The Party

Reaching the hotel and walking toward the ballroom was nerve-wracking. I felt insecure again, thinking that I wouldn't fit in. Rai sensed my insecurity and squeezed my hand, reassuring me that I had nothing to worry about.

Nearing the ballroom, both of them put on their masks. Damian helped me with my mask while Rai took my hand. Damian gave me a once-over, shook his head then took my other hand. Now I was in-between them, each hand in the crooks of their arms. Rai was on my right, and Damian was on my left.

“God saves our souls,” Damian muttered under his breath as we stepped into the ballroom.

As we entered the ballroom, all eyes were on us. And I meant all eyes. I was nervous as hell. I looked at Rai, and he smiled, saying, “Don't worry, Princess, just smile. And you look perfect.” I just nodded and smiled, following his order.

I turned to Damian and saw him flashing his most dashing smile toward everyone, looking like he was used to being the center of attention, which he most probably was.

They started to walk around the room, taking me with them, but couldn't get far. Most people stopped us to talk to either Rai or Damian or both of them and asked to be introduced to me. I thought they were either curious about who I was or just being polite.

Sometimes either Damian or Rai had to leave my side, but when that happened, the other would stay with me.

It was pretty interesting to see them in their surroundings. Every move Damian made seemed so effortless; his smile was always perfect. Rai was, well.. Rai. He was cool, calm, and elegant; his smile was polite. I wanted to say that it reminded me of the first time we met, but it was different. They looked as though they were performing, putting on these personalities. Perfect ones, but still performances, nonetheless.

Another thing I noticed was the way they interacted with the ladies. They were actually interacting in similar ways, which puzzled me, really. I always thought Damian would be flirtatious around the ladies, but it wasn't the case. They both kept a respectable distance from the ladies. Rai, as usual, smiled politely and Damian dashingly, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. When they laughed, they still looked in control. They never laughed freely like they did when they were with me.

After around an hour, we were finally able to get some free time. We stood with the wall behind my back, Rai and Damian in front of me.

“I didn't know that going to a party is going to be this tiring.” I huffed.

“I know, right?” Damian said.

“What kind of party is this anyway? I mean, is this all business?” I asked curiously.

But then I saw how they wore their shirts with no ties; it would be too casual for a business gathering.

“Don’t tell me this is just a gathering of friends?” I asked them again with suspicion.

“Well, yeah. Mostly friends,” Rai said.

“And you guys have parties like this just to gather?” I asked in disbelief.

Damian laughed at my shocked expression.

“Yeah, most of them like to have these kinds of parties, but Rai and I have never hosted these parties,” Damian stated.

“Why not?” I asked them curiously.

“Just not into it that much.” Damian shrugged.

“I prefer to spend time with my close friends,” Rai said.

At that moment, someone called Rai, and I was left alone with Damian.

“Want to have more drinks, Kat?” He asked.

“Yes, please, Damian,” I told him as I was pretty thirsty.

We strolled to the refreshment table, Damian’s hand at the small of my back.

Damian handed me a drink, and we chatted. I could feel Damian’s hand caressing my back ever since we reached the refreshment table. His fingers would go up and down my spine and draw circles on my exposed back, making my body tingle.

I looked at him, but he didn’t seem to notice what he was doing; it was like a natural thing for him to do. He kept doing it even while we were conversing. I let him be, but I was confused by my reaction to his touch at how much I enjoyed it.

Just as Damian handed me another glass of drink, someone bumped into me, and I spilled my drink on Damian’s shirt.

“Oh, no. I’m so sorry, Damian.” I reached to get a napkin and wiped his shirt.

“It’s okay, Kat. But I think I’ll need to go to the restroom. I need to clean it. Will you be alright being alone for a few moments? I’ll come back as soon as possible.” He asked.

“Go. I’ll be here. I’m so sorry again.” I said apologetically.

Damian smiled, caressed my cheek, kissed my forehead, and walked toward the restroom, leaving me alone, stunned at his gestures.

I touched my cheek and my forehead. Since my fight with Rai, Damian sometimes surprised me with these small touches, but I didn't want to overthink about it. I took another glass, sipping it while looking around the room.

These guys’ friends were all so elegant. It was actually a very lovely party. The ladies wore beautiful dresses, and the men wore suits just like Rai and Damian. All of them wore masks, making them somewhat mysteriously sexy.

As I was admiring a group of ladies and their beautiful dresses, a man came up to me.

“I believe I haven't made your acquaintance yet, my lady.” He bowed a bit.

I looked at him. He was quite handsome, but nothing compared to Rai and Damian.

“Collin, at your service.” He said.

“Oh, Katarina.” I extended my hand to shake his, but instead, he brought it to his lips and kissed it lightly.

“Oh..” I was a bit shocked but managed to smile. None of my male friends had ever kissed my hand when they introduced themselves; I felt like a princess when Colin did it to me just now.

We talked for a bit when Collin suddenly took my hand and tried to pull me along with him.

“Come, let’s take a walk. I know a place where we can talk privately.” He smiled.

“Oh no, it’s okay. I’m waiting for my friends.” I said, declining him politely while trying to pull my hand away, but he wouldn't let it go.

“Your friends? And whom might they be? Maybe I can spot them, and we can tell them where we’ll be.” He suggested.

Like they’d let you take me, I said in my head.

“Rai and Damian,” I told him instead.

He raised his eyebrows and laughed. “Right, and every lady in this room has the same fantasy. Come.” He pulled me.

I tried to pull my hand again. “No, but I really did come with them,” I told him again, this time emphasizing my words.

“Sure, dear, sure.” He said, still pulling me with him.

Collin was so tenacious that I began to feel scared. I didn’t want to go anywhere with him. God knew what he meant by ‘privately’. With my past, this kind of behavior by a man was traumatic.

I tried to pull away, but it wasn’t easy. I cursed myself for being so physically weak. I wanted to yell at Collin since declining him politely didn’t work, but I couldn’t do that. I didn’t want to cause a scene and embarrass both Rai and Damian.

I turned my head around to search for Rai, but he was nowhere to be seen. I was yanked forward and unable to do anything except pray for Rai to save me when suddenly a hand grabbed Collin’s arm, and I heard a deep, dangerously-low voice of a man saying, “Sorry, Collin, but she’s with me.”