I sat down on the window sill with a cup of instant noodles in my small dorm and looked out the window. The sky was a light orange colour, clouds were just wispy lines. The view outside my dorm was normal. It looked over houses and a mall, which was the only source of entertainment. I took a forkful of noodles and slurped them. The packaging said that it was chicken flavoured, but it could taste nothing.
Feeling bored looking at the non-existing skyline, I went over to my bed and pulled out a photo album, taking the cup with me. I settled down on the hard bed and took out a pink and black photo album from underneath the table next to it. I used the back of my hand to wipe away the thick layer of dust and opened the hard cover.
It was full pictures and pictures of a boy and I. The pictures were taken a year ago.
It was the school prom. Kris had asked if I would be his date for that special evening a week ago. I had a crush on him since a few months back but we were just friends. He surprised me when he asked me to the school prom. He asked me to follow him to the music room, where he found solace. He asked me to sit on the piano bench with him and listen to him play. Soon, the room was filled with melodious and touching music, bouncing off the walls of the room, making it more emotional. After the song, he started to speak.
“Kay, would you be my date for the prom?” He said as he pulled out a bouquet of white roses from the other side of the piano.
With blue his eyes looking deep into me and the elegant, sophisticated flowers in his hand and especially after that piece, there was no way I could say no. “I'd love to.” I said, and smiled.
The night of the prom arrived. I slipped into my purple strapless dress and put on some light makeup. I reached for my purse and stopped at the full length mirror in my room before heading for the door. I looked different that night. I actually glowed, for the first time. I told myself that my luck was starting to change.
The doorbell rang, startling me. My parents opened the door before I even reached the stairway. I heard Kris's voice, greeting my parents and introducing himself. The snapping and flashes of the camera went off. God, this is going to be so embarrassing.
“There she is!” Dad said as I descended the stairs, careful not to trip over my brand new dress. Kris turned around and caught my eye. I smiled at him and he smiled back. He looked gorgeous in a black tux. So simple yet elegant.
Snap, snap, flash. The camera kept going and going until I was in Kris's car. I hoped that thing ran out of juice. “Wait!” My mum called out to me as I was going in the car. I sighed and stopped, turning back. She handed me a small digital camera and said that she asked one of my friends to take pictures of Kris and I for the whole evening. This was even worse than being Lindsay Lohan at a paparazzi convention. I took the camera and stuffed it into my purse, not wanting to make a scene in front of Kris.
“That was so embarrassing. Sorry.” I apologized to Kris as we drove off.
“Its okay. I'm used to it.” He said, putting his hand on mine. I felt nauseous as I thought of him taking other girls out to dinner and dates so many times that this was practically a daily routine to him.
“Oh no, its not what you're thinking. Its just that my sister has guys taking her out to dinner almost every night. My parents go crazy every time a guy picks her up and uses up all the memory in every camera we have in the house. Now that's embarrassing.” He held my hand tighter, assuring me that he wasn't the type of guy that I thought he was. I smile and stared at his perfect face, concentrating on the road ahead.
We stopped at a gate of a mansion. On the golden gate were the initials A.L.. The mansion belonged to Aloysius Lander. His grandson, Aaron Lander who was hosting this year's prom, had persuaded his grandfather to lend him the mansion for the night while he was on vacation in Hawaii.
“Invitations please.” The guard at the gate said.
We showed him our invitations – a diamond tiara for me and a diamond ring for Kris. Invitations to the prom every year was exclusive, only the top priority students in schools around the state could be invited, and Kris and I was one of the lucky ones.
The guard nodded and opened the gate. I wasn't even surprised by the largeness of the exterior of the mansion and the landscaping. This was what normal citizens like us expect the houses of the a multimillionaire to be like – big and obscene. In other words, obscenely big.
We circled the statue of whom I assume was Aloysius and into the underground parking space. We found a spot and parked. Kris stepped out the car and came to my door. He opened my door for me like the gentleman he was. I'd seen him do the same thing for his previous and first girlfriend, Miyoki, a Japanese transfer student. They were going out for a few months but she was seeing another guy behind his back. It hurt him so bad that it took months for him to be his own self again. I met him that time and helped him through that. It was a dream come true that he was doing something that I thought only existed in my dreams. I could not help but smile.
We linked arms and walked into the elevator. I felt relaxed as he asked me some questions and laughed. Compared to the previous dates I've been on, this was so far the best. He made me feel wonderful, complementing me and making me laugh. Nothing could ruin this night. Nothing at all.
We stepped into the wide ballroom, already filled with other students. The ballroom was covered with white marble tiles, two flights of stairs on each side, connecting up to the second floor. The ceiling was decorated with a classic Vienna style. In the middle of the second floor, in between the top of the stairs, stood Aaron. His head held up high, obviously proud of his hosting. He used a fork and clinked his wine glass. With the help of a microphone, he had gotten the attention of the guests.
“Welcome all the annual state prom. I am Aaron Lander, the proud host of this year's prom. May I remind you that you have been invited to the most highly respected event of the year. You were invited because of your status, knowledge and wisdom. Please make this night a memorable one because if you don't, you would have to wait again till next year.” He said with a smirk on his face as the crowd laughed.
Clarridge, my friend whom my mother hired to take pictures of Kris and I, was busy snapping away. I wonder how much my mum paid her.
The lights dimmed. The first dance was about to start. Kris held out his hand and bowed slightly. “May I?” He asked. I blushed, it felt like I was in one of those 18th century movies. I put my hand on his. He pulled me close to him, set his left hand on my waist and his right hand locked with my left hand. I followed his footsteps while my other hand was on his shoulder. He smelled warm and musky. I tried not to hyperventilate as we danced in a circle, everyone rotating to the beat of the slow, elegant music.
Soon, the night was almost over. We were seated on the love seat in a room, sipping on champagne. My head was resting on his wide shoulder while clasping his hand. His free hand was slung over my shoulder, providing comfort.
Suddenly, he shifted in his seat, causing me to sit up.
“What's wrong?” I asked him and looked into his mesmerizing eyes.
“I love you.” He blurted out. I didn't know how to respond, but I did anyways.
“I love you too.” I said and smiled.
He pulled me towards him, hands cupping my face lightly. His warm lips were on mine, I felt a jolt of electricity through my body and started kissing him back. The moment was perfect.
We were kissing when suddenly the door opened, startling us. We broke apart and saw a man clad in black standing at the door. With a sniper in his hands. He pointed the gun to Kris and fired.
I heard someone scream and soon found out that it was me. Kris was lying next to me, blood covered his body. I felt my head spin, purple dots blurred my eyesight.
The police and ambulance came shortly. Kris was announced dead on the spot. The man who shot Kris was captured by the guards outside of the room when he left after firing. The man had killed the wrong guy. He was looking for someone who looked identical to Kris, but he made a mistake.
He killed the only guy who said he loved me. He killed the only guy who ever cared about me. He killed the only guy I ever loved.
Tears flowed down my cheeks as I glanced through the album, thinking of that night. Even though it was a year ago, I will never forget it. I left the state, never wanting to go back. I pleaded my parents to send me to a boarding school, trying to forget everything that happened. Kris was my only lover, my only boyfriend. That night was my first and last kiss with him. That night was my first and last dance with him. That night was the last of him.
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