The Blood's Elegance

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

THE TIPSY LADY IN A BEER FESTIVAL III

“Where is Andy?” I asked the moment I stepped inside their car after they occupied the driver and passenger seat. “I thought she would be with us.”

“Unfortunately, no,” Rose answered while fixing her seatbelt. She faced me. “Andy was still not awake when we tried to fetch her. Her mother didn't even know about our trip to Diendrel.”

“Oh, no.”

“What did you do?”

“We asked for her mother's permission, and she said yes. Sadly, we can't wait for her to fix herself because we have to travel all the way to you.”

“So I asked my friends to pick her up.” Reji glanced at me through the rear view mirror. “It's okay for you, right?”

I nodded. “But you have female friends?”

“Of course. I wouldn't trust her to the guys.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. “Good thing. I thought I lied at my mom.”

Rose pointed her brother. “His female friends are amazing. I got new sisters.”

Reji smiled at how Rose happily told me about her new sisters.

This would be the first time that I would be very far away from my mother for more than hours.

When we were in high school, I experienced not spending the nights in our house. Mainly, the reason was being drunk, and we, I was referring to Andy, had to stay in the nearest house which was Rose's. It happened when most of us, my classmates and I, were too caught up in the celebration of our section's successful defenses for our theses that no one, even just one person, could drive our asses to our home as we partied on a club—some were still underage, but some managed to let us slip inside—that we ended up barging into her house to spend the night over. Oh, I remembered that before that, we had an overnight on Andy's house to finish one of our projects in Math which was about building a game. Then, a few more sleepovers which weren't comparable to what's about to happen. It made me feel giddy in my seat. I told myself to sleep, but my own eyes, surprisingly, were wide-opened as I had a perfect eight hours of sleep when literally, I never had one since I turned eighteen.

Most of the establishments were still close. The lights lingering on the post lamps spread on the street in a faint manner—only enough to give a slightly vivid path for the drivers. On the utter silence running around us that I could even hear Reji's breathing on the front seat and the buzz of the car, my stomach proudly protested to destroy everyone's peace. My stomach was shameless while holding the banner that says: Elysea is hungry.

I slapped it softly and chuckled. “I'm sorry for that. I'm not really hungry.”

I should probably think that I am on a water diet. I helped myself with a cold drink, but my tummy betrayed me, acting all bitchy and hurting in side like I was acidic.

“Go give your friend a food, Rose. There's a corn in the container—”

“She doesn't like corn. She will vomit after eating.”

Reji shrugged. “Then don't. It's better.” He laughed like a mad man. “I have all my corns now.”

“You're creepy,” Rose and I both commented to him that made him stop from laughing. He cleared his throat and focused driving.

I helped my stomach with the food Rose gave me. The silence was so peaceful that I felt that the three of us have known each other for so long. My words and actions with Reji were far from what I expected. I thought we'd be awkward since it was our first meet personally, but our attitudes pulled it off.

So this is how Imperial looked like before the sun rises in the view of the horizon.

“Your place is very serene.”

I agreed with my friend. Compared to our city, people were not sleeping. When I went out with my friends, we can see the filled buses at twelve in the midnight, and I noticed when I attended an overnight party with my mom, people were still travelling until dawn. Humans seemed like small industrious ants pacing forward in every road. I just thought that maybe, there is no really day and night. Day which we labeled as the working hours, and night which we referred as the time to sleep because everyone is busy spending their time to earn money, but probably, party and club goers like us also blended with the workers or employees.

“I want to try sleeping here.”

“You can come some other time, so you don't have to worry about your school works. Maybe on a holiday.”

“When was I ever bothered of my school works?” She grinned. “Just kidding. How was your new school?”

“Mom?” I joked. “It was kind of fun. Did I tell you about the Acquaintance party?”

“Yes.”

My eyes widened. I didn't remember telling her about it as it was not a good experience. “Really?”

“But you might have missed some details because you called me one in the morning.”

“I don't remember that,” I cried. What did I say to her? Did I tell her about my near-death experience? No, she would be scolding me right now if she does remembers about that part. “What did I told you?”

“Your p*****t thoughts about Seth.”

My face blushed.

“And you said that you had it all in mind in front of everyone, but you cannot give him the pleasure because of the audience,” she added. “You told me before you wanted to do it in public?”

“I changed my mind,” I said embarrassed. I saw Reji's glimpse. “I was drunk perhaps.”

“You never get drunk easily. Besides, alcoholic drinks were  not allowed on the event.”

How come she knew almost everything?

“Goodness, Seah. You disturbed my good night just for a short story. You should have done something to spice it up a little. It was boring.”

“Good night?” My brow raised, smirking. It dawned on me. “I will not ask any question about it.”

On our way to Diendrel, I spent one hour of travel to sleep, and the low music on the radio served as my lullaby. Reji was a smooth driver. My sleep wasn't interrupted by the bumpy roads. He did not step hardly on the brake for me to wake up. I was sure the turns to roads where done swiftly.

Before we reached the border of a place of people branded as happy-go-lucky, people known to adhere to their culture, our car stopped in a convenience store to piss. Reji bought more snacks as if the ones in the car weren't enough for his lean body. Some were sweet corn flavored chips.

Our eyes met, and my gaze moved downwards. The way he covered his thighs—like I was trying to peek at those—made me rolled my eyes. I looked at the chips he was holding.

“You like corn so much.”

Realizing he was wrong about what I was thinking, he slightly felt embarrassed. He hid it through his smile. He raised the bags he was holding. “I like sweets.”

“Uh-huh.”

He got in the car and turned the engine on. Any moment by now, Rose would be done. She was in her red days, the reason why she was taking too long, and, of course, I knew how weak she is when it comes to temptations, she would buy chocolates. These two siblings had sweeth tooth.

A man went out of the store. Not that I was being assuming, but I could see him approaching me. My guard was up. I clenched my fist, ready to attack him if he ever do something nasty. He stood in front of me, playing his phone on his hand. Does he think he seemed cool? His undercut hair was combed to the side. He was only wearing a black t-shirt and pants, but he oozed s*x appeal.

“I was staring at you for a while now—”

“That was creepy,” I cut off.

“And think maybe I should get—”

“No. I have a boyfriend.”

Who is your boyfriend, i***t?

“Okay. Which college do you go?”

“Imperial,” I said. Out of thousands students in the Imperial, I was confident he wouldn't be able to find me. He was still about to say something, but I left him to attend Rose whose face couldn't be painted even by the greatest artists. “Menstrual cramps?”

She nodded. I assisted her back to our car.

“Did you bring pain killers?”

“Yes, but I think it won't be enough.”

I let her sit on the back; her crouched body covered the whole leather backseat. I placed her head on my legs to give her a pillow and soothe her to the world where she can temporarily forget the pain.

“There's a scarf on her bag. Get it.”

I obliged. He turned off the car's air conditioner and opened the window. I wrapped the scarf on her body. The shivering of her body didn't die. She bit the scarf. My leg was wet of her tears. She might be thinking her regret of joining us in this trip.

“We'll be in the hotel in thirty minutes.”

I raised my head and asked a question. “As far as I know, it's hard to attend Diendrel's Beer Festivals unless you were invited. Do you know someone there to orient us?”

“I have a friend at my work who lived in Diendrel. He's the one who invited me and asked me to bring some people. He also booked the hotel for us.”

“That's kind of him,” I muttered.

“He told me I was the only real friend he had for years,” he continued. I saw hin smile through the mirror. “He was rich, and girls mostly liked him for his money. Some girls used his male friends in high school and college to have a connection with him. When we became colleagues, I didn't know at first his social status. He looked like a simple person wearing decent clothes.”

“The disadvantages of being rich: Fake friends.”

“I bet he preffered it because he knows how to differentiate a fake and real friend.”

“Good for him.”

Our conversation died down. Rose had finally fallen asleep on my lap while still hugging her scarf tightly. At least, she wasn't as cold as earlier. Her face slowly gained color. Her pale lips turned light red.

We reached the center of the Diendrel City where the Beer Festival is currently happening. The noises reached us despite the distance. Every spot was taken by crowds, and it was, I bet, still far from the very venue. Colorful dresses painted the establishments, and the smiles of the people spread a joyful vibes with others.

“Alve! Imyor Boenza!” was all I could hear as our vehicle drove through the road at a leisurely pace to enjoy the rare view.

“What are they saying?” I asked Reji in a loud voice which he answered in the same volume.

“That meant Happy Beer Festival! Imyor Boenza!”

“Imyor Boenza!”

We arrived at the hotel exactly nine in the morning. His comrades were ready to enjoy themselves in the festival, wearing bright color attires that reflected the smiles in their faces as they welcomed us on the entrance. Reji parked the car before them.

From the driver's seat, he looked at me and his sister.

“Get to know with them. I'll just park the car—”

“Dude!” Someone hit the window. I shrieked. Reji rolled it down. “I told you give it to the valet.”

Reji just freaking rolled his eyes at his friend that earned a laugh from him and a shock reaction from us, girls. Reji's friend opened the door for the oldest inside the car and pulled him out. He took the keys and moved to our side to open the doors for us. He handed the keys to the valet.

Reji received kisses on the cheeks from his girl friends. The man, who helped us earlier, pat him hard that Reji coughed.

“Weak,” the man said. “Welcome again, Rej.”

He cleared his throat and glared at his friends. “I don't like how you welcome me. You're a sadist.”

“Chill!” He punched Reji's stomach this time.

Our acquaintances, mainly Reji's friends, went to a restaurant to eat before going to the tents. We, on the other hand, Rose, her brother and her brother's friend, decided to wait for Andy's group. I noticed from the short period of time that he, Catri, the rich one in the gang, wasn't closed to others. He didn't talk to them, but his eyes observed how they act and move. It was scary.

“I don't like them,” Catri suddenly mumbled. Only I heard it. “Some were fake to me.”

“Your opinion about them might still change before this ends.”

“I am not that type of person. Their first impressions usually last, but I hope that's not the case for you because you seemed important to him.”

I c****d my head to him. “What are you trying to say?”

“You like my money, don't you? That's why you're here.”

What he said rendered me stupefied. My eyes twitched and itched the more I looked at him. Suddenly, my breath became heavy, and the way my fists were curled on my sides were like I was ready to give a solid blow on his pretty face. I slowly nodded my head after I got a grasp of what he truly is. No wonder why no one wants to stay as this man's friend, but I wondered how can Reji be the best buddy of this nothing but arrogant guy who was so full of what his money can do.

My chest continued heaving up and down. If only not for Reji who was near us, talking cheerfully to my best friend, I would have given him what he deserves. My thoughts to kill this guy right away for insulting me subsided when I heard Reji spoke.

“Are you sick, Seah?” His sweaty palm felt my forehead. He realized that I got disgusted of it and laughed before putting the back of his palm to know my condition. “You're blushing.”

“It's because of heat.”

“It's not that hot.”

“It's a different type of heat,” I insisted.

His mouth formed an “o” and returned to his sister.

A different type of heat—a hotness on my head that implied my short patience during this time standing beside this man who just ruined my mood to enjoy the festival.

“Did Reji told you I'm rich?”

I wasn't able to answer it. If I say yes, it would only probably worsen my image on his eyes. What worse could it be? A gold-digger?

I scoffed.

Besides, he had already concluded what type of person I am.

“I knew it,” he said. “You are here because I am rich.”

I needed to calm my nerves, or someone would be send to his early death. “What about Reji? Do you think he befriended you for money?”

“He's rich already.” His eyes was at the man we were talking about. “But if he does like my money, I'm willing to give it all.”

I inhaled and exhaled to decide whether I should tell him what's wrong in him. I bit my lip.

“Look.” I massaged my head and faced him. “Not everyone is interested of your money. Not everything can be bought by your money, so if you think that most of the people are just befriending you for your money or most people are fake because you got money, then why don't you just keep to yourself how rich you are? Because if you do that, no one would give a damn care about your money.”

“He—”

I cut him off. “I'm not done yet, so don't interrupt me. You may be older than me, but I'm feeling s**t about your attitude, and there should be someone to tell you that.

”You became honest with me about your opinion, so I got to be honest about what I think about you, too, and thanks for insulting me. You're so high of yourself. I don't like you because of what you just said to me, but I will stay here because Reji was the one who brought us here. Did you understand what's wrong with yourself? If you still dont, then figure it out yourself, and Reji, don't you dare say that in face to him because I can give you what you don't like to receive from a girl like me.”

I advanced towards Reji and Rose. I just defended him because he was like an older brother to me.

“Where is he?” Reji asked.

I jerked my thumb to his friend's direction. “Behind us. I don't like him. He's so quiet.”

Reji chuckled. “He's been like that with anyone else, but he's talkative. I hope you befriend him.”

No thanks. “I'll try.”

He nodded. “Good to know, but it's better that my friends are also friends with them.”

“When are they going to arrive?” I asked to change the topic.

“Did they text you their location?” Rose seconded.

Her brother sighed. “I told you, you should just stay in your room.”

And leave him here with that weirdo, Catri? No. Who knows if he get his hopes up to Reji? That man will continue thinking nasty things about what seemed like my brother.

“I wanted to see Andy,” Rose answered, “and it's our first time here. We cannot waste the opportunity sitting inside a four-cornered room. We're not here for the hotel.”

Later on, a car recklessly driving forward swiftly moved to stop in front of us. It's not some sports car, but the driver, fortunately, was safe after pulling that dangerous stunt. His arrogant smile was the first thing we saw the second he stepped out of his car.

“Reji, my loves!” He rushed to his side and clung to Reji's arm. “How d'you like that?”

Reji shoved his face away. “You should have done that if you're only driving our friends, but you have my sister's best friend, i***t!”

“That's so harsh.” The gaze of the new guy shifted to me. He rolled his eyes. “I don't like that curly.”

Curly?

I scoffed.

“She's so pretty. She's stealing my spotlight.”

Should I be grateful for that?

“Levi, where's Andy?” Rose questioned.

“Inside.”

Rose and I rushed to the door at the backseat. There, we saw Andy processing what just happened to her and the car.

I gasped. “Oh my goodness!”

The others looked at me. “Why?”

I glanced at Rose, and she understood what I meant. We turned to Reji and his new bunch of friends. “Andy has a motion sickness!”

Reji gave Levi a powerful thwack. “I told you!”

One girl went to give Andy a medicine for her dizziness. Catri had moved forward, of course, i expected not to welcome the new people.

“Bring her to the restaurant to have something to eat first. We'll bring your bags on your rooms,” he said.

“What room are we?”

“7505,” he said. “If she would climb up with the elevator, her condition might get worse.”

I think nothing's worse than your brain's condition.

We agreed and helped our friend to the restaurant on the ground of the hotel, the east wing from the lobby.

“I imagined us yelling for your arrival,” Rose muttered. “We were so excited.”

“I'm going to be fine. Stop worrying.”

“We know.“

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