The wooden door of a stylish French restaurant swung open and an elegant woman in her mid-20s appeared at the doorway. She stepped in with her head held high in the air. Her hands swayed at her side with such gracefulness that it made her entrance like a ballerina gliding through a dance floor. She scanned the dimly lit room and saw some of her old classmates gathered in small groups, immersed in their own conversation. Others were busy taking pictures, smiling at the blinding flashlight. Waiters were bustling around to put a finishing touch to the decoration and setup for the party. You might have thought that no one noticed her, but the spotlight moved to her just as fast as lightning flashes across the sky. The attention she received was much like being the leading role of a performance. Everyone would be glued to their seats as the curtain parted and the drum rolled. Once she appeared, the audience would wave frantically. There was just no one in the room who wasn't captivated by her.
As she walked across the room, people turned their heads, dazzled by her appearance. She was wearing a strapless, white silk dress that reached just below her knees, and a pair of matching-colored high-heel shoes. With every step she took, her heel lightly hit the floor. The tapping resonated throughout the room. When she walked, the silk dress would caress her smooth skin. A shawl was also rested over her shoulders and a corsage, made from fresh rosebud was pinned on the shawl to secure it in place. She had a light make-up on, but it wasn't necessary for her complexion was as soft and clear as a newborn baby. Her hair was tied up in a French twist, revealing her dangling diamond earrings. She had a smell of a passing garden. A fragrance of jasmine lingered behind her trail. It wasn't pungent or strong, but soothing to the nostrils. Everyone was in awe. She nodded to some of the familiar faces, gave a faint smile, but she didn't bother to stop and join in with the others.
She found a seat at a table near the corner and sat down with her legs crossed, leaning slightly to the side of the armchair where she could see the doorway. One could have guessed that she was waiting for someone. Someone she has been friends with ever since they were in grade school. Someone she hasn't seen for years. A waiter came by and poured her a glass of water. She took a small sip and dabbed her glossy lip gently with a napkin afterwards. She looked at the doorway again. If she was impatient, she didn't show any sign of it. She didn't drum her fingers on the table like what most of us would do nor did she look at her watch every other second and scowl when someone didn't show up. From time to time, she would change her position, placing her right elbow on the table with her chin rested on her palm while she twirled her earrings around with her left index finger. Or she would stand up and straighten up her dress, checking to see if there were any creases.
Someone tapped her shoulder from behind and she gasped at the sight of
her friend. Her eyes widen with surprise. “Oh, how I've longed to see
you", she
sang. Her melodic voice blended in with the background music. When she
spoke, her voice wasn't squeaky or gruff. It was like the tune of a lullaby.
Tears
began to well up into her eyes, but she managed to hold back the sniff.
A teardrop then fell from the corner of her eye. This teardrop, like
a pearl,
signified
the preciousness of their friendship; a friendship that was built on
sincerity, understanding and support. Her friend has always known there's
more to
her than meets the eye and has valued her ever since they have known each other.