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“Let’s just hope for his sake he keeps his promise.” Then she walked off, welcoming a middle-aged couple to the exhibition.
Alina kept her eyes on the doorway, waiting for Dereck to enter, but she staggered back when his sister entered the hall. Dina was wearing short Versace mustard belted dress with thigh-high boots and a chunky necklace. Her hair was pulled back in a low ponytail with her curls resting on her back.
When she walked up to her, Alina was the first to speak. “Dina,” she said with a puzzling smile. “I didn’t know you were coming.”
“Why wouldn’t I?” the woman said with a satisfactory grin. “Family supports each other, right?”
“Yes, we do.” Alina had no choice but to agree. “Still, thank you for coming.”
“Don’t mention it,” Dina said, her eyes searching the room. “Where is that brother of mine?”
Alina tried to look unfazed by the question, but a slight frown escaped her. “Dereck hasn’t come as yet.”
Dina looked at her watch and the jewelry almost blinded Alina. “But it’s almost closing time. Well, I’m sure he’ll get here in time.” Dina gave Alina a reassuring tap on her shoulder, which left the other woman with a burning sensation.
Alina thought was finished speaking on the topic, but she continued. “You should get accustomed to it if you really intend to be with my brother. With him, his patients are the most important.”
Alina smiled, the brightness of it not quite reaching her eyes. She knew Dina was trying to rattle her with underhand comments. “Well, I top Dereck’s importance list.” Then she made her voice sound assured. “He will be here.”
If Dereck didn’t come, she would be mortified, not to mention Dina would revel in it like a victory. She was claiming to support their relationship, but somehow Alina didn’t fully trust it.
Dina pushed her head to the side to get a better view of the dominant feature of the exhibition behind Alina. “I hope he does, otherwise it would be such a shame.” She then walked away to view the rest of the exhibit. Alina didn’t notice when she left, but she breathed a sigh of relief when she no longer saw the other woman in the hall.
Taking out the phone she tucked in the waist of her pants, Alina dialed Dereck’s number, but when he did not answer she dropped her hand to her side, slightly increasing the pressure on the phone. Thirty minutes had gone by since she last looked at the time. Dereck was cutting it rather close, and it caused an unsettled feeling in her stomach.
Alina was about to dial his number again when Dereck walked into the room, his head already darting from side to side. “Alina. I am so sorry,” he said after approaching her.
Alina was wearing a teardrop earring with a matching necklace with the pendant resting on the rise of her breast. Dereck swallowed at the sight of it as he pressed his lips to each of her cheeks. Alina kept her lips pouted and her eyes half-closed.
“What can I do to make this up to you?” Dereck asked, looking around. “I will buy the most expensive piece in here.”
Alina eyed him, her nose upturned and her face creased. “It was sold already.”
“Oh,” Dereck said, backing up and passing his hand in his hair. If he couldn’t bribe her, he will just have to appeal to her inner artist. “How about you show me around? I’m eager to see the last piece you were working on.”
Alina’s expression suddenly changed, and her eyes showed their true sparkle. When she grabbed him by the arm, Dereck allowed her to whisk him away to where the main feature was displayed.
His eyes went wide and his jaw dropped. “Alina,” he said in a low and tender tone. “It’s beautiful.”
Dereck was staring at a replica of himself. Lines perfectly highlight the contours of his face. The replica was facing forward, eyes seemingly sparkling as it stared at something or someone beyond.
“Do you like it?” Alina was looking at Dereck with expectation on her face.
“Do I like it?” Dereck’s eyes were still bulging, and he looked at the painting longingly. “I just regret not being able to take it home.”
Alina turned to him; her eyebrows pushed upwards. “Who said you can’t take it home?”
Dereck was somewhat confused. “Didn’t you say it was sold?”
“Yes. But I didn’t say who bought it.” Alina placed her hand behind her back and slowly walked away from him. Dereck caught up to her, though, encasing her from behind. “Come on,” Alina urged him. “Let me show you the rest of the paintings.”
Like the one of Dereck and of Taylor, the rest of Alina’s art replicated the people she kept in her heart. There was also one of Bailey and her other friend Peyton. There was even one of Cassey, her sister, posing on top of a mountain.
To add diversity, she included some of her favorite places, like the Brooklyn bridge when it was snow-covered and Coney Island, in the middle of summer. Alina’s exhibition was a reflection of everything she cherished.
“Do you know how proud of you I am?” Dereck said, grabbing her around the waist. The exhibition was over and everyone else had vacated the premises. Bailey was tired from her day of last-minute organizations, so Alina volunteered to secure the building on her way out.
“You mentioned it once or twice,” Alina said with a grin. “But you can say it again. I never tire of it.”
