Point of View:Diana
I go up the steps into my cabin. The room is good enough for one person. There's a large desk mirror, complete with a chair and some beauty (ugh) products on top of the desk. A small bed was on the left side of the room. A door was located at the right side of the small room. I open the door and they managed to fit the bathroom in there. The tub was present, complete with curtains and shower. There's also a sink and a mirror. Of course, a toilet.
"What am I supposed to wear? I didn't bring any decent clothes for a ball," I say to myself. I walk to the bed and dump my bag on it. I sit, worrying about the ball. "Maybe a sleep won't make me worry all about it," I tell myself. I walk in the bathroom, turn on the shower and wait until it fills up the tub. I soak two pillows on the other end of the tub, and I soak myself into the water; my head on the pillows. I close the shower curtains, completely hiding me from any view. I scoop up some water and splash it on my face before closing my eyes and sleep.
I wake with a start. I hear someone knocked on my door. They should have come inside my room already. I straighten my back slowly, and sit up carefully without making a sound. I hear the drops of water from my soaked hair making splashes, which was annoyingly loud, since it didn't help in making the bathroom quiet. I stand up, and my soaked clothes make more splashes. I jump off the tub; the floor was wet because of the drops of water on my clothes and body. The door was slightly open, which means somebody came inside the bathroom.
I open the door quietly and carefully. And I see there, beside my bed, is a standing Tintin. I sigh. I worry too much. I thought it was someone I didn't know. I step towards him and put my hand on his shoulder.
He jumps because I surprised him when my hand touched his shoulder. I let out a little laugh because it's what he did to me when we walked on the plank to the ship. "Great snakes! I thought you're—why are you dripping wet?" he asks surprisingly. "Sorry, I just slept and—wait, what time is it?" I ask him, suddenly aware of the time. "It's 6:10 pm. You got me worried sick! I waited and waited for you, but you didn't come. I thought something bad happened to you, and I asked some people to help me find you. They searched all parts of the ship, but they couldn't find you. I borrowed a duplicate of your room key and there, I found you," he explains. "Why are you soaking wet? Look, your clothes are wet. What have you done this time?" he asks. "I, uh, sleep in the tub," I answer him, scratching my forehead. "You slept in the tub? With water? Are you crazy?" Tintin asks. "What? No," I reply. "It's my routine. I just feel calm and quiet sleeping in water."
"Go clean and dry yourself up. The ball will start at 9:00 pm. I asked someone in the ship and I got that information," Tintin tells me. "But I have nothing decent to wear," I say. "They said there will be two ladies coming to your room by 6:15 pm to help you prepare. Maybe someone really forgot to tell us about it. Mine too, and captain and the professor," Tintin says. "I need to leave now. There will also be someone help me prepare." He leaves the room.
I roll my eyes. I pick up a mop in the bathroom and start mopping the water off the floor. Then, I hear someone coming inside. It must be the two ladies. I pop my head from the bathroom and the two ladies see me, with a medium-sized bag on the other girl's hand. "Hello, Ms. Diana, would you please come closer?" the first woman says. "Uhm, okay," I tell them and I put down the mop. I walk towards them. The second woman places her hands on her cheeks. She says, "Oh my, Ms. Diana—"
"You can simply call me Diana," I tell them. "Diana, why are you soaking wet?" she asks. "Oh, I slept in the tub. With water. A while ago," I tell them. "Oh, could we please get off the topic now?" I say. I feel awkward saying this to them. "Since I don't have any decent clothes, I guess I shouldn't have to come to the ball instead. Besides, I'm just invited to keep safety of somebody." The first girl widens her eyes. "Oh no! You should come. Every passenger of the Cassus is expected to come to the ball," she says. "Oh, okay. I guess you can help me," I say.
"Very well. Look at you! You need to be cleaned up! By the way, I'm Charlotte and this is Barbara," Charlotte points to the lady beside her. Charlotte is blonde, while Barbara is a redhead. "Let's start by having you take a quick bath."
Charlotte and Barbara accompanied me into the bathroom, closed the door, and while they're waiting for me outside, they requested me to strip off my wet clothes and take a quick bath. I fill the tub with water, unbraid my hair, and soak myself into it while cleaning myself up. And ten minutes later, I walk out of bathroom with a robe on. "I'm done," I tell them, as I brush my hair dry with a towel. "Diana, your friend told us that you don't know about the ball until now. You just knew about it when you got on the ship," Charlotte says to me, as the two of them start brushing my hair straight. "Yes, it was never mentioned in our letter from our boss that there's going to be a ball. What's the ball for?" I ask them.
"They will hold a celebration for the start of the expedition, hoping it will give us good luck," Barbara explains. "All passengers are requested to join in, even the crew. Like us. But don't worry about that, we will be prepared by the time we are through with you," Charlotte says. "I hope you don't mind me asking, what are your positions in the ship? I mean, what are you doing in the ship?" I ask them. "We're actually the cook," Barbara says, smiling. "The cook?" I exclaim unbelievably. "Yes, but we're former stylists for some stage performers, so we are the ones that volunteered with helping you prepare for the ball," Charlotte explains. "Now, I'm thinking of tying your hair in a pretty bun."
"Good idea," Barbara says. Charlotte puts some cream in my hair and combs it straight. She ties my hair up in a simple ponytail, braids it down my back, and rolls it up the ponytail to make the bun. She secures some of the ends of my hair sticking out the bun with pieces of bobby pins. "There, you look better," Charlotte says as she inspects my hair. Barbara trims my nails. Charlotte puts some makeup on my face, but I told her not to put too much because it doesn't make me comfortable. "Should we remove your eyeglasses?" Barbara asks me. "No. I can't see clearly without it," I tell her. "How about your black pearl earrings?" she asks again. "Oh no. My parents gave it to me. I would like to keep them on, if you don't mind," I tell her. She nods and smiles and continues to trim my nails.
After a hours of putting makeup on my face, trimming my nails, putting jewelry on my neck and hands, making my hairstyle look good and any other ways of beautifying someone, I sit on the bed and found them looking at me, smiling. "You look beautiful, Diana," Charlotte says. "What's left is something you have to wear," Barbara says. She pulls open a tube orange dress from the bag. "I'm sorry, but I don't wear sleeveless dresses," I tell them. "Why is that?" they ask. "I don't feel comfortable wearing things like that. I feel cold," I tell them. "Very well. I think you should try this instead. Your dresses are the same type as this," she says, and pulls out another dress from the bag. They're right. It's the same type I wear. Simple white long sleeve with some puffs at the start of the shoulder in a green bodice with intricate designs. The skirt is in different shades of green with the same intricate patterns. "That looks beautiful," I say. "I bet it'll look more beautiful on you," Barbara says. They both help me get dressed on it. The sweetheart neckline of the dress helps in revealing the necklace more. The skirt reaches the ground and hides my feet.
Charlotte pulls out a pair of high heeled shoes. "No, I'm not wearing that," I tell them. "It's the only option you have," Barbara says. "I think I'll do better in my bare feet," I tell them. "Really?" Charlotte asks. "Yes. It'll be no problem because the skirt hides my feet, so people wouldn't notice my feet. Look, you still have thirty minutes to prepare," I tell them. "Can you come back here after the ball? I need to return these items you let me use and wear," I ask them. "Sure, Diana. No problem," Charlotte says. They walk out of the door with their bag. "Hey," I catch up. "Thank you very much for the help," I tell them. "No problem, Diana. We're happy to help," Charlotte says. And they bid me goodbye.
I stretch my arms. I look at the clock hanging on the room. "Time's so fast. It's already 8:30 pm. Maybe I should finish the mopping?" I ask myself. I walk into the bathroom, but the skirt I'm wearing is too long. The water might touch it and might get soaked in water. "I guess I should continue it after the ball," I say to myself. I pick up my diamond ring I left in the bathroom when I took a quick bath and puts it into my skirt pocket. I sit for complete thirty minutes and walk to the ball room. "Wow," the word comes out my mouth. I can't help it. The room is so big, decorated with strips of cloths in different colors, and a large stage is in front of the tables scattered along the floor. People wearing elegant dresses are present, either talking to each other or ordering drinks or walking around. A big space is reserved in the middle of the big, big room that must be the dance floor. The orchestra is on the left side of the stage, playing different kinds of music. I see Tintin, Snowy, Captain Haddock, Professor Calculus, Thompson and Thomson walking up to me. They all wear different suits but different styles and colors, but Tintin looks so dashing in his suit.
"Diana! Good thing we found you. We're seated there, table number 5," Tintin says, pointing at a circular table near the stage. "Oh, we're very near the stage," I say. Snowy barks happily at me and I bend down to pat his head. "You even got Snowy prepared for the ball," I say to Tintin, laughing a little. "Yes," he says, laughing too. Snowy barks again, moving his little bowtie tied to his neck a little left. "Hey, Tintin, I got something to show you," I lift my skirt and pops my left foot out, and Tintin laughs. "You didn't wear any shoes," he says as he laughs. "I don't want to wear the high heels Charlotte and Barbara lent me," I tell him. "Ahh, Diana. You look good in your dress," Captain Haddock compliments me. "Thank you, captain. Your suit looks perfect on you," I compliment him back. He laughs softly. "Come on, let's sit. My feet are aching," Professor Calculus says. We all walk together and sit on the table.
Professor Mike appears on the stage in his blue suit. "Good evening, everyone! We are all here on the ship Cassus, celebrating our start of expedition. I hope, that we can finish our expedition safe and sound. We started sailing at Belgium, and hope to reach the western part of Greenland, in which the island we seek, Borione, can be found. Now, let me introduce myself. I'm Professor Mike Wilson. And this is our captain, Captain Ahmet Smith," he says as he points towards the captain, who is now standing up. The audience claps. There was a long table in the large stage in which the captain sits with five other men, one chair is empty. "Let me introduce to you, the five amazing professors who will be our companions in this expedition for the next days. Let's five a big round of applause for Professors Carl Peeters, Maverick Jacobs, John Lambert, Philip de Smet, and Liam Dubois!" All the five professors sitting on the table stand up, and applauses from the audience are heard. "Let us thank them for they funded this expedition. They will work on the researches along the way and will help us in the ship. We have special guests. First, Mr. Tintin, the famous reporter who was known for his adventures and discoveries!" Tintin stands up and walks up the stage and takes a bow, applauses are heard. "Second, Captain Archibald Haddock, who will help Captain Ahmet Smith in his journey and sailing the ship Cassus!" Captain Haddock walks up the stage and takes a bow like Tintin, and applauses are heard once again. "Third, Professor Cuthbert Calculus, who will help up us research regarding Borione and other matters!" I nudge Professor Calculus, who doesn't seem to hear he is being called, despite the loud voice used, and he seems to know what to do and does what Tintin and Captain Haddock did. Applauses are heard once more. "Last but not the least, Thompson and Thomson, the best detectives assigned to protect the safety of our special guests!" Both did what the others did, and applauses are heard again. "Our special guests may be back on their table now," Professor Mike says, and all of them return to their seats. "Why isn't Diana called?" Tintin asks. "We cannot reveal her to the public, she's still a secret of the Interpol," Thompson says. "Only a few people know her identity."
"Please enjoy the rest of the night!" Professor Mike says as he seats down the table and the audience delivers the last applause. Foods are delivered into the tables. We eat talking about the expedition while music plays. When we are already finished, the orchestra plays some dance music, and people rise from their seats and invite others to dance with them on the dance floor. "Oh, look, they got some whisky over there," Captain Haddock says. "I'm going to get some." He stands up with his glass and leaves the table. "Do you mind if I go invite somebody to dance?" Professor Calculus asks us. All of us shake our heads. "No? Okay. I'll just dance with someone." He leaves the table and looks for a partner. "We'll just go chit-chat with the others," Thompson and Thomson leaves the tables, leaving me, Tintin, and Snowy at the table. "Well, they're all gone," I say as I pat Snowy. Tintin smiles and I look at the people dancing on the dance floor. "Would you mind if I ask you to dance with me?" Tintin asks, smiling. "No, not at all," I reply. He stands up, takes my hand and brings me into the dance floor. He puts his hand on my waist, and I put mine in his shoulder. Our other hands are clasped together. "I don't know how to dance," I tell him. "You can if you follow me," he says. "You know, Diana, you really look stunning tonight. Where did you get your dress?" Tintin asks. "The ladies who helped me prepare tonight lent me this dress. I'll be honest, too. You look absolutely dashing in your suit," I tell him, smiling. "Really? Gee, thanks," Tintin says, smiling too. "You didn't remove the necklace I gave to you. Why didn't you wear it off first and wear something else?" he asks. "As I told you before, I don't remove it. I want to keep it that way," I tell him. I keep on stepping on his shoes. "Sorry," I apologize softly. "Don't worry, it's not that much," he says. "Diana, do you have any special man?" Tintin asks. "Special man? Why?" I ask, and I feel myself blushing. "You're a pretty woman, and no one courts you?" he asks. I feel my heart beat faster.
"Some men attempt, but, because of my job, I shouldn't have one," I tell him, and I feel myself blush more. "Why shouldn't you have one?" he asks. "Distraction, maybe? I don't know, but my boss said it to me," I tell him. I keep silent for a moment, but I ask him something. "How about you, don't you have one?" I ask him. He looks down, maybe seeing if I step on his shoes again. He smiles and looks at me. "I'll be honest. I had one, and I think you could guess who she is," he says. I think for a moment. Suddenly, the idea came into my mind. "Gina?" I ask him. He looks down again, and smiles. "Yes," he answers. "But that was before."
"I think she still loves you. I can tell it," I tell him. He looks up to me. "How can you say? I don't think if I still feel something for her," Tintin says to me. "Because I'm a woman too," I tell him. "Maybe you should try to get your relationship back again," I tell him. He says nothing. He just stares at me. I found myself staring at his eyes. I feel myself blush and my heart beats faster than ever. I look away, and I let go of him. He stares at me, confused. I don't know what to say, but at least I got something to cover me up. I see Gina, walking towards us. "I think you should dance with her. Talk to each other, maybe," I tell him, pointing at Gina. He looks at what I was pointing at. "I don't think I—"
"You can. Sorry, I just need some air, Tintin. I think I'll go outside for a while," I tell him. "Okay," he says confusedly. "Be careful." I walk away and I see Gina take his hand and they dance together. I open the door outside, and breathe in the cool breeze. "Ah, finally some air," I tell him. I lean against the metal handles. Someone grabs my shoulder. "Huh?" I look back, and I see Kurt.
"It's just you. You scared me a little," I tell him. "I can tell there is something bothering you. What is it?" Kurt asks me, leaning against the handles too. "Nothing," I say. "Really? I can help," he says. I look into his eyes. I'm hesitating to tell him, but, my heart says I should. "I feel something…not right," I tell him. "I feel different when I see him. My heart…it's different when I see him. When I'm around him." Kurt makes a confused face. "Him? You mean Tintin?" Kurt asks. I nod. "Why do you feel different?" he asks. "I don't know. The feelings just there, all so suddenly," I tell him. "When did you feel that?" Kurt asks. "Just…now. But there's some times that the feelings' mild," I tell him.
"Well, I think it's clear that," Kurt says. "You developed some feelings for your best friend."