Chapter 5

Alitha's POV

"You haven't been practicing, Ali. Did Daddy ask you?" She changed the topic when she saw me eyeing at Alec.

"I just missed it last week." She's been referring to my hobby. I get the new drink as soon as I emptied my glass. "What's this called?"

"Sangria." Again, haven't heard the name not until now.

"Honey, let's go." We both looked at Brett who's now holding Eden in her arm.

"How about you two?"

"Later." Glaiza motioned her hand telling them to go ahead. "Sangria is amazing too. They have different tastes but I both like it."

"Are you drunk?" I asked her because I suddenly felt tipsy.

"No. Are you?"

"I don't think so."

"Glaiza?!" A brunette girl is coming to our direction. She's Glaiza's cousin, Cielo. I know her but she doesn't know me. I heard a lot about her because of Glaiza. And they're pretty close.

"Cielo? What are you doing here?"

"No. What are you doing here?" She's emphasizing every word she said. "You're not a girl party that's why I was shocked when I saw you."

"I am with my best friend, Alitha. Ali, this is Cielo."

"Hi there, Ali! Nice to meet you." She extended her hand and gratefully accepted it.

"Nice to meet you too."

"Who are you two with?"

"Ali's sister and her friends."

"Oh, okay."

"Would Ali mind if you'll accompany me? I will introduce you to my friends."

"It's okay. I don't mind." I said half smiling.

"You sure? Why don't you come with us?" Glaiza asked.

"No, I'm fine. Just go."

"Okay. Wait for me here."

"Sure." And now I left alone in the table. Watching people dancing from afar. Enjoying my drink and munching finger foods.

"The lovely kitten is all alone now." I almost choke while drinking when I heard the playful voice behind me.

I turn around and saw Nikolai leaning on Eden's chair while holding a bottle of beer.

"What are you doing here?" I calmly asked extracting my gaze away from him. I haven't seen him in school earlier. It's not that I was looking for him but in fact, I was glad. My blood still boiling while seeing him. His rudeness kept coming back while seeing him now.

"Simple. Maybe the same reason why you're here."

"Did you just celebrated your birthday yesterday?"

"Is that why you're here? A post birthday celebration of a lovely kitten beside me."

Ugh! Crazy, Alitha! Why did you say that?

"Actually, it's not me. My friend, Glaiza."

"Ah, I didn't know kittens can lie."

"Why are you calling me that?" I spat at him. Saw him drink his beer. And with that, I could clearly see his Adam's apple moving as he gulped. I immediately turned my gaze. Clearly aware of the feeling he brought within me. "Do I look like a kitten to you?"

He laughed, huskily laughed to be exact. "What do you want me to call you then? Baby?"

"Excuse me?"

"Then what?"

"Stop calling me anything. I didn't ask you to."

"I'll think about it."

"What do you want?" I stop myself not to yell at him although I need to for him to hear what would I say. The music is getting loud.

"What do I want?" I frantically move aside when his lips touched my earlobe. He just whispered in my ear. I automatically move my hand up. Stopping the people who I know are watching us.

"Woah, easy." This brute! He even got to laugh. He walked over in front of me and sat in Glaiza's chair across from me.

"I will accompany you first while your companions are away."

"I don't need you. Just leave me alone." I drank my drink again just to alleviate the madly beating of my heart.

"Are you driving me away? Wait. Are you afraid of me?"

I looked him straight in the eyes. Indicates that I am not afraid of him. But I was furious with him. Yet he didn't seem to see that. Or really just blinding and didn't mind what he saw.

"I guess you're the only one who's not afraid of me."

"Why should I be afraid of you? Threatening and hurting others is not a sign of courage. Rather it is oppression and showing cowardice."

He stared at me for a long time. His brain seemed to be processing what I said. He drank the beer and devoured the rest of it. When he ran out of beer, he just rubbed the back of his palm over his mouth. He doesn't take the look away from me.

In that gesture I seemed to feel a little pity for him. Even his eyes glowed with anger. He is like a child who was just left behind and lost a loved one early on.

"I am not oppressive and even more so I am not a coward. I have my own principles and laws to follow. Anyone who violates that just deserves to receive punishment. Remember that."

He stood up and turned his back on me. He was only a few steps away when he turned around again."By the way, you're welcome. Those are from me."

He pointed to sangria that no one else had drunk except me and Glaiza. I was surprised when he said that. Why would he give us a drink? And why does his voice seem sad and hurt?

I roamed my eyes and looked for my companions. But I can't see them even Glaiza. I don't know but I seem to be having trouble breathing. So I got up and decided to go out for some fresh air. I followed the path to the door but another door hit me as I exited. This is not the front door but the one at the back. I went out but was again surprised to find a small garden. There are many surrounding plants and there are four tables on the side. Three chairs per table. Not far from me were two cradle chairs facing each other. I approached there but before I entered I took a deep breath first.

"Are you following me?"

I looked to the side to hear that baritone voice. My eyes almost widened when I saw Nikolai smoking in a corner.

"Are you following me, kitten?"

He repeated the question to me. He grinned and seemed pleased with my reaction.

"How many times do I have tell you not to call me that? Do I look like a cat? And for your information I'm not following you!"

He was silent for a while and just smoked a cigarette. And why am I watching him?

"Alitha Dominique."

How did he know my name?

"Is that what you want me to call you?"

"How did you know my name?" He threw away the cigarette butt and I didn't know that it was even possible to look so sexy even with a flick of the butt. Jeez! Focus, Alitha!

"I have my ways."

"You have no right to call me my name."

"Why? Is it because you don't like me?" I can hear his playful tone.

"I don't like you as a person."

"That's more painful." He folded his arms in his chest and looked at me.

It's true. I don't even care if it's more painful. I don't really like him as a person. But why did I feel sorry for him earlier inside?

"How are you related to Eden Dominique?" I was halted but I didn't let him see my reaction. He knows my sister. What shall I tell him? Shall I say we're sisters?

No. I don't have to.

"She's my cousin."

"Is that so? Damn, you are the President's niece."

"I have to go." I said and without looking back I left him in the garden.

"You look sexy when you turn your back." He shouted. I was scandalized but I never looked at him again.

"Ali?" I met Glaiza near our table.

"I've been looking for you for a while. Where did you go?"

"I just went outside for a fresh air."

"Come on. It's time to have fun. Let's dance." She was eager to dance so I let her when he pulled me onto the dance floor.

There were a lot of people on the dance floor but just enough for us to find Eden and those with her.

"Where did you go? We were looking for you. Earlier we were still waiting here." Eden asked me. I said Glaiza and I were just talking outside. I didn't want to tell him about Nikolai. Because I'm sure she'll ask and she'll just ask me.

"Let's dance!" She is there. And again they danced and accompanied the sound of music.

Glaiza made me face her and she encouraged me to dance. I can dance. The truth is, I am a good dancer. I dance alone in my room with a loud music. Just for fun and one of my stress reliever. Maybe because of the spirit of alcohol so I moved and swayed to the accompaniment of music.

I'm having fun so is my friend. Not thinking about the people next to us dancing as well. Not minding the eyes of the people watching us. Not until my eyes darted to someone behind Glaiza. Someone I didn't know had been looking at me for so long. Our eyes met. But I just kept on dancing even though he did the same.

He became even more handsome as he danced. His body was moving. Dancing while smoking. Is that even allowed here? But I almost had a heart attack when he winked at me. He showed me the smile every woman was chasing after him. But I'm not affected. I raised my one brow at him even though his companion also saw what I did. He approached me. Him and his companion. They're with us. I didn't expect what he did next. His companion took Glaiza's hand. Nikolai turned to me with amusement smile. I stopped moving.

"Can I dance with you?" He said. He took my hand but I immediately withdrew it.

"I will think you like me so you don't want to dance with me."

Maybe it's because of what I drank so I started dancing.

"I don't like you. So go ahead, let's dance."

Does he want to play with me? He is known for being a playboy. And I won't let him include me among the people he loses in the game he always starts with. So I'm going to take him first. I will play with him. But this time, it's not his game we're going to play. He will play my game.

I artistically swung my hips without looking away from him. I even approached him. I grabbed his shoulder and started to grind in front of him. He threw away the cigarette and stepped on it. He grabbed both my waists and accompanied me in the dancing. Daring me to dance and sway more. But I did not comply with his silent request.

He is good at dancing. Simple but enticing look. I stopped grinding and just danced with him. I grabbed my hand holding his shoulder. He smirked when I did that.

"Why do I seem to have a feeling something bad is going to happen between the two of us?" He said.

"Why? Are you going to do something bad to me?" I lean to him and seductively whispered in his ear.

"Oh." He laughed. "If there's anything I have to do with you, it's something you won't forget for the rest of your life."

He whispered back to me. So we are very close to each other. I tried to stay away from him but he pulled me even closer to him. Until I felt my chest pressed his hard chest. My eyes widen at the feeling that suddenly popped up inside me. When I looked at him, it seemed like I wasn't the only one surprised and felt that. His eyes also widened. He immediately released me out of shock because of the unexpected feeling.

"I had a great time dancing with you." He even saluted me before turning his back on me. While looking at his back facing me, I wondered who could beat the two of us? He who turned his back and just left me? Or I who still can't forget the feeling of his body pressed against mine?

Whoever we are, I don't care anymore. As far as I know, I will never let the two of us get close and meet again.