It's not what it seems. But that doesn't stop me from loving you

I was busy describing about my sculptures to Yibo and that was when I hear the very familiar sound of heels. My girl- Autumn. My favorite season as well. Though I exactly hasn't experienced the color of her shoes with my eyes but as far as people told me and so did she... she always wear the iconic velvet red The Lady with the red shoes.

" Oh! I left you to stain, let me wipe it." She always does this. Intentionally living her Dior lipstick stain on my cheeks and then wipe it with her patchouli-scented handkerchief. Though I am not sure if it goes away totally.

"Autumn, I missed you. My stiletto girl" I said, sighing and missing each and every moments of us together. Her giggles, her soft baritone voice that changes with her mood, the sound of her heels and her Flamenco.

"I missed you more, Zhan." Said she, booping nose with me.

"Well, no nose booping now. I want to you to meet someone, Yi-Yibo are you there? Where are you?" I said. Unknown to me, and so uncanny that I didn't know even his little absence frightens me so much that my heart beats faster. Good lord, I am getting used to him! I do not want him to be my habit, my routine. Not yet.

"I am here." His voice cooed soothingly and soon he held my hand assuring he was just next to me. All the time.

"Ah, I am- I am glad. Well," I sighed smiling at my own foolishness, " Well, I want you meet Autumn, my forever best friend whom I have been with like from the beginning of time?"

"Well, beginning of your time, not mine since I have started seeing the world one year before.

"Excuse me? I didn't quite catch that." I heard Yibo said confused, his grip around my fist tightened and I too held it firmly.

"Oh she is just saying that she is one year older than me. She and her lame sense of humour." I said mentally eye rolling.

"well, it never fails to make you laugh though." Autumn said bumping her shoulders with mine, then I heard one or two clacks of her heels probably she was going to handshake Yibo.

"Hello Stranger-o-familiar, I am Anupriya Roy Salazar, and if you have any problem with pronouncing my name, just call me Autumn. And I have been seeing this handsome face since the age of three, so yeah."

"And," I said, hugging Yibo his scent brushing me like lullaby, "she is also a very good flamenco dancer."

"Wow," Yibo said, and then shook hands with her, "I am Wang Yibo, and it is so nice to meet you. You can call me Mr. Wang."

That caught me off guard, but still, I can't talk over Yibo's decision about his name. And of course, even if Autumn is close to me, doesn't mean she will instantly be close to Yibo.

"Ah, I know you are Wang Yibo... the famous ray-cicerone, right? Seeing you in real hits different. I mean Zhan wouldn't stop talking about you whenever you came on TV and went on blah- blah about your skills with Violin..."

"Autumn..." I intruded her long talking, "Not today."

"Reminds me of BTS. Anyways, so Mr. Wang you, and Zhan..."

"Well, Zhan invited me to visit his studio today since I have been curious to see his artworks. It was not so long since we came here so yeah." Yibo said, I could hear impatience and a little hint of annoyance in his voice.

"Great! All of us could just do it then. Are you free after this? We can visit the sushi restaurant after it, I am hella hungry and it's been a while since I had sushi. So I would really love to have it after landing here. And it's on me." Autumn cheered, her stilettos clacking on the floor as if every time she walks she dances. As expected from the five times and counting- winner of the Best International dancer of the year.

"I am so sorry but I don't think... today would be a great day for me to join for that." Yibo said.

"Oh poor you. Then Zhan how about it's just two of us then?" she exclaimed. Now I have never in my life said no to her face, and now that she is here after this long time I don't know what to do. Of course, Yibo matters but I don't know who goes over whom.

"I- ," I was about to answer to that, but suddenly my phone rang the ringtone was for Zen. " Sorry I had to pick up the call. Please wait a bit you two. I will be done in a while." Saying so I excused myself and left to pick up the call.

..............................................................................................

"My stiletto girl." That one sentence rang in my head ever since Zhan had said it. I don't usually judge people, but this woman has something in her which clearly shows a red flag to me.

"Well, Zhan invited me to visit his studio today since I have been curious to see his artworks. It was not so long since we came here so yeah." I said, annoyance slowly crippling up. I am not sure and confident enough to call it a date. Yet.

"Great! All of us could just do it then. Are you free after this? We can visit the sushi restaurant after it, I am hella hungry and it's been a while since I had sushi. So I would really love to have it after landing here. And it's on me." Autumn cheered, as if nothing else mattered to her. Like she isn't old enough to guess what we are doing right now is serious. She walked with her pumps clacking on the floor as if every time she walks she dances.

"I am so sorry but I don't think... today would be a great day for me to join for that." I said, politely. Now if someone thinks I am jealous of her, I am not. I barely know her, but what she is doing right now is nothing but stupid.

"Oh poor you. Then Zhan how about it's just two of us then?" she exclaimed the mole on her upper lips reminded me of Monroe. I thought Zhan would instantly say no, but it surprised me that he hesitated.

" Sorry I had to pick up the call. Please wait a bit you two. I will be done in a while." Are you that hesitating now Zhan?

I saw him going a bit far away from us to be on call so I diverted my gaze to his beautiful sculptures. Realizing how great of an artist he is, always made me proud that I know such person.

"Are you- dating Zhan?" suddenly Autumn came beside me, her voice low and doubtful and full of mockery.

"umm, am I obliged to tell you that? I believe I am not." I said with a smile ignoring her surprised face and again put my attention to the tiny turtle sculpture in front of me. It was made of platinum.

"listen... Zhan and I have been friends for a long time and if you think you can intrude-"

"Excuse me, Miss Salazar, if you are thinking that I am here to intrude into your relationship with Zhan you are wrong. Also I am not interested in talking to you about Zhan."

"Hmm, You are smarter than I thought. And also have a sharp mouth." Said she, fishing a cigar from her purse. Which looked pretty on the cleavage of her tanned fingers painted with royal blue glitters.

"I didn't think you will be stupid enough to think that the other person isn't smart enough to protect himself and give a decent answer." Saying so, I excused myself from her.

Zhan had already finished his call, so I went to him. Thanks, her weirdness, it already ruined my day.

"Zhan, I think I got to go, sorry for ending our date today so abruptly. Will you mind giving me a ride to home?" I said holding his hand.

"Sure," guilt striking his voice, "I am sorry Yibo, I didn't know she will be here to surprise and-"

"I don't mind her." I said, " I don't mind what I don't know, and don't care about."

"Are you going home Yibo? Too bad then you won't be able to join us to sushi restaurant." Autumn said, her clacking heels have been annoying the shit out of me now.

"I- I don't think today I will be joining you to there as I have to drop Yibo at home. Please take care, Yibo let's get you to home." Zhan said tagging me along his way, while she stood with the gloomy face.

"Goodbye, it was nice meeting you, Miss Anupriya Roy Salazar." I said and bowed a goodbye.

In the whole car ride, Zhan was mostly silent, probably expecting me to say something, but I didn't have anything to say. Rather Autumn's excessive intruding made me think more, the way she was behaving didn't feel so good.

"Zhan?" I asked for his name, once I step outside the car in front of my house.

"yes, Yibo?" he beamed, and I frowned.

"Well, I believe in your knowledge of instinct about knowing people good or bad- but try not to be overconfidently sure about it. Just because they are being nice to you doesn't mean they are actually good. And you know I am just saying this for you."

"I understand, don't worry. But are you by chance, saying Autumn..."

"Goodbye, Xiao Zhan." I cut him by kissing his lips, which danced again with mine. His scent with the hint of coffee made it more enticing but I had to leave.

"Goodbye Wang Yibo." Said he, lips swollen and red.

"By the way, she wore pumps. Not stilettos. Don't always believe in people just because they say so." With that, I turned my way to my house.

Guess Salazar will bea part of our story. And I won't be quite liking it any way.