With an (un)expected twist
It was getting dark outside; the guests divided into those who danced, those who still sat at large tables enjoying the dishes, and those who stood at small tables. I belonged to the last group, having found a table from which I could see the entire courtyard. My fingers traced circles around the edge of a crystal glass when a rather stocky man passed by me. His features seemed familiar, but I was sure I had never seen him before. He held a glass of amber liquid in his hands.
— If I look a bit off, you could just tell me instead of staring, — he turned to me.
— I'm sorry, I thought we had met somewhere before, — for some reason, I was not embarrassed that he had suddenly addressed me and that he stood beside me, staring into my face after my words.
— I can assure you, I have a good memory for faces, — my new acquaintance replied.
— Then you’re quite lucky, as I struggle to recognize babies, I must admit, — I remarked. The man barely twitched the corners of his mouth.
— True ladies introduce themselves before starting a conversation, — he noted.
— Then I’m really lucky, because I don’t consider myself one of them, — his smile grew wider.
— It’s good that at such a time, someone can still joke, because… — he scanned the remaining wedding guests, — not everyone seems to have a clear mind right now.
— Who told you that it’s only now?
Now he laughed, and even now his laughter seemed somewhat familiar. I still could not unravel this mystery... Perhaps I had had enough alcohol for today.
— Are you here alone? — the man asked.
— No, but without a partner, if that’s what you mean, — my conversation partner raised his eyebrows in interest and I explained. — I’m acquainted with the bride and groom.
The man smiled and looked straight into my eyes. Merlin, and then I realized who he reminded me of...
— So you know my son?
— All of your sons, to be precise, — I was stunned. — I see now you understand why you thought we were acquainted, — Mr. De Ville emptied his glass in one gulp.
— I’m sorry, but you look so much like Leo... — I noted for some reason.
— Raymond De Ville, — the man finally introduced himself and kissed my outstretched hand.
— Adelina Levytska, or just Adele, — I curtsied.
— The same Adelina Levytska?
— The same? — I asked, not understanding.
Mr. De Ville explained:
— My wife has told me about you, — I sighed sadly. Not the best reference. — But it seems you are not as terrible as they say.
— Moreover, I am much more terrible, — Raymond only quietly and approvingly grunted.
— Are you seeing my son? — What a question!
— No, — I shook my head vigorously.
— He’s been looking at us since I approached you, — noted Mr. De Ville. I looked to where he pointed. There indeed stood Leo, casting concerned glances at us, Rose was again nearby, excitedly telling something, but he seemed not to be listening. When I looked the boy in the eyes, he quickly turned away from us and I, unable to hold back, laughed.
— So it turned out that we share looks, but in character, he took after Lorette, — I realized he was referring to jealousy. Looking at Mr. De Ville, I surprisingly realized that I had been absolutely blind to not see his resemblance to Leo. The same gray-blue eyes, hair a bit darker, like Philip and Marco’s, and dimples on his cheeks.
— And he doesn’t calm down, — Raymond interrupted my thoughts. I glanced at Leo and laughed again: he narrowed his eyes and was watching our every move.
— Is he afraid you will tell something about him?
— No, he’s afraid we will get along, — it seemed Ella’s empathy was conveyed to me, as I suddenly felt the pain that pierced Mr. De Ville’s voice.
— It’s all right, let him fear, — I tried to lighten the situation, and I managed to do that.
— Ha, you remind me of my wife, — the thought of a resemblance to Loretta strangely pleased him. — And there she is, it seems it’s time for me to go.
Before the man could step away from me to Miss De Ville, Elizabeth appeared beside me and spread her arms:
— What are you doing standing here? Lelia is about to throw the bouquet, let’s go! — Ella interrupted my moment of idyll and dragged me along to the others.
I didn’t resist, as what else could I do, tell me? I wasn’t planning to participate in this, just decided to stand somewhere behind and drink wine. I had too many superstitions lately.
A whole crowd had gathered around Lelia, and to my genuine surprise, even men joined in. An interesting turn! I felt a gentle nudge at my right shoulder. I didn’t want to waste my remaining strength on a conversation with Leo, so I decided to politely ignore him. After a while, he exploded:
— Why are you silent?
— I'm choosing my words, — I waved him off.
— Which ones? — curiosity played on his face.
— Censored ones.
— Is it that bad?
— Yes, if you don’t count the wine, — I took a sip.
I caught, out of the corner of my ear, that the countdown had begun, but I didn’t care who would get married next.
— You chose him.
— Then I will count him too, — I rolled my eyes.
Lelia had already shouted the number eight.
— Did you know that you are the most shameless man I have ever seen? — I grimaced, turning to him, and he just smirked slyly.
— No, usually people only mention my charisma and exquisite appearance.
Three, two, one…
— Narciss… — why is everyone running away?
Then events unfolded too quickly. Something hit me hard on the head. Lelia must have hit the target right on. I was trying to hold both the bouquet and the glass at the same time, but the wine had already spilled on Leo’s snowy-white shirt, and I... Well, I was flying straight toward him! The boy grabbed me by the shoulders to keep his balance, and I gradually began to understand how it all must have looked just now.
Instead of grabbing the glass, my hands clutched the bride's bouquet of bush roses. Nearby, holding me, stood Leonardo in a soaking wet shirt. And somehow it turned out that I was pressed against him too, and my wet dress had also taken on a red hue. People around us laughed at the scene and chattered. My consciousness was already painting this picture from the side — I quickly stepped away from the boy. The guests were still staring as Leo and I went inside to change. At this rate, I would soon run out of clothes. On the way, a waiter met me, and I quickly, ignoring Mr. De Ville’s protests, replaced my empty glass with a filled one. There were too many emotions felt today.
— Maybe you've had enough wine for today?
— And I didn’t drink only wine, — I finished off the red liquid to the bottom and handed the glass to another waiter.
— All the more so, — Leo brushed me off.
— Or maybe you've had enough morality for today? — the boy only deeply exhaled and let me pass.
I barely moved my legs on the stairs, but my state didn’t prevent me from observing my companion. At some point, already at the doors of my room, I scrunched my nose and stared even more intently. A semitransparent shirt, dark brows, a small scar on the collarbone that I hadn't noticed before, and hands ruffling his smoothly styled hair. I called him, and he turned.
— What? — he was also examining me closely. Perhaps he wanted to understand my emotions.
I stepped a little closer.
— This outfit definitely needed adjustments because this wet shirt looks much more striking on you, — Leo pretended to raise his eyebrows as if thinking about something.
— It seems I have a serious sense of déjà vu.
And then I couldn’t hold back, and… kissed him.
I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to feel, but the knot inside loosened with every second, yielding to something softer, from which I wanted to escape, but only to return immediately, and above all in the world, at that moment, I wanted to remember this feeling. Perhaps it was the best I had felt in a long time. Maybe it was all because of the alcohol, but I hadn’t felt this good in ages.
I knew he raised his eyebrows in surprise, but at that moment I didn’t care. The wine inside me didn’t let me think, and the kiss was, surprisingly, sweet and tasted like cherries. My arms wrapped around his neck, and I didn’t notice how my fingers got tangled in his strands. He didn’t argue, even though he never allowed anyone to touch his hair. Some time passed before he carefully pulled me away from him.
— Della... — he began, — Adele… Please… You’re not yourself right now. You need to sleep.
The boy quietly led me to the bedroom, and I closed the door behind me. Then I slowly slid to the floor, trying to figure out what I had just done, but my mind was blank, as if someone had taken a small vacuum cleaner and sucked up all my thoughts. All I could do was flop onto the bed, and smudge my lipstick even more.