Lonely Party
1152 Words
Dominic made a regretful smile. He knew how painful this was for Sofia, he understood, but he had no choice but to make a sweet promise to her, "I'll change this another day. Be careful on the road. Okay?"
Sofia's eyes slowly rose, studied Dominic who was now shirtless, then looked down glumly again.
"Sofia ..." Dominic knew she was hurt again to hear his intimate conversation with Arlyne. But he couldn't do anything because—
"Dominic!? Have you finished preparing your surprise!? It's been a long time!?"
That's the reason.
"Yeah, just a minute!" Dominic said loudly then turned his attention back to Sofia, "Listen, I'll pay for this. More than double. Okay?"
Sofia still refused to respond. Dominic's promise wasn't the first time she'd heard it, so she wasn't enthusiastic anymore. She chose to walk away without saying anything, rather than hear or think about what would happen to his boyfriend in the bathroom with Arlyne.
Dominic didn't chase after her, instead, there was a knock on the door, which meant she preferred Arlyne.
'What I'm thinking? This is not the first time. I should be used to it, but ... every time they're together ... showing their love ... I feel like there's no chance?'
Sofia took a deep breath.
"Hmm?"
Her cell phone vibrates.
From: Arsenio
Don't come home late, hey! We have a plane to catch~
Reading the message from Arsenio brought a small smile to Sofia's lips subconsciously. She could hear his deep, mischievous voice from the writing alone.
Another message.
From: Arsenio
Ah … if you don't go home, then neither do I~
Not good to sleep hugging a cold pillow~?
Sofia chuckled.
'This ladies' man.'
Since a long time ago, Arsenio had slept alone, Sofia knew that, she was sure he had been eyeing a hot woman at a bar to spend a long night with.
'Alone ...'
An idea suddenly popped into Sofia's head, and she didn't reject the idea even though it was related to Arsenio. She typed a reply enthusiastically.
For: Arsenio
Hey, cool guy. Don't lie so much~
Your lies are useless to me.
Instead of flirting. I want to ask with all my honor.
Is your offer still available?
'And send.'
Sofia laughed again after sending it off, her slow and languid footsteps turning strong without her noticing.
'Oh, so fast.'
Sofia checked Arsenio's reply with a small smile on her lips.
From: Arsenio
Yes.
Sofia's eyes widened in disbelief, her thumb slid down the screen of her phone expecting something else to say, but it didn't!
'That's it? That jerk.'
Despite complaining, Sofia chuckled again which made stranger women start asking if she was crazy laughing to herself.
Okay!
She will eat and drink a lot tonight~!
***
Arsenio took an awkward gulp of water in his glass, leaving only an ice cube there. She glanced at the woman who had recently become his wife in disbelief.
Sofia's thin, flushed cheeks were no longer the effect of blush indicating she was getting drunk, but there was no sign that she would stop drinking, her thin hands continued to fill the glass with alcohol.
Arsenio didn't really want to be Sofia's 'private' driver tonight, but since it was a celebration of her being promoted to Manager, he was only able to let out a small protest from his lips.
Sofia even continued to fill Arsenio's glass with alcohol, although he had to replace it with a new glass several times as a subtle form of refusal.
Unfortunately, the word refusal is very sensitive tonight.
Sofia sneered at Arsenio's refusal, alluding to being unlike Dominic. She wants to be prioritized as number one in this celebration.
Arsenio didn't budge at first, continuing to replace the glass of alcohol with water, but Sofia's constant sarcasm annoyed him, so he drank, the difference being that he drank champagne which didn't have high alcohol.
The champagne Arsenio drank was cheaper too, he was thrifty here because Sofia ordered the most expensive red wine at the nightclub.
'Why should I offer to treat her in the first place anyway?'
Arsenio groaned as Sofia lifted the empty glass in her right hand, asking the bartender to fill it up again. He thought about his attitude.
'She's sad it's none of my business. We got married too because she couldn't resist Arlyne's provocation.'
Arsenio folded his arms across his chest, lost in his thoughts. He is Sofia's little friend, what he did earlier was a form of his concern as a friend.
'Arlyne, she thinks she can control me? Hah.'
Arsenio thought of another reason besides going to a nightclub to spend his 'late' bachelor party. He intends to get rid of the anger in his heart towards Arlyne, but Sofia's sudden arrival makes his plans fall apart including the stripper he ordered.
'Stripper ...!'
Arsenio suddenly rose from his seat remembering how many dollars he had spent to hire a stripper.
Sofia who was about to drink lowered her glass on the table, turned to Arsenio whose face looked shocked? "What's wrong?"
Arsenio let out an exasperated sigh at the question from the woman who had messed up his plans, "You're okay if I go away for a bit, right?"
"Where are you going anyway...?" Sofia asked awkwardly seeing Arsenio's two sturdy bodies?
"You know I originally came here to celebrate my 'bachelor' party, right?" Arsenio asked as calmly as possible.
Sofia gasped, before making a hot comment, "You're really going to go for those cheap dancers? Even if you have me by your side?"
Arsenio didn't understand what Sofia's question meant. What does she have to do with the stripper he's hired to try? "I spent twenty thousand dollars, Miss Harrington. You know I don't like to waste my money."
After all, watching Sofia get drunk was boring.
"Is that so~?"
Arsenio nodded innocently, "You can order too if you want."
"Do I look like that?"
"Eh?" Arsenio opened his eyes and realized that Sofia was no longer across from him but in front of him.
Their eyes met each other in silence.
Arsenio himself was confused, Sofia's eyes were droopy, but sharp as if she didn't like the idea of him having fun without her. He didn't mean to brag, but when both of her hands reached out to touch his shoulders, then pressed hard there so he could sit again, he knew he was right, "I told you not to drink too much," he protested again while obeying her will without fighting back, sit with hands crossed.
"I'm aware of it."
Arsenio rolled his eyes. Sofia's gaze wasn't on his but on the empty chair next to him, how could he believe that? "I'll ask Domi—"
"Don't you dare finish that cursed name, Arsenio!" Sofia snapped with her index finger still at the empty seat next to Arsenio.
- Writer
