Madame Garbacia’s eyes then fell on Aselia who was quietly observing the woman.

"Hello! Dear, you must be one of Xiran’s..." before she could finish the sentence, Xiran interjected:

"She is my girlfriend and I want you to give her a beautiful haircut," he beamed at Aselia as if proud of her. Aselia’s heart fluttered at his words, this was the first time he had introduced her like that and she loved the way he had owned her.

She stole a glance at him and gently squeezed his arm showing her affection for the words he had uttered. He didn’t let Garbacia assume that she was just one of his girls, he let her know that she was his only girl now.

The petite hairstylist was shocked to hear this revelation. She was responsible for makeup and hairstyles for Xiran’s girls whenever he held special parties for them. She had seen numerous girls come and go in his life but he had never introduced any of them as his girlfriend. She quickly recovered from the shock and plastered the smile back on her face.

"Glad to meet you, dear. Come come," she offered her hand to Aselia and she shook it while Garbacia led her to the salon chair.

"Let’s see what we have here," Garbacia said while removing the beanie from Aselia’s head and her eyes fell on Aselia’s ears while Xiran spoke up:

"Madame Garbacia, I know you are sworn to secrecy but no one can know that my girlfriend is an elf. That’s why I said on the phone you should be alone for the appointment."

Xiran’s voice was low but it held an underlying threat that the woman quickly picked up and bowed her head before saying:

"Understood, Señor. You need not worry, my lips are forever sealed, and whatever I see here remains here."

"Good, you may continue," Xiran helped Aselia settle down in the chair and took off her mask before pocketing it. He gave Aselia a reassuring smile because he had sensed she was being very quiet.

"My dear, what kind of haircut would you like?" Madame Garbacia inquired while passing her hand through Aselia’s short golden hair and observing them. Aselia’s gaze went to Xiran for assistance who was leaning against the dressing with a huge mirror at his back. His hands were in the pockets of his white slacks as he watched her intently.

"Whatever you like," he offered with a smile.

"Alright, I will like a side-part bob with a few silver highlights in them. Especially the front streaks on both sides, I want them dyed silver," she told Garbacia while maintaining eye contact with Xiran. His smile had become broad at her answer that she could swear his chest had puffed and become double in size like a puffer fish.

Aselia couldn’t help but give him a knowing smile and he took out his hand from his pocket and touched her face before saying:

"You chose an amazing colour for highlights, I wonder where you got the idea from?" He raised his eyebrows at her with a smirk.

"I wonder too," Aselia simply shrugged at him making him laugh.

"Fine choice dear, it will suit you very well," Garbacia placed a waterproof black apron around Aselia’s white dress and began to wet her hair with a spray bottle. She then instructed Aselia to keep her head still and began to even out the pointed ridges that Aselia had barbarously destroyed.

Emotions welled up in her heart as she remembered that day, the day she would never be able to forget as it changed her in ways she never expected to. The day she destroyed his hair as well as her own.

Xiran observed the dazed look she was carrying again and knew she was shaming herself, so he gently spoke:

"After this, we are going to choose a dress for you to wear tomorrow. Rivan has quite a collection, any colour you have in mind?" Aselia was brought back to reality by his words.

"Not really but I would prefer something simple," she met his warm gaze and smiled.

"We will see what he has and choose accordingly, I thought to have something custom-made but then I wanted you to be by my side and select it yourself," this made her excited and she found herself looking forward to this experience.

Xiran continued to make small talk with her, to keep her occupied so she won’t slump in guilt. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

It took them hours to get all the procedures done but once Garbacia finished blow-drying and styling her hair, Aselia seemed like a different person as she stared at herself in the front mirror. The silver in front brought out the turquoise in her eyes and the style matched her personality.

Xiran took Aselia’s arm and pulling her to her feet he moved behind his girlfriend, so they both stared at the mirror in front of them. His fingers combed her silky hair and he tucked one side behind her ear before whispering in it: "You look so beautiful that I want to kiss every part of your body right here, but this is the last time we are putting scissors through them. Is that clear?"

Aselia’s heart raced beyond control as her ears turned crimson at his words, her senses went haywire and she simply nodded at him as no words came out.

"Good Leia," he breathed in her hair before letting her go and turning to Madame Garbacia, who had moved away to give them a private moment.

"Thank you, you did a wonderful job as always," he offered the woman a smile.

"Thank you so much, I like what you did with my hair," Aselia moved towards the woman and offered her hand. Garbacia shook it wholeheartedly and replied:

"It was my pleasure dear, I am glad you liked the result."

Xiran adjusted the beanie and mask back on Aselia and they both took leave from Garbacia. Once outside, Xiran said: "Let’s get you that dress, I am excited to see what you will choose."