Fragments of light shimmered across the polished floor.
The music in the bar was still playing—low, smooth, expensive.
Laughter echoed in the background, blending with the soft clink of glasses and the crisp sound of snacks being picked apart between conversations.
In one of the private rooms, a group of young men and women gathered.
Their style was casual, but everything about them screamed money—tailored fits, subtle luxury brands, effortless confidence.
"Chintya… I'm a little disappointed you only showed up on the last day."
The one who spoke sat at the center of the group, naturally drawing all attention. Danu.
He looked like the kind of man born into privilege and fully aware of it.
Sharp jawline, neatly styled hair, and a watch on his wrist that probably cost more than most people's yearly income.
Even the way he leaned back in his seat carried a sense of ownership—of the room, of the night, of everything.
"Yeah, Chintya… Young Master Danu has been waiting for you for a long time," said the man beside him with a grin.
"He even threw a seven-day birthday party, hoping you'd stay with him the whole week. And you only show up on the last day? Whoa… that must be pretty disappointing for the young master," he added.
"Exactly," added a woman sitting on Danu's other side, her tone playful yet laced with something sharper.
She crossed her legs elegantly, her dress hugging her figure just enough to draw attention.
"For three years, you never responded to his feelings. You said you were both underage."
She leaned forward slightly, her eyes glancing at Danu before returning to Chintya with a teasing smile.
"And now you're both adults… and you're still like this. Honestly, the fact that you even came tonight feels like a miracle. I think you owe him a little…"
Her lips curved as she winked.
"…responsibility."
The room quieted just a little.
All eyes turned to Chintya.
She stood there calmly, untouched by the pressure.
Chintya carried herself with a quiet grace that didn't need to demand attention—it naturally drew it.
Her beauty wasn't loud or provocative, but refined and serene, like something out of an old legend placed into a modern world.
Long, rich dark brown hair fell smoothly over her shoulders, framing a face that felt gentle yet distant.
Her presence alone softened the atmosphere, yet created an invisible boundary no one could casually cross.
She lowered her gaze slightly before speaking, her voice soft but steady.
"I'm sorry… I've been busy."
There was no arrogance in her tone. No hostility.
Just honesty.
"My family situation has been… complicated. It's not easy for me to go out freely."
She paused briefly, then continued.
"And you all know… I'm not really the type to think about things like dating or love. Especially now, when we're about to enter college."
She gave a small, gentle smile, lowering her gaze slightly.
"Sorry… it's still too early for me."
Then her eyes lifted slightly, meeting Danu's gaze for a moment.
"For now… like I've always told you, I can only see you as a friend, Danu. I'm sorry."
Her words were gentle.
But firm.
Clear.
Unmovable.
To her, things like this had to be made clear.
She didn't want to play around with feelings, nor did she want anyone wasting their time over something she couldn't return.
For a brief second, something flickered in Danu's eyes.
Even though he was used to hearing it from Chintya, hearing it today felt different.
Annoyance.
His fingers tapped lightly against the glass in his hand.
He hadn't expected to be rejected today—especially not like this. Not after three years of patience, attention, and effort.
For someone like him, who stood above most people in both status and wealth, this kind of rejection felt… insulting.
And yet—
he smiled.
Because losing control here would make him look small.
Still, deep inside, something twisted.
His pride.
His ego.
The part of him that believed everything could be conquered… including her.
If she wouldn't come willingly—
then he'd just make sure she had no choice.
His gaze shifted briefly toward the man sitting next to him. A subtle glance. A silent signal.
Plans began to form.
Before anything else could unfold, the door opened.
A waitress entered, pushing a tray filled with a new round of food and drinks.
This time—
alcohol.
Chintya's brows knitted slightly. She hadn't expected that.
As someone who had only just reached the legal age, seeing alcohol still made her a little uncomfortable.
Before she could say anything, the woman beside her—Unya, her so-called best friend—spoke casually.
"It's fine, right? There's alcohol. We're all adults now anyway."
Chintya hesitated.
She wasn't comfortable with it.
But saying no to her best friend… had never been easy for her.
After a brief pause, she gave a small, reluctant nod.
"…It's fine."
Danu, however, wasn't paying attention to the drinks anymore.
His eyes had shifted.
To the waitress.
She wore a standard uniform—neat, modest, nothing special.
A mask covered part of her face.
And yet—
there was something about her.
An elegance that didn't belong in a place like this.
It wasn't the loud, eye-catching beauty like Unya's, nor the soft, gentle warmth that Chintya had.
It was... a quiet maturity.
Refined.
Tempting.
The kind that made people curious.
Danu's lips curved slowly.
Interesting.
Tonight was supposed to be about conquering Chintya.
But now—
why not both?
He leaned slightly toward his friend, whispering something under his breath.
The plan was set.
...
As the waitress finished placing the drinks and turned to leave—
"Hey."
One of Danu's friends called out, his tone light, persuasive.
"Why don't you stay for a bit? Have a drink with us."
A glass was pushed toward her.
The liquid inside shimmered unnaturally under the lights.
She froze for a second.
Seeing her pause, they assumed she was hesitating.
"We'll talk to your manager. You don't need to worry," the man added casually.
But contrary to their expectations, the waitress gently lowered her head.
"I'm sorry… I can't."
Her voice was soft.
But firm.
Her name was Sita.
At least three years older than the teenagers in the room. A part-time worker who had only started a month ago, taking the job to help fund her college life in the city.
Her job was simple.
Deliver the food.
Prepare the table.
Nothing more.
She wasn't a hostess.
She wasn't there to entertain them.
And she definitely wasn't going to drink something that had obviously been tampered with—something she had clearly noticed while serving them earlier.
A brief back-and-forth followed—gentle persuasion met with quiet refusal.
Until finally—
the smile on Danu's face disappeared.
"We tried asking nicely… and this is how you respond? Refusing us?"
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Cold.
Heavy.
"Do you even know who you're talking to?" he said, standing up and walking toward Sita.
It was enough to make her step back—until her back hit the corner of the room.
Sita's body hitting the glass wall made nearby customers glance over.
It also raised the alert of the security, who immediately took a step closer—
—but then stopped, halted by Danu's loud voice.
"I'm the youngest son of the Ragvana Family."
Silence.
It spread like a ripple.
Then froze.
The name alone was enough.
This city was known as Hufaz City—one of the largest in the eastern province of the Kingdom of Ayoda.
And here, there were three names everyone knew.
Navain.
Kazolis.
Ragvana.
They ruled from the shadows of luxury towers and polished streets.
Not the strongest in the world—
but here?
Absolute.
The waitress's lips parted slightly.
No words came out.
Of course she knew that name.
Everyone did.
Her fingers clenched tightly at her sides.
Her mind raced.
She had been warned.
Don't get involved with people like them.
Don't cause trouble.
Don't resist.
Because if something happened—
no one would protect her.
Not even the boss.
Not for someone like her.
A part-time worker.
Someone… replaceable.
Slowly—
her resistance began to crack.
If it was just a little…
If it didn't go too far…
She could endure it.
She had to.
"…S-sorry, Young Master… I-I didn't recognize who you were before."
Her voice barely came out.
A smile slowly spread across Danu's face, clearly satisfied. Of course—his family name had always been the strongest weapon in this city.
Even for a good-for-nothing like him.
Catching the look in Danu's eyes as if he was calling her over, Sita gave a faint nod and stepped forward without lifting her head, her heart pounding as uncertainty swallowed her whole.
Tonight—
she could only hope for a miracle.
"Good," Danu smirked, noticing the hesitation in her movements. "Now, drink this and keep me company tonight… hehe."
Watching that unfold, Chintya felt a deep discomfort settle in her chest.
She knew Danu wasn't a good person.
She had always known.
But she had been… fortunate.
At least, when it came to her, he had kept things decent.
But right now.
Right in front of her—
she was seeing that ugly side of him laid bare.
Her gaze slowly shifted to the waitress.
The way her shoulders tensed.
The way her eyes avoided contact.
The slight tremble she tried so hard to hide.
It didn't sit right with her.
At all.
A faint frown appeared on Chintya's face as she slowly stood up.
"Danu… that's enough. You shouldn't be doing something like this."
Her voice was still soft—but this time, there was a clear edge to it.
"She already said no. Don't go too far."
For a brief moment, the room seemed to pause.
Then—
Danu clicked his tongue.
His expression darkened slightly.
"Too far?" he repeated, letting out a short, humorless chuckle.
He turned to face her fully, his presence pressing down on the room.
"Do you even hear yourself, Chintya?"
His voice dropped, colder now.
"Do you know who I am?"
He took a step forward, his tone sharp with pride.
"If I let a nobody refuse me like this… what do you think happens to my family's image?"
His gaze flicked toward Sita with clear disdain.
"The young master of the Ragvana Family… rejected by a mere waitress?"
The words hung heavy in the air.
Chintya instinctively took a small step back.
Not out of fear—
but understanding.
This was the arrogance of power.
The kind that didn't listen.
Didn't bend.
Her fingers clenched slightly at her side.
Then—
her eyes shifted.
Toward Unya.
Her best friend.
Unya Navain.
Someone who stood on the same level as Danu.
Someone who could stop this—if she wanted to.
Their eyes met.
For a second.
Chintya silently asked for help.
But Unya only leaned back lazily in her seat, swirling her drink.
Her expression didn't change.
She gave a small, indifferent gesture—
a subtle shake of her head.
As if to say:
That's just how it is.
Don't get involved.
It's not worth it.
Because getting involved, meant conflict.
Not just between them.
But between families.
And that was something Unya had no intention of risking.
Chintya's chest tightened.
She turned back, caught between what she believed… and the reality in front of her.
She didn't know what to do.
And Danu—
saw it.
A slow, sly smile crept onto his lips.
An idea forming.
"Alright," he said suddenly, his tone shifting, almost playful.
"If you care that much…"
He picked up the glass.
The one that shimmered unnaturally under the lights.
"Then how about you take her place?"
The room went still.
"Sit here," he continued, tapping the seat beside him. "Drink this. Keep me company."
His eyes locked onto hers.
"Do that… and I'll let her go."
A ripple of reaction spread across the group.
Some raised their brows.
Some smirked.
They all understood.
And none of them objected.
Sita's eyes widened slightly.
Her heart dropped.
She knew.
She had seen it earlier.
That drink, was not normal.
Her gaze flickered to Chintya.
Someone like her…
kind.
genuine.
She shouldn't be dragged into something like this.
Not because of her.
"…No," Sita said suddenly, her voice low but urgent.
She stepped forward.
"It's fine young lady, and... thank you."
Before anyone could react—
she reached out and took the glass.
"I'll do it."
The room froze.
Even Chintya's eyes widened.
"Miss—"
But Sita didn't stop.
Her hands trembled slightly as she lifted the glass.
She knew exactly what this meant.
But if it kept someone else out of it—
then so be it.
Danu's smile slowly widened.
Dark.
Satisfied.
Around him, a few of his friends exchanged looks—
their expressions filled with anticipation.
If Danu got bored later… maybe they'd get a turn.
A premium one like this wasn't something you saw every day.
The glass was already near her lips—
just a little more—
Then—
A hand shot out.
Grabbing the glass.
And in one swift motion—
BRRAK!
It was slammed to the floor.
Glass shattered.
Liquid splashed across the polished surface.
Silence.
Then—
"Oii."
A voice rang out.
Casual.
Lazy.
Yet somehow, cutting through everything.
"What do you think you're doing, kids?"
A figure stepped forward, cutting right between them.
He moved without urgency—
but somehow, he was already standing in front of Sita.
Blocking her.
Danu frowned.
"…Who the hell are you?"