Leanna

[Rescue]

Dark clouds and thunder loomed over our table as the women opposite me were murdering me with their glares.

I shook my head a little. "No need." Then I pointed at a painting near the bar. "Mind if I take a look at that for a moment?"

Zhander took a quick glance at the direction where I was pointing before he locked eyes with me. "Alright."

"Well then everyone, I'll be right back," I said and approached the painting that caught my attention from the moment we entered the club.

----

Zhander's eyes followed Leanna as she strode in the direction of the painting. When she was engrossed studying it, he retracted his eyes and shifted his attention to Knoll.

"You, let's talk for a moment," he said, voice hard as he walked in the direction of the bar, leaving the others behind. Often, his eyes took a peek at Leanna's direction.

Knoll trembled beyond his control. Cold sweat tickled his back and palms. Zhander's anger knocked any courage left in him.

After Knoll and Zhander made it to the bar at the far end, opposite to where Leanna was, Zhander snapped at Knoll, voice low and tone hissing, suppressing his anger. "Why the hell are you here?!"

Overcame with fear, Knoll's hands shook with his voice. "I-I can explain! It was a last-minute decision! Someone tip Saoirse that you've made a reservation here! You know how she is! She's crazy in love with you! The manager was constantly reminding us that the table was already reserved for you, but Saoirse threatened him. Then I contacted you the moment the manager said your name, but you didn't pick up. I even messaged you!"

Zhander didn't notice his phone because, at that time, he was too happy and excited to spend the night with Leanna that he put his phone in silent mode so no one could disturb him.

Zhander's face turned dark, and with the dim light, his expression only looked menacing.

Knoll took a step back, trembling. "P-please don't kill me! Remember we're friends! Remember how we used to help each other in college! Remember, when I drank too much and you––!"

"Enough!"

Zhander snapped and brought out his phone to make a call.

Knoll sighed in relief. He got to live another day. He took the opportunity to get back to his seat while Zhander was distracted with his phone. He was meters away from their table when he noticed that Saoirse was giving Leanna a drink.

His heart sank, and adrenaline surged within him as he sprinted to grab the drink from Saoirse's hand when a charming, beautiful young lady knocked it first, and its contents spilled onto Leanna's dress.

"Oh my God! I'm so sorry! Let's go to the toilet! Quick~!"

A voice said, which sounded like a cheerful harp, coming from the lips of the charming, young girl.

Knoll didn't know what happened next as the young lady pulled Leanna into the toilet, away from the prying eyes of the onlookers.

----

She was so bored.

Her high school friends proposed to celebrate here one last time before they went to their respective Universities.

It was not even eight, and yet, she already wanted to go home. Her boredom reached its peak, and she was about to say her goodbyes when a strikingly handsome male and a pretty young girl entered the club.

Her eyes sparkled.

She took out her phone, stole a picture of the two newcomers and send it to her brother.

[Me: Look who I found ????]

[ColdEmperor: I'm coming]

She giggled, which made her female classmates confused, and her male classmates bewitched.

All along, she entertained herself at observing the pretty girl. When she saw that she strode in the direction of a painting, she contemplated whether to approach her or not when her phone vibrated.

[ColdEmperor: I'm here,

make her come into the toilet]

She smirked. Piece of Cake.

She grabbed her drink and made her way towards the girl when the latter returned to her table. Determined, she followed her and noticed a woman offered her a drink.

One look and she could tell that the beverage was drugged.

Taking the opportunity, she hurried into the girl's table and 'accidentally' knocked the glass from the woman's hand.

"Oh my God! I'm so sorry! Let's go to the toilet! Quick~!"

She grabbed the girl's hand, not giving her a chance to retaliate as she pulled her into the toilet –– a playful smile on her lips.

----

[Revelation]

A lone candle burned inside a dark room. The used of textures and colors were so wild and intense, making the whole canvas scorched from its illusion.

-ZC

I wonder who he is.

I stood and admired the painting for a couple of minutes before I went back to our table.

I sat and realized that Zhander and Knoll disappeared. I wandered my eyes and found them near the bar. I was going to join them when a glass of liquor blocked my way.

"This is this club's popular drink. It's quite expensive. You should try it." Saoirse smiled, and her face looked friendly for once.

Why do you say it's expensive rather than tasty?

I glanced at the glass. The color was dark, and little bubbles form at the bottom towards the top.

It's drugged!

I wanted to pretend to take it, and 'accidentally' spill it on her, but unfortunately for me, someone beat me to it, and the contents spilled on my dress instead.

"Oh my God! I'm so sorry! Let's go to the toilet! Quick~!" said a harp-like voice, coming from a beautiful lady.

Before I had the chance protest, I was dragged into the toilet.

----

"Do you know that Cain Fay is single now?!"

I froze.

I'm currently inside the female's toilet together with the charming young girl, washing off the liquor on my dress, hoping it won't stain when two women entered and discussed Cain Fay like we were invincible.

"Yes! I can't believe it either! Holley and Cain are like THE couple that everyone envied!"

"I know, right?! But that's like, a major opportunity for us! Cain Fay is single and available again!"

"Right! I heard many socialites are inviting him to their parties! Ahhh! I wish I could bed him just once!"

"Ahahaha! In your dreams! Don't you know who Cain Fay is?! It's easier to invite our president than the man himself! I heard he turned down every invitation. He's determined to be low key, but with a face like that––!"

I still heard the high screeching voices of the two even when they were already meters away from the toilet, leaving the young lady and me alone.

"What do you think?"

I was surprised by the sudden question and my eyes slid at the charming girl beside me.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

The girl smiled, and her face changed from charming into adorable.

"About Cain Fay breaking off his engagement? It's a hot topic right now, you know!" she said.

I frowned and resumed washing my soiled dress.

"It doesn't concern me," I said, voice flat.

Licking her lips, her emerald eyes sparkled like stars. "I think he found someone he likes that's why he called off his engagement."

My brows crumpled even deeper.

"Well, I think after having his fill with his fiancée, he tosses her aside to find someone new and exciting," I barked with spite.

She just laughed at my remark.

"Maybe, but I heard he's asexual. Don't you know he and Holley never go out? If the news didn't disclose that they were engaged, you would think otherwise."

I paused.

Why is this girl talking about Cain Fay with me?

She continued, "There's even a rumor that Cain Fay already broke his engagement the day before yesterday and only announced it today."

The day before yesterday? That's the day we first met!

She chortled. "But it has nothing to do with us, right?" She eyed me before licking her lips. "Take your time, I'll wait for you outside."

She beamed and shot me a teasing glanced before she left me alone with my thoughts.

He already broke off his engagement even before he confessed to me?

–––"He called off his engagement maybe because he met you. The woman who made him fall in love for the first time." –––

There's nothing between him and Holley Goldwood?

–––"You should know that sometimes, engagement is a form of business transaction." –––

My fingers skimmed over my lips, repressing a smile.

I shook my head in a force enough to rattle my brain.

No! No! No! Those are rumors!

I looked at myself in the mirror.

Remember your EX! Remember what he did! Remember Tristan!

. . .

. . .

"But . . . He's not Tristan . . . ," I mumbled.

Unable to control myself, I grabbed a change in my pocket and went for the payphone beside the sanitary vending machine and dialed Zhane's number.