Beyond The Event Horizon (Rafayel x Reader) - Love and Deepspace

Chapter 9: The Art Exhibition

Notes:

You and Rafayel prepare for the art exhibition and it comes in full-swing. The night has only begun, yet there was already an abundance of interesting events.

Chapter 9: The Art Exhibition

Rafayel's white sports car pulls onto the parking lot of a high-end clothing store in what seems to be the luxury district of Linkon City. Empyrea, the store name reads. He wastes no time striding inside and requesting to be taken to the women's fashion section. The store's employees were more than happy to assist a charming customer like Rafayel. After all, they had all seen him arriving in his sports car.

"Are you looking for something for your girlfriend, sir?" asked a young female employee, glancing between you and him. Rafayel freezes up for a split second.

"Friend," you corrected.

"Oh, my apologies!" she said. "I thought—nevermind, come this way!"

As you and Rafayel followed the employee, you caught sight of some of the clothes' price tags. Your eyes bulged. This Empyrea brand's prices were the equivalent of Prada and Alexander McQueen.

"Why did you bring me to such an expensive store?" you asked him. "Anything from a local department store would've done."

"No, it wouldn't have."

You grab his arm to stop him. "Rafayel, the prices are insane. You don't have to."

"Why?" he asked, genuinely confused.

"I–I don't want you to waste your money on me like this. You've done more than enough to help me."

"Who says I'm wasting money?" Rafayel said. "This store has one of the best fabric colors and craftsmanship! If you want good quality clothes, you need to look for them in ateliers like this. Plus, you're the reason I was able to finish that painting, so it's only right that you wear something nice to my exhibition."

You look at him perplexedly. "Okay, if you insist."

"Go on, pick any dress you like! You can even get two if you want," he smiles.

After much trial and error, you choose a midnight blue midi dress with delicate, shoulder-hanging thin straps and a slit that runs up to your mid thigh. The dress was elegant and simple, accentuating your figure nicely. Rafayel is usually picky when it comes to colors, always quick to express his opinions. However, as you step out of the fitting room, he's conspicuously silent this time.

You put a hand on your hip and posed a little. "You're not making as much noise with this one. Why? You like it?"

Rafayel's eyes are fully focused on you, making you a little self-conscious. A tinge of pink dusts across his cheeks. He swallows.

"Y—yeah, I like this one," he said.

"You don't have anything to say about the color or fit?"

Rafayel rises from his seat and walks towards you. He bends down slightly, reaching his hand out to touch the skirt of the dress. His fingers accidentally brush against your thigh as he caresses the delicate fabric slowly, leaving a trail of tingling sensations all over you. Rafayel observes the colors and material up close, and finally, his gaze lifts from the dress to meet yours. Your breath gets caught in your throat.

"This one is perfect," he declares, releasing the skirt and straightening up.

"Yay! I like this one too, and it's not as expensive as the others."

"Wait, you should get matching shoes."

"I still have those black pumps I wore last time, I can just wear that."