"Why?" he asked.

"Well, I don't know. At this moment I just find myself laughable. Trying to hold on to a man I have no chance to be with in the first place. We had a beautiful beginning you know?"

Charlton hummed as a reply, telling her that he was listening, and she can go on speaking.

"I guess you already know who I am pertaining to because I think you feel the same way about his intended." Emily said further.

Charlton felt his eyes widen. If she knew, then does Geoffrey also know?

She chuckled seeing that she got his attention now. "He doesn't know, I never told him about it."

"You better not, because if you do, then forgive me for not being polite." He warned.

"Please, I don't mean any harm. I see what you see in her. Serena is perfect in every way. I can only wish to be like her."

"Okay. Then what do you want?"

"Nothing. I just want to get this off my chest you know. It's so difficult keeping everything in. The secrecy, being a lover who can merely stand in the shadow. You understand me, right?"

Charlton furrowed his brows. Seeing that she doesn't mean any harm, he let his guard down and continued drinking his scotch.

"I am not like you." He said. Serena will never abandon him. At least he hoped.

--

When the 18th song just ended, Serena felt that her feet was starting to kill her. She also felt a little tipsy, the effects of the two glasses of champagne she drank getting in her system. Anyway, she was finally free. She still has not seen Charlton, maybe he was still sulking in one of the balconies.

Seeing that she already escaped Leonard's watchful eyes, she climbed up the stairs leading to the mezzanine. There were some students that did not want to dance mingling in the area. At the end just above the stage, there were 8 doors which Serena presumed led to small balconies.

Serena walked over trying to find which balcony Charlton was in. As the weather was cold, the balconies were mostly empty. Anyway, as she reached the 5th one, she heard Charlton's voice. She was about to walk over when she heard a voice which she can only presume as female. She was giggling at whatever Charlton said.

She knew that it was wrong to eavesdrop, but she couldn't help it. She was curious what the two were talking about.

--

"How do you do it?" Emily asked.

Charlton sighed. He was getting a little drank from all the scotch he has been drinking. Anyway, he found out that Emily was not that bad.

"If you really love a person, then you will think that any sacrifice is worth it. If you know that the person you love loves you back, it will also give you the strength to carry on. It will give you the courage to face everything and hope that in the end, everything will work out just fine."

"I wish I could find someone who will love me like that in this lifetime. I thought I had that with him, but, see where it brought me. Serena is really lucky to have you. You know that, right?"

"No. It's me who is lucky to have her."

While having their talk, Emily noticed that Charlton was getting a little drunk. She did not really have any ill intention on him, but the longer they talk, the more that she felt jealous of Serena. She has this man, and she was still playing with Geoffrey's heart. How could she do that?

Talk about the devil and there she appears. Emily saw Serena looking for someone through the open doors of the other balconies. She was walking to their direction now. As Charlton was facing her, he didn't see her. Thinking of giving her a bitter taste of her own medicine, she smirked.

"You're such a good man, I can only hope that I will be able to find someone like you in the future."

--

Serena moved a little, leaning on the side of the open door while trying to hide behind the curtain, so that she can see who Charlton was speaking to. The first thing she saw was her white gown. Then, her brown hair which was arranged in a low braid. It was Emily and she was talking to Charlton privately.

She didn't know how she did it, but she managed to stop herself from storming over. It seems like they didn't notice her, so she continued to look at them, trying to listen in on their conversation.

--

Charlton felt that there was something wrong with Emily's words, but let it go. He was not in the right mind to read between the lines.

"Don't worry. You're a fine catch yourself so a lot of men will like you in the future." He replied.

"You really think so?"

"Yes. I know so."

"So, do you think I'm pretty?" she said, showing him a shy smile.

Charlton was surprised with her words but thinking that there's nothing wrong with admitting the truth, he can only reply with a "Yes."

Then out of nowhere, she leaned forward to kiss him. Then, she wrapped her arms around him.

Charlton was not able to react quickly. Even Serena was not that forward with him at the beginning. He wanted to push her away, but he still had some sense of not wanting to accidentally hurt her as he might not be able to control his force. He was pushed out of his reverie when he heard a thud, indicating that someone saw them. He held both her arms to untangle himself from her hold.

Emily felt him trying to remove her hold. As she heard the thud, and saw Serena walking briskly away, she let him go.

"what is wrong with you?" he said. He removed his hands from her after he kept her at arms' length.

"I'm sorry. That was an accident. It's just that I've never had someone say those words to me before."

Charlton sighed. "This will never happen again." He wanted to say more but chose not to. It has never been in his style to disrespect women.

Then, he turned to leave.

--

TBC