Untouchable

Untouchable - Chapter 24

Chapter 24:
Where do we go from here?

Engfa

Reflecting on it now, this was the first time in ages that I experienced a truly restful and peaceful sleep. There were no dreams, only serenity. Surprisingly, I woke up in a good mood, despite the intensity of the occurrence from last night's events.

Last night....

I couldn’t help but grin like a fool on my way to the Gala. Although the event had started at eight o'clock, here I was, inside the car that I was supposed to share with Pichy, arriving fashionably late at ten o'clock. Well, better late than never, right?

As soon as I stepped into the room, camera flashes blinded me as the media surged forward, snapping pictures left and right. They were probably hoping for a juicy scoop for tomorrow's entertainment headlines. I could almost see the headlines already: "Engfa Waraha Arrives Late at the Gala." splashed across news outlets, magazines, and media platforms. But honestly, I didn't care about any of that.

All that mattered to me was the newfound knowledge that Charlotte Austin liked me too. With that thought warming my heart, I chose to forgo my usual stoic, aloof expression and instead I bestowed upon them my rarest and sweetest smile--a smile so genuine that it had never been seen in any of my movies or series. This time, it was real.

As I strode confidently down the red carpet with an air of confidence, my long eyelashes fluttered playfully beneath my expertly crafted cat-eye makeup, drawing the attention of photographers eager to capture the moment.

That's right, take my picture, I thought, a smile dancing on my lips. Let all of Thailand see just how radiant and captivating I truly am.

As I made my way to the main event, the atmosphere buzzed with the chatter of celebrities engaging in lively conversations, while others indulged in what was likely their fifth glass of champagne.

A waiter approached me, presenting a tray filled with sparkling glasses. I accepted one with a polite nod, my eyes scanning the crowd until they fell upon Plaifa, who was making her way toward me. Her face wore a carefully crafted neutral expression, but I could see the simmering anger lurking beneath the surface.

"Where the hell have you been?" she hissed through clenched teeth, but I couldn't help the smile spreading across my face.

Thoughts of Charlotte's words played in my mind like a sweet melody. Couldn't you believe it? I marveled to myself, she actually likes me! It felt like winning a  race all over again.

“I got a little lost, but I found my way back, didn’t I?” I replied, grinning as I spotted Faye Malisorn sitting alone, downing a glass of champagne.

I turned my back on Plaifa, ignoring the fiery glare she shot in my direction, and headed towards Faye.

“Mali!” I called out, grinning as I closed the distance between us.

“Waraha! It’s been too long!” She beamed, pulling me into a warm embrace. “You certainly know how to make an entrance. I might just have to show up fashionably late myself someday.”

“Oh, please. You’ve been known to arrive late too,” I teased, unable to stifle the laughter bubbling up within me.

“True, but not an hour and a half late.” she shot back with a playful smirk before gesturing to a waiter for another drink. Then she tilted her head slightly. “Where’s your girlfriend? I thought she was around here somewhere. Honestly, it's absurd that you let her come to the gala all by herself.” her laughter faded my smile almost instantly at the mention of Pichy.