5
KAI
I was sitting at the table enjoying my salad. The party was in full swing, and all were enjoying it. The birthday cake was on the table at the centre. Ava had paid for it even if it was Evelyn's birthday, but she wasn't so rich, and that was the reason that Ava had paid, giving my money.
The cake was three tiers high, and it was chocolate cake. Candles were placed on the cake, and it had one Evelyn picture on it, and on the cake it was written "Happy birthday" in frosting. There were also cherries on the cake, and it looked so beautiful and was so soft that a knife was easily going inside it and cutting it. Strawberries were also sandwiched between 2 tiers.
In contrast, my salad was plain. I had made the waiter make this salad for me specially. Because no one eats salad at a birthday party, except me. The salad was in a bowl, and in the salad were cucumbers and many different vegetables. Lettuce was also inside, which shone because of the olive oil on it. There were slices of tomatoes inside, and it tasted nice for me. But people were giving me that look like they think I am mad for ignoring the cake and eating a salad.
But honestly, I don't give a fuck what others think.
The reason I am healthy and others are not is that they don't take all these things seriously. They think these are just small things. But small things make a huge difference.
.
Anyways, I sat on the table and glanced around myself. All people were dancing, talking and eating. I saw Evelyn standing there talking to Ava. Evelyn was cute, beautiful, but I didn't care. If anything was important to me, it was my job and my sister. No one else. Nothing else.
I could see many of Ava's friends looking in my direction. Trying to find some connection between us. Till now 3 girls have flirted with me who I had rejected. I knew everyone thought that I had a big ego. But it wasn't about ego. It never had been ego. It was about distractions. I had a life ahead. I wanted me to have the most successful company, and I didn't care if anyone hated me for it. I didn't care if I had to remove everyone from myself, but this was my life. This was how I was supposed to live.
I could feel Evelyn sometimes sneaking a peek at me when she thought no one was looking. But I ignored it. After all, I was her bff brother. She can't think of me like that. Can she?
I sat there just glancing around. Not enjoying. Just looking all around. I looked ahead and saw Evelyn staring at me, but as I looked at her, she looked away like she had been caught doing something stupid.
After some time, the party finished, and Ava and Evelyn came towards me.
"Brother, can you take us home?" Ava asked.
I nodded. After all, she didn't have to ask me anything; I would give her the world if she wanted.
"Of course, princess, whatever you want." I smiled and then got up and started walking towards my car, and they both followed me. I sat in the car and started driving while they both sat behind, talking with each other.
I was a man who rarely smiled. If I even smiled, it was at Ava talking and seeing her happy. While Evelyn...she was completely different.
Bubbly. Sweet. The kind of girl who shines in every room she walks in. She wasn't the typical definition of beautiful. But she was beautiful in her own way.
She seems like she was really happy, but I don't think so. After all, her family wasn't here on her own birthday. I didn't know anything about her. I was meeting her for the first time, but she was...nice. If maybe you asked me, it was a huge compliment because for me everyone was Bad with a capital B.
She seemed happy, but I had seen thousands of people who hid their pain behind a cold exterior or a smile. And that's why I never believed in smiles.
A smile can hide a million things from us. Trust me.
Finally, after a long drive of one hour, we reached Evelyn's apartment, and tonight Ava was also staying with her. They often stayed together, sticking together like glue. I didn't trust anyone with Ava, but I was starting to trust Evelyn with her. The only person who I also trusted was Noah, my personal assistant. Because he had worked for my family when Ava was just a kid.
"Bye, princess. Take care." I said to Ava. I could feel Evelyn's eyes on me, boring into me like she was waiting for me to say something to her too.
"You too, bye." I said after a long minute, and she smiled. Fuck what I said about smiles. This smile was really genuine, like she was being happy that I had said bye to her. In my life no one was so nice. So selfless. So good, and maybe that was the reason I was liking Evelyn more and more…but just as Ava's friend. Nothing else.
I saw them both going inside, and then I drove back to my apartment listening to my favourite song, "Believer" by Imagine Dragons. It was my favourite song. The voice, the lyrics – everything felt like they connected to me.
Finally, I reached my apartment also and went inside and directly went to the toilet and took a bath. I got out from the toilet and wore my night suit and finally lay in bed at 11 pm to sleep. It was not my usual timing. I used to sleep at 9, but due to that party I was late now. I hated breaking down my routines. I was a man of perfect routines, and I didn't want to change that. But I had no other option.
I lay on the bed and closed the bedside lamp. The only light in the room was coming from outside through the curtains. Normally, I would be asleep by now, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't sleep. I didn't know why or what happened today, but when I closed my eyes. I didn't see the tragic flashback of my past. I didn't see the meeting I will have tomorrow, but the thing I saw was... Evelyn smile. I saw her smiling at me.
I pushed the thoughts aside, but it came running back. I told myself that it was because I want to know about Ava's friends. I have to know how her friends are and if they are trustworthy or not, no matter what reason I make. I also knew it was just an excuse. It wasn't about Ava. It was about me and Evelyn.
I hated this. I sat on the bed and also rolled here and there, but no matter what I tried, I couldn't push her out of my thoughts. I hated this. I was being distracted, and I can't afford it. Distractions destroy empires. Love is a weakness, and I don't want to be weak.
No, that's what I am thinking. I can't love her, right? She is just my sister bff. Nothing else. Never anything else.
Still…there was something else about Evelyn. She didn't judge people. She just was there for people. I had caught her many times glancing at me, but each time she would look away, blushing like she was hiding something.
I tried focusing on tomorrow's meetings, on the numbers, on my position as a CEO, but still against my will I could see that damn smile.
Finally, after a long time, I fell asleep. And that damn smile was the last thing I thought about before being deep asleep.