TILL WE MEET AGAIN

Loud music. Crowded venue. Smell of cigarette. Liquors everywhere. Drunk individuals getting wasted. Getting high, getting wild. A completely different world to a woman who prefers reading books in silence, staying in her comfort zone. It's not a place for her. It's uncomfortable staying there. “Kaye, what are we doing here?” Bella whispered to her friend, embracing herself, feeling uncomfortable. Her eyes wander around, feeling anxious by her sorrounding. He covered her ears from disturbing notice and the same time, she slightly covered the light from her sight. It pained her eyesight, she just not used to it. Kaye went to their house literally drag her to come along with her. And she thought they were just go to the nearest shopping mall and buy some clothes or expensive luxuries to satisfy their luxurious desire but that didn't happen at all. Instead of going to a place where silence is possible. Kaye drag her to the place she hate the most— loud and crowded. They went to the bar together where everyone had fun except to her. And she can do anything about it but to go along. She is her friend and she needs her company. “There is just someone I need to follow. I think my boyfriend is cheating on me. I'm sorry, Bella,” Kaye reasoned out and later on, apologized. Here we go again! Bella's forehead creased. “Just confront him, would you? You are being possessive again,” Bella lectured. She's always been like that. Every time her boyfriend was out from her sight, she start getting paranoid. Thinking things that will make her worry and such. Creating scenarios that will later on break her own heart. “I'll go find him. I won't take that long Just wait for me here and don't go anywhere. Hmm?” Kaye reminded. Bella obediently nodded like a kid waiting for her mom to come back. Bella just follow her friend's silhouette walking away from her until she can no longer see her. She sighed. Truth be told, this place makes her feel weak. Like a prey being thrown away from a bundle of predator, waiting for the right time to devour and savor her alive. She was preoccupied by her own thoughts when suddenly a bunch of drunkards men approached her. “Hey, Miss!” the man exclaimed like they have known each other for years. He was smiling at her and it creeps the hell out of her. “We see you are alone, wanna hangout with us?” the other man butted in and winked at her She is doomed. She is sorrounded by five drunk men. So despite her clouded thoughts, she gather herself and trying to appeal strong and not scared at all. Even though her thighs shivered and close to disown her. “I-I need to go. Please, excuse me,” she politely uttered, trying her very hard not to upset those men. “Oops! Where do you think you're going, Miss? Playing hard-to-get, huh,” the man smiled— devilishly. “When a man approached you, you should try to get along, at least. Where's your manner, Miss?” the man mocked. Her ears were filled with their laughters. Laughter that sent shivers to her entire system. “What should I do? What should I do? I badly need to get out of here. They are creeping me out,” she mentally uttered. “Where are you, Kaye?” she whispered. Her eyes started to water, feeling hopeless to go out— unscathed. “Let's go. Let us make your night extra special,” the man continued. They all laughed—devilishly. Obviously, they had fun cornering an innocent girl. Bella on the otherhand, stood there —frozen. Scared and feeling hopeless. There's no chance for her. She is literally doomed and there's no way out. She is alone at the moment, sorrounded by a bunch of dangerous men. She got no one but herself. Then suddenly a man came. Snatched her wrist from the men. “Hey, love! Did you wait for me long?” The man whispered, not loud enough but enough to be heard by those men around them. “Are you okay?” he added and snaked his arm on her waist, pulling her closer to him. His breath reached her nostrils and even if she dont want to say it but yes, he smells so good— sweet and dreamy. She flinched. Just as how shocked she was by the sudden appearance of the man, she tried to act normal still. She smiled awkwardly and cling unto him. At a times like this, if they are in different situation, she might smashed the guy beside him for the sudden physical contact. But she cannot do that, she refuse to do that. Whoever this man beside her, saved her. At least, she feel a lesser amount of fear. If those men around her made her feel uncontrollable fear, at least the man who stood beside her feel like a lesser dangerous. “Hey, kiddo! Just who the hell are you? Mind your own business, would you?” the drunk man butted in— annoyed and frustrated. It feels like they already won a buffet and someone tried to sbatch it from them. The man just took a quick glance at them and later on rerouted his gaze to the woman beside her— smiling. “Let's go?” a man from nowhere, his shining armor, his savior at the moment asked her and give her a reassuring smile. His voice was so soft and soothing. So calm yet sent her unexplainable emotions. Gives her feelings she did not know exist not until now. He totally ignored what the men said and focused how to get the woman out from there. She's shivering in fear, he noticed that. Their gaze fixated with each other. Like it just him and her, just the both of them in a vast of galaxy. Taking their time like the moment was their own. They thought that everything went just fine not until a man from the group of drunkard men punched the side of his face. He was astounded and slightly shocked. He literally forgot that they were in a middle of a tight spot. Gently, he wiped the little blood just beside his lips. He tasted it and feels like s**t. Just then, he slowly smirked. Guess, the little beast inside him was awakened. “Go to that area for awhile,” the man guided her away from the place and pointed the nit-so-far corner of the bar where safety is possible. “...and don't go anywhere, you hear me?” he gently reminded her. She nodded and soon obliged. His gaze followed her footsteps and the moment he knew she was out of reach by those drunkard men, he sighed of relief before facing those men. Then, a fight happened. Exchanging punches and kicks. Truth be told, he was on disadvantage. It's just only him versus them. It was indeed an unfair fight but he cannot give up. He was so determined to fight back even gaining a lot of scratches. He was currently lying on the floor, blood on the right side of his lips. He chuckled, enjoying what had happen. “That's a good fight, never been in a fight for quite a long time now,” he whispered under his breath. The man on the other side is about to punch him when he roll over as far as he can, leaving his opponent's hand on the ground. The man groaned and cursed after. His friends came and helped him. Escorted him away from those drunkard men. They are about to be punched again by those men when suddenly the bar bouncer came on cue. The chaos stopped. The five men were arrested and questioned. On the otherhand, the gentleman were assisted by the medical staff. The wound is not that serious. Just a small bruises. It turns out that Bella's friend's boyfriend is one of the man's friend. What a small world! “Y-you okay? I'm sorry for that,” Bella uttered—shyly. Her voice sounded guilty and all. “Yeah, I'm okay. It's just a small bruises,” the man chuckled as he touched his wounded lips. He was trying his best to not make it a big deal and to get rid of those eerie feeling and awkwardness that sorrounds them both. He smiled. Giving her assurance that it's okay, he is okay. “Here's my number, call me for your medical fees,” Belle offered as she gave him her number. “No, it's okay,” the man refused. “It's just a small bruise, Miss. I'm not gonna die,” he added, a small smile creep on his playful lips. “I insist, this is the least thing I can do to repay you for saving me earlier. Thank you for that,” Bella insisted. Indeed, she was truly grateful to him. If it's not because of him, her body might found floating on the sea the next morning. Silence. “Let's go... Come with us. We'll take the both of you home. I brought my car,” Kaye's boyfriend said, referring to Bella and his girlfriend— Kaye. Their journey way home were filled with laughter. The trip is full of chit-chat and 'knowing each other' phase. “James Alcantara,” the man introduced in the middle of their conversation. They were laughing their ass out, probably losing their cool but who cares though? “Bella Stanford,” Bella introduced back as she gently grip his hand for a gentle handshake. Now, she's slightly comfortable around him. He is a good man, she can say that. “Nice meeting you,” they said in unison— smiling. They both chuckled when they let go of each other's hand from their gentle grip. Just like how the moon and sun met after years of being apart, for the first time in years, like a magical scenario, their path crossed. And who knows that it the start of something new?