Translation and Adaptation
The lights and the movement of the people did not help the heaviness I felt in my head. Especially the various flickering lights hitting my face and my vision. I wasn't even on the dance floor, yet it felt as if I were dancing with the people there. Looking down from where I stood above, I could see how chaotic and violent they were in their movements. Because of the disorder of the crowd and my companions beside me who were dancing, I couldn't stop myself from sitting down due to the dizziness.
This was better than moping and dwelling further on my problems. As he said, I shouldn't make my life more difficult.
"This taste testing you thought of is great, Ranzel! We even got free drinks!" Stacey shouted while dancing with a man in front of our table.
"This Highness is delicious! This is what you told me about before, Sera!" Felisse remarked while sitting, clutching a shot glass before draining it and raising it in the air. She even squeezed her eyes shut tightly at the sharp taste of the drink.
My two friends continued to be loud and rowdy. Stacey's dance partner smirked at her while his hands wandered over her body. My friend seemed to enjoy the gesture, as it only fueled her energy to dance and drink more.
I shook my head and shifted my eyes toward the other direction. My mind felt divided; I couldn't stop thinking about my parents. While I was here drinking, my father was lying in a hospital bed, while my mother was at her wit's end worrying over him.
I didn't know how to leave this world just yet. Perhaps because I had only just arrived, it would take me just as long to find my way back.
"The new liquors are selling well. They already have great reviews from the customers," Ranzel said, sitting beside me on the sofa.
In front of us, Felisse was grinning, talking to someone from a distance. Meanwhile, Stacey was already making out on the dance floor here on the upper floor. There are two places where you can dance in this bar: downstairs where the crowd is thickest, and upstairs, which is less crowded because it's mostly a lounge for people who just want to drink.
"I guess it's a success then?" I said.
Despite his news, I couldn't bring myself to be happy. I was too worried about my family to simply enjoy the night. But I didn't want to ruin my friends' evening because of my feelings, so I chose to remain silent. After all, they didn't know the truth about my parents.
"Yeah," he chuckled before taking a sip of one of the beers from the bucket on our table.
I couldn't handle hard liquor tonight, so there were light drinks on our table as well. I cannot just drink my problems and sorrows away.
"Why don't you try the new liquors on the menu? Why are you sticking to light drinks?" he asked, still smiling at me.
He pushed the strong, expensive drinks Stacey had bought toward me. Just looking at them made me feel nauseous in my seat. I don't really drink any booze with a high alcohol percentage. It's not that I'm a lightweight when it comes to drinking; I just don't have a taste for it.
But I wouldn't tell him that I simply didn't enjoy it.
"I'm just not in the mood. I just want to chill for the night," I reasoned before taking a sip of the beer in my hand.
My eyes lingered there for a second. Meanwhile, the man beside me continued to talk about the new drinks in the bar. I took a deep breath before chugging the beer I was holding. I finished it in one go, causing me to wince at the bitterness.
I would never truly understand those who claimed this was sweet or pleasant to drink.
"Okay," Ranzel smirked by my side after witnessing my sudden gulping. "Then how about dancing? Still no?" he asked while sipping from his glass. He didn't even take his eyes off me as he drank.
"I don't have that kind of energy—" I started to protest.
"Oh come on, Sera! Ranzel is asking you! A single dance won't hurt!" Felisse insisted, now accompanied by a man.
I hadn't even noticed when this guy approached and sat at our spot. My problems were occupying too much of my mind. Add to that my conversation with Ranzel, and my brain just couldn't focus on anything else.
I took a deep breath and gave in to what they wanted. I let myself be pulled by Ranzel; at first, he wanted us to dance downstairs, but I refused the idea.
The music was loud, and so was the pounding inside my head. It felt like a storm was brewing in my brain because I was truly dizzy. Ranzel started to raise his hands, even lifting both of mine just to get me to move from my spot.
I don't dance that well, but I don't suck at it either. So, I just let myself go with the rhythm of the music. I put my hands up, dancing calmly. A smirk formed on Ranzel's lips when he saw me starting to get comfortable.
He started to dance aggressively in front of me. I couldn't help but laugh at his movements. I matched his energy, even though I knew I couldn't really sustain that kind of dancing. He danced seductively, as if teasing me with every move.
I could hear the cheering from Felisse and Stacey at our table.
"Whoa, Ranzel! Calm down! You're practically grinding the air!" his cousin shouted through her laughter.
I shook my head, ready to protest when someone bumped into my back. At first, I ignored it, thinking it was just a mistake. But I couldn't ignore it any longer when it felt like a body was dancing right against my back.
Though he didn't touch me with his hands, I could feel his body sliding against mine from time to time.
"Whoa! A sandwich!" a familiar voice laughed from a nearby table.
I almost lost my balance when I finally saw the man dancing behind me. His dark, heavy eyes were darted straight at me. Especially with what I was wearing tonight—something Stacey chose for me so I would look "decent" inside the bar. I was only wearing a black dress that stopped above my knees. It also revealed my bare back a bit, so I could feel the body of the person behind me very clearly.
the tiny hairs on my body stood up. I bit my lip as my eyes shut closed. My breathing began to quicken.
How was I supposed to deal with this now? Especially since every time I saw him, I remembered him and Penelope together in his unit. It made my heart experience different emotions and reactions at the same time.
"Dude, can you move back a bit? You see, she's starting to feel uncomfortable," Ranzel said as he slightly pulled me toward him.
He didn't succeed, as the person behind me suddenly gripped my waist. Irritation and anger were visible in Perseus's eyes as he stopped the other man from pulling me away.
My eyes landed on our table. Stacey's mouth was hanging open, her eyes wide. Felisse, on the other hand, couldn't contain her excitement and was just smirking while sipping her drink.
"How can you say that when you're not the one I'm dancing with?" Perseus countered, his right hand remaining on my waist. He even started to caress it, making my heart want to break free from its cage.
What is happening to me?
"Do I have to experie—" Ranzel stopped mid-sentence when he got a better look at the person he was talking to. "Wait, aren't you the driver from the Carsons?"
It was dark in our spot, so you couldn't immediately recognize the person you were talking to. Unless you truly knew them or were familiar with their figure and voice.
The men from the table near us laughed. Is that Kiefer? I didn't miss Axel, who was just watching us while casually drinking. The woman with them—Rafa—was joining in on Kiefer's laughter.
"Good shit, man!" Kiefer laughed, slapping the table. "Hey, my driver, don't cause a scene there and just come over here!" he called out to the man behind me, signaling for him to come to their table.
Ranzel was utterly confused by what was happening. Especially at the way Kiefer acted when he claimed Perseus was his driver.
"Fucking Bryce, I swear I'll kill you after this," Perseus whispered from behind me.
I was quickly pulled away by Perseus from where I stood with Ranzel because my companion's grip loosened when his attention shifted to Kiefer. I even heard Ranzel protest, but he was stopped by Stacey.
I wanted to protest too, but my body wouldn't cooperate. My mind wouldn't allow it.
Before we reached their table, Perseus nodded to Stacey and the others. My friends smiled and signaled that this man could take me wherever he pleased.
"Sera! I'm sorry my driver snatched you away. He can be quite arrogant," Kiefer grinned before handing me a glass of alcohol.
I was about to take it when Perseus snatched it from his friend's hand. He then guided me to the sofa so I could sit down.
"I'm okay with it," I said absentmindedly. Kiefer's grin widened at my words, while Axel hid his smile behind his glass. Rafa, beside Axel, was just shaking her head.
I was sitting directly across from Axel, with Rafa on his left. Kiefer was positioned between the four of us, making it easy for him to pass drinks to everyone.
"Don't give her that," Perseus muttered with a frown as he sat beside me. I didn't know what he was irritated about—the looks his friends were giving us, or the alcohol Kiefer was offering.
I gave him a quick glance; he just sat there and didn't dare move closer to me. The distance was just enough for me to breathe.
"Geez, killjoy. Who are you? Her brother? Her father? Guardian?" Kiefer laughed as he offered me a drink again.
Just like before, Perseus irritably grabbed it from his friend and drank the contents harshly. After putting the glass down, he folded his large, rugged arms, spread his legs in a masculine stance, and lazily leaned back against the couch's backrest.
Again, my heart felt like it was being squeezed. I remembered my father again, even though he had woken up and was said to be stable. I just couldn't stop worrying because I wouldn't be sure until he was out of the hospital.
"Do you really want to experience hell?" he asked, his jaw tightening.
I blinked, suddenly snapping out of my daze. Even though he was dressed entirely in black, he was still striking because of his presence. It was intimidating. But even though his presence commanded my attention, it couldn't take away how I truly felt.
I focused on my hands, which were fidgeting on my thighs. I would rather look there than at the people in front of me. My eyes were threatening to cry. I took a deep breath before drinking the water on the table. At first, the man beside me was alarmed, but when he realized it was just water, he didn't say another word.
"Just a joke, man. Don't be a fool," Kiefer retracted before he stopped teasing and went back to his own drink.
The table was filled with jeers directed at Kiefer. Axel and Rafa teamed up against him, and now he was the one sulking.
"Kiefer, I won't be surprised if I have to start picking out an outfit for your funeral anytime now," Rafa said, shaking her head as she brushed her hair back.
"You keep blabbering shit, Bryce. You keep asking death to come and take you, but even death doesn't want you," Axel smirked before refilling his empty glass.
"Fuck you. Go fuck yourself," Kiefer even flipped him off, trying to piss Axel off. But it didn't work; his friend just laughed at him.
Why were they here anyway? Did they just decide to go out like we did? And if Kiefer was here, where was Penelope? I thought she had work to attend to, which was why she couldn't join us?
That's what they told us.
"So, Sera. How have you been lately? Was the driver I sent the other day 'cool'? Did he follow orders?" Kiefer asked, resting his right cheek on his hand and his elbow on the table.
He stared at me before suddenly laughing when his eyes drifted to the person beside me.
What was the reason for his laughter?
As I asked myself that, I gradually felt his hand slowly placing itself on the small of my back. My body stiffened, and the tiny hairs on my skin stood up again. My brain couldn't immediately process an answer to Kiefer's question. I was also embarrassed that they might see what was happening behind my back.
What is he doing?
"What do you mean by 'cool', Kiefer?" Perseus asked his friend irritably. He even finished his drink in one shot without removing his other hand from my back!
Perseus had his eyebrow raised as he looked at his friend. He seemed to be challenging him with the aura he was projecting. This man could chase people away with just one glance if you didn't know him!
"Cool. As in, if he was okay. You're so slow, Mr. P," Kiefer said, sounding disappointed by the question.
Who would immediately understand what he meant? It sounded like slang. Even I didn't get it right away.
"Shut up," Perseus threw a lemon peel at his friend. Kiefer's face crumpled as if he were genuinely disgusted by the peel. It was the lemon Perseus had been sucking on earlier. "I know I was pretty 'nice' that day," he added before glancing at me—a look he quickly averted to pour himself another drink.
My face heated up. I was embarrassed by our sudden eye contact.
"Pfft. 'Nice', he says," Kiefer laughed again. He was leaning back, flushed from the alcohol and his laughter.
If they weren't wearing suits or button-down shirts, I would have thought these people were regulars at these kinds of bars. If only they didn't look so classy and professional.
"Isaiah. Could you please," the man beside me said to Axel. At first, I didn't understand because his request lacked detail.
I just watched Axel to see what he would do. The man across from me nodded to Perseus before smacking Kiefer and stuffing several lemon slices into his mouth. I was shocked at first but suddenly let out a squeak of a laugh when I saw Kiefer's face.
His mouth was full of fruit while his brows were knitting together. Add to that his reddened face, and he looked like a character from Plants vs. Zombies—specifically the cherry character.
Kiefer winced, and it was obvious from his expression that the sourness was overwhelming.
"Your face didn't even change. You're still ugly," Rafa remarked with a smirk.
"I hate you guys!" Kiefer muttered, pretending to cry, before leaving the table and heading for the restroom. He even put his forearm over his eyes, acting as if he were sobbing while running away. We all just watched him until he disappeared from sight.
"He just can't act his age," Perseus sighed before sipping the liquor in front of him.
"How old is he?" I asked.
Isn't he in his late twenties? They all looked to be around that age. Perseus, for sure, must be around that age since he was already a lawyer. It takes at least ten years to become one.
"He's twenty-three. The youngest among us," Axel answered, though I couldn't read the expression on his face.
He and Perseus were alike; they didn't show much emotion. But the one across from me was even more reserved—he didn't talk that often. I rarely heard him speak. Perhaps the only reason he was talking now was because he was drunk.
But what did he say? Kiefer is only two years older than me? How was that possible when he was already running a massive company? In his early twenties, he already had a stable career, not to mention that the business in his hands was one of the largest shipping lines worldwide.
"Really? He's only two years older than me? But doesn't he already own a shipping line?" I asked in a tone of disbelief.
Who wouldn't be? The knowledge was pressuring, now that I was twenty-one. Still a college student. All I could do for now was study and work for my family.
Family.
I couldn't help but suddenly tear up because I remembered my father and mother in the hospital. Even if I ended up in deep debt, what mattered was that my father got well. I wanted him to heal and go home with us. I also wanted my mother to stop blaming me, even if she only did that because she was hurting over what happened to my father.
"He does, but he's smart, so there's no issue," he said with a frown. He was staring at me, as if weighing what I was feeling and thinking. He probably saw my tears nearly falling, which was why he was looking at me that way. I looked away. "So, you're twenty-one?" Perseus added. I think he only asked to ease the slight tension between us.
"Of course. She just said Bryce is two years older than her," Rafa interjected mockingly.
"I didn't ask you," he snapped at his other friend.
Perseus moved his hand in an up-and-down motion on my back. That hand eased the pain in my heart a bit. I didn't know how it happened, but his touch felt like magic. Even my heart was graced by it.
It was as if he knew I really needed it during these times. Comfort, even in a small way.
"Whatever, Mr. P," Rafa rolled her eyes before standing up. "I'll just go to the restroom, and who knows, I might snag a handsome guy," she smirked before leaving the table, sipping from her glass. She even nodded to me before walking away.
The table went silent for a bit. Perhaps everyone left at the table was naturally quiet. But I wouldn't complain. I preferred it that way.
"Sera! Let's go home to your condo!" Felisse slurred as Ranzel supported her by the arm. On Felisse's left was the man she had been with earlier. "It's too noisy here, it's deafening."
"Why don't you guys go to your house—" I started.
"It's far and a hassle!" Felisse stomped her foot, her face crumpling.
"Alright," I said before standing up.
I almost lost my balance. Ranzel moved to catch me, but another hand reached my waist first. Perseus and Ranzel looked at each other, as if they were talking with their eyes.
"I'll bring her home. You can continue your little get-together," Ranzel said as he reached out to me again, trying to take me from the man at my side.
"Nah, my men can enjoy themselves on their own," Perseus said before checking his phone. "Besides, I have to go to my place too. I have a business to attend to," he smirked while his dark gaze seemed to burn the man in front of him.
Business to attend to? But why did he need to go to his unit for that? Did something happen?
Before an argument could start between the two, I jumped in with a question.
"Where's Stacey, anyway?" I asked, looking around to see if I could spot my other friend.
Because it was starting to get crowded, I couldn't see what I was looking for. Even glancing toward the restroom was impossible because of the people dancing in the way.
"In the restroom," Felisse pointed before standing upright. She was trying to walk steadily toward the area she had pointed to. "Wait, I'll go get her quickly!" she shouted, waving off the man she was with earlier.
"Go help her, dude," Axel told Ranzel from the table.
He gave me one last glance before following my friend to look for his cousin. It wasn't long before Ranzel emerged from the crowd carrying his cousin. Stacey was smiling even though her eyes were struggling to stay open! She looked completely wasted and reeked of booze.
"Where did you find her?" I asked with a frown, seeing how messy she looked now.
"In front of the restroom. She was making out with a familiar chick!" Felisse claimed, her eyes darting between me and Perseus's table where Axel was. "Wow, Stacey! Just tell us if you've been pretending to be into guys this whole time!" She nudged Stacey, her eyes fixed on Perseus's companion.
Does that mean it wasn't the guy from earlier she was kissing in the restroom?
I looked at my friend who was completely drunk; her clothes were a bit crumpled. She was wearing a light blue button-down shirt, and half of her bunned, shoulder-length hair was a mess. Anyone would have mistaken her for being straight because of her posture tonight.
We stayed there for a few more minutes because Felisse changed her mind. She wanted to stay a bit longer. I didn't agree to it because no one would be left to watch over her if she passed out from drinking too much. I apologized to Axel because she had actually sat down next to him. It was a good thing that was all she did, or it would have been even more embarrassing to drag her home.
Perseus insisted on giving me a ride home. But I refused; I had to take care of my friends. I couldn't just leave the two of them with Ranzel. They were my responsibility, and I was in a better state of mind than they were.
The whole ride home, I couldn't take my eyes off the side mirrors of Ranzel's car. Perseus's car was right behind us, as if he were following. If I didn't know we lived in the same condominium, I'd think he was just checking up on me.
Ranzel and I carried Stacey and Felisse up together. He was holding his cousin while I supported my other friend by her right arm. Ranzel didn't stay long because he didn't want to be a bother, which I wouldn't have minded. He helped me get them home safely, so it was fine if he stayed for a few more minutes.
"Thank you for helping me, Ranzel. You're a big help," I said, resting my hands behind my back.
"It's nothing. I'm the one who should be saying that. You're the one who has to take care of my cousin; I should have brought her with me."
"It's fine. I'm not drunk enough that I can't take care of two sleeping people."
We both laughed before he clicked his car remote and opened the door. He didn't enter immediately; he stopped and looked at me for a while.
"Then I should be going. Good night, Sera."
"Mm-hmm," I nodded before stepping back to give him space to move. When he honked his horn—a signal that he was leaving—I waved until his car disappeared from view.
I held my head for a moment when I suddenly felt dizzy. Am I not even slightly drunk, given that I'm still dizzy from what I drank earlier?
I was heading toward the elevator when I saw Perseus and Penelope by a car not far away. They were both outside the car, and the door was open. The man was holding the door open for her as they spoke.
He really does have a thing for opening car doors for women. Such a foolish mistake to think and assume even for a bit that he only did that for me.
I turned around. I didn't wait for them to finish because it felt like my eyes were burning with every passing second I spent looking. My eyes just couldn't handle it.
I thought he didn't date? That he didn't have time for that? Then why couldn't he just tell me directly that my friend was the one he wanted to take out? I can be reasonable; what I couldn't understand was why he had to hide it from me.
Even if I didn't mean to, my feet seemed to decide on their own to stay in front of the elevator. It was as if I were actually waiting for the man behind me, not far from where I stood.
My head was hazy, my forehead was sweating bullets, and my knees were starting to shake a bit.
What's with this reaction?
Neither of us spoke at first. He just pressed the button that I had only just realized I hadn't pressed before he arrived. It made it look like I really was waiting for him there!
We entered the elevator when it chimed, signaling we could go in. I was going to wait for him to say something for a few more minutes, but he beat me to it.
"Did your kid go home?" he asked, his eyes not leaving his reflection on the elevator door.
He didn't look at me, and I didn't look at him either. But we were both eyeing each other's eyes in our reflections. His eyes sent shivers through me; it was as if a cold draft had filled the enclosed space.
"What kid? You mean Ranzel?" I asked with a frown.
He couldn't mean anyone else but Ranzel, right? He knew my two friends were staying at my unit. And he knew Penelope couldn't go there because she had other things to attend to.
"Yes, that kid."
I didn't want to argue with him anymore and just gave him the answer he wanted to hear. "He just went home."
My lungs couldn't stop taking in air. It felt like I was getting drunk again because of the boldness that was slowly building up inside me.
Or was I truly drunk and just didn't know it?
"How about you? Did your BUSINESS go well?" I asked, unable to hide the irritation in my voice. "I thought you didn't date, Perseus?" I said, referring to the "business" he mentioned back at the bar.
Business? What business did he have with Penelope anyway? To the point that she had to go to his unit? This late at night? Wasn't that suspicious? If I were stupid, I would have already been fooled.
"My business is fine. And yes, I still don't," at this point, he couldn't seem to stop himself from turning toward me. His eyes pierced through me, searching for his wanted answers inside my head.
"Then why are you with Penelope?" I raised my eyebrow. By saying that, it was as if I were challenging him—something I also couldn't stop. What's wrong with me?
"What about it?" he mocked the way my eyebrow rose. Even his lips seemed to hold a ghost of a smile.
Because of what I drank, it felt like I was seeing things.
Yeah, right. Blame it on the alcohol.
"It's just irritating that... you're like that with me," I muttered with a frown before looking away. He might find the answers inside my head that even I didn't know about.
"Like what?"
"That I'm the only one you don't want to date," as I said those words, it was as if my heart ached because of the things I had just said myself. I am going insane right now. I don't know what is happening to me.
"That's not true," he said in a convincing way.
"Then what is it?" I couldn't help but look at him when I asked. My heart was too curious and wanted to know his answer. Even though I already knew what he would say. He already said it; he doesn't do dates.
"Can you handle it when I decide to pursue you?" he asked back seriously. My heart stopped beating. It felt like it was tightening because of the words I heard from him.
What did he mean by that? Is he playing with me?
"If only I could, you'd be the only exception, Ensley," he added before the elevator opened and he stepped out without even waiting for me or looking back.
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