The Untold Story of Us

　　By Aristelle

　　Prologue

　　Welcome to the Bigger World

　　"Happy legality, Helena!!!"

　　Suits, formal dresses, champagne, a gigantic cake, expensive venue, and my super big cute pink debut gown.

　　A party which the called, The Lewis-Style Party. Lewis. Extravagant. Amazing. Gigantic. Expensive.

　　I can see smiles stretched to my visitor's lips while their eyes twinkling.

　　This is the life where I belong. At first, I only see people admiring the richness of the Lewis' because of their smiles. But behind those smiles lies the deeper purpose of them, their hidden agenda.

　　A hidden agenda that involves all material things in the world.

　　But for this extraordinary girl, there is one more important thing than these materials, family. That is why she invited all of her relatives, including her Uncle Vince and Aunt Aiscelle together with their son, Ice. Such a weird name, hhhmm… But maybe Ice is just a nickname that stands for something? Helen thought.

　　After some greetings with my family, distant relatives, classmates, schoolmates, teachers, business partners of my parents, and every guest presents. It's a little tiring. 'But I managed because it's my day! I'm eighteen now!' Where legality starts.

　　Helena secretly smirked at the idea that she's now 18, and she's now legal to have her car, go to bars, and other more fun things to do than to be stuck in her room. For her, life is worth enjoying and living for. She wanted something new, something that would make her love the life she has.

　　After the small introduction, gift-giving and greetings, it is time for her to change her gown into a less extravagant red gown yet formal for the 18 red roses dance portion.

　　"Gosh, I'm so excited!" She said to herself as she looked at the mirror where she can see her reflection. It is a reflection of now a fine young lady wearing a tube red lacy gown ornamented with shining beads.

　　"You do look like a princess. Happy birthday." The makeup artist commented as she finished putting makeup on her face.

　　"No, I'm not. I'm just a girl who wants to live her life starting from today." She whispered, still staring at her reflection. She saw happiness in her own eyes, it is now shining with tears of joy and appreciation. Tears streaming from her hazelnut-colored eyes down to the side of her pointed nose and thin but pouty lips.

　　She looked carefully at her reflection in the mirror.

　　"I just looked like my mother," she whispered to herself adoring the looks she inherited from her parents especially from her mother.

　　"Helen! Happy 18th birthday! Sorry, we're late. You're Uncle Vince always has an issue going back here in the Philippines. But I managed to make him go with us, your cousin, Ice. I hope you two will spend some time together since we're family. By the way, I wish you happiness for your legality. And I'm sorry we don't have a gift for you, maybe some other time? Sorry, Helen. Hope you understand. Gotta go! Ice will now be grumpy if I don't come back." Aiscelle, her Aunt, spoke fastly and left. Yeah, that was her Aunt Aiscelle, very talkative but if she'll look closely, there is a hint of sadness and longing in her eyes.

　　'Maybe jetlag?' She suggested to herself, but still not convinced. If it is jetlag, it shouldn't be sadness and longing but tiredness due to the long ride.

　　But this worry can't ruin her night, maybe she should worry about that later. After some time, she decided to go back to the party to start dancing. But before she could do that, her mother, Hailey, her mother, entered the dressing room with a wide smile plastered on her beautiful face.

　　"Happy birthday, baby! You're now a lady… Be more responsible with your actions and work harder for your dreams. Always remember that I'm always here for you, whatever happens. And please, forgive me for doing that. I think that's the best for all of us." Her mother is smiling but her eyes aren't, a hint of sadness and regret can be noticed in her stare. Just like Tita Aiscelle, something is off here.

　　She frowned, 'What is the meaning of that?'

　　"What is that, mom?" She asked, still frowning.

　　"It's nothing, baby. Just enjoy your night. And be ready for tomorrow." Her mother mysteriously said and leave.

　　Helen's left there, dumbfounded.

　　'Be ready for tomorrow.'

　　'Be ready for tomorrow.'

　　'Be ready for tomorrow.'

　　She's now really confused.

　　We are not certain about tomorrow, we don't know what tomorrow will bring us.

　　'So, maybe I should be ready for the unexpected?' she thought.

　　After some minutes, she decided to take away the worries and go outside to start her party.

　　Applause warmly welcomed her as she steps out of the door gracefully. Her grandma Elizabeth always tells her to be graceful in every movement.

　　People are all smiling at her, admiring her sophisticated beauty.

　　But only one person in this room caught her attention. The man wearing a leather jacket, a white plain t-shirt, and designer jeans. He is a jaw-dropping handsome young man. He looks cool, mysterious, but cold person.

　　Helen's attention shifted when the coordinator approached her saying that Adler, the son of her father's secretary couldn't come but I've, her cousin will replace him.

　　'Wonder who's Ice is in this bunch of people…'

　　"Ladies and gentlemen, our breathtakingly beautiful debutant, Helena Lewis…" with that, Helen walked gracefully to the mini-stage designed for dancing. "…and Vincent del Fierro." She looked around, wondering who is that guy? 'Is it my cousin Ice?'

　　Her eyes widened when she saw who's walking towards her, the man she saw earlier, the 'leather-man' with the leather jacket and mysterious identity.

　　As Ice walked towards the platform while cooly holding the red rose, her heart started racing, she feels something weird with her, she suddenly became nervous over nothing but just this gorgeous leather-man in front of her.

　　Her chest hammering, she feels the sweat on her forehead, eyes fixed in this downright gorgeous man. And for the first time in her life, she became comfortable but awkward because of the presence of a man.

　　This is just like what she read about a girl meeting a bit for the first time and the girl can feel butterflies in her stomach. This is what she is feeling right now.

　　This stranger makes her heartbeat so damn fast and she can't help herself staring at him.

　　'Wait, is this what they called love at first sight?'