Jewel of my Heart

The Birthday Party

Max

When I suddenly blurted that I like Dranz, he was surprised. He looks really adorable when he acts like a kid than acting like a grumpy old man. And what I told him is true, I do like him as a guy. He's far different from all the guys that I met and courted me before

That day was two days ago, but I can still remember how he look, and it brought smile to my face. I wonder if I'd be able to see him. Because to be honest, I kind of missed him.

Right now I'm in a restaurant in Manhattan, having a meeting with an event's planner for my fundraising event. In that event, I will be auctioning a few art pieces, antiques and for the main event, I'll be auctioning New York's most sought bachelors. The highest bidder will get the chance to have a weekend date with the bachelor.

I gave my event's planner the list of all the bachelors and bachelorette that will participate. Well, of course I asked their permission first, and I was glad that everyone agreed. Dranz, Drenk and Crown Prince Marcel are all included in the list.

"Miss, are you sure about this list?" Linda, the event's planner asked.

I smiled at her.

"Yes, why?"

"Drenk McPearson, I know will definitely agree. But Dranz Salvatore and the Crown prince are the difficult ones." She said.

"Don't worry. Mr. Salvatore already agreed. As for the crown prince, his sister already persuaded him." I told her.

When I asked Dranz to participate, which he declined at first, I also asked him to ask his mom to persuade the crown prince to participate. And since Dranz's mom is the family's most loved princess, the prince couldn't say no.

"Okay, if that's the case. I'll make sure this event will be trending all over, and you'll be able to raise money for your project." Linda said.

"Thank you Linda. I'm glad Sami recommended you. I love all your ideas." I said, and Linda grinned.

Linda is new events planner that Sami recommend. She's not yet popular, but with her talent and fresh ideas I know she will be the next big thing.

"I should thank Sami too. I'm really waiting for an opportunity like this to build a stronger portfolio. And this event will help me with that." Linda said.

"Well, I'm looking forward for the event's outcome. And if everything goes well, I'll tell my madre to get your services for all her charity events." I said, and Linda grinned.

"Thank you so much. That will be a great help." Linda said.

**************

After my meeting with Linda, I stayed in the restaurant a bit more to eat. Preparing for the event made me hungry.

I was in the middle of enjoying my burger, when Drenk suddenly sat in front me.

"Hi, can I join you?" He asked.

I smiled at him and nodded, because honestly I had no choice since he's already seated. He also got his burger and fries with him.

"I was all the way at the back when I saw you alone, so I just came here." He said.

"Why are you here alone?" I asked, out of curiousity.

"I was looking for a present for my sister., it's her birthday tomorrow. I got hungry, so here I am." Drenk said.

Drenk seems to be a great guy, since he's friends with my cousin. But at the same time, there is something in him or in me that made me stop myself from developing any feeling for him.

"Hmm." I hummed as I took a bite of my burger.

"How about you?" Drenk asked.

I took a sip of my lemon juice before before answering him.

"I had a meeting with the event's planner for the auction." I answered.

"What's the auction for anyway? You just asked me to join." He asked before taking a bite of his burger.

"I have this project, that I've been working on it for years, it's my baby. My padre finally approved it but I still need to gather additional funds on my own." I answered.

"What kind of project?" He asked again, and I smiled at him.

"When it's ready, I'd let you know. I might be asking you for a favor by then." I told him.

"Sure, anything. Anyway, come to my sister's party tomorrow night." Drenk said.

"Are you sure? I don't know your sister personally." I said.

"You're my guest." he said.

"Okay sure."

********************

Drenk said the party is his sister's 18th birthday, and it's being held in the hotel that the Salvatores owned. He offered to pick me up but I declined. Since Sami is also coming, she's getting ready in my place again, and we'll be going there together with Aris.

Sami chose to wear a blue floor length tube dress, and she pulled her hair in to a high ponytail. Me on the other hand, chose a black tube corset blouse with a long flowy back, and I partnered it with my black leggings. I chose to wear a red stilettoes, and I just let my hair down. And as usual, I chose to put a little to none make up.

When Aris came to get us, he was amazed at his girlfriend that they began flirting. I rolled my eyes at them for making me feel the ultimate third wheel.

The drive from our house towards the hotel just tested my patience. Fortunately for me, I got to the party without ripping my hair out. Sami and Aris are so flirty and cheesy that I want to puke.

Inside the ballroom, it was filled with business men, celebrities and politicians. My parents cannot come because it's their date night. Yep. My parents ditch this kind of party to have their date. They're inside our house's movie room, surrounded with all their favorite food, and watching their favorite movies.

Aris and Sami left me to go to the dancefloor, so I ended up in the buffet table alone. I just looked around as I stood by the wall munching some cookies I got from the dessert bar.

Looking at the guests made me regret going. Why? All I hear and see are all about business. It's a celebration of one's daughter's birthday, yet almost all of the guests are just for business talks.

I saw Sami and Aris still on the dancefloor, dancing and flirting. A few people from them, I saw Dranz, dancing with the birthday celebrant. Drenk's sister looked really pretty in her pink ball gown. How can she not, when her mother was a former model.

She looked lovely next to Dranz. They make a lovely couple, and somehow I felt a small pinch of hurt. I don't like seeing them together.

"Why the hell are you alone here, munching cookies?"

I looked from my right, and I saw Drenk standing there wearing his all black suit.

"I'm taking advantage of the free food." I said, and handed some cookies towards him.

Drenk chuckled and took one cookie, then he began nibbling it. He then stood beside me, leaning on the wall.

"You look gorgeous." Drenk said, looking ahead.

I chuckled.

"Well thank you. You don't look bad yourself." I said.

"You seemed bored."

"I'm not really into these kinds of party. Every guest talks about business. But I have no choice since my parents needed a representative." I explained.

"Where are your parents anyway? I'm sure my mom sent them an invite." Drenk inquired.

"Yes, they got the invite. But it's their date night, so they're cooped up in the movie room." I told him.

Drenk chuckled.

"Your parents are like teenagers." He said.

"You bet. Sometimes I ask myself if they're just disguising as adults." I told them.

We both chuckled, and Drenk took two flutes of champagne from a waiter and gave me one.

"Thank you." I said and took a sip.

"Do you want to get out of here?" Drenk asked.

I looked at him and furrowed my eyebrows.

"It's your sister's party and yet you want to leave? And please don't use that line on me." I asked.

Drenk chuckled.

"I didn't mean it that way, this kind of party is not my thing too. This ballroom has a garden extension, you should see it. Come on." He said.

I sighed and nodded at him in agreement. We put the glasses down on a table before Drenk took my hand and lead me outside, where the garden is located.

***********************

Dranz

I was dancing with Anya for minutes now and she's been declining every boy that asks her for a dance.

"You know you shouldn't decline them." I told her.

"They're not my type anyway." She said.

"Dance with my brother." I told her.

"No thanks. He's not my type either. I'm perfectly fine dancing with you." She told me.

I sighed and shook my head. Anya has always kind of been a spoiled brat. And I'm pretty much aware of her feelings towards me, but I don't feel the same. She's like a sister to me. I never had a sister and she's the closest thing to a sister for me.

I just sighed and kept dancing with her. But when I looked over the buffet tabe, I saw Drenk with Max. I narrowed my eyes at them, because they looked like they were having fun.

Then I remembered the last time we were together. She told me she like me and yet here she is, flirting with my best friend. Wait, what does she mean that she like me anyway? Does she like me as her friend or as a man?

I shook my head as my thoughts run wild. I looked back at them, and they are still there, talking and she's smiling. She should be smiling that way to me! I whined in my mind.

"Dranz, are you kay?"

I was pulled from my thoughts when I heard Anya ask.

"What?"

"You've been mumbling to yourself." She said.

"No, it's nothing-" I paused when I saw Drenk grab Max's hand and drag her out of the ballroom.

I suddenly felt alarmed.

What the hell? Where the hell is he taking her? Where are they going?! I asked myself as I internally panicked. I badly wanted to follow them but I'm still dancing with Anya.

As I was about to speak to Anya, Eirick happened to walk near us. I immediately grab him.

"Hey!" Eirick exclaimed, glaring my way.

"Dance with her." I said and I slightly pushed Anya towards my brother, then I dashed out of the ballroom, ignoring their calls.

Where are those two? I asked myself as I began searching through every corridor. I even asked the reception if they saw them go out or go up. So many thoughts has been running through my mind, and I can't seem to stop myself.

Why am I being like this in the first place? Why do I feel like I want to strangle my best friend right now? And Max, the way she carried herself in this event is just wow. She didn't wear the usual gown or dress that every women wear, instead she's wearing pants! Her hair looked luscious yet carefree, not to mention her bare face.

Max looked so beautiful that I felt like my world stood still when I saw her. I gripped my left chest as I felt my heart beat fast.

D-Do I like her? I asked myself.

Max is the first woman to ever made me feel this way. Ever since our first meeting in the fire exit, she never failed to make my heart race. I like every bit of her, even her quirky attitude. I like all of that about her.

I like her.

Yeah, I like her and I need to tell her.

I need to think where could they be. They did not left the hotel nor went up to the rooms, where can they go? The gym is closed now, as well as the salon. I've been to the pool area but they are not there, that leaves the garden.

I internally cursed myself for not thinking about it earlier.

"Stupid Dranz." I grumbled and ran towards the garden.

**************

When I got to the garden, I was still panting hard like a dog when I saw them sitting on a bench, talking. Well Drenk was talking, and Max was listening.

With the moonlight shining down on her, she looked like a night angel. She looked ethereal. Again, I feel my heart race just by looking at her.

But when I saw Drenk about to put his arms around her shoulders, my blood began to boil.

No, don't you dare lay your hand on her! I screamed in my head.

I approached them and stood in front of them.

"Are you having fun?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.

Drenk stopped talking, and they both looked at me.

"What are you doing here?" Drenk asked.

"None of your business. What are you doing here? Your parents are looking for you." I said nonchalantly.

Drenk narrowed his eyes at me before looking at Max.

"Just go, I'll take her." I said and I grabbed Max's hand and pulled her to me.

"They're going to sing happy birthday now." I said and dragged Max towards the far end of the garden.

When we were far enough, Max stopped walking and pulled away from me.

"Sing happy birthday? It's not a children's party." Max said.

I sighed.

"It doesn't matter. Drenk is needed there." I said.

Max arched her eyebrows.

"Shouldn't you be there too? Your girlfriend might be looking for you." She said.

I blinked twice, and stared at her.

"Girlfriend? What girlfriend? I don't have one." I said.

Now it's her turn to cross her arms over her chest.

"Really? Weren't you being a bit too cozy dancing with the birthday girl earlier?" She sneered,

I scoffed.

"How about you? You were flirting with Drenk inside and you were getting cozy with him before I interrupted." I sneered back.

Max gasped.

"I did not! Drenk is just being nice to me!" Max exclaimed.

"Yeah right." I grumbled, rolling my eyes.

"So what now? You like him too? You like both of us? Are you playing us?" I hissed.

Max gaped at me before she raised her hand to slap me, but I managed to stop it.

"How dare you accuse me of things Mr. Salvatore!" She exclaimed.

"I told you not to call me that." I sneered.

"I'll call you whatever I want to call you! You ass! How dare you accuse me of something not true! For your information, I like Drenk as a friend! Heck, I haven't hang out with him like I did with you! I genuinely enjoy my time with you! When I said I like you, I mean it! You-"

I cut off her rant by pulling her to me, and claiming her lips. I kissed the lips that I once thought of tasting. Seeing her pissed and ranting made me lost my cool, especially when she said that she sees Drenk as a friend alone. When she said she like me, that was like a signal for me. This is my chance, so I took it. I kissed her.

My arms went around her body and pulled her closer, when I felt her did not resist the kiss. Instead I felt her melt into my arms, as she began to kiss me back.

I never felt this way towards any girl, and I sure as hell not going to let this pass. I broke away from our kiss and place my forehead on hers, as we both breath.

"Damn it. I can't stop myself. You're making me crazy. I hate it that Drenk is close to you." I told her.

She looked into my eyes.

"Are you jealous?" She asked.

"Yes I am. I am jealous of my best friend, because I want you for myself." I told her.

I pulled away and cupped her face.

"You made me feel things that I'm not familiar with. You pissed me to no end, yet you made my heart beat fast. I like the way you smile, but I want that smile to be mine alone. I like how quirky and carefree you are, but you still have that sense of priority. I like it that you are simple and not a brat like the other girls." I paused.

"I like it that you're like an angel sent from heaven to me. I like you Max, and I'd like it better if I can call you mine." I added.

Max stared at me, not saying anything. I let go of her face and took a step back.

"Can you say something? I feel like I'm talking to a plant now." I said scratching the back of my neck.

Max cleared her throat and sighed.

"You should've asked me to be your girlfriend before you kissed me like that." she said, with her cheeks all red.

I smirked and shook my head.

"So are you my girlfriend now?" I asked.

Max stared at me.

"Yes." She said, then she closed the gap between us.

And then she grabbed the back of my neck and kissed me. I grinned during the kiss and gripped her waist and pulled her close to me. Our lips moved in sync as our heart beats as one. This amazing angel is mine, mine alone.

This kiss that we share is the mark that officially, Dranz Salvatore has a heart.