Constant as the Stars Above

CATSA 1: Altercation

I went inside the club, arms linked in Kai's arms. I immediately scanned the people's faces, looking for the rest of our friends. It is already past midnight, everyone was getting wild. There were people kissing on the sides of the club, some people going in and out of the bathroom - probably to vomit, and people trying their best to dance on the dancefloor despite getting dizzy and suffocated by the numerous people dancing there. 

"There." Kai said and pointed at the second floor where the VIP rooms can be seen. The VIP rooms at the second floor has curtains for privacy, but right now, they are wide open and I can see my friends wilding. 

There were a few guys I do not recognize and I'm betting they just met them here earlier and brought them inside the VIP section. I unlinked my arms at Kai and strutted the dance floor to go to my friends. There were some people at the dancefloor greeting me, so I just nodded my head at them as a sign to greet back and moved on walking.

My friends and I have been regular customers here. I'm guessing people already knew who we are, but they just kept their mouth shut. One of the things I love going out to places like this is that they really doesn't give a damn of who you are and who you're with, unlike other places were our presence were always observed and monitored by other people - may be it from media or just from people in general.

"What took you so long?" Gabbi asked as she rolled her eyes and handed me a shot of tequila.

I smiled at their guests and they smiled back. Amara's talking with some guy on the other end of the sofa and Gia's making out with another guy at the other end. Gabbi's entertaining another guy here on the middle, but she's not drunk enough to make out with him. 

Kai approached Gia and grabbed her arms away from the guy. Gia just giggled and planted one last peck on the guy's cheeks before she shooed him away. The other two guys followed as requested by Kai. He sighed before sitting down on the solo chair at one side of the table.

"What am I going to do with you, girls? Am I part of this group just to constantly clean up your mess?" He complained. 

I laughed and patted his head before taking the seat next to him. Kai and I have been friends ever since we were kids. He was always the protective one among our friends as long as I can remember. His parents and mine have been business partners that long as well, which explains my closeness towards him too.

"We're not telling you to clean up our mess, K." Gabbi replied and rolled her eyes one more time. Gia laughed beside her and Amara just smiled, drinking a shot of tequila as well.

Kai just shook his head and drank his shot. He looked at me and I just smiled at him, trying to look sorry for the situation he's always in every time the five of us goes out. 

"Why are you out by the way? There's a big event tomorrow night and you're out partying." Amara said.

Gabbi laughed at her. "Are you seriously asking that? Her mom's the worst she needs a breather every time. I don't understand how long your dad can tolerate her attitude." She commented.

"Yeah, well, I don't want to talk about that. We're here to have fun." I replied and drank another shot of tequila.

"And fun it is." Gia said.

"And cleaning for me." Kai complained one more time.

We went out of the VIP room after drinking for a while inside. We moved on to dance on the dancefloor. It was crowded as usual, but this does not seem to faze anyone of us. No one even bothered to look our way as well, except to greet us or to try and offer us drinks. But Kai's too quick to decline everyone and we're left with ourselves instead.

I was busy dancing. Tracing my fingers to my dress up to my neck and then my hair. I was wearing a silver party dress. It's a bodycon and it hugged my body perfectly. I paired it up with my silver stiletto heels. My hair was parted messily at the center.

I lost my friends at the middle of partying, I've tried looking for them, but I failed. I did not mind though, this has happened a lot of times already and nothing bad has ever happened. I continued dancing, not minding what other people are thinking of me or of they recognized me. People at clubs don't really care so I feel good.

I only stopped when I bumped into someone. I laughed and apologized. "I'm so sorry. I did not see you there!" 

He only looked at me and did not answer. I awkwardly smiled at him and walked away. I've seen him in school before. His face looks familiar but I cannot quite pinpoint who he is. I laughed hard. Maybe because of the booze. I think I drank too much too to the point I can hardly recognize anyone already. 

I bumped into another guy as well as I was making my way back into our VIP room. He turned around and I apologized, I did not wait for his reply as well and just went on my way. But I was stopped when he grabbed my arms, making me stay.

I furrowed my eyebrows. "I said I'm sorry."

"Are you with someone?" He asked. and pulled me even closer to him.

"Yes, I am. I'm just about to go to my friends, they're waiting for me at the bar section." I replied even if I'm not sure whether my friends are there or not.

I grabbed my arms from his hold, but he tightened it. I started to panic. This is the first time things like this ever happened.

"Uh... I need to go." I said one more time confidently. 

"No, hang out with me for a while. I'll bring you to your friends later on." He replied and started caressing my bare arms.

I was about to struggle my way out of his hold when the man I bumped with earlier held my other hand and grabbed me behind him. 

"She's with me. I'm her friend. If you do not want to be reported you should stay away from her or to any girls you're planning to approach aggressively for the rest of the night." He said.

He did not wait for the guy to answer and just grabbed me towards the bar. He sat on one of the stool and ordered a glass of drink. "You shouldn't be drinking too much. You have duties to attend to tomorrow."

"What?" I asked and laughed. Who is this guy? "Who are you?" 

He didn't answered and just sighed beside me. "You should seriously stop drinking too much if you can't recognize people when you're drunk." 

I furrowed my eyebrows and ordered for a bottled water at the bartender. "I believe we're not that close as well for me to make an effort to recognize you. I'm sorry."

We remained silent for a while. He ordered another shot at the bar and slowly drenched it. "But we could fix that though." I continued.

He looked at me and I was welcomed by his blue eyes. His stares were deep as if he was looking at the depths of my soul. I slowly smiled at him even though I was getting uncomfortable with the way he looked at me. There was judgments on his eyes and I hate it. It always irks me when people do that. They do not know my story, they do not know me, so I do not understand there judgments towards me.

I set that aside though. Even if I do not like it, I completely understand that I do not have power to please everybody. They see and perceive me as a person based on what they're seeing now. I have no control over it no matter how much I dislike it. 

"Hi, I'm Ace! My name's Ara Claire Emilia Javier. But I don't like that, so call me Ace." I said and offered him my hand to shake. He only looked at it for a few seconds and looked away, not minding to accept my handshake.

I awkwardly brushed it off and stood up to look for my friends again. I am starting to get really dizzy and I just want to go home and sleep already. I still have 7:30 classes in the morning later and it's almost 4 in the morning on my wristwatch.

"I just texted your boyfriend, he'll be here in a while." He said.

I stopped on my tracks and took a seat again. My boyfriend? Since when did I have a boyfriend? Is he speaking about Kai? Pfft! Boyfriend my ass! But I was more curious how he knew Kai and how he got his number, so I asked that instead.

"Who are you? How do you know us?" He didn't gave an answer to my questions, so I squinted my eyes at him. "Are you a stalker? Have you been stalking me? How long? Huh?"

He sighed. "You really have a bad habit of not recognizing people when you're drunk, huh? I am not a stalker, but I am not your friend as well." 

I pouted my lips. "How come? I don't have enemies. I am a friendly person, I always make friends with everyone." 

"I did not say that you have. Your family though, quite have a handful of enemies right now." He replied. I was about to answer but a beautiful girl approached us and whispered something at him before looking at me.

I smiled at her and waved. She did not return my smile nor my wave, so I immediately spoke up to remove any bad thoughts she have of me inside of her head.

"I'm not flirting at your boyfriend." I said out of nowhere. The guy looked at me again and shook his head and scoffed. The girl made a face at me. "He was only being a good guy and saved me from one of the drunk guys out there. He claimed he already texted my boyfriend. He's about to get me. Your boyfriend is all yours." I blabbered.

The girl laughed at me. "Your too dumb for someone who always competed at the top. Your funny and clumsy when you're drunk too. I can't stand that I'm talking to you. Bye!" She said before leaving the guy and I alone once again.

"I think your girlfriend is mad. Is she mad? We're just talking." I moved a little to whisper a little at his ear. He moved away slightly because of what I did.

"Oh, I'm sorry - "

I was cut off when I heard Kai shouted my name. "Ace! Where the hell have you been? We were looking everywhere for you! How many times have I told you that once something like this happened again I'm not allowing you to party anymore."

"Stop overreacting! This nice lad right here is keeping me safe. Do you know him? Do we know him?" I asked.

They looked at each other for a long uncomfortable silence before Kai turned to look at me. "No, we don't know him."

"Huh? But he said he texted my boyfriend. I mean you're not my boyfriend, but he thinks you are." I said and whispered the last part. "How can you don't know him?" 

"Just because, Ace. Come one,  we have to go. You're getting uncomfortably talkative every time you're drunk. You can't even remember s**t when you wake up." 

He dragged me out of the bar, but before we could completely leave I yelled at the guy I was with earlier. "Thank you, Mr. Nice Guy! Hope to see you around again."

"You always see each other around, Ace. What the hell." Kai whispered, but I was too sleepy and too dizzy to even acknowledge what he said.

I woke up on my bed a few hours after when my friends bombarded my room. I didn't know how they were able to bring me home without my parents knowing, but they did. Thank God! That would save me from any additional lectures I am already receiving from my mom everyday.

"Wake up, sleepyhead! It's already 6 in the morning, we have classes at 7:30." Amara said as she forced me out of the bed.

My head still hurts from the previous hours. No matter how much I rock my memory of the events that happened previously, it only made me more dizzy so I gave up. My memory were unclear and distorted, but as long as I did not do anything stupid to shame my parents I'm good.

I drank the medicine Kai probably left on my bedside table earlier and immediately took a bath. I just wore my uniform and grabbed my handbag on my study table. We really don't have a uniform, but my usual style in going to school is something smart casual yet fashionable type of style and I have regarded this as my uniform ever since. 

My three girl friends were eating breakfast at the table. My parents are nowhere to be found so they probably already went to work. I just grabbed a handful of bacon on a tissue, which I am sure will earn a disapproving look from my mother is she was here. 

"Where were you at the club? We looked everywhere for you." Amara started the talk when we were about to go inside the university. 

Everyone looked at us when we passed. Some even greeted us hello and I just smiled. Absolutely different if we were out of school or when we're in a club. I usually present myself differently. I am so afraid my parents would find out I am misbehaving behind their back. So, if a situation requires me to act decently and soft-spoken, I would do so for the sake of not being caught.

"Shut it, we're in school!" I hissed at Amara and smiled at another student who greeted us.

"What's the fuss? Everyone probably knows what you're up to. They just don't give s**t like you expect them to be." Gabbi butted in.

I looked at her and pouted but she just shrugged. 

"You can be so harsh sometimes, right? Do you know that?" I asked.

"Look, what I'm just trying to say is that people here knows about what you're up to. They don't care, they find it normal. What you just needs to be careful with is making sure who you're hanging out with, like who you were with at the club when Kai found you." She explained.

"Why? Who? What?" I asked, basically so confused of what she was implying. I can hardly even remember what happened last night, much more of who I am with specifically.

Gia sighed and just laughed. "You're such a drunk mess sometimes. Good thing you don't remember shits you do when you're drunk."

"I can remember if you tell me." I implied.

"Nah, I think it's better this way. It's funny." Gabbi said and walked past me.

I was about to follow her when the Perez twins from the corners of my eyes caught my attention. Jace Daniel and Jade Danielle Perez. They are the children of the owners of Perez Apparels, one of the competitors of my family's business ever since my great grandfather's time.

Jade was busy talking about something with his brother and his brother was busy scrolling on his phone. I stared at them for a while. Suddenly, Jace looked up and we looked at each other eye to eye. I was about to look away, but did not withdrew my stare away from him. 

He was staring and I stared back. That only stopped when Kai appeared in front of me and broke off our eye contact. We never really spoke with each other. The Perez twins and I may bumped into each other at places within the school, but due to the cold fight between our families, I think it was automatically understood to not put the three of us together also.

"Are you feeling better?" Kai asked as we started walking towards our classroom. I simply nodded as a response, but that was not the case.

My head was still throbbing and I can't hardly focus at anything. But this was better compared to when I woke up earlier and haven't drink the medicines he left at my bedside.

"Thank you." I said. He only nodded at that.

Time at school felt abnormally short. Was it because I am dreading the event that we will be attending later on? I don't know. I just want it done. Right after my last class, our family driver took me to the place we usually have our hair and make up.

I insisted my mother the other day that I do not need a personal stylist for this, but she insisted that I do. I have no choice but to agree. I don't really go against my mother's wishes. I just go with it. It feels suffocating sometimes, but it's better being like this than arguing.

Arguing is more tiresome. It would also take long because I know my mom's not the type to accept defeat. 

"Emilia!" The stylist greeted as I went in. "I already prepared your gown and heels, should we proceed with your hair and make up already?" 

I was just silently waiting for everything to get done. Scrolling through my social media accounts while they fix my hair when Jace went in with his other friend. I don't know his friend's name, but I knew that they were close since I have seen them a lot of times at school together.

"Oh, Jace! Did you like your suit?" Another stylist went out from the door nearby and immediately attended them.

"Yeah, it was perfect. Thank you!" He replied politely. He caught my eyes once again through the mirror, but immediately tore his attention off me as he was talking with the stylist. "Do you happen to have an extra suit, though? My friend here is attending the event last minute and doesn't have extra suits prepped for him." 

"Yes, absolutely! I just have the perfect match for you. This will look good on your friend." The stylist said and guided them to another door. 

He looked at my way for one last time before he followed. I did not tore my eyes off me until the door they just went in closed.

"Do you also talk to them, Emilia? Or is the family feud passed down to their children as well?" My stylist asked out of nowhere. I just smiled at her question and did not answer it. The answer to that question seemed pretty obvious already. People asking the real deal of that seemed into gossips for me, so as much as possible I always tried to avoid that.

Doing my hair and make up did not take too long. We then proceeded to the dressing room for my night gown. It's the same room as where Jace, his friend, and the other stylist went it. The room was full of gowns and suits, the only thing that would separate it from the dressing room is an average-sized area in the corner with curtain partitions.

Everybody looked up when we went it. I just did not mind it even if I can feel Jace and his friend's stare behind my back. The stylist proceeded to get my gown and I went inside the dresser. She handed me the gown and I immediately changed myself into it.

It was a sparkling silver long gown. It has thin straps and it hugged my body perfectly. It has a low cleavage area, but just enough for my mom's approval. There was slit on the left side of the dress. I love it. This may not look like the usual dresses I wear when I went out, but these are the usual styles I wear during events like this one.

I went out of the dresser and the stylist immediately assisted me to wear my heels. I looked at myself in the mirror and decided that I looked decent and ready enough. Our family driver took me to the venue again after I was completely prepped by the team. 

The event is held at one of the most expensive and popular hotels in the city. I'm betting there were a lot of medias waiting outside the venue, but I was not worried since I know how to deal with them.

"Ma'am, your parents are still on their way. Do you want to go in first or do you prefer to wait for them here?" Our driver asked. I looked outside the window and just decided to go in first while there were still a few people there. 

"I'll think I'll go in first. Thank you." He opened the car door for me and guided me to the way. He did his best to avoid me getting direct shots from the media's lenses. I smiled at them and waved at some.

"Ms. Emilia, you look lovely tonight!"

"Emilia, who designed your gown?"

"Are your parents coming?"

"I heard the Perez were invited as well. Do you think this event will turn out well?"

I just smiled at everyone and did not stop to answer their questions. I did replied to one though, the ones asking me about my gown, but as much as possible, I tried to avoid questions with regard to the Perez. I don't want any trouble so as much as possible I avoid it if I can.

I successfully got inside the venue. The ceiling was high and there was intricate ceiling decor when I looked up. Tables and chairs are arranged so meticulously, there were even nameplates on the tables for the guest. The stage looked nice. I tried looking around, trying to look for my friends in the sea of people. None. Instead, I moved around to look for our table. An usherette assisted me so I did not have a hard time finding it.

It was near the front. Beside our table is the Perez's table as well. I sighed. This would be a long night. 

I just sat at the table waiting for my parents and friend's family to arrive. It did not take long though as I found my parents approaching. Followed from the distance was the complete family of the Perez. I couldn't clearly tell from my mother's expression what happened, but I can say that since they encountered with each other, her mood was not the best.

"Emilia! What are you doing? Stop slouching!" She hissed and forced me to stand up.

Unfortunately for me, the Perez passed by us just in time to hear my mother's reprimands. They stopped in front of us. Mrs. Perez looked at me with pity. I slightly furrowed my eyebrows at her reaction. I hate being looked at the way she's looking at me.

"Why are you so being hard on your daughter, Arabella? She's young-" 

She was not able to continue what she said because my mother cut her off.

"Aren't you being to nosy to family predicaments of other people, Katherine?"

My father immediately went by my mother's side and rubbed her arms. She immediately turned her back from the Perez and sat down.

"I appreciate your concern, Mrs. Perez, but my mother is raising me completely fine. Thank you." I said as politely as I could in order to not possibly make the situation any worse. "Excuse me." 

I turned my back from them and approached my mother and sat beside her.

"I'm sorry about that. I'll watch my posture next time." I said. 

"As you should, Emilia. You're slacking or have you forgotten all the lessons I taught you?" She coldly replied. 

"No, mother. I did not. I apologize. I wasn't able to rest properly because of - "

"I expect you to do better next time." 

I had the urge to let out a long sigh, but decided against it. Instead, I just nodded my head quietly and smiled at her. I looked up and I caught Jace's gaze again for the third time today. There was something in his eyes that no matter how much I wanted to look away, would make me stare at him back for a long time. 

If he's challenging me who would look away first, then I'd bet.

But just right I fully decided to not stop the staring contest. He stood up with his twin. I am not sure and I do not care where they are going, but I stood up as well. "I'll just go to the powder room." My mom only nodded and did not even looked at me when I stood up.

I gracefully went to the bathroom. No one was there when I entered, so I just stood in front of the mirror to gather my thoughts and watch myself. I let out a few long sighs before I washed my hands. Someone stood beside me. I looked at her reflection on the mirror and she was also looking back at me.

Jade Danielle Perez is beautiful young woman. She looks exactly like their mother. Long, beautiful, slim. Her eyes looks chinita and her lips full. She has a naturally curly long hair, but she has it in a bun for today's event. Her nose looks exactly the same as their father though - narrow. Just like Jace's as well.

She stared back at me as well and observed my figure from head to toe. I was a bit conscious of what she did, but I did not let her notice it. She returned her eyes and looked at me directly. She was silent for a while and then shook his head and scoffed.

She scoffed! Right in front of me after she observed me from head to toe.

I was so close to talking back at her, but she turned her back at me and went inside the cubicles. I relaxed myself and went out of the bathroom instead. I have no time for the drama she wants to create or something. I am trying my best to avoid that and I have no intentions to ride with our parents hate towards each other. As they can see, I am as much as preoccupied dealing with my mother at home, I don't need more of it from them.

When I went out, Jace, Jade's twin brother is silently standing across the bathroom door, waiting for his sister. I did not even acknowledge his presence and just walked past him when I heard him tsked. 

What's wrong with these twins? What are they up to? 

I took in a heavy breath and turned around to face him. He just looked at me blankly while I was raging with the annoyance I have towards the both of them and my mother. Are they being this nosy just because they saw how I was reprimanded earlier for a small thing such as slouching? Oh come on!

I was about to talk but he turned his back at him and went inside the men's bathroom.

What the hell?! UGH!