LOVE & TOUCH

Chapter 17

Hendrix Pov

"Is that your brother?" Vin asked as soon as I came back to our table. She looks sour or something. Or maybe I'm just imagining things.

I heavily sighed. "Yeah, I told him to come here, but he refused. He think highly of himself."

"And the woman he's with?" she added without looking at me. Her tone walked between the lines of bitterness and incredulity. And she's still staring at her drink like there's something special in it other than me.

I am a bit shocked. I know she's already met my brother once. But why does she look so interested in him? And why has her mood suddenly changed?

Oh, shut up, Hendrix. Don't exaggerate things.

"Perhaps one of his women." I said this while intently watching her reactions. But she remained on her straight face. Did I do something wrong?

"Are you okay?" I asked when she didn't respond.

"I'll just go to the bathroom." She smiled a bit.

"Alright."

But even when she came back, the conversation between us turned stilted. She would just listen to me and nod the whole time. She wasn't like that earlier, so I wonder what happened.

Long moments happened, and I was running out of words to say. Plus, her silence makes me uncomfortable. I looked around and noticed that the restaurant was almost cleared out.

"Are you tired? Do you want to go home now?" I asked.

She raised her head and looked at me.She put a little smile on her face and answered, "Yeah, can we?"

My shoulder droops in disappointment. I couldn't believe she would really say it. I'm still hoping for the time to spend with her, but she might be really tired? Better luck next time, huh?

"Okay..."

She smiled again, but I couldn't feel its sincerity. She pushed her plate away and fixed her dress. She stood up and got her purse ready. "Let's go?"

Really, huh?

I gestured for the check on the server. He went to us and gave it. Vin then suddenly scurried to the check.

"Here..."she said and was about to get some money out of her wallet, but I shook my head. I couldn't believe her. First, she suddenly turned cold and unresponsive and now she wants to separate the bill, like we're not dating.

The server raised his eyebrows, confused.

"I'll pay the bill, Vin." I said it firmly, a bit annoyed.

"But---"

"Vivienne, please allow me to pay this."

She licked her lips and said, "Okay." sounded like she was disappointed and apologetic at the same time.

I paid it and scrawled my signature. I was about to hold her hand, but she started walking. I bit my bottom lip. There's really something going on here.

"Vin, wait..." I called after almost twenty minutes of silence while driving along the way to their home. She stopped on her way out of the car. She gave me the same smile. And I damn hate it.

"Are we okay?" I asked.

Her eyes bulged a bit. "O-Ofcourse..." but her eyes won't let them meet mine. I leaned on her seat, trying to kiss her, but she pushed herself back.

"I-I'm sorry...I'm just tired." She said quievered.

I stared at her for a minute, then sat properly and gripped the steering wheel. I'm scared and confused at the same time. She was like this before we had a painful breakup. And I couldn't stop my thoughts and worries. I told myself that I would try my best to make our relationship better when I see her again, but what is this? Am I failing again?

I shut my eyes. F*ck this.

"Okay, let's just meet tomorrow."

"Okay...drive safely." She said and hurriedly went out.

I clenched my jaw. "If you could only just tell me the real reason, Vin."

Vin's Pov

"I hate myself." I whispered between my knees.

Hendrix is probably mad and disappointed at me. Now, I don't know how I can face him and talk to him.

But I was just really feeling unwell and that's why I went into a lousy conversation. I started to feel bad when... It's not after I saw Felix and that woman he's with. It's not about them. It would never be.

I don't care if they have a relationship. I don't care if he's probably kissing him right now or more than that. He's a stupid womanizer.

I lay on my bed like a fetus. Then my phone rang with a call. I lazily peeked at it. It was Marco, my friend. I rose up and answered it. "Yeah?"

"Hey!" He shouted between his lungs. I had to remove the phone from my ear. Damn this gay.

"Don't shout!" I shouted.

I can hear loud music in the background. Obviously he is inside a pub or at some parties again.

The background music weakened. "Where are you?" He asked while laughing.

I lay myself down again in the comfort of my bedsheets. "Why?" I yawned. It's already past ten. My parents went somewhere for these business purposes, so I was left alone with our maids. Should I drink something?

"You bit*ch! Don't tell me you won't come here?"

"Huh?"

The silence grew, then he shouted again, "It's my birthday party! C'mon, Vin! Youve been my friend for the longest time! You should know this special occasion!"

My lips parted. I immediately looked at the date. I cursed, and he did too.

"Did you really forget?" He sounded disappointed.

"W-Wait, let me explain, I'm just really busy these past few days so--" he cut me off.

"I don't need your explanation! Get yourself here! I'll just send you the address." He said. I can imagine his rolling eyes.

"But---"

"You don't want?" He interrupted again.

I chuckled. "All right, wait for me--" but he hung up.I looked at it, irritably, but then I realized it was my fault. I should come, or else he would curse me forever.

I went to the place he sent me. As expected, it's a pub. Last year, he celebrated his birthday at their ancestral house, as suggested by his parents. It's a formal party, and that's not his thing, so I already expected this one since he did tell me about his plan before. I just really forgot since I was occupied with my new job and with Hendrix.

I entered the Caesar's bar at exactly eleven. I greeted and plunged by the blissful silence. I immediately recognized the circle of friends and coworkers of Marco. Some of them nodded at me and smiled to acknowledge me. I did the same thing and roamed my eyes. Where is that gay?

"You b*tch!"

I rolled my eyes when I heard his loud voice despite the chaotic people and music.

He made his way to me with his tipsy look. His polo was improperly unbuttoned. His hair was messy. And his walk was almost like he was dancing and swaying.

He sipped on the whiskey that he was holding. "You're late!"

"Yeah, you're late." Andrea who was next to him said the same thing. She guided Marco to walk properly, but she looked on the verge of being drunk too.

I smiled cutely. "I'm sorry, I just really got busy and occupied these past few days because of my new job--" I repeated, but he cut my words off again.

"Hep! I don't need excuses! Where's my gift?" He asked in a curly voice.

I licked my lips and gave him a quick peck on his cheek. "Happy birthday!" and winked.

He gave me a wry look. "Wow, she's so sweet." He said that to Andrea and pointed at me with his perfectly polished nails.

"Oh please. I promise I'll get you some next time. For now, let's just enjoy your night, okay?"

He sassily rolled his eyes again at me. "If you say so." Then he clung to me with his arms. "I missed you." He said.

Andrea did the same thing on my other side and said the same thing too. We all laughed and went to the VIP area that he had reserved.

I am actually an introvert, but because of them, I started to get along with others, but still not too much. Marco was also the reason I met and became close with Hendrix. Without him, I probably wouldn't have had a relationship with Hendrix in the past and reconciled again.

"How is your relationship with the handsome, Hendrix?" He asked like he could read my thoughts.

I looked down on the numerous glasses on the table. What should I drink? "He's probably mad at me right now..." I said, and chose the hard one.

I drink it all in one. Bitterness and heat spread across my throat. I bit into a lemon to lessen the taste it left. Woah, it was a bad start.

"Why?" Andrea asked.

I shrugged my shoulders. "It's all my fault."

"Huh?" They both uttered in unison.

I chuckled and chose another drink. I tilted the glass and looked at them. "Let's not talk about it. It's not my birthday. We should just party and enjoy the night."

"Whatever." Marco hissed.