Chapter 7

Alitha's POV

We drifted to the dining area with Cedrick and Josh, the famous actor, behind me. The table is full of foods and drinks. There is a big bowl with a pink liquid and lots of fruits in it.

"What's that?" I said pointing the big bowl in the center.

"That's fruit punch. Wait, you didn't know that?" Josh is now beside me.

"No." I looked at him when he gasped in surprise.

"Where are you from?"

"She's not been into parties like this." Josh unbelievably looked at Glaiza. It's as if he didn't believe what he have heard.

I did not eat a lot. I was listening to Cedrick and Josh talking while Glaiza sometimes joined them. At certain times Josh asked me random questions which I answered carefully a little. As much as I wanted to focus my attention to them, my mind will always rushed thinking about the person who is maybe still busy kissing the girl on his lap.

I kept holding back not to glance at them earlier. But who cares anyway? And why do I even mind him and his girlfriend? I am starting to wonder these feelings kept on exploding in my head. These feelings I haven't felt before.

"Nikolai, come and join us."

Just like this one when I heard Josh's calling his name. A sudden rapid beating of my heart when Nikolai's eyes and mine met as soon as I lift my head up. I almost cup my chest because of that. Thank God I didn't.

"Tracey is hungry. I'm gonna get her food." He said and I abruptly drifted my gaze to Cedrick when he laughed.

"Are you really that serious, aren't you?"

"Shut the fuck up! Not following your steps, asshole!"

"No cursing in front of the table. Respect the food that we eat, guys." Josh cut them off. Clearly, he doesn't like cursing.

"I couldn't help it. Come on, bro. This is your first time getting food for a girl."

"I will be the one to eat, asshole!"

"Now you're lying."

"Shut up!"

Cedrick's laughing at Nikolai's face. He's teasing him nonstop.

"How's the food?" Josh leaned closer to me.

"Good."

"Just good?" I looked at him when I sensed glumness in his tone.

"Fabulously delicious in fact."

"Really?"

"Yeah." I don't know if they're watching us but I suddenly felt uneasy.

"Seems like you're done. Why don't you try the fruit punch?" He offered and suddenly stood up getting a cup. I wanted to protest but he didn't give me a chance.

"It's really good, Ali. I have tried that already." Glaiza excitedly turned to me.

"When?"

"Now." She said showing me her plastic cup. I don't think I'll lose anything if I try to drink. So when Josh hand me the cup with fruit punch in it, I accepted it.

"Try it." I nodded. I took a sip for me to taste but it seemed okay. So I devoured the drink.

"Whoa, easy."

"You shouldn't consume that in just one gulp."

"Why?" I looked at them with wonder. Especially Nikolai who spoke.

"It's not just juice. It also contains alcohol and is intoxicating."

I shrugged my shoulders. "It's okay. I can handle myself." Not looking at him.

"Since you finished eating, let's go to the living room and socialize with our friends." Cedrick stood up. So we followed him. Nikolai was left in the kitchen and I did not bother to look back at him. Even before we got to the living room a man called Josh. I just nodded when Josh said goodbye to me.

Some of Cedrick's friends greeted us again. I also saw Nikolai's girlfriend just staring at us and having no intention of greeting us. The hell I care. She's pretty but I am much prettier than her. Wait. Why am I comparing myself to her? The hell I care again!

Glaiza and I sat side by side on the long sofa. We are facing Nikolai's girlfriend and Andy is next to his girlfriend.

"Where is Nikolai? He just said he will go to the comfort room but never came back." Nikolai's girlfriend's complaint. We were surprised by what she said. We thought Nikolai had taken food for her. What is she saying?

  "He's here."

Even I looked at the door. Nikolai was walking closer to the living room. I immediately averted my gaze as he looked at me.

Cedrick handed us another fruit punch on the table. I like the taste so I accepted it.

"Business Administration is your course, isn't it?" The man Andy by name asked us.

"Yes." Glaiza answered while I sip my drink.

"Aira and Tracey are both from your department. Do you know them, sweetie?" Andy caressed his girlfriend's arm.

"No. But they looked familiar though." The girl Aira smiled at us. She's a complete opposite at Nikolai's girlfriend who always frowned whenever I looked at her.

"Because your department is big and there are many other students."

"I also don't notice them at school. You know girls like them will not be recognized and will not be famous. Not like me." Tracey artfully said and hug Nikolai after. I saw him smirking.

I want to laugh at what Tracey said and Nikolai gestured. A woman like her, however, is obviously insecure to us. They're really good together. They have the same attitude.

"That's rude, Tracey. Maybe you're not blind so you can't see their beauty. Or maybe you're just saying that because you can clearly see they're prettier than you." Josh said suddenly popping up and sitting down next to me. He turned to me and showed me his killer smile. I drank my fruit punch in no time.

"Don't tell me you already like that woman, Josh." Tracey exclaimed. That seemed surprising what she found out.

"Looking at her, it is not impossible. She's beautiful, in fact she's gorgeous."   They talk as if I am not in front of them. I am used to people telling me I'm beautiful or gorgeous because for your information, it is true. I inherited my Mom's beauty. And she didn't win Ms. Universe when she was still single otherwise. Yes, my Mom crowned as Ms. Universe when she's still in college. She will always brag that if Dad teased her.

"Thank you but I am not comfortable with what you're doing right now." I whispered to him.

"Why not?" He whispered back.

"You're talking about me. I don't like it. Talk something else."

I was surprised he didn't answer. Instead, he just stared at me and seemed amused.

"What are you looking at?" I asked.

He shook his head. "You're probably the most beautiful woman I've ever seen in my whole life." He says. I'm surprised. Especially that I could smell him. He smells good.

"Is that one of the lines you remember in one of your movies?"

He stared at me for a while but laughed out loud afterwards. I was also infected by his laughter. Those with us were stunned just staring at us.

"Are you a fortune teller?" I thought to ride his joke.

"Yeah. How did you know that?"

"I just guessed." We laughed again. I feel relieved for him. I didn't know that he is this cool.

That was the beginning of our conversation. We ignored the others because we were enjoying talking to each other. I have learned that he started his career when he was seventeen years old and he's twenty three right now. Probably six years in show business. He didn't finished college because he prioritize his career.

I told him about the importance of education and he told me that he's been planning to go back to school. Maybe next year or when he's not busy anymore. He told me also about how stressful and tiring his job is. But he's also enjoying especially now that he is on the top of his career. Being in the limelight was his biggest dream.

I wonder what's his dream right now. He didn't told me and I didn't bother to ask him. He forced me to tell a story about my life but I chose to remain silent. Thankfully, he respected my decision. I didn't even notice that I was drinking too much. I realized that all of a sudden my vision rotated.

As soon as I felt that, I refused drinking every time Cedrick handed me another fruit punch. Fortunately, he didn't insist anymore. A few moments later, Cedrick and Glaiza informed me that they're going upstairs for a bit. I wanted to come but Glaiza assured me that she was okay.

Josh continued to tell me about his youth. Throughout the duration of our conversation, I never once looked at Nikolai's direction. Just now. And my heart almost popped out from my ribcage when our eyes met.

His eyes looked tired, red and.. glassy?I am not sure. Tracey was still leaning against him and talking. I felt weird so I turned my attention back to Josh. Josh's cellphone rang and he asked me a moment to get out. I just nod my head and he left.

Awkward. That was the first feeling I had when Josh left my side. The music is not very loud so somehow people can hear each other. I was even more surprised when I saw that Nikolai was no longer next to Tracey. His girlfriend on the other hand is now talking to Aira.

I suddenly felt hungry. Probably because I ate so little earlier. I even drank intoxicating so maybe this is why. I stood up and would have almost fallen if I hadn't just clung to the armchair of the sofa. I conditioned myself and then started walking. Those in front of me were too busy not to notice me leaving.

I walked past through them and go straight to the kitchen. I grabbed a plate that was on the table and started spooning food. I sat in my seat earlier. I didn't even bother to look at other people taking food as well. I don't know them either.

I was busy chewing my food when suddenly someone grab a chair and sit beside me. When I looked up, I was surprised seeing Nikolai holding a plate and eating beside me.

I was speechless and even more so I could not move an inch. If he hadn't looked at me, I still couldn't move.

"What?" He abruptly asked me. He was still munching when he asked me. I was not wondering he was hungry. I was wondering, with the number of vacant seats in the living room, why is he still sitting next to me?

I shook my head and continued eating. I didn't mind him and just continued chewing. I liked the carbonara so when I ran out, I stoop up and I took it again. But I no longer sat next to Nikolai. I chose the seat near the carbonara.

I felt him stand up and take food from the table. But again I was surprised when he took a seat and sit next to me.

"Clearly, you're following me." I didn't looked at him as I asked that question.

"You're so full of yourself, Alitha." He said smirking. I can't understand him. But maybe he wasn't following me.

"Okay. You said so." I didn't mind him anymore. I just focused myself with the food I am eating. Even if the closeness of our arms made me shiver.

"Don't you want me next to you?"

I almost choked when he talked after a while.

"Where did that come from?" I stopped eating and turned to him.

"Nothing. Just forget what I have said."

Is he crazy?

"You're weird."

"You're more weird! You just met Josh a while ago and yet you're acting like you're close to each other."

And where the hell did that come from?!

"What's with you?" I put down my plate, my fork and my spoon.

"No. What's with you?" He did the same. We are now facing each other. Me with shock and him with anger.

"I don't understand. Why are you acting like that? I did nothing to you."

"You did something to me. And I don't like it! I really hate it!" I could sense that he's holding back from raising his voice.

"Look, I don't know what you're saying. I don't really understand you."

"You not like it when I sit next to you but you love it when that actor sit next to you."

My lips parted a bit. I was stunned to hear the words he said. I'm confused. What is happening to him?