The Last Embrace

All the dishes had been cooked and prepared at the dining table by 5:00 in the afternoon.

Jessy inspected the cake, a rose designed cake, with tiny petals made of icing adorning its surface, it"s exquisitely and deliciously done. She"s pleased with it.

She"s been trying to forced Adam to take part in her birthday celebration, but he"s still undecided.

She climbs the stairs and went to her room, she took a shower and changed into her birthday dress, it"s a beautiful pink Cinderella dress, the one that Nana Aida brought specially for her birthday.

A few minutes later...

After done with her dressing, she entered Adam"s room.

"You look Phenomenal, Jess!" Adam said. He hugged his girlfriend immediately, blown away by her dazzling transformation.

"Nice, isn"t it?" she gave him a radiant smile.

"Yes, you look like a G.o.ddess! My beautiful G.o.ddess!" he kissed both her checks adoringly.

Jessy gaze at Adam"s eyes. "You will be there-? You will meet my friends and we will celebrate my birthday with you by my side, okay?" she pleaded.

Adam just can"t say no to her. "Okay, I will be there."

"I will go downstairs now, any moment they will be arriving," she said.

"Go ahead, Jess," he murmured, loving the way her fancy dress enhanced her beauty.

Jessy went downstairs, walking slowly...

She waited patiently in the living room.

At exactly 7:00 in the evening, her friends finally arrived.

Matthew, Nathan, and Ivy...brought cake, flowers, and gifts for her. Jessy graciously leads her guest to the living room. They chattered on for a little while. Then out of nowhere, Nana Aida starts singing...Happy Happy Birthday....the guest sang along with Nana. Then Ivy opened the cake she brought with them, lighted the candle and urged Jessy to make a wish.

While Jessy was in the process of shutting her eyes and uttering her wish...

Large volume of confetti starts falling from the ceiling of the mansion, it began pouring down on the people below...they lifted their head in awe and their smiles can be likened to those of a children who just witness a magical phenomenon, they become so enthralled with the never-ending showers of confetti that they almost missed the guy who slowly descended on the staircase.

"Jessy my love! Happy 18th Birthday!" the guy"s loud voice echoing around the living room, summoning everyone"s attention.

All eyes were now glued to the guy who owned the voice. Astonishment was plastered on their faces.

Ivy exclaimed and giggled. "Oh my G.o.d, he"s so handsome!"

Jess" jaw dropped...

She was stunned! Speechless for several seconds! She just can"t believe what she saw...

It"s...Prince Zain!

She looked at Nana in panic.

But Nana only winked at her...

She frowned...why Nana is not worried?

The handsome guy who wore a black tuxedo, looks like the younger version of Brad Pitt, he paused at the end of the stairs and walk slowly towards the Birthday Celebrant, taking his time. He halted in front of Jessy. Then he deliberately planted a kiss both on her cheeks for everyone to see. "It"s me, Jess..." he whispers softly in her ears.

Now, Jessy finally knew why Nana winked at her. Nana and Adam were on it together!

She suddenly gave everyone a bright smile, even though deep inside she was dismayed that Adam played a prank again and worst, Nana conspired with him. But she can"t stay in a bad mood for a long time, it"s her birthday after all. She composed herself and cleared her throat. "Guys, I want you all to meet Adam, my boyfriend!" she beamed proudly.

Adam shook hands with Ivy, Nathan, and Matthew. "Nice meeting you guys!" he"s now smiling broadly at them. Loving every bit of his brilliant performance.

"Let"s proceed to the dining table children, and enjoy a feast fit for the King and Queen," Nana Aida said-joking, very much proud with the completion of her plan.

Adam holds Jess" hands tightly, he can feel she was not pleased at all. But tonight he is determined he will enjoy their company no matter what.

The dinner went on smoothly.

They were chatting and talking over the mouthwatering dishes that Nana Aida painstakingly prepared for them. Jessy blew the candle that was being lighted on the surface of the rose cake.

Pictures were taken, their smiles and happiness were genuine.

Adam keeps adding food to Jess" plate, he was very attentive to her, a doting boyfriend. He was smirking all the time...

Ivy giggles while watching Jessy and her boyfriend, loving their sweet gestures to each other.

At one point in time, Jessy must have been annoyed, she smeared the icing of the cake on his face. Then he returned the favor by smearing icing on her nose, then they both laughed.

Their sweet interplay brought a smile on Nana Aida"s lips.

Few hours later...

Half of the food was already eaten and the rose cake...only the steam was left.

The birthday party was a huge success!

Nana Aida has begun clearing the table. She instructed them to resumed their talk and chatter in the living room area.

On the living room, Adam sat closely to Jessy while observing their guest under hooded eyes.

He noticed that there"s an ugly scar on Matthew"s arms, that must be the stab wound brought by the abduction. He was truly glad that the two boys he saved last year, were smiling broadly at him right now, they were healthy, alive and full of life.

Saving lives is important and a n.o.ble act for humans...but to him, if they were not important or somehow not connected to him he may not be willing to save them in the first place.

But looking at the two boys now in front of him, grinning and lively chatting, he can"t help but compare himself to them. These boys will have a good future ahead of them...

While, he, can only have the cold and lonely grave to look forward to.

They are lucky...

He"s not...

He can"t stop himself comparing them to him. He suddenly felt so utterly alone, so detached, he wants to go somewhere away from them.

He arises to his feet and abruptly bid goodbye to the group. "Guys, I will retire early, see you all tomorrow."

Jessy was not able to stop him right away because he walks past her, she was truly bewildered with his action.

Adam climbs the staircase in a slow movement. He can feel their stares digging a hole on his back.

At the top of the stairs, he paused...looking at them below. He realized he was trying hard to fit into their midst with his borrowed appearance, they seemed to accept and mingle with him easily, because his look was likable and pleasing to the eyes, but if he will show them his true appearance they might not act at ease around him, they will surely feel awkward and in constant discomfort whenever he is around.

He sighed...he"s getting p.i.s.sed for no concrete reason at all.

He hated the curse that makes his skin horribly looking!

He hated his ugly looks...!

But he had to remind himself that the people below have nothing to do with his looks. It"s not their fault that he is ugly while they were a bunch of beautiful people.

He envied their lives full of freedom...he envied their good looks. He felt a huge amount of self-pity gnawing at his inner self.

He spun around and continue walking towards the direction of his room and plan to continue sulking in there.

While downstairs, the conversation came back to normal. Nana Aida finally joined them.

A few moments later...

Jessy got up from the sofa and bid goodbye to her friends. "Nana, Guys...I want to rest now. Please feel at home. And thank you very much for making my birthday party truly enjoyable and a memorable one."

"Goodnight-Jessy!" Nathan and Matthew talked in unison.

She walks towards the staircase.

Ivy was about to go after Jessy, but Nana stops her daughter even before she can take the first step. "You will sleep with me in my room young lady!" she said in a firmer voice.

"B-but I want to sleep on Jess" room," Ivy sat back down on the sofa, fuming.

"Not tonight- Ivy!" Nana said sternly.

Ivy continues fidgeting on the sofa.

The visitors talk some more and when the night was getting late they decided to call it a night and sleep peacefully in their respective rooms.

>>

After ditching her Cinderella dress, Jessy changed into a black tank top and brown cotton shorts, then she proceeds to Adam"s room.

She found him lying on his bed, eyes fixated on the ceiling, wearing a morose look on his handsome face...still wearing his black tuxedo.

She slowly climbs on the bed and lay her head on his belly, her face facing him. She caresses his hand gently.

"What are you thinking?" she peered into his eyes.

He looked at her. "Your friends really think this is my face, huh?" he sounded annoyed.

She sighed. So, he"s nursing self-pity now...

She wanted to remind him that he brought it upon himself by borrowing his brothers face, but she remained quiet. After a while, she can no longer bear the silence.

"They will treat you just the same if you showed them your true self," she said softly.

"I highly doubt that," he said sadly. The hardness of his voice already soften.

He pulled Jess" soft body and settled it below his.

"Want some lovin?" he spoke with smoldering pa.s.sion boiling in his eyes.

She smiled sweetly at him, no need for confirmation, her body, and her eyes agreed right away with what he has in mind.

"Take off your tuxedo first and then transform into your true face. I don"t like kissing your brother"s face!" she grimaced.

Adam smirked. "You"re funny Jess, you dislike kissing this handsome face? Yet-you like kissing my ugly face. You are truly one of a kind! That is why I love you so muchhhh!" he gushed at her.

After he transformed himself back into his old self, he focuses his attention on her, he sucked aggressively on the creamy exposed skin on her cleavage. While his hands were already rapidly roaming all over her body.

Jess starts moaning...

He quickly discarded his tuxedo and sent it flying somewhere...Then he resumed kissing Jess" neck and lips hungrily.

Jessy smiled at him. She will always love Adam. There"s something so innately unique about him that even a thousand handsome faces cannot compare to him. He surely is her soulmate.

Their make-out session was as hot as the molten lava that was cascading out of the mouth of the volcano erupting from somewhere...

After their energy depleted with their strenuous physical intimacy...they fall sleep on each other"s arms.