![]() After all, what could one say to a ghost who appears and reappears at will?Ī tumult of emotions, ranging at once from shock to fear to excitement, swirled within her as she danced in circles around the floor. She had pondered that for so long that now, when he was actually there, she had no clue as to what she would say to him. Then again, she thought, even if she had the chance. She let the music consume her thoughts, burying the searing pain she felt at the knowledge that he was there, in that room, just watching her from afar-and she was unable to confront him. "Of course," she cut in quickly though the pleasantries, taking the Minister of Food Safety by the hand without another word. Not that she wasn't used to such obligations in fact, she expected many more such "offers" to dance before that night was over, whether she wanted them or not.Īnd, just as she expected, the minute one older man turned down her offer, another stepped in. Relena could have heaved her sigh of relief right there and then, not actually having any desire to dance-and especially not with a work colleague who was several decades her senior. "I'm flattered by the offer, Miss Darlian, but I'm afraid I don't dance at all." The Foreign Minister blushed, his face positively beet-red from her invitation in combination with the champagne he'd been drinking all evening. "I'd be happy to-but only if you would be my partner." Nonetheless, she knew the Minister's words were less an invitation and more of a push, and she felt her lip twitch as it curved into a smile again. Relena bristled at his words, trying her best to ignore Heero's staring at her bare back (as she had suddenly realised how much skin was exposed by her dress). You should go and dance! You're only young once, eh?" "I believe they'll be playing the first song shortly, Miss Darlian. The Foreign Minister didn't catch her gloomy mood, however, and gestured towards the small orchestra tuning their instruments near the centre of the room. She smiled, though her lips contained none of their usual gentility. She could barely contain the fuming feelings in her own heart from exposing themselves to the Foreign Minister as he tapped her on the shoulder, drawing her attention away from Heero's cold blue eyes. He was taller now, his skin tanner, and his build a bit more filled out in the suit he wore that night, he looked remarkably like some famous film star.īut none of that mattered to her in that moment. ![]() Those eyes had changed so little, she thought, though the rest of him had grown up in the meantime. When he failed to respond to this, she felt her body begin to burn under his impenetrable scrutiny, his eyes seeming to look into her very core as they always did. "I see," she replied, just barely comprehending the situation enough to continue their small talk. Relena's eyes widened a little, but, shell-shocked as she was, she could only swallow the stone in her throat. ![]() "I'm on leave to help lead recruitment for it from Brussels with Lieutenant Po." Heero's steady gaze held her own, though her discomfort was plain to him. "I didn't realise you were finished in Manila already." She fought the urge to rip the card in half. "Oh, how kind of you," Relena said, her throat constricting even as she spoke intelligibly. In fact, had she not been such a practiced politician, she would have choked on her next words. It occurred to her that it was the first time he had ever given her a birthday present in person, though the timing was such that she could hardly take pleasure in that knowledge. He handed her a plain, sealed white envelope. She wanted to scream, cry, or shout in a rage-but instead, she merely took a step forward.ĭressed in a formal tuxedo, he seemed just as conscious of the throngs of people surrounding the area as she, and continued the pretense easily. "Happy birthday, Vice Foreign Minister Darlian." ![]() Her blue eyes were transfixed on his figure.
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