"Here comes our lovely patient—oh my god!"

"What happened?"

"She really does look like a patient right now. Am I just seeing things or my eyesight is fucked up enough?"

We went passed from Andrus' and his close staff's table. Krestie were also with them. She literally eyed me from head to toe. Merian, Krestie's assistant stood up while holding a cocktail. She could barely walk that's why Marzus, her gay friend and also a make-up artist, stood up and assisted her.

Kahale went to help them because Marzus wasn't in his normal state as well. "Rhounzi, the most fierce woman I have ever met aside from my aunt, here's a drink for you!" Merian exclaimed as she offered me the cocktail she was holding.

I was about to accept it but another hand took it before I could grab it. I stared at Kahale, surprised by her unforeseen action. She drank it all up in one gulp while her eyes are fixated on someone from the dance floor. I couldn't perceive what or who she was looking at but I know for sure that she isn't into me, Dria and Lex must be really just making fun of me before.

"Kahale, that's for Rhounzi! I have one for you there! M-marzus, lend me a hand, please. I shall offer her my favorite, hehehe!"

Krestie stood up as well and went to me while holding a Martinez. "Here you go, have a sip."

Before Kahale could take it, I took it in an instant and drank it in one gulp. As the unfamiliar taste and flavor danced through my mouth and touched my taste buds, I almost puked it all out, that's why I gulped them all at once. I'm really not used to these drinks.

I looked back to see if Kalahe is doing okay and there she is, being dragged by Merian and Marzus all the way from our position to their table. Kahale was complaining but those two are persistent and won't budge at all.

She looked at me and mouthed, "sorry."

I nodded and replied, "no worries." I immediately went away from Krestie because I could already sense that she will do the same thing to me. I wanna drink but I want to do it alone. I'm pretty sure they will just ask a bunch of questions.

My eyes scanned the whole place. I am standing on the third floor of this place. Underneath us was a wide place where everyone can dance their ass off. Of course, there are also some tables and VIP rooms underneath us, as well as the bar area. There is also a medium size platform for bands or performers.

When my stares pierce through the crowd, I immediately saw Dria. She is dancing with some models. I looked for her twin and Virgil but I only saw Lex having fun with some other models in the bar area with their drinks. Virgil is nowhere to find and neither is Gheuver.

Just as I was about to go down to the second floor, I saw Virgil leaving the VIP room on the first floor, seemingly pissed which caught my interest. We weren't that close but I suppose he isn't the type of person who will get pissed in an instant. No matter how curious I am, I just shrugged it off and went ahead to my dearest destination, the bar area.

Because I want to be alone as I drink, I tried my best to avoid Dria and the others. I walked through the crowd with my lowered head. I blew a breath when I succeeded and reached it without being noticed by anyone.

I happily sat on the bar stool and clasped my hands together on the bar table. The bartender seems to notice my presence while he was talking to another customer because he excused himself and stood in front of me while holding his bartending equipment.

"May I create a drink for you, madam?" he asked with a pleasant smile.

I reciprocated it and spoke, "of course. I want it to kick instantly, a strong one."

"On it," he said and began mixing several drinks using his equipment that I don't know. While he is doing that, he spoke. "Bunch of problems? Heartbreak, was it?"

I shook my head, denying it. "You got the first one but the second is wrong. I'm not seeing nor dating anyone as of the moment." I chuckled, "I'm not even planning to date someone as of now. I'm happy and contented with myself..." I stopped when my mind had a glimpse of Minnette, Dria, and her twins, Virgil, Madethy, Gheuver, and some part of our crew.

Friends...

Do I have one?

Their cheerful smiles and glees flashed throughout my whole mind, erasing the negative thoughts I had.

"...and with my friends."

The bartender nodded while his eyes were focused on what he was mixing. "You seem lonely, though."

That left me with no words, utterly speechless. I couldn't figure out what to say that's why I didn't respond and watched him do his thing. He does have the skills.

"You're good," I uttered when he placed the shot glass in front of me and filled it with the drink he mixed.

"I'm flattered. I hope you enjoy it, madame."

I only gave him a small nod as I lift the shot glass that contains the thing I believe to be my remedy. It's beautiful, the color blends well with each other yet they don't outstand one another; well balanced. With a satisfied smile, I drank it all, earning a groan from the person next to me.

"Were you casting some weird spells in it?"

I placed the shot glass in its original location with some force, creating a small sound. "Yes, I know black magic." I turned in his direction with a sneaky smirk just to have a glimpse of an angel who fell from heaven, wearing a

"Really? Can you kill me?" He asked, ignoring my weird stares.

My mom says not to judge a book from its cover but this guy's definitely not suitable for that thing. He's so obvious!

He is obviously from a wealthy family, he could be a famous person, what's with his disguise? His long sleeve shirt had some holes and cuts but I can literally see a famous luxury brand's logo on it. I wouldn't honestly notice it if I didn't see Virgil wearing the exact one when we first met. His clothes had some seemingly dirty smudges on them.

Just when I was about to speak, his eyes narrowed themselves as they perceive my entire personality. This time, it's my turn to ask.

"Are you trying to bewitch me with some peculiar spells through your wicked mind?"

He laughed, he didn't even refrain himself and laughed with all his might 'till his laughter caught some people's attention. He apologized to them and his gaze was bestowed upon me. "It is really you. What a small world, indeed."

"Miss wizard, would you bother lending me your hands?"

I replied in an instant. "I refuse to lend you mine, you have yours."

"How tragic could this be, you don't even recall me lending you a hand during that day," he said with a low tone. He interwinds his fingers and crossed his arms on the bar counter before resting his face on it, sighing as if he carries the heaviest boulder.

"Coffee, Iced coffee," he suddenly said, earning a questioning look from me.

Was he saying his order? But this is a club...?

"Are you drunk?" I asked.

"Nah, pretty sure I'm not. I only see vicious demons in my dreams and hallucinations, you can't be one."

Hallucinations?

"Airport incident," he said.

Iced coffee? In airport?

"Oh! Come to think of it, you do sound exactly like that guy."

It was him. The man in Airport WHO trash-talked that woman who caused a commotion because her coffee got spilled ON ME. LITERALLY ON ME. Yet she had the guts to be mad at me, what a prick.

"I thought it will take you a decade."

"I thought it will take you a decade to recover if I punch you right now. My bad, I wanted it to be longer, it should be at least two weeks."

"I'm threatened." He made a face.

I ignored him and asked the bartender to make another shot for me. He oblige and did it instantly. I drank it all in one gulp and asked for more until I couldn't count how many times I asked. The liquor was kicking in since I talked to that man but I ignored it by having a conversation with him, thinking that it will work but it didn't. That's why I asked for more, to enjoy it before I get more drowsy.

The taste of the liquor lingers from my mouth down to my throat. That sensation is heavenly good and soothing. The bitter aftertaste was there but I would always drink more to make it perish.

The man beside me didn't speak as well. I was so focused on drinking that's why I didn't notice what he was doing. My mind was occupied by my thirst for alcohol along with my problems.

My mind couldn't comprehend it anymore. It's like, I could just do whatever I want without considering its outcome. Now, I understand why some people tend to have a one-night stand with some random strangers.

My problems were just right ahead of my mind but I couldn't think of it, my mind was just blank. I only want to drink and drink, nothing more. My eyes want to close by itself but I'm fighting those urges just to stay wasted ''til morning.

"One more—"

"Are you sure, madame? You don't look okay-"

"Do I look okay when I came here?" I retorted.

"I-i mean—"

"I'm completely sober, just give me another shot."

I'm pretty sure, I surely am not. That's literally what a drunk person would say. My visions are hazy as my mind. The loud music was starting to be louder. My body and mostly, my core feels so warm. As I drank this liquor that could influence my whole system, an overwhelming and warm feeling enveloped me, starting from my abdomen.

I smiled, romanticizing this peculiar feeling. "Ah, I never knew that this liquor of yours could be this good. Not only did it satisfy my taste buds, but it's also somehow refreshing and relaxing."

"I sincerely appreciate your feedback, however, I'm afraid that I can't serve you this drink anymore. Your drinking capacity seems to be low, this strong drink would be a—"

I snatched the whole body of tequila from his hands and drank from it, earning a sigh from the bartender and a groan from the man beside me. "That was supposed to be for my drink, how could you!" He yelled but I ignored him and kept drinking from it.

I gulped the last drop of liquor in my mouth before wiping some excess liquor that fell from my lips. Afterward, I groaned as I appreciate its weird aftertaste. I have started to like it, it's addicting.

"Great! A shallow as a widow woman just stole the important liquor for my drink."

"Uh, don't worry, sir. There are some remaining bottles of tequila here, please, don't be ma—"

"Why are you condoning her actions? Is it because I'm wearing these shabby clothes?"

Gosh, he is so obvious. I'm not in my normal state but I could—I'm in my normal state, yes. Did he go through all this in some sort of disguise just to cause this drama? Unbelievable.

I'm starting to question why I am surrounded by these individuals.

I ignored their scene and jumped off the bar stool, leaving an interesting drama. I wanted to sneak in while that bartender and the other bartenders were busy but I stopped when I saw the signs plastered just inches from the small door.

'AUTHORIZED PERSON ONLY'

I halted my plans and just went to the crowd where people who act like wild animals would be seen as they grind their hips and body, following the beat. I went along with them, following their own choreography but I ended up creating my own.

The place was too crowded and these people are getting more excited and wilder, I am getting pushed by some of them while the alcohol's effect is starting to be more active.

At this moment, I'm just a mere scatterbrained bitch.

My back bumped against a seemingly hard and well-developed musculature. Just before I could say, 'sorry', a warm arm was already wrapped around my waist with arctic breathing behind my head and ear. My own body acted on its own and leaned against that musculature one.

"You really are a goliath, one hell of a charismatic one."