CHAPTER 4

Axel touched his cheek, which had received a slap from a woman he had just kissed a few minutes ago. Axel was sure he was drunk by now, which was a factor in why he was so bold as to grab a woman by the scruff of the neck and kiss her on the lips. Axel held his head, which was throbbing with who knows how many glasses of alcohol he had drunk tonight, and the last one he drank was the alcohol that came from the glass of the woman he had grabbed. 

Axel fell on one of the sofas in the club. He closed his eyes, trying to undo one more button on his shirt. Until three buttons were undone, exposing his body. The image of the woman suddenly appeared in Axel's mind as the sharp gaze the woman showed him when Axel's sassy mouth called the woman something he shouldn't have. Axel had just realized that what the woman had said was the truth. Axel had heard from the tender woman, that she was not from one of the workers at this nightclub. 

''Forget it, Axel. Consider it a mistake tonight, an accident, after all; you are not the one at fault; it is that woman who is so sexy in front of you.''

Axel opened his eyes and tried to get up from his seat. Axel's hand reached for the cell phone from the pocket of the cloth pants that were still attached to his body. he was looking for a number that he often contacted, either to share about work or do things they often did as men. Hardin had been his best friend for the past six years. 

''Hello.''

"Pick me up, Hardin; I'm drunk."

''Shit! I'll come where you are now.''

Axel smiled slightly when he heard his best friend's heavy voice curse. After that, he told him in detail where his current position was. Axel decided to call him unilaterally, and he closed his eyes again while waiting for Hardin to pick him up. Tonight was the worst thing for Axel Leonidas. First, the big tender he was running suddenly failed, which made a loss that could be considered not small for Axel, and secondly, the rumors about him being gay were spreading so widely that it even bothered Axel a little, but, he didn't want to bother with it. Anyway, they also had no proof that Axel was gay, and no one could claim the truth without strong evidence. 

As Axel's eyes closed, he felt a warm hand caress his exposed body. Axel tried to push the hand away from his body, but instead, he felt a small bite on his ear. 

''Am I sure? I think right now you need me, baby. Come on, I'll make you feel good tonight."

The sound of the spoiled whisper that sounded so disgusting to Axel made him very disgusted now. but as he opened his eyes and stopped the slutty woman's action, Axel heard a scream and a forced pull that opened Axel's eyes. 

''Aakhhh. Let go, mister.''

''Are you so insensitive when she rejects you?" She doesn't need a slut as long as you stay away. '' Hardin pushed the woman away from him, and Hardin's eyes went straight to the face of the man who had worried him so much because he had been difficult to contact for the past day. 

''Axel, are you okay? Can you stand on your own? Hardin tries to cover up his worry when he sees Axel's condition, which looks sad for Hardin, who has been friends with Axel for almost 6 years. This is the first time he has seen Axel show his bad side in front of Hardin, as Hardin knows that Axel has never looked as drunk as today. If that is the case, then, Hardin makes sure that there is something heavy that Axel is bearing alone. 

Hardin massages his temples as he tries to sit on one of the sofas in front of Axel. Hardin's eyes look into Axel's eyes with a sad look. Before, other people would have seen Hardin's sharp gaze. Which he directed when the cheap woman touched someone he cared about would be very different when Hardin looked at Axel; he seemed to be a man who lost his strength; more precisely, Hardin felt weak when he was with Axel. 

''What happened to you?'' Hardin looked into Axel's eyes, trying to find an answer first, even though Hardin was not good enough to read other people's expressions. But for the sake of knowing every time Axel's expression changed, Hardin was willing to learn, even though he hated it. 

''Nothing.'' Axel chose not to say it; he didn't want these various problems because everything was just nonsense. Axel was sure Hardin was normal, and Axel didn't believe the words of others who said bad things about his best friend. 

''Nonsense. What stupid thing are you trying to hide from me? I didn't just meet you yesterday, Axel; we've been friends for almost 6 years now, and there's no way I can't recognize your frustrated facial expressions.'' Hardin, who originally didn't want to drink alcohol tonight, ended up only being able to drink one can of beer. 

''Nothing. Only a slight defeat happened to the tender I was holding; the rest of the time, nothing happened.'' Axel tried to find a logical reason, so Hardin wouldn't keep asking him. 

''You need an injection of funds? You've run out of money. How much did you lose?

Axel shook his head. he wasn't broke at all, and his wealth could still be said to have supported him for seven generations. Losing a tender wouldn't make Axel Leonidas go bankrupt overnight. 

"So, what other problems have happened to you?" Hardin looked back at Axel's face, one hand at his side, wanting to rub Axel's face, but Hardin couldn't do it.

"It looks like I'll have to get married soon,'' Axel said, uttering nonsense just to see what Hardin's expression would be. And guessing that this time he was right, Hardin was so shocked that even his facial expression instantly changed, like he was holding back anger right now. 

''You're already too drunk, Axel; let's just go home.'' Hardin stands up and pulls Axel's hand to immediately get up from his seat because Hardin feels that the words coming out of Axel's lips are increasingly sounding like nonsense. 

To be honest, Axel was even surprised when his hand was tightly grasped by Hardin. he thought this was normal because they had been friends for a long time and were even like family themselves. Hardin was older than Axel by 2 years, and Axel thought that the attention Hardin gave him was like a brother looking after his younger brother. but, starting today, the corners of the field and Axel's heart said different things. 

''You brought the car?'' Hardin's footsteps stopped when they reached the parking lot. He looked at Axel, who was still conscious, but not even the man made the slightest sound. Even Hardin saw only a flat expression and a blank stare. 

''Hey, fool.'' Hardin hit Axel on the head just to wake him up. But when Axel's eyes looked up at him, Hardin quickly rubbed Axel's red forehead because he was so rude. 

''My car is over there.'' Axel headed in the opposite direction, where his car was parked a little away from their current position. 

''Get in! I'll take care of your car later." Hardin opened his car door and pushed away Axel's body, which was slightly bigger than his.