Prologue(past)

"I THOUGHT you were going to introduce us to your suitor or whatever?" Cathleyah asked Autumn after sipping from her shot glass.

"He's on his way, don't be so eager," Autumn rolled her eyes at her friend before walking towards the kitchen barefooted.

They were at their friend. Biana's house because it was her birthday today.

A few moments later, Autumn returned with a bucket of ice cubes.

"When are your cousins arriving, Bia?" Autumn asked with a slight frown. Bia simply shrugged and sipped from her wine glass.

She’s really cold. She rarely speaks or shows any expression on her face. A literal introvert.

After a few moments of talking, the doorbell rang. Bia lazily pointed the way to the door for Autumn. Annoyed, Autumn stomped her way to the door to open it.

When she returned, she was accompanied by Bia's cousins—Levin, Laki, Yvo, Lei, and others.

Cathleyah felt the blood drain from her body when she saw Autumn beaming widely with her arms wrapped around someone Cath didn’t expected to come here. She looked at Bia, who showed no reaction to what was happening in front of her.

Autumn guided Cath to where she was sitting earlier and had her sit beside her, directly facing Bia, who was seriously scrutinizing the young man.

Bia seemed overly curious about the guy and slightly tilted her head, but she stopped when each of her cousins greeted her and handed over their gifts.

"Thanks," Bia said briefly, nodding toward an empty couch for her cousins to sit on.

Various foods were laid out on each table in the living room, along with some decorations.

"Cath, Bia, this is Zade. My suitor," Autumn said as she looked at her suitor, a genuine smile visible on her heart-shaped lips.

Cath sighed before glancing at Bia again, waiting to see her reaction or hear what she would say.

"Nice meeting you. I'm Cathleyah Franchesca Dy, but you can call me Cath for short," Cath said uncertainly when Bia showed no reaction. She extended her hand to Zade, who accepted it with a smile.

"I'm Zade. Zacharias Deighl Eydward Francelliana."

After shaking hands with Cath, he extended his hand to Bia, who was calmly sipping her wine.

Bia stopped drinking and looked at him. "Bia," she answered briefly, ignoring Zade's hand left hanging in the air.

Autumn laughed awkwardly and took Zade''s hand to lower it.

"A-h, s-she doesn't do handshakes," Autumn said with a chuckle.

Zade nodded and scratched his head slightly.

No one spoke after that, embarrassed by what had just happened. Meanwhile, Bia seemed unaffected, showing no signs of any reaction.

Cath chuckled softly to ease the tension and awkwardness between them caused by Bia's behavior.

"Hmm, shall we eat?"she said and smiled.

Biana cleared her throat before standing up and gesturing for Zade to stand as well. Cath immediately stood up and whispered something to Biana. Biana sighed before sitting again and stopped Zade for standing using her hands.

TILA mayroong anghel na dumaan ng wala man lang na lumalabas na salita o ingay mula sa isa't isa. Maliban sa mga kubyertos na kanilang ginagamit habang kumakain. Kahit ang kanilang pagnguya ay walang ingay. Lahat ng kilos nila ay maingat at walang kaingay ingay ganoon din ang mga pinsan ni Biana na kanina ay may mga kanya kanyang agenda. Para bang takot silang may kung anong magising. Pati si Zade ay nagugulohan na sa mga nangyayare pero nanatili itong tikom ang bibig at wala ring lumabas na kahit anong salita sa kanya.

Seryosong seryoso si Biana habang kanina pa ito sumisimsim ng alak. Mabuti't mataas ang alcohol tolerance niya kung hindi kanina pa ito naka salampak sa sahig o kaya naman ay nag aagaw buhay dahil sa kalasingan. Seryoso siya habang patuloy na sinusulyap sulyapan si Zade.

Why the hell he didn't recognize me?What happened to this fucking guy?