2- "Alluring."

"I couldn’t say anything! That macho dancer was totally freaking mindblowing!" Celyn snorted while her hand was placed on her heart.

The party’s over, and finally, that male entertainer left us already.

“I totally agree.” Yasmine nodded and turned to me. “Guessed, you made him mad, girl!”

I wasn't paying attention to what the two were saying. I sat back on the couch and toyed with the glass in my hand.

Celyn leaned on me teasingly. “Who wouldn’t get mad? Tamara just pulled his trigger!”

“Yeah!” Yasmine smiled and gently shook her head.

I remained silent despite them poking fun at me.

I knew that it was really my fault why that man was provoked earlier. I insulted him. But I wouldn’t do it if only he weren’t such a bore!

Besides, I'm going through something at home right now, so I want to enjoy myself while I'm here. He seemed forced to do his job and couldn't even crack a smile! He surfaced as if he had no choice but to do what he didn't want to do. Forgive me for insulting him, but I didn't find fun in his performance. Come on! People at home couldn't get to laugh any longer, and yet even here, I would be deprived of the leisure I was looking for!

"But, in fairness, Tamara, you two have chemistry. You two seem to be so cute together!" In an instant, Celyn's idea sparkled her with joy. And Yasmine agreed for the nth time! "Definitely! You know, I almost shivered when the man started to kiss her legs!"

I just shook my head at the silly playing cupid of these asinine people sitting beside me, trying to pair and matchmake me to that one hell of a man! Are they out of their minds? Pairing me with such a one-night entertainer? Oh, of course, they must be just joking!

But, indeed, the devil was so shocking earlier when he kissed and licked my skin with his hot lips! D*mn him! I could almost run out of breath now as I remembered what he did to me!

"Plus, he was deliciously gorgeous, Tami! He seems so tempting!" Celyn continued to tease me.

I rolled my eyes. "Come on, Lyn! It's part of the business that the male entertainer should be handsome and attractive enough! Like, hello? Who would hire an ugly macho dancer to please the clients in a pub like this, right!"

"So, you admit that you find him dazzling too, Tamara?" Yasmine intrigued.

I looked away from their scheming glazes and simply shrugged. Well, basically, yes!

“As I’ve said, no one would hire an unattractive—”

“But we’re asking about your personal opinion and not for the general, Tamara! So? You find him sexually appealing, huh?”

I raised a brow to hide the real words coming straight from my heart and ran my fingers through some strands of my hair. Sexually appealing? Well, that was undeniable about him!

I secretly bit my lower lip. I felt lust rising in me.

“Now, you couldn’t even directly answer, so it means you are guilty of our accusations! You fancy that macho dancer!” Yasmine giggled like a teenager, trying her very best to make the love teams she loved to work out!

I couldn’t seem to figure out if she was kidding, or maybe alcohol effects started to dominate her sanity, too!

"Yas, you're absolutely correct. Who knows? Perhaps Tamara would have finally found her ‘the one’ in this bridal shower!" Celyn added.

Rolled my eyes for the nth time. For all I knew, they were just teasing me like this because they were also excited and looking forward for me to finding a lifetime partner and somebody I am going to settle down with.

Well, to be honest, there's no issue for me if I date a macho dancer or a janitor as long as I really love the man with all of my heart. Like, why not, right? But what these two girls were saying, I don't believe in it, and I even find them cliche. Fate? A love story that started with destiny that will be a road to forever? Come on! This isn't a fairytale! We're living in a real world full of the matter of choices!

Few moments later and they finally stopped and maybe felt tired to matchmake me to that dancer. Yasmine fell asleep, maybe because of the effects of the alcohol she took, while Celyn was busy chatting with her fiancé on her phone and smiling ear to ear as if a teenager first time having a conversation with her crush! Silly!

I felt nauseated all of a sudden. I suspect it’s the consequence of taking too much liquors since I drank a lot! I was dizzy and before I could even vomit in my seat, I decided to excuse myself from them to get outside and throw up.

“Why? Are you okay? You want me to accompany you?” Celyn offered help as concern raised on her face when she saw me already really wasted.

I shook my head and smiled gently. I felt so grateful that I found mom-like friends with the two of them who always wanted to care for and look for one another when one of us wasn’t feeling well. "No need. I can handle it."

"Are you sure? You drank so much. I’m afraid you’re going to fall anywhere as it seems like you cannot even walk straight as of the moment!”

"Trust me. I can take good care of myself. Besides, I don't want to ruin the enjoyment of my best friend having chat conversations with her groom!" I grinned and finally went out of the room by myself.

"Crazy!"

I laughed, and it echoed in the room before I closed the door and started walking outside.

I smiled and shrugged my shoulders, then stepped into the way of the nearest restroom.

Walking made me feel woozier, my head hurt, and then I couldn't help it anymore. I really wanted to throw up all the alcohol I'd taken! I immediately regretted not bringing Celyn with me. Urgh! The result of the consumption of inordinate quantities of alcoholic products!

In order to avoid having to crawl on my knees, I leaned against the white wall as I walked. My eyes are tearing up, and my head is spinning so badly. I can't see anything anymore, as if sleep is engulfing me.

I felt like I was about to collapse under the strain and slide across the cold floor, but instead, I had fallen into somebody’s muscular arms!

"You've been drinking way too much, lady."  His baritone voice sounded somewhat familiar.

"Let me go. I need to go to the restroom."

I struggled to pull away from his comforting embrace, and I couldn't explain the hollow feeling that came over me when he was no longer there. In the back of my mind, I couldn't help but smile. I'm so tipsy that I could only think about things like crazily!

He released me, and I attempted to go further, but then again, I just got down on my knees as my feet already said no to walking. The man from behind me never missed to catch me in his magnetic electrifying strong arms!

"See? You couldn't even stand, and yet you still want to walk all alone!"

There was no way for me to respond. Annoyed, I brushed my fingers through my hair. A wave of nausea and the urge to throw up came over me suddenly.

"D*mn it!" The man alerted me and held my arm once again.

"I wanna go to the restroom. Take me to the restroom!"

He was indeed following me. He encouraged me and tagged along with me as I went to the restroom. Right after I walked in, I turned to the sink and threw up. The soft touch of my companion's hand on my back almost went unnoticed.

When I finally released it all, I felt relief in my stomach and throat, but I was still dizzy and had a bad hangover.

I ran the water to rinse my mouth, and the gentleman from behind me reached out to offer me a tissue. I accepted it and wiped the dirt and water from my lips. A while later, I was a little taken aback when the man himself reached for a tissue and thoroughly wiped my lips.

I don't know why, but that small gesture caused my heart to race, even though I know it meant absolutely nothing to him. I'm not sure if the alcohol is to blame or if there's something else at play because I don't really know what's going on with me at the moment. That seems to be a puzzle I can hardly solve.

"Not necessary for you to do this. I'm capable of handling it on my own." I said, avoiding eye contact with him.

I decided to retouch after that. In front of the large mirror, I pulled out my most daring red lipstick and simply slathered it on.

I won't deny myself retouching, even if it's just lipstick!

As I was doing this, I caught sight of the man standing behind me in the mirror. It's still hard to concentrate, my head hurts, and I'm dizzy, but my vision is worse now than it was before I stayed inside and rested. It's still blurry, but it's so much better than before that I can see him staring at me intently as I apply crimson lipstick. He was tall and imposing, with dark, piercing eyes and a pointed, slender nose.

It's a dead certainty that I don't know him, but he sure does look familiar. I think I already saw him somewhere.

"You look familiar. Have we met before?" I asked while staring at him in the mirror.

"Yes, we did."

"Where?"

"You are so drunk that you forgot already. I’m just not so sure if that would still be the case when you’re no longer under the influence of alcohol.”

I continued fixing the taint on my lip. I tried not to mind him and not to be conscious around him.

"Are your friends still around? Where are they? Are they still in that room?" he queried.

I frowned and glanced at him while putting the lipstick back in my purse.

"How did you know that I'm with my friends? How did you know about us? Do you know them? Do they know you? Do you know me, and do I know you?" D*mn, Tamara! What the heck?!

"I know you're with your friends, but I don't know all of you that much. I mean the whole thing about the three of you. And I'm sure you and your friends, as well, don't know me."

I faced him. I gasped slightly when I realized how handsome and elegant he was in his gray coat and tie. Why did I just notice it now?

I shook my head and turned away. "Thanks for accompanying me for a little while. Bye." I passed him carrying my purse with me.

I didn't hear him follow me, but I knew he was still watching me as I walked.

Thought I was already fine, but my vision turned blurry once again that it left me to lean on the wall for support and aggressively pulled my hair. St*pid alcohol!

"Come on, I'll take you back to your friends."

He dared touching me once more and supported my arms and shoulders to keep me from falling completely.

"Let go of me. I can handle—" I tried to resist him but my body said the otherwise and instead wanted to feel him more on my skin.

I didn’t want to go back to my friends and they would see I was accompanied by any man because for sure Celyn and Yas would play st*pid-cupids again!

"You always say you can handle when in fact, the truth is you can't. See? You can't even stand straight because you are still so drunk." There was a hint of anger and irritation in his tone.

My head suddenly heated. As far as I could remember, I didn't ask for his support, so if he was just going to get angry and irritated because of my drunkenness, then why was he still bothering me?

I pulled away from his grasp, fuming. "Leave me alone! I can do fine without you and without your help! Stop pestering me!"

"Absolutely not! Let's go back to your friends. I won't leave you unless I'm certain of your safety." The man grabbed my arm in an unyielding attempt to steady me.

"Seriously, who do you think you are? Why bother?!" I hissed at him.

Already told him I could manage myself, but he was so insistent! He was indeed starting to annoy me!

I took my arm back and furiously I grabbed his collar. "Who do you think you are, huh?!"

I stared at his face for a few seconds. He was already looking stoic and outraged. I could see his jaw clench and hear him gasp. Holy crap!

It occurred to me that I might have seen this man and this expression somewhere before, so I focused my stare directly on his eyes and his whole rough, screaming dangerous facial features.

Forcing my brain to recall, I almost rejoiced when I got what I desired. I could finally clearly remember him!

"You were that macho dancer earlier?" I asked in both disbelief and surprise.

He didn't answer, just fighting my gaze.

"It was really you! That's why you looked so familiar!"

I looked at him from head to toe, and I just couldn't believe it! How?! How is it even possible for a macho dancer to suddenly transform into an almost perfect, alluring prince charming?!