Chapter 5: Chapter 5

"Are you sure you don't want me to take you there?" Ares asked me again when we arrived at the front gate of our house.

I turned to him for a moment and took my bag. When I looked at him again, I caught his yawning and the further narrowing of his eyes.

"Just rest. I'm sure Elena will pick me up," I replied to him. He even took my hand and gently squeezed it.

"I wish I could rest with you in my room," he told me, he seems very tired. His eyes become more tender as if he really wants to sleep right here, right now.

I gave him an apologetic smile. I don’t know what to say to what he said because even though we’ve been lovers for two years, we haven’t slept together or even been left in the same room. Even if I wanted to give in to him, I really couldn't. Even then, that thing had never entered my mind. I don't know why. Fortunately, he understood my situation.

"I'm sorry ..." I whispered to him and just hugged him. "We're getting married so ..."

"Hush, it's fine. I don't want you to think that I'm just excited to marry you because of that. I understand," he gently said to me. I can feel his kisses on top of my head. I smiled because of that.

When he pulled me away, his tired smile greeted me, but there was still a hint of the desire to take me to the bar where Elena prepared a party for me. I raised my hand and gently massaged his forehead and senses. He closes his eyes because of what I do and bows even more in front of me.

"I honestly want to go with you, but Elena told me that it's a girls' night out. Will you be okay there tonight?" He asked me while still closing his eyes. It seemed like he didn't want me to stop what I was doing to him.

"I'll be fine, Ares. I also won't let you come because you need more rest. Don't pressure yourself too much, please," I refused him and stopped what I was doing.

When he looked up at me, his eyes met mine. He has hazel-brown and moon-shaped eyes. Its color is more visible when it is in the sun. Later, he adjusted his seat and sighed tiredly.

"Is that still because of your failed partnership with the Chuas or because of your brother?" I asked him and he just shook his head.

"He's just my half-brother," he said emphatically but softly.

I sighed and just fix my things inside his car. I looked around our house for a moment and saw Mama peeking out the window from inside. When I turned my gaze to Ares, he was also looking at the house.

"Would you like to come in first?" I asked him but he just shook his head.

"I don't want to see them for a while, babe. I still can't forget what your brother did to you," he answered me coldly and got out of the car.

I just watched it turn towards my seat and then open the car. When I got down, he immediately hugged me tightly.

"I'll see you tomorrow. Just enjoy your night and don't worry about me," he gently said to me and pulled me away from him.

I looked at him and nodded. Later, he bent down to kiss me, so I met his lips immediately. He kissed me softly and passionately. I can also feel his hand around my waist. He even squeezed it as if shivering. Our kiss deepened for a while and I seemed to want to chase his lips when we parted. I saw his smile so I stared at him.

"Your kiss is really addicting ..." I heard him whisper. I immediately felt the heat all over my face.

"I can't wait to marry you, so I can kiss you anytime I want," he added then laughed. I just slapped him on the arm and drove him away. It's hard and I might not be able to stop kissing him anymore.

When I entered the house, Mama greeted me immediately. I just waved at her and silently went straight to my room. I even heard it smirk so I was just shaken.

After looking at my whole being, I just put on light make-up and then chose sandals to wear. My gaze turned to that black 3 inches stiletto that I hadn’t worn since I bought it. I just shrugged my shoulders and wear that damn heel. I also just grabbed a cardigan that could be paired with what I was wearing and went out.

"Where are you going looking like that, Ana?"

I quickly turned to the source of that voice and saw Agatha. She was holding a mug that seemed to come from the kitchen. I saw how she looks at me from head to toe and then raised an eyebrow and smiled.

"Wow. Can you dress like that?" She seemed to be teasing me with a question.

"I'll just go out for a while. Please just tell mama," I said goodbye to her and ignored what she said.

"So, where are you going? From the looks of it, I guess you're going to the bar. Does Ares know that?" She sarcastically asked me again, so I sighed lazily.

"Elena has prepared a bachelorette party for me. I'm leaving," I lazily replied to her and hurried out.

When I got out, I quickly found a taxi because our house was close to the highway. Right as I was sitting down, I then received Elena’s text about where the bar was. That woman didn't pick me up because she went straight from the office.

It was less than an hour before I got there, so I immediately text them to meet me outside. I wanted to stay there near the entrance but I felt scared when I saw someone making a fuss, so I quickly went inside.

That wild party music greeted me immediately. I also closed my eyes slightly when various lights hit my eyes that seemed to be in sync with the beat of the music. Fortunately, there were only a few people and others were in the middle, dancing. I looked around carefully to find Elena but I couldn't, so I just went straight to the bar counter.

I was amazed for a moment as I watched the bartender mixing drinks there.

"Sir, I'm looking for something ... Did anyone make a reservation from three women here— "

"Ma'am Anastacia?" The bartender was cut off from what I was going to say, so I smiled and nodded.

"Ma'am Elena is in the VIP area, on the second floor. You'll see them right away upstairs," he said to me while still mixing some alcoholic drinks so I looked there.

This is my first time entering this kind of place. This is also the first time I will drink alcohol in this place. I wonder what it tastes like ... Many say that drinking is a great help to forget. Will I ever forget what happened that night once I start to drink? Once it pours my throat down to my heart?

"Here. It'll help you lessen your worry."

I blinked twice when I heard that. Then I just noticed the shrinking of the glass tender bar in front of me. That’s a shot of alcohol I’m not sure what. I hesitated to look at the bartender smiling waiting to see if I was going to drink that or what. When I turned the shot glass in front of me again, I gulped. I feel like it’s calling me that.

"Excuse me ..."

My mouth dropped open as the wine spilled on my thigh when suddenly a man bumped into my arm. I looked at him quickly. It was already sitting next to me. I couldn’t even see its face properly because it was bent over. I looked at the whole thing. He was wearing a white polo, apparently just from work. The sleeves are folded to the elbow and the heeled pants are. His hair ran down to his shoulders.

I waited for him to speak but a few minutes later, he was still fine so I was just shaken.

When I turned to look at the bartender, he was ready to replace that glass again, so I refused.

"Thank you but I'm going up ..." I said goodbye to him. He just nodded and then smiled.

When I stood up, the man also stood up at the same time. There I noticed that its three buttons were already open and his wide chest was exposed. When it came a little closer to me, I could smell his familiar smell mixing with the smell of alcohol and cigarettes.

"Is this your first time here?" I heard him say as I was walking.

I looked at him in surprise. "Am I the one you're talking to?"

"Obviously, this is your first time here. Next time, don't accept alcohol from strangers, especially from that man. Tsk!" He uttered and immediately left me there hanging.

I just frowned as I watched it walk out of the bar until it disappeared I think. Who is that?

"Where have you been? You're so slow!" Elena greeted me when I arrived at their table.

"Oh my G, Ana! It's true you're getting married! May I see your ring!" Riley said loudly and quickly picked up my hand where my ring is.

"How long have you been here? We thought you weren't coming," Via said seriously, as usual.

"The bartender on the counter talked to me for a while. There's even a man—"

"Oh my god! Don't tell me you drank the wine Christian gave you?" Elena interrupted me, so I looked at her.

"How did you know? I didn't drink because—"

"Thank God! Don't ever accept alcohol from that man or anyone here. You don't know what kind of people are here yet," she said and returned to her seat.

I just nodded and sat down. It suddenly came to my mind what that man had done to run into me and what he had said before he left. Did he mean to hit my arm, so I wouldn't drink that wine?

"Alright! Let's start the party!" Riley shouted and Elena even stood up while holding a bottle of Jack Daniels. They also danced together, so Via and I just laughed.

Suddenly, I felt relief as I watched them happily drinking while dancing. I feel like something strange is going to happen tonight.

"This is for our friend, the soon-to-be Mrs. Aragon, Anastacia Solei! Stand up, Ana!" Riley called me, so I laughed and quickly stood up then approach her.

The night was getting deeper and I could feel the alcohol was right for me. I feel numb all over my body but I also feel like I can still. So when Riley poured that Black Label into my mouth until I almost lost my breath, I screamed afterward.

"Fuck! You almost killed me!" I shouted at her and slapped her on the arm.

"That's the real purpose of alcohol, haven't you been informed?" Elena replied then laughed.

"Come with me to the bathroom!" Via suddenly shouted then quickly stood up.

"Me too. Me too! Where's the bathroom here, Elena?" Riley replied and then walked over to Via.

They looked at me first, so I just nodded at them. When they disappeared from my sight, I poured the wine back into my glass and drank it straight away then turned my gaze to the dance floor. I smiled unconsciously when I saw a few people keeping up with the beat of the melody. They don’t seem to think of any problem and they are only focused on dancing. I wonder what it feels like ...

The feeling that I seemed to want to dance in the middle too became even stronger. I no longer hesitated and stood up. I took off my cardigan and started walking toward the dance floor. My eyesight is spinning. I could also feel the cold that bit into my body because of what I was wearing.

I was drowning in the loud music coming from nowhere. I raised my hand and began to grind into the dance that only I knew. Right after I shut my eyes, what happened that night immediately registered in my mind. He fell to the ground while being wet by heavy rain. The spread of his blood on the road. He's calling my name and his last hug with me. It was all still fresh. It seems like it just happened yesterday.

Later, I was startled when I felt someone touch my waist. I don’t know when he got behind me. Every swing I make is accompanied by him. I quickly turned around in front of him as I could feel the wine deep inside me. When I recognized who it was, I smiled.

"You again ..." I whispered not sure if he heard.

His jaw tightened as he looked at me. I saw his face even more closely. The thick and perfect line of his eyebrows matched his brown eyes. It was deep and dark. The perfect shape of his jaw. Its nose is also pointed and its lips are red which I guess is soft. The shirt he was wearing was just right for him. His muscles looked tight and strained beneath the white material of his polo.

I felt his caress on my waist again. My skin can feel it. I'm wearing a black midriff top and its pair is a black leather skirt.

I bit my lower lip as I looked at him. His broad and powerful shoulders were more defined as he gripped me tightly. I swallowed hard. I seem to be even more intoxicated than I can see. I didn't even understand what was going on around me and only this man was all focused on me. His eyes were mysteriously looking at me. Its caress rose to me. I could feel intense heat in my body during those times. I feel like I'm falling for his caress.

I could feel our bodies touching each other because of the dancing. I took a deep breath and strained to catch my breath.

"This is your first time here yet you're so good at dancing like this, huh," he said while still looking at me. "I can feel your exhaustion. You wanna go somewhere else?" His voice is husky.

His hot breath is fanning my ear. My hair stood on end. This is the first time I have felt this way with a man. Ares is the man in my life but I have never felt this way about him. Who is this guy?

"Anastacia ..." He whispered to me.

I was even more surprised when I heard that. How did he know my name?

"Your name is tempting as you ... but I like Solei more ..." He whispered again.

I bit my lip. His voice is tempting. It doesn’t seem to be able to hold back. It seems to have been following me for a long time. But I know I'm not that kind of woman even if I'm drunk. I know I'm not that kind of woman and neither is this man. But the way he held me seemed to draw me more towards him.

Before I could refuse to hold him again, he quickly applied his soft lips to mine. The more I rolled my eyes because of what he did and the more I could understand nothing. His soft and tender lips grazed the entirety of mine. He softly bit my lip. He sucked it like it is a very fine dessert he's determined to enjoy. I lost my temper completely. I couldn’t even stop moaning at his kiss.

The next thing I realized is that he drift me away from that place.