The Witch Goddess

The thought of someone watching them and the fact that it's a job where she's handsomely paid stopped Era from slapping Ridge across his face.

She pressed her mouth together like a tight bottle of peanut butter that can't be opened even after you slam its lid on the kitchen counter.

"Hey, you forgot that you kissed with your mouth open?" He teasingly said, caressing her cool cheek from the ocean breeze with the back of his hand.

Era opened her mouth and exhaled an irritated sigh.

"Are we done?"

Era watched Ridge furrow his brows from her peripheral vision as she lowered her eyes to avoid the questioning look that appeared on Ridge's face.

"I don't want to be boastful but no one had ever refused a kiss from me nor say it wasn't good, amazing even."

Era almost laughed with Ridge's statement, void of pride just stating a fact.

"Don't tell me that was your first kiss?" He asked in bewilderment.

'Shit!'

"Just because I'm blushing it doesn't mean it's my first ki–kiss!"

She cursed herself inwardly when she stuttered.

Ridge went quiet and she couldn't take the silence, she looked up and met his gaze.

His eyes are on her but she cannot have a read of what is going on his mind.

"U-uhm…you know—-"

"I'm sorry. I guess I got too cocky. Let me fix my mistake."

Era laughed nervously because of the seriousness in Ridge's tone of voice.

"How are you—umph!"

Her words were caught in her throat for Ridge's mouth covered hers. And this time, he was kissing her thoroughly, like how she imagined a kiss should feel and be like.

When Ridge lifted his mouth away, her eyes were still closed, feeling the aftermath of the kiss and how her lips felt swollen.

"The witch is gone."

Era opened her eyes with her cheeks burning from embarrassment.

"What—well, we should be going too, I think?"

Ridge nodded and offered his elbow for her. She carefully placed her hand on the crook of his elbow and quietly followed his lead.

It was the time she noticed the place where the party was going to be. A huge Catarman is lit like a Christmas tree. Loud music can be heard from it.

Era felt a vile coming up her throat when they approached the boat and she saw the crowd.

"Relax," Ridge said, patting her hand on his elbow.

She chuckled a little. Ridge must have noticed how her fingers tightened around his elbow hence found out her nervousness.

"Yeah, sure," she mumbled under her breath.

"It's like I party like this every day."

Ridge chuckled and twisted his body to her side, letting a couple pass by on the ramp. The woman was already drunk by the way she swayed on her steps and how she giggled too much while hugging the neck of her partner.

Era grimaced inwardly but uttered a silent prayer that they arrived late for most of the people she's seeing were either already intoxicated like the woman that just passed by, or they were already in their own little group, deeply involved to whatever they were talking to.

They were able to slip into the party without eyes staring at them.

Ridge seemed to be familiar with the boat layout for he expertly maneuver their way, avoiding most of the guest as they went down the boat.

"Ready?" He asked as they walked so pressed together as they walked the narrow hallway.

"Nothing to worry about. As I remember, my job is to just smile prettily."

Era laughed under her breath when Ridge laughed, pressing his mouth on the side of her head. He's a good actor, she thought to herself. A sly one because unlike from the crowd above the boat, here he successfully got the attention of everyone.

The small crowd that gathered stopped from whatever they were talking and stared at them.

She pressed her side to Ridge's and sneaked her arm around his waist. She must have looked so into Ridge from the perspective of their audience for she heard a soft whistle.

"Where have you been hiding, Woodpecker?"

"Here, there, and everywhere."

Era listened to the exchange of soft bantering that Ridge engaged to while she plastered herself to his side like a clingy girlfriend.

But in reality, Era clung to Ridge because she knew she would not be able to navigate this crowd on her own.

If she would be left alone, she would find the nearest bathroom and hide there. She wanted to be part of this crowd but at the same time, she hated how everything seemed to scream of wealth.

It was like a slap on her face, reminding her what she didn't have.

Her family is hurting with cash. They are being emotionally and mentally tortured by those people they borrowed money from but they can't do anything for they are at their mercy.

The one with money holds the power. She learned that the hard way.

"Hello," she said back to the girl she was introduced to.

Era applauded herself that she was able to react accordingly to the crowd despite her head being cluttered by the problem her family is facing back home.

When Ridge handed her a drink, she stepped away from him, giving him enough space to let him talk to the men around.

She could feel that Ridge knew all of them in a personal level and not just being friendly.

After half listening to whatever they are talking, making sure that Ridge doesn't need him to say anything, she looks around and observes that the number of men and women aren't balanced.

Not all of them came with a partner. Most of the men in this crowd were on their own. Ridge must have needed her only for the witch.

And speaking of the witch, she appears!

But not in the witch form, instead as a Goddess. Era never felt so ugly in her life. She quickly glanced at Ridge and he was busy laughing with two men in the corner.

The witch Goddess is coming for her!