Chapter 16

*CORA* “I’m Zoe.I’m Cora’s good friend.You don’t need to introduce yourself to me.I already know that you’re the great Alvin Powell.I’ve seen you a lot on TV but I must admit that you’re more handsome in real life.” I stared at Zoe in disbelief as she rattled on and on. I felt embarrassed for her sake. Alvin stared at me and smiled.”Your friend is quite interesting.” Not knowing what he meant,I smiled back,awkwardly. “Now that you’ve called your friend here.I have also called my friend,you won’t mind,will you?”Alvin suddenly let out. There was a flash of malice in his eyes. Hearing that,I was stunned. What friend did he call? But seeing that Zoe was indeed here,I had no right to stop him from calling his friend as well. “Of course.I don’t mind.” He smiled at me again.”I’m just kidding.I called no one.Let’s have some drinks.I’m very happy to spend time with you beautiful ladies,it’s an honor.”He said slowly and drank up his wine,gracefully. I saw Zoe also gulping down her wine while staring at Alvin. Did she like him? I,on the other hand didn’t want to drink.I wasn’t a good drinker and Tristan hates women who drinks. I sighed heavily,hating the fact that I still thought of him all the time. “Alvin,what a coincidence!”A familiar voice sounded behind us. Surprised,I glanced back to see two people walking up to us.I drank up the wine in my glass,nervously. The strong wine went down my throat and there was a sudden burst of heat,I felt my cheeks heating up and I felt dizzy. I could hear their footsteps coming closer. Seriously? Of all places?! Why did they had to come here? Were they determined to always ruin my mood?! I could hear Phoebe greeting Alvin warmly and then she looked at me in disbelief. “Oh,it’s you,Cora.You look drunk.”She said,mockingly. I glanced at Tristan whose face was expressionless. “Alvin,I thought you hated Chinese.”Tristan began. Alvin stood up.”I think it depends on who I’m eating it with.” I stared at the both of them who seemed to be having an heated exchange with their eyes even if their tone was calm. They were both elite.Tristan was cold and unrestrained,wearing a neat suit,just his aura alone made people retreat. Alvin was gentle and friend.He had a warm personality which made people want to be around him. They were total opposite. When I glanced at my friend,she was all eyes on Tristan,I thought she was into Alvin few minutes ago. I watched as she suddenly stood up. “You could join us,Mr Handsome.”She said to Tristan. I stared at her and then at Tristan.I’m starting to wonder if she really considered me as my friend.She keeps putting me in awkward situations. But not to worry,Tristan was a snob and he would agree to her invitation,she was a stranger to him. But he had to prove me wrong, “Alright then.”After saying that,he sat next to Alvin,Phoebe sat next to him. On the other side was me.The atmosphere felt suffocating now. Zoe began to talk and she said to Tristan. “Hi,nice to meet you,I’m Zoe,I’m Cora’s friend.”And then she flung her arms around me. “Aren’t I the best friend in the world?” I rolled my eyes.”You sure are.” “Nice to meet you.”Tristan said to her,nonchalantly. He stared at my bowl of food and sneered. “Are you going to finish all of that?When did you become a foodie?” I stared at my bowl which was filled with food by Alvin. As I was about to say something,Alvin beat me to it. “Are foodies the only ones who should eat?Look at Cora,have you not been feeding her at all?She looks thin so I’m trying to fatten her up a little.” He slung me a tender look and I looked away from Alvin’s eyes. “Fatten her up?Do you want her to become ugly?”Tristan’s voice was cold and my teeth clenched. He was doing what he does best,provoking me! And I retorted,angrily.”It’s not business of yours whether I become fat or thin.You’re talking as if you have good taste in women.”I eyed him and Phoebe. Zoe tugged on my shirt and asked. “What’s going on?” “It’s nothing.It’s just some unimportant people who wouldn’t leave me alone.” My voice was neither loud nor low,but just enough to be heard by everyone in the table. I watched at Phoebe stared at the food on the table and let out. “I don’t like this food.It looks poor and unhealthy…” “Poor and unhealthy?Do you even know what good food looks like?”Alvin shot at her. “Mind your words,Alvin.It is perfectly okay if these food looks bad to her.”Tristan shot at him. “Well,she must have poor eyesight or she doesn’t know anything at all.” “Alvin.”Tristan called,warningly. “If you do not like Chinese,why would you come to a Chinese restaurant?Are you just being mean and arrogant on purpose?”Zoe asked Phoebe. Zoe had always been a good and friendly person,too friendly sometimes. But even she could see how arrogant Phoebe was. I knew what Phoebe had wanted to do,she had indirectly said I was eating poor and unhealthy food but now it had backfired on her. “Why are you all attacking me?”Phoebe let out and she was suddenly about to cry. I am in awe of how easily she can cry.