Chapter 1
Dance Floor

***
POV: Andrei Kurt Altamirano

A loud, booming sound welcomed me as I walked in at the LM Bar – the bar owned by my best friend, Lee Isaac Martin.

Based on the number of prominent people who were already present at the bar, I could easily say that it was running smoothly – well, more than that, actually. Lee might be so proud of his business now.

How could I possibly think that my silent best friend, who possessed intrapersonal behavior, would really put up a business like this.

I just shook my head at that thought.

Ironic, eh? – I mentally commented.

I looked around to find my best friends. The place was not too crowded yet and was cozy. The live band just actually started, which makes the place more enticing, especially for those who love bars and booze, parties, and beer – like me.

Well, if I were still my old self, maybe.

Perhaps, when everyone was drowning in liquor, the real party would begin. Which I had lost interest in – if I might add. I just wanted to think… to calm my nerves.

I mentally let out a deep sigh until I saw my friends at the VIP table of the bar. It was located on the second floor. I smiled and walked towards them.

“Hey, bro!” Kean – the one with jet-black man bun hair – called me with his lips stretched from side to side and offered me a familiar fist bump.

I gladly reciprocated it – and smirked at him.

Kean Dale Peralta.

We have been best friends with Lee since we were kids. Well, he loved to play games – a game where women and hearts were the ones at stake.

The last thing I might say is that I bet those girls knew what they were entering themselves into anyway.

He could easily jump one girl after the other – or even have all of them.

Well, I think Kean knew what kind of fire he was entering himself into. All that I could do for him was advise him – and at the end of the day, it was his own choice that would matter.

It was just a good thing that he didn’t bring women to our table, huh?

Lee, on the other hand, just gave me a gentle tap on my shoulder and stayed silent while watching us. Typical of him.

“What took you so long? The party had already started.” Kean gave me a bottle of beer, which I instantly accepted and drank until it was only half full.

“Whoa!” Kean loudly cheered – making some of the people nearby look at us.

I bet a million bucks that my best friend was already drunk. His face was already bright red, and he was becoming more of a party animal every second.

But I didn’t point it out, though. I knew that Kean could certainly handle himself. I slightly shook my head and signaled to the bartender for another bottle.

“Shut up, bro. You know exactly why I’m late. State the obvious?” I boredly told Kean because I couldn’t stop talking about me, being late.

He could be this stubborn and playful if he wanted to.

“Oh yeah? Start of work tomorrow, aight?” Kean mockingly told me – with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

This time, I am certain that he was already teasing me – like he always does.

“*sshole!” I frowned – as I said those words.

Then, I instantly drank my beer instead of talking more to him. It would all be fulfilling for him if he saw me so affected by his playful antics.

Way to go to my jerk best friend to make me realize that it will be a big day for me tomorrow. I mentally groaned in frustration at the mere thought of it.

Damn it!

I just arrived in the country yesterday.

And yet, my life was already full of drama.

My parents wanted me to handle our company since I was an only child. I have actually been thinking about that since my parents were already old.

‘Oh, yeah?’ A part of my mind mockingly commented – making me mentally groan in annoyance once again.

I didn’t want to go home at first. And my parents knew that. But I felt like I needed to fulfill my responsibility to them now. They had given me everything – even supporting me with my very own passion. Now, it was my turn to finally face the fate that I had been running away from – from the very beginning.

Andrew Altamirano, my father, was already sixty-five years old, while my mother, Klare Altamirano, was already in her sixties.

They wanted to enjoy life now – and were expecting me to take over the business. It was their time to travel and live their retirement years together abroad.

And I couldn’t contest that.

At the age of thirty-three, I was a professional photographer abroad – who had won a lot of various awards globally.

Until I went to Paris and fell in love with the beauty of it. I learned so much from there that I opted to stay there until my heart’s content.

Everything was fine.

Paris was my paradise. Photography was my blood, and art was my life. I have been in Europe for five years now, and I plan to stay there for the rest of my life.

Everything was running smoothly.

My life was there.

Well, maybe fate had a different way of telling me that.

I knew why I wanted to stay there. I knew why I was there in the first place – and it was not just about photography or art.

She was there.

Emily.

I slightly shook my head as I remembered that woman’s face.

Memories immediately flashed inside my head.

However, bitterness instantly crept through my system – causing me to continuously drink my own beer.

I can’t even taste the hard liquor because the memories were already making me feel bitter, and rage began to take over inside me.

I took a deep breath – then, I pursed my lips to contain myself.

Maybe it’s best now that I need to take over my family’s business. A good diversion, maybe.

I clenched my jaw at that.

At least I could think of a lot of things – rather than thinking of something that didn’t deserve my thoughts.

“Chill, bro. You’re being off again.” Kean seemed like he had seen my reactions and tapped my shoulder.

They might have noticed my reaction – and my darkened face was revealing all of my anger and bitterness.

They knew about what happened to me and Emily. And I knew that they already had this tiny hint as to why I was acting like this.

No.

They knew it when I was acting like this.

“It’s too early to get drunk, don’t you think?” He playfully teased me – as he pointed his index finger towards the dance floor.

I glared at him as I continued drinking my beer.

I wasn’t like him – who loves jumping from one girl to another. Or even keeping up with more than one girl at a time.

Besides, right now, I felt like I had already lost interest in it.

Kean just laughed his *ss off because of my uncalled reaction.

“Oh, come on, man! Just loosen up a bit!” He barked with a hint of laughter laced in his voice.

I knew what he meant by that.

‘Just get laid and forget everything.’ – That was Kean’s very own motto.

And I couldn’t stop myself from shaking my head with a humorless smirk on my lips because of it. He might find his own doze of medicine soon.

Well, I am not like him, though. I was still hoping that maybe Emily would appear-

‘F*ck it!’ I mentally let out a soft curse in my mind.

I couldn’t believe myself!

Why would I think that Emily would take me back? I was just so foolish and a hypocrite. What the heck was that! Damn it!

“I really can’t see you like this! God! Stop sulking here, bro!” Kean really wouldn’t let me be at peace.

Well, it was a good thing because I couldn’t stop myself from thinking of…

I pursed my lips at that.

“Come on!” Kean restlessly called me.

He could really be a consistent convincer if he wanted to – he was indeed an annoying mocker, too, if I might add.

But another woman would just bring me another set of headaches, and that was the least thing that I needed right now.

Lee suddenly laughed at my side. I didn’t even notice that he was still there.

Man, he might be really getting drunk now, huh?

Perhaps, I needed to take it slow.

Besides, I would still be driving. I didn’t want to occupy my room at Lee’s bar. I still need to go to the office tomorrow.

“F*ck it…” I murmured as I leaned against the sofa.

Everything would be such a mess if I continued my drinking spree just because of Emily.

I let out a deep sigh.

“Bitter, eh?” Lee playfully teased me.

I looked at him with annoyance. Maybe, through the years, Kean has influenced him, huh? He was becoming a bit of a talker – well, more of an annoying mocker, eh?

“Come on, man. Don’t be stiff just because of that girl.” Kean suddenly turned serious as he said those pressing words.

And I knew why he was doing that.

He was worried.

They were worried about me.

And I couldn’t deny the fact that they were right.

I was in a deep sh*t right now. And I needed to get her out of my f*cking mind.

But how?

Easier to think than done – like the old saying, huh?

“Why not try to take a look? I believe you can do that now. Just try…” Lee tried to convince me.

I looked at him – like he had grown some heads around his neck. I couldn’t believe he just said that… like he was already a talking Kean on the side.

Lee chuckled and shrugged his shoulders.

“Just a piece of advice. I can’t think of any to drive your mind into somewhere else instead of a shameless and f*cking girl – no offense.” He simply continued and drank his beer.

I licked my lips as I firmly closed my eyes and opened them again.

Well, if I were the old Andrei, I would simply lash at him for calling Emily that – but now…

I inhaled sharply.

‘Well, maybe it’s not bad to try – even just for tonight.’ I mentally thought.

I stood up and stared at the dance floor – everything was already too hyped up. I couldn’t believe that I had spent hours feeling so lonely – sulking in the corner, as to what Kean had told me.

I wanted to let out a mocking laugh – for myself.

Such a pity.

I drank the bitterness of the beer – that couldn’t be compared to the bitterness that I was feeling right now.

‘They’re right. Why would I waste my time on that woman!’ I annoyingly thought as my eyes drifted towards the dance floor for the second time.

My forehead creased as I tried to adjust my eyes to the gleaming neon lights… only to be stunned at someone gliding her sexy hips – like no one else matters.

I suddenly felt like my eyes were glued to the goddess that was bestowed in front of me.

She was dancing sexily on the dance floor – like she was made for it.

It wasn’t dirty dancing – but it could make men lust over her.

Damn it!

I almost forgot how I didn’t want to get laid tonight. But I think she was an exemption.