The Beauty and the Inked

Twenty: The Fight

"We'll do this again!" Henry said in between his laughter. We were out of the smoky club, walking towards their respective cars, "And hey!" he called. I look at him over my shoulder, "Thank you for choosing to spend your evening with us five idiots!" it wasn't just for me, but also to Jane and El.

"Speak for you," Luke said, while trailing behind him.

I smile at them before sliding inside Zack's Bentley. I enjoyed their company, at first I was feeling a little out of place but when they started throwing jokes around I loosen up.

Nick drove away first with Jane, followed by Luke and El.

"You cold?" Zack asked me.

"Not really."

"Oh, wait a sec. I'll just talk to Luke," he went out of his car and stride towards Luke, who was having a hard to get Henry inside the car. Henry was so wasted. Oh god.

Zack approached them, and then helped Luke to settle Henry in the car. They started to talk, both looking serious. Luke was saying something but I can't read his lips. Well, I'm not good at those kinds of things. They both looked at my direction, Luke's eyebrows almost knit together. Whoa. His expression was now filled with what... anger?

What is Luke's problem? He was always acting weird- or maybe it’s just the way he is. Very different of how the other lads treat me. Well, I can say that Henry, Nick, and Leo were nice to me. He is nice. But he's strange. Very strange I might say.

Zack took a glance of me again, which only made me feel more uncomfortable. What the hell are they talking about? Is it about me? Of course not! My subconscious tells me. But the way they act tells me the opposite but after a beat Zack pounced to Luke. Oh god. I leap out of the car and ran to stop the two. I can hear them shouting at each other.

"Don't tell me that!" Zack said as his knuckles made contact to Luke's jaw.

"I won't buy that s**t, Zack!" Luke dodged few of Zack's assault. I ran as fast as I could. Henry wouldn't do any help. I'm wishing he's sober. That way he'll be able to get in between the two, but as of his state... that's not going to happen now. Zack got Luke pinned against the side of the car, and aggressively grabs him by his collar. Leaping a few more strides and then I was able to wrap my arms around Zack's arm, stopping his attempt to punch Luke again.

"Zack stop!" I shrieked, forcing him to step away from Luke.

"Get in the car, Yssa!" he lashed out on me. He turned to face me, letting go of Luke's collar. I can see the fury in his eyes. I let go of him and my legs involuntarily stepped back.

"Just go, Yssa," Luke said, wiping off the blood from the corner of his mouth, "I hate to tell you this, but you have to kno-"

"I said f*****g get in my car!" Zack cut off Luke. I don't how or what to feel... My anger boils inside me. Lash out on me, because I totally know what the hell they were arguing about! But I'm also frightened of this man in front of me.

"What is wrong?" my voice was more of a whisper, very different from how I wish to speak. Zack doesn't seem to notice the fear in my voice because he continued to glare at me, "I'm going," I said, then sharply turned away from him and walked away with shaking limbs.

I was just trying to stop them. The more my feet continues to stomp away the more my fear subsides and my anger surfaces.

"Yssa, wait!" Zack ran after me.

"What?!" I turned to face him, "I just don't want you to hurt Luke- that's all,” my voice was in waves. Fear and anger combines.

His features soften a bit; he needs to explain his ground. If not, I'm walking away for good.

"You're over reacting," he said. Great, isn't it?

"Because yeah, stopping you guys fight is sort of over reacting. I should've let you kill one another, right? Because walking away from you 'cause you lashed out on me while I'm completely clueless to whatever the bloody hell you two are arguing about is totally over reacting," I said with my voice calm. Well, I don't feel any fear nor anger at all. This is greater than I had expected.

"Why do you always have to be difficult?!" he asked that question again. Wow. I shrugged then started to walk away from him for the second time.

"Yeah, I'm difficult," I said to myself.

I hear him call me a multiple times but I didn't look back. I continued walking and walking towards a different pub. Well, tomorrow's Sunday. Better make the best out of today before I started working the day after tomorrow.

. . .

"Are you sure?" the barmaid was keeping her eyes on me.

"Yeah," I answered. I'm only asking for a second drink, but she’s eyeing me like I'm an errant child or something.

She slid the glass of liquor in front of me, "Darling, this is the last. Okay?"

"Why?" I asked, sounding like deprived kid. Do I look like I can't pay for these drinks?!

"See that guy?" she pointed her index finger at the other side of the bar, "He told me not to give you more than two."

I looked at the direction she was pointing, expecting to see hazel eyes. But much to my disappointment, I met brown eyes who are watching me intently. He smiled to me, should I smile back? Of course, Yssa. The end of my lips curled up, but my smile did not meet my eyes. I watch him as he made his way to my side.

"Haven't seen you in a while," Andrei said with one of the sexiest smile I have seen today, "I can recall... 'drinking isn't good', right?" he said almost mocking me.

"Ugh," I grunt. He can leave me alone, and I would be definitely glad, "Everybody needs to loosen up once in a while," I bit.

"Oh, not in the mood?" he asked me.

I just nod, hoping he wouldn't ask further more. But guess what? Andrei is a nosy bastard. I'm being a b***h, it's the alcohol. Yeah, it is.

"Why's that?"

"I'm mad."

"Because?"

"Just because."

"Ah, not fair," he nudged my shoulder lightly, "Enlighten me."

I rest my elbows against the bar and my head against my palms, "I don't wanna talk about it," I said, closing my eyes. Talking about it will only remind me how furious I am for Zack stupidly lashing out on me, and how scary he looked like. Maybe he was right, I over react a lot of times, but he does, too. Just like what he did a while ago. Seriously, there is something wrong in his judgments if he'll tell me shouting at my face isn't over reacting.

"Okay..." Andrei said, pronouncing the 'o' longer than he should. His copper-brown hair was tousled, but still looking handsome. A smirk was on his lips as he noticed I was looking at him.

"What?"

"What what?" he threw my question back at me. Why do people like answering questions like that?

"Okay. You look like you've just been out of bed, having that glorious s*x hair, Andrei. Don't get me wrong, but you still look so fine," I said trying to divert our conversation, and also emphasizing the word 'so' to sound more effective.

"Really?" he asked me.

"Why would I not tell the truth, my friend?" my nose scrunched.

He chuckled lightly. If somebody will deny this man's beauty, there is definitely something wrong with their eyes. Filipinos are so beautiful.

"You're right," he answered me, "But not with the s*x part. I just got out of bed," he brought his glass to his lips, "So, what's up?"

"Same old news," I opened my eyes and look at him. He was wearing a bring-it-on look on his face. I skull back my drink, oh this is my last for tonight.

"Well, care to tell me the 'same old news'?"

"Nope," my answered was clipped.

"Why's that?" he asked, a little softer somehow telling me that he was hurt with my harshness. But the cheeky grin on his face tells me the other way around.

"I don't want to talk about it.”

"Okay, I'm sorry," his hands were on the air, as if on surrender.

I'm glad that he stopped asking things about me and started to tell information about him. He's very talkative, unlike Zack. Andrei was more on trying to engage me with his story, making me laugh with his stupid remarks.

"What?!" I exclaimed, after telling me they own a dance studio. I missed dancing, so much that my feet, arms- all parts of my body was itching to move again.

"Yep. My little sister, Tatiana, likes dancing," he said. The mention of his sister makes him smile. I can see how much he adores her, "But she needs more practice," he laughed throwing his head and I smack him on his arm.

"Ah, that's rude!" I told him, "I can help her," I said suggestively. My excitement dominates my voice. Just the thought of dancing again makes me chuffed.

"Sure you do," he said in between his laughter.

"No, I'm serious. I would love to teach her," I said with my hands clasped in front of me. God, I'm excited.

Dancing is one of the few things I found entertaining. It's hard to explain, but dancing is what I love the most. Andrei had agreed to let me teach Tatiana, and of course I was beyond happy. The warm fuzzy feeling drowns me.

"Let's call it a night?" Andrei stood, offering me his hand, "Come on. Sure you need a lift," he said.

I took his offer and we made our way out of the pub. The chilly wind blew and I regret that I wore a skirt. My bare skin was now tingling with cold.

“Wait here. Don't leave, okay?" his voice was pinched with humor. Oh, I remember the first time he offered me a lift and I ended up being left. It's his fault, what harm would it bring to wait for a little while? But then, I also remember that Zack and I had a little chat that night, which made me, took so long before popping to the loo. I felt like that happened ages ago, but it wasn't. That was days ago, time moves slowly in here.

After a few minutes, Andrei's truck parked in front of me. He opened the passenger door from the inside, "Hop on," he smiled.