Behind a facade

4.

His behaviour was definitely suspicious. Tessa couldn’t wipe off this bothersome thought the entire time. Though she was on the dance floor with others, her mind was not there. The way he approached Dakota, the way he started a conversation with Dakota and the way he showed off his half-friendly attitude, altogether gave an obnoxious feeling to Tessa.

Brian and Dakota weren’t friends. As far as Tessa knew, they never had any interest in sharing small talk with each other. It can’t change to the point that they freely start a conversation after ten years. Or can it?

Tessa knew Brian well. Someone like Brian considers people as chess pieces on his chessboard. He uses people and makes them move according to his will, targeting a victory only beneficial for him. Unless it doesn’t have something to do with satisfying his ego, he won’t bother about anyone or anything. Hence, Tessa couldn’t help but feel worried from the moment she noticed Brian with Dakota.

She ended up following Brian when he stepped down and walked away from the dance floor. When he took a turn and reached the sidebar area of the club, Tessa knew it is her chance.

“Brian Parker!”

Brian turned around, hearing Tessa’s orotund voice. His mouth opened at first, showing hints of surprise. Slowly, a sardonic smirk appeared on his face, erasing all the hints of surprise.

“Heh… look who is here! What good deed I have done to get a private audience with the ex-girlfriend?”

“Cut the crap, Brian!” Tessa snapped.

The man in front of Tessa let out a mocking laugh as if he already predicted this reaction from Tessa. He raised one of his brows at her after passing a few seconds of dreadful silence. “So...?”

“We need to talk,” Tessa stated, taking a few steps towards the hallway that led to the washroom area. In the Fiestro club, this particular hallway was the only place that is less crowded. The music, sound and noises still reached the hallway, but it was the perfect place to avoid the unnecessary attention as well as curious gazes of other people.

Brian who understood Tessa’s indifferent tone followed her. He folded his arm and narrowed his eyes at Tessa when she stopped in the middle of the hallway. “So, what do you want, Tessa?”

“That’s what I am supposed to ask,”

“Eh?”

Tessa grumbled. She wondered whether Brian actually doesn’t understand her words or playing dumb cards with her. “What are you planning Brian?”

“Planning! I don’t plan anything,” Brian scoffed, rolling his eyes.

“Really? Then what the hell were you talking with Dakota?”

“Tessa Brown, for your kind information…” Brian’s forehead creased. Displeased gloomy clouds spread across his face. “I can talk with anyone who I want to talk to. I don’t need your permission for that,”

They both ended up glaring at each other. The hatred in their eyes didn’t waver for a second.

“I know you well, Brian,” Tessa broke the silence. She let out a nasal sound, expressing how much she is annoyed at the current moment. “You only get close to people planning to ruin their lives. Don’t drag Dakota into your selfish games,”

“Selfish? Okay, let’s say I am selfish. Then what are you, Tessa? A selfless angle?”

“I am no angle, and I never will be. That’s why I am telling you, if you are trying to pull any of your dirty tricks on Dakota, I swear I will make sure you regret it,”

Brian leaned against the tiled wall next to him while narrowing his eyes at Tessa. It didn’t take much time for a mischievous smirk to appear on Brian’s face. “What is this? Am I reading this correctly ah… When did you become Dakota Kent’s guardian? Don’t tell me, you are....”

Then it happened. The loud music and endless chattering sound suddenly sucked into the thin air. Weak neon lights that came from nowhere disappear in the narrow hallway. There was a soft and colourful misty layer in the vision and Tessa only could hear her own heavy breaths. After the magical moment of realization passed, a ringing sound invade Tessa’s ears. Deep bass rhythmic music pulled her into the cruel reality again.

Just looking at Brian she could understand he may have already guessed Tessa’s thoughts more or less. It was entirely her fault. She let emotions control her. Provoking Brian, and threatening him only aroused his inquisitiveness, instead of making him retreat.

“What bullshit are you talking about?”

“Perhaps you forget. You can’t fool me, Tessa Brown,”

Tessa clenched her fists, seeing Brian’s arrogant grin. There was no doubt. He has discovered what Tessa was trying to hide. “Who knows it better than me? No one can beat you when it comes to fooling others,”

Brian flinched. “Jesus… what a nag!,”

“Still nothing like you,”

“Oh god... you never change! Anyway, this is interesting. It seems coming to Lakeville didn’t go completely wasted. Thanks to that property scam, now I got to know Tessa’s secret. Worth it...”

“Brian Parker,” Tessa yelled. Listening to Brian’s nonsense made Tessa furious as always. She turned around, hoping to leave the place.

“I’ll get good use of this newfound secret. I promise you,” Brian sneered.

Before she even realizes what she is doing Tessa grabbed from Brian’s shirt and pulled it hard. “Dammit… what is wrong with you… you jerk!”

Brian easily released Tessa’s grasp and pushed her backwards. There was a threatening message in his eyes. On the other hand, Tessa was at the edge. She barely controlled the urge to punch Brian’s face, which has filled with a condemning look.

“Keep your act together. You know that I can sue you for using violence against me,” said Brian while carefully brushing the wrinkles that appeared on his shirt, because of Tessa’s pulling.

“Do it. I am afraid of you,”

“Are you sure?” Brian smirked. He extended his hand and used three of his fingers to raise Tessa’s chin forcefully. “What I read earlier was different. You all looked terrified seeing me,”

Tessa slapped Brian’s hand that touched her chin. She hated his touch. “Aren’t you the one terrified? No good will come talking with you. Stay away from Dakota, and let us live our lives. Otherwise…”

“Otherwise... otherwise what Tessa Brown?”

It was the murderous glare that prevent Tessa from talking anymore. Originally, she planned to talk with Brian and end this matter quickly. Never did she think that she will end up arguing with Brian. How could she forget that Brian never listen to anyone?

“We will see,” Brian took a step towards Tessa, gritting his teeth. Tessa’s silence might have angered him even more. “I will drag down you all with me…”

When Tessa come to her senses and understood the meaning behind Brian’s words, he was already walking away.

“This jerk… go and die,” Tessa showed her middle finger at Brian, mumbling some cursing words.

The atmosphere around the table made Tessa forget her anger and worry. Everyone was looking at the table as if they are in a puzzle when Tessa arrived after a disastrous conversation with Brian. She walked next to Emma and took a glimpse at what others were looking at.

There was a black envelope on the table.

“Perhaps.. this is some sort of club-related thing,” Caleb’s voice took Tessa’s attention. “I mean some kind of promotion or something unique to the Fiestro,”

“I don’t think so. I have never heard Fiestro offer these types of weird services,”

Miles nodded, agreeing with Ashley who looked tired for some reason. “I think Ash is right. Maybe this is a personal letter,”

“That makes sense,”

“Who sent letters these days?” Maddison shrugged her shoulders. “Is someone want to check out one of us?”

“That’s ridiculous,” Vincent denied Maddison’s claim.

“It only has the table number. It says ‘for table 8’” Caleb added. “No name on it,”

“Well… why doesn’t someone open it and see what’s inside,” Josh who arrived with Dakota suggested. “It’s easier than jumping to conclusions,”

Everyone shared an agreeable nod. Miles open the envelope and took out the paper inside it. His face became pale at once. His breath quickened when he read it, and his hands start shaking. He passed the note to Caleb, who is next to him.

“What kind of sick joke is this?” Caleb gritted his teeth.

“What the hell!” Vincent also cursed after looking at the letter. He managed to control his voice before other people start noticing the weird behaviour of the people around table eight.

“What is in that?” Tessa heard Maddison whisper to Ashley. She gave a half-shrug, expressing her uncertainty.

With real confusion, Tessa looked around. Her eyes caught Dakota also observing everyone with the same attitude as her. When Dakota and Josh read the letter together, they both looked as if they are trying to understand something. Their shocking expressions weren’t much different from others. Tessa got the gut feeling that something is not right at this moment. What is in that letter capable of making everyone nervous?

When Tessa’s turn came, she understood the content in the letter wasn’t merely capable of making the reader nervous. It can do more than that.

There was a red handprint on the paper. It looked like a bloody hand; a real bloody hand. With an ominous feeling, she read the printed message next to the bloody hand.

‘HYPOCRITES it’s time for the payback. Let’s celebrate your past awakening it in the present.

-Here, thou incestuous, murderous, damned Dane, Drink off this potion!- “

“What is this?” Tessa mumbled. “The last part...”

“Shakespeare... It’s from Hamlet,” Emma stated, completing Tessa’s words. They shared a glance with a mutual understanding about the Hamlet play. It was where Hamlet gives his own cup of wine with the poison to Claudius.

Tessa felt a shiver going down her spinal code for some reason. Brian’s threatening words pop up in her mind, giving her a headache. Is he behind this? If so, what does he wants to tell by reciting Shakespeare’s words?

Then she noticed that everyone is engulfed in deep thoughts…

Yes… the past! It was clear to her she is not alone. Everyone was thinking about the past that they left behind, they couldn’t forget and they were fond of.