Illaria Point of View

Have you ever heard of the saying, 'Everything starts with a wedding'?

Or the saying, 'It's bound to happen if it is a festive time'.

Or the saying, 'You will feel it when you are surrounded by the similar feelings'.

Every saying above or every similar saying will indicate the same thing that I'm facing right now.

Did it ever happen to anyone that you have some really good positive feelings for someone, you could tell that they are romantic emotions but nonetheless not too much to the extent of feeling itchy and tingle-ish all over the body for that person. However, there suddenly comes a time when you will be seriously drowned in the same emotions but on a largely amplified scale.

You don't know where all these suddenly overwhelming feelings came from and what caused all the burst out. You only recognize the fact that you are, suddenly but not-so-suddenly, are in love with that person.

So much that you feel foolish and silly.

So much that you feel it sudden and uncontrollable.

So much that you find it unconvincing but still strangely convincing.

So much that you forget about all the anger or negative feelings for that person for a time period.

This is exactly what I'm going through.

And that other person is Devon Fox Almond!

"You – can have it. Please." He offered with a slight negligible blush on his face.

"No, you can have it." I politely offered back, feeling tensed from all the pounding in the heart and pricking on the skin where his hand accidentally touched mine.

"No, you should have it. I will take the next one. Come on, please." Devon gestured me to have the glass of Almond flavored milk while he stopped another waiter and took a glass for himself.

I did not make any more drama and took the glass. Taking a small sip of the drink, I stealthily looked at him and noticed that he was doing the same as well.

"Umm, this is delicious." I took my glance back and said awkwardly.

This hot drink was extremely delicious and this is my third glass already. Apparently, this is a hot beverage the originated from India called 'Badam milk' which means Almond milk.

This almond milk, though, is amazingly flavorful. It's a little yellow in color which came from saffron, there is appropriate amount of sugar and authentic almond flavor, garnished with small thinly sliced dry nuts; the drink is served hot which is pure delight mostly when the climate is a little chill.

"This is our family's favorite thing to drink all the time." He said with a hint of pride in his tone. And that when I noticed yet again for the nth time this evening that he has been secretly yet not-so-secretly checking me out the whole time.

Favorite thing to drink? Ah, not strange!

But God, it's the start of the winter and is already a bit chilly, why does it suddenly feel hot though?

I took another sip of the drink and looked around to see everyone having a blast right now. The guests are almost all here, the whole Almond colony was decorated like a newlywed bride and the stalls are in place, entertaining the guests of all age groups.

"Devon, what the heck are you standing there like a statue experiencing constipation for over a century? Come here quickly and check this out." The tenth cousin of Devon hollered on top of his lungs which are better functioning than a loud speaker.

She waved at him, gesturing him to hurry up but when she did not see him moving, she came by herself and dragged me and Devon with her to a place where a game was setup.

This was one of the very interesting games of the many we have here in the engagement party this evening. There are many gifts arranged in no particular order on the ground which is a little deeper than normal. There is a huge mirror on the ceiling facing the ground. You cannot see the ground and the gifts arranged but you can lift your head up and see it through the large mirror.

Now the game is, you have to look in the mirror and throw the ring accordingly. If the ring lands on a gift, it's yours.

However, to look in the mirror above, estimate the real distance and speed and then throw the ring exactly is more difficult than you could imagine.

"How much did you spend on this one? I've seen you playing this game forty minutes ago and you are still on it?" Devon chastised his cousin.

"I was trying to win at least one gift, okay? It's too hard to win. Help me, please." She pleaded with a pout and alongside nudged me with her elbow secretly.

"You don't have to ask her for help. After I help you, stop with this game and go to see if the guests need anything and chat with them. Almonds cannot leave their guests unattended."

Devon immediately paid for the game and got ten rings. The first three games for any person is free but if you want to continue playing, you have to pay from the fourth game. That's the agreement we came up with for all the games set up here.

Since Devon is playing for his cousin and he is not really short of this little money, He paid upfront and looked at all the gifts arranged on the floor through the mirror above.

I've played this once an hour ago when the guests are not here yet but wasn't able to win anything, cough cough!

It's not that my target skills are lacking but this is indeed a tough game. Devon looked at his cousin and asked her what gift she wants.

She pointed at a few of them and confirmed her pick. He then turned to me and just looked at me with a bit of inquiry in his eyes.

I stared back at him for a long while not understanding the situation but when he asked me what I wanted, a kind of sweet honey feeling filled my heart.

Oh my God!

This feels like one of those Korean sweet campus dramas!

What is this sweetness in my heart?

"I want that pineapple stuffed toy, that bohemian styled dreamcatcher and that ancient looking painting." I said with a grinning face.

When you have someone win gifts for you, that's the most amazing feeling you could feel ever.

Devon turned his back at me and concentrated on winning the presents for his cousin and me while I looked at his strong and sculpted back with admiration running through every cell in my body.

What the hell is suddenly happening to me?

Why am I feeling so strange all of a sudden today?

Devon was indeed a talented person, he did not spend much effort and got what his cousin wants first. When he got another set of rings to win some things for me, grandma Almond suddenly came from nowhere and slapped Devon's arm.

That startled Devon and me!

"Grandma," If it wasn't for my overly sensitive emotions tonight, I wouldn't have caught the hint of whining in his tone even if I learn the art of divination.

"You boy! How can you be so senseless?" Grandma scolded. "Look at Illaria, that dear girl wants to enjoy the game and win; not just win something without enjoyment. You are being insensible here."

"Grandma Almond, I don't have the skill so –"

"Then Devon will teach you. He will assist you closely. Why are you being so polite with family?" Grandma Almond slapped Devon's shoulder again and ordered him to assist me well.

Devon looked at me with his ears slightly turning pink, he invited me to stand in front of him. I looked at grandma Almond and with a sigh, I stood in front of Devon.

Devon slowly and hesitantly gave me a ring and from behind me, he held my hand that was holding the ring and gave instructions in my ear softly making me go breathless.

"Now, focus on the thing you want and forget about all the other objects around it. Look at the mirror closely." A shiver ran through my body producing a kind of electric feeling that I never felt before.

My legs went soft when his hot breath touched my skin like first ray of sun in the morning.

"Focus," Devon suddenly held my shivering hand from behind making me go crazy.

For my relief, I can feel his body go stiff as well which means he is going through the same thing as me.

"Don't lean forward too much." He corrected my posture by holding me by my waist and bringing me a step back. His hand still stayed on my waist, albeit in a very respectable way.

I didn't know that one can touch your waist and still make you feel respected all the same time.

I felt fireworks going inside my brain and the unnoticed and unintentionally snubbed feelings woke up with a fervor that was never experienced before.

"Calm down. Stabilize your hand." And that whisper was the last thread of undoing me.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Hello Sweeties,

Next chapter is here. Enjoy!

What do you think about the chapter? Boring?

Finally both Illaria and Devon had their breakthrough in their feelings and chemistry.

Why was Illaria angry with Devon in the first place?

Does Devon like Illaria too?

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Lots of Love

Lady Prim