for him in the room telling him to meet her there as she would be waiting.

By the time she got to the party venue, she realised it was a much larger party than she had thought. There were tons of reporters outside and even a red carpet for them to go through before they got in.

"What are you wearing tonight?"

"Where is your husband?"

"What does it feel like to be married to one of the most eligible bachelors?"

The reporters threw the questions at her as they flashed their cameras at her. She answered their questions, trying her best not to cause a rumour as she did. She moved into the hall and began to walk around, hoping to find Jasmine soon. They had agreed to meet inside and knowing how antisocial her friend was, she knew that she had probably come in through the back door and she wished she had done that to avoid the conversation with the paparazzi, especially talking about Levi; they were asking questions she did not have the answers to.

"Finally found you," Lila said when she saw her friend at the snack table munching on some macaroons.

"You should have looked here first," Jasmine replied with a full mouth and then a toothy smile. "You are here alone," she said as if she were making an observation. She chewed and swallowed before turning to the hall, her eyes surveying the entire hall. "Did you come alone?" she asked and for some reason, it felt like someone had rubbed salt into her injury.

Lila pulled a smile and nodded. "I guess he would meet me here; I waited for him but he did not show up," she explained.

"I think you should have waited to show up with him; I don't know what kind of narrative the media might push," she explained and Lila agreed.

"I wanted to get out of the room; I feel like I am on vacation but I am stuck in the room," she muttered and Jsmine agreed. She had thought that for a couple playing in love, they would have had more dates than what they had now. "I understand that you both aren't that many fans of each other but still, if I were a reporter, I would be suspicious of you. You are in love and yet you do nothing all day."

"Should I do all things by myself all day? Levi is gone most of the time and since I do not want to be seen in public alone, I decide to stay indoors." She wondered how it was that he was carrying himself all around the island and still nobody had been able to capture him with that woman. It made her wonder where they were constantly meeting.

They spent the rest of the night talking and eating everything they could lay their hands on.

“I might burst soon," Jasmine said with a groan as she pushed down something that looked like a cracker but tasted like shrimp. “I have to say, they have such exotic meals here"

Lila's mind was still on Levi, and as much as she tried to act like she did not care she hoped he was fine and not passed out somewhere.