[Fifty-Two]

|Chapter 52|

🤍👩🏽‍🎓

𝗔𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗮

𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝖾𝖺𝗋 𝗈𝖿 𝗂𝗆𝗉𝖾𝗋𝖿𝖾𝖼𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇.

𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝖾𝖺𝗋 𝗈𝖿 𝗇𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝖻𝖾𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗀𝗈𝗈𝖽 𝖾𝗇𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁.

1 month later

"Are you excited, Liza?" I smile. It's her graduation day and she hasn't smiled since we got to her school.

"Of course I am. It's a big day," she looks around frantically.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm avoiding someone," she responds.

"Who?"

"My ex."

"You had a boyfriend?!" I whisper shout.

"Eh, something like that. I told him I was leaving and never coming back. And he said if I ever came back then we're meant to be."

"What the hell?"

"Yeah, crazy right?"

"You probably broke his heart."

"Nah, he'll be fine," she shrugs it off.

I roll my eyes, "You're so heartless."

"Nope, I just know who I want and it isn't him," she smiles, walking away.

"Hey, baby," Seb says from behind me. "Let's take a seat before all are taken. I don't want you standing up." He gently takes my hand, pulling me to the few empty seats left in the front.

The service goes on and I'm bored until they call my sister's name. "Eliza Suave," the announcer said.

When I stand up to shout "That's my sister!" nobody can hear me because everyone else is cheering for her and I'm confused because she's the only person everyone collectively cheered for.

"I thought you said she had no friends," Seb whispers into my ears.

"That's what she told me."

After everyone's names are called and the students are seated together. The salutatorian already spoke and now for the introduction valedictorian. Ugh, this is going to be boring.

I tuned out the whole speech until the part where the principal says, "Now, please join me in welcoming Eliza Suave to the stage, our valedictorian for the class of..."

My eyes widen as she walks up the stage, "What the hell?! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!" I gasp. "Baby! Baby! Did you hear that?" I ask Emilian excitedly.

"Yes, love," he smiles.

"Good evening everyone. I do not want to keep you guys very long. But, I'd like to say thank you to everyone who's assisted me along this journey and allowed me to be where I am now. I'd also like to say a special thank you to my teachers, sister, best friend, and my boyfriend who encouraged me to keep going when I felt like giving up.

And to my fellow graduates, you're all amazing and talented young people. Continue to excel and remember to make yourself proud because from now on, this is your path and you make your own decisions.

As Jodie Foster once said, 'There is nothing more beautiful than finding your course as you believe you bob aimlessly in the current. Wouldn't you know that your path was there all along, waiting for you to knock, waiting for you to become? This path does not belong to your parents, your teachers, your leaders, or your lovers. Your path is your character defining itself more and more every day like a photograph coming into focus.'

I hope you guys take this message to heart because it speaks to me. Once again, thank you and congratulations to us!" Everyone cheers as she walks off stage.

Soon after, everyone throws their caps and celebrates. As students begin to go to their families, I search for Eliza and she's nowhere to be found.

"Boo!" Eliza shouts from behind me and I jump.

"Oh my gosh, you scared me," I hug her. "I'm so proud of you," I cuff her face.

"Thank you."

"Why didn't you tell me you were Valedictorian?"

"Nobody knew. Not even Lucian. I just thought it was embarrassing, but after today I think it's kinda cool."

"Cool? This is amazing!" I pull her into me, squeezing her.

"Elara, you're suffocating me," she giggles.

"Sorry, I'm just way too excited. I love you so much and I'm so proud of you, my genius sister."

"Stoooppp," she whines.

I look over to Emilian went to get our gifts for her from the car.

He hugs her and tells her, "Congratulations little sis, we're so proud of you."

"Yes we are, and these are our gifts to you. It's nothing much." I say as he hands her the bouquet and the jewelry box. Inside the box is a necklace with her birthstone in it.

"Thank you so much. The flowers are beautiful." She opens the box and gasps and hugs both of us. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I love it."

"I'm so happy you like it."

"I'm never taking this off. This is my new favorite piece of jewelry." We watch as Lucian sneaks up behind her and he signals not to say anything.

"Did I miss something?" Lucian speaks from behind her.

"Babe, you came!" she shouts excitedly, hugging him.

"Of course I did and I loved your speech."

She blushes, "I hoped you wouldn't be here for that."

"It's fine, you did great," he kisses her forehead and looks at us, "I'm going to steal her away from you guys now."

"No problem, we'll see you guys at dinner." I wave them goodbye.

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Right now, we're on our way to a restaurant, to have a little dinner, celebrating Liza's graduation. "What did you have to tell me earlier, baby? It seemed important."

He hesitates, "I have to work when we get to Bucharest."

"That's fine. I have work too."

"I meant I have a business to handle outside of the company."

"So, criminal activities?"

He sighs, " Yes, baby."

"How often will you be working?"

"More often than I do now."

"Lovely," I roll my eyes.

"Baby," he takes my hand.

"I understand," I pull away.

The ride is silent for about ten minutes until he's pulling to the side of the road. He turns to me and says, "Elara, don't do that. Talk to me," he says seriously.

"I don't know what you want me to say Emilian."

"Tell me how you feel. What's on your mind? Just talk to me."

I shrug my shoulders and look away from him, "It's frustrating Seb. Every time you're away, I have to worry about your well-being. I hate going to sleep alone not knowing whether you're going to return unharmed or even dead, and I hate it," I explain.

He looks away and speaks softly, "Thank you for telling me how you feel baby, I appreciate it. I hear what you're saying and it hurts me too. I will try my absolute best to spend as much time as I can with you. Ok?"

"Yeah, ok," I nod my head.

"Love, look at me."

I roll my eyes turning to him, "Seb we're going to be late."

"Fix your attitude Elara," he tells me very seriously.

"I don't have an attitude," I mumble softly.

"Yeah, ok baby. Lips." I peck his lips twice and soon after we're driving again.

When we arrive, he opens my door and I step out, not letting him touch my hand. Looking around, I spot Eliza and I go over to her.

"Heyyy Miss Valedictorian, looking good as always."

"Thank you, sis, you look good too," she asks admiring my dress.

"Thank. Why're you outside alone?"

"Lucian's getting our table."

"Good, because I'm hungry."

"Oh look, he's telling us to come. Where's Emilian?"

"I'm here," he says, placing his hands on my waist.

"Alright, let's go before they give away our table," she strolls in front of us.

"Can we please talk baby," he pleads in my ear.

"When we get back to the hotel," I tell him as we walk toward the entrance.

He sighs, "Ok."

We join them at the secluded table and I begin looking at the menu.

"Ugh, I am so hungry," Liza says.

"Same, I haven't eaten all day, but that's because I was sleeping. What were you guys up to?" I ask her.

"I took him to my favorite places here and he took me shopping," Eliza responds.

"What did you get?"

"Snacks, clothes and a new pair of shoes. He insisted on me getting new things, even though we're going to pick up my things tomorrow," she turns to playfully glare at him.

"What? I wanted to spoil my girl," he smiles and kisses her cheek.

"Yuck, no PDA," I tell them covering my eyes.

She proceeds to place kisses all over his face and then sticks her tongue out at me. I roll my eyes and say, "I hate you."

"We love you," they say at the same time and I giggle.

"Shut up." I look over to Seb who's on his phone, being quiet as usual.

"When can we order, damn," I speak frustratingly.

"Sis, that waiter has been staring you down for a good minute now."

"Where?" I ask confused.

"By the kitchen. Oh, he's coming over." He's a short and skinny white boy with blonde curly hair that appears to be well-groomed.

"Good evening everyone, what can I get you guys?"

Lucian speaks up first, "Me and my lady would like the baked chicken, mashed potatoes, and seasoned string beans."

"Alright, what can I get you guys?" he turns in the direction of Seb and me, but his eyes are fixed on my cleavage. I'm uncomfortable but I won't say anything though.

"I'll take the salmon, mashed potatoes, and roasted broccoli with a side of caesar salad," I tell him.

"And what can I get you, Sir?"

"The same as her."

"Okay, and what would you guys like to drink?"

"Three lemonades and an orange juice," Lucian says.

"Perfect! I'll be out with your drinks in a few minutes. Your food should be out shortly after."

I smile, "Okay, thank you." The waiter winks at me before walking off and I internally cringe. No thank you, little boy.

"He really tried."

"Tried what?" Seb speaks up.

"You didn't see how he was eying her down and then winked at her."

"She knows who she belongs to," he tells her and I blush.

"Oop. Let me not mess with y'all. Anyways, are you ready for y'all flight?"

"Yup, I'm excited to visit a new country. Hopefully, you can come soon."

"I'll go when Lucian's ready. Summer for the kiddos starts in about three weeks so, I should be there soon. How long are you guys planning to stay anyway?"

"For a month, but I might leave early."

"Oh, why?"

"I thought I should leave early to maybe help plan for the charity event, even though I'm not attending."

"I wanted to go and look pretty, but this knucklehead wouldn't let me," she rolls her eyes.

"One, you would look absolutely breathtaking, not just pretty. And two, you know why," Lucian tells her.

"Whatever. Ooo, our drinks are coming," she squeals.

"Who's the orange juice for?" the waiter asks.

"Me," I say and he places the glass in front of me then distributes the other drinks. "Thank you so much."

"You're welcome. Your food will be out shortly," he walks away.

"Now we wait," Eliza says.

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