I Knew I Loved You

Chapter Four

~ Unveiled Facades and Shattered Illusions ~

The noise filled the air, enveloping everything around. Despite the powerful air conditioning, the dancers on the packed dance floor still felt the heat, their bodies glistening with sweat. With hands raised high, they moved to the pulsating music that echoed throughout the venue.

It was a night of celebration, as if the world was ending. People sought comfort in dancing, hoping it would momentarily erase their troubles, while the drinks served as a temporary escape from reality. They were determined to seize the moment, living as if there were no tomorrow. Connections were made, conversations flowed, and the encounters, perhaps fleeting, added to the carefree atmosphere. This is my life. Nightlife. I'm part of the crowd here, celebrating without using real names. But no matter what I do, people still recognize me.

Lowella leaned in close, her voice a whisper against my ear amid the pulsating beats. "Where did you find that Greek God? If he weren't wearing that uniform, the gays would have swarmed him!"

I glanced at Thorn, who stood leaning against the wall, his gaze fixed on the dancers. His expression remained inscrutable as he impatiently tapped his foot to the floor. I wondered if he had been to a place like this before.

"Do you think he'll be interested in me?" I asked Lowella, my voice filled with anticipation.

"Absolutely!" she exclaimed. "Look at yourself. You're stunning. Tall among the girls, with brown eyes, long lashes, a beautiful nose, natural red lips, flawless skin, and your hair... It always looks like a model's, no matter how you style it. Oops! I almost forgot, you actually are a model." She rolled her eyes playfully.

"He's my classmate," I confided. A grin formed on my face as I observed Thorn. He exuded an enigmatic aura, his eyes fixed on the dancers floor. I wondered if he harbored any secrets.

"Oh, Ada! Did you bring your new boylet on your very first day of school?" Lowella glared at me.

I straightened my posture, exuding pride. "Of course. That's what we call charm, Wella," I boasted. "He's the President of our class, and he spent the entire day tutoring me," I added, reaching for her glass of wine, even though I had just finished mine. I swiftly downed it, and the bartender promptly refilled our glasses.

Lowella burst into laughter. "When are you planning to introduce him to your bedroom?" she giggled mischievously.

"Tonight. Upstairs," I disclosed. I had rented a room upstairs in the bar. Rich was aware of it. Often, when it grew late, I would forgo going home and instead stay in a hotel or find a room wherever I could. But tonight, Rich probably wouldn't suspect that I was here once again.

"Can I join?" she inquired, her smile full of playful naughtiness.

"Nah! He's all mine!" I declared, grabbing another glass of wine. "He's in a rush, and so am I."

"Isn't that moving too fast? You've only just met him," she teased.

"I want to put him to the test. I had my suspicions about his preferences earlier," I explained, a mischievous smile dancing on my lips.

Lowella chuckled. "It would be quite a disappointment if your suspicions turned out to be true." She glanced over at Thorn, who continued observing the dancers.

"We shall see," I affirmed, my determination unwavering.

"Good luck," she toasted, clinking her glass against mine.

Returning to Thorn's side, I took his hand and surprised him.

"Are you ready? We need to go upstairs,” I told him.

His body tensed slightly, but I refused to let go. Thorn had been a mystery to me, his emotions hidden behind a stoic facade. I was determined to break through his defenses and discover the truth.

"Come with me," I insisted, leading him away from the pulsating dance floor and towards the elevator. As we ascended, a warm sensation washed over me, a feeling that I couldn't quite define but felt undeniably right. I released his hand momentarily, reaching up to adjust my hair, taking a deep breath as the elevator doors opened to reveal my rented room.

"I just need to grab my things," I murmured, facing him. Thorn remained silent, his eyes avoiding direct contact, but I couldn't miss the subtle movement of his Adam's apple as he swallowed.

Exiting the elevator ahead of him, I fumbled in my bag for the key and navigated down the narrow corridor towards the room. The flickering bulb at the end of the hallway intermittently cast its light, and I could feel the heat radiating from the surroundings.

"How did you manage to get a room here?" Thorn asked, surveying the modest decor of the room, his hands still tucked into his pockets.

"I come here often. And sometimes, well, most of the time, I don't go back home. I spend my nights here," I confessed, turning the key in the lock and pushing the door open. I flicked on the lights, and Thorn followed behind me, his masculine scent mingling with the air.

The room was simple, adorned with a single bed dressed in crisp white linens, a wooden side table, a small steel cabinet, a white drawer facing a full-length mirror, and nothing more. Even amidst the chaos of my life, I always made sure to tidy up before leaving.

I placed my bag on the drawer, pulling out some spare clothes in case I needed to change. But perhaps now... now might be the time to change, as the show had come to an end.

Or had it?

I turned back to Thorn, uncertainty gnawing at me, as I swiftly removed my top and shorts, searching for a reaction. Yet, there was only silence.

Psh! Any other guy would have embraced me by now or even ventured further.

But why should I even bother with someone like Thorn? He seemed dull, unremarkable.

I decided against wearing underwear, opting instead for a tight-fitting black shirt and a red skirt that fell above the knee. Perhaps I would simply ask him to leave and relish the solitude of sleeping here alone. And I would inform him that I had no intentions of returning to that damn school tomorrow.

As I changed, irritation began to creep in. I turned to face Thorn again, only to find him leaning against the door frame, his eyes fixed on me intently. His arms were crossed over his broad chest, and his gaze was dark, intense.

"I never thought the Ada Rhyce I knew would be like this," he remarked, his voice cutting through the air.

My family's reputation preceded me, owning several well-known restaurants frequented by locals and tourists alike. I had even been featured in a prominent magazine and appeared in commercials endorsing our products. What did he think of me?

A soft laugh escaped my lips, tinged with bitterness. "The Ada Rhyce you knew and the woman standing before you are not the same. The Ada Rhyce you knew was nothing more than a perfect facade."

As I opened the drawer, contemplating whether to retrieve the books or not, frustration laced my words. "Tell me, what kind of Ada Rhyce do you think I am?”

Thorn straightened up, closing the distance between us with measured steps. His gaze locked onto mine, unwavering and intense.

"You were right. The Ada Rhyce I knew was perfect," he replied, his voice carrying a hint of sadness. "She was wealthy, intelligent..." He glanced at my body, his words hanging in the air. "And captivating." The weight of his words made my throat tighten. "I never imagined you could only be like… this."

His words pierced through me, like a thousand tiny arrows, causing a searing pain in my chest. No one had ever spoken to me like that before, not even my closest friend. I felt an ache deep within, a profound hurt that resonated through my being.

Our faces were mere inches apart, and I stood there, paralyzed, unable to think or breathe properly.

"How many men have you brought here, Ms. Matilda Rhyce? Five? Ten? A dozen?" Thorn's words stung like venomous bees, each one piercing my heart. "I never knew you could be this... cheap," he sneered, his voice filled with contempt.

In that split second, a surge of emotions overwhelmed me. My hand flew up, instinctively striking his cheek, and tears streamed down my face in a torrent.