CLUB II.

Hayami entered the club and, once inside, sat at the bar and immediately ordered a tequila. She downed it in one gulp.

"Give me another one, please."

She asked the man tending the bar. He quickly poured her the tequila she ordered. She was about to take her drink when a blond man sat next to her, staring at her. She noticed him but ignored him.

"Are you coming alone?"

Hayami looked at him, but signaled her hatred with a nod. She was trying to say she didn't hear him because of the music, although she was lying; she didn't want to deal with anyone tonight.

He leaned closer to her.

"What if you're coming alone?"

He almost shouted so she could hear.

"Uh, no! I'm here with my boyfriend, he just went to the bathroom."

She jerked her thumb in the direction of the bathroom.

"Too bad."

The blond man replied with a mischievous smile.

"Yeah, too bad."

She responded sarcastically, faking a small smile.

The guy pulled away from her, and when he did, he finally took a drink. He ordered another one; when the bartender served it, he got up from the bar and looked around the tables. Finally, he spotted one where a brunette boy was sitting alone, approached him, and sat next to him. He looked at her, a little confused.

"You'll be my boyfriend today."

She leaned close to the boy's ear.

"Huh?"

He replied, confused by what she was saying.

"There's a man stalking me. I know he's watching me. I'm sure he thinks I lied to him. Don't worry, I'm not looking for anything. I'll just sit here doing my thing, while you do yours."

He laughed a little at what the girl, who was calmly sipping her drink, was saying. When he finished it, the boy next to him called the waiter.

"Can you get the lady another drink?"

"Of course, what would it be?"

The boy looked at her, waiting for an answer; she smiled flirtatiously.

"This time, let it be vodka, please."

"Perfect. I'll get it for you."

The waiter left, and she continued looking at the boy.

"Okay, fake boyfriend. What's your name?"

He just laughed and took a sip of his drink that was on the table. Afterward, he put the glass back on the table and extended his hand.

"Andrés."

"Nice to meet you, Andrés. I'm Hayami."

She shook the boy's hand with a smile.

"Are you coming alone?"

"No, my friends and my girlfriend dragged me here."

Hayami laughed.

— And you? Well, I guess so. For you to have come here to sit without knowing me... You must be alone.

— That's right, I came alone. I was bored at home, and my friend got sick, but I wanted to have some fun.

He was about to speak again when three girls approached the boy. One of them looked at Hayami, a little disgruntled. Hayami knew immediately that she was Andrés's girlfriend.

— Who are you?

The girl asked, hands on her hips, as the others sat down, observing the situation. Andrés looked at the girl who had asked.

Hayami got up from her seat.

— Nice to meet you, I'm Hayami... The fake girlfriend who I think is your boyfriend.

Andrés looked back at Hayami. She had a huge, but truly alluring, smile.

The girl looked at her for a few minutes without saying anything, then couldn't help but smile at him.

— I'm Carmen. Nice to meet you.

They approached, the two girls kissed each other on the cheek, and sat down again.

"This is Luisa and Maria, they're my friends."

She said, pointing to the other girls who smiled at Hayami.

"Oh... Hello!"

Hayami replied.

"So, how come you're my boyfriend's girlfriend?"

She said in a complaining tone and folded her hands, waiting for an explanation from the redhead in front of her.

"What happened is, I came alone, and a man approached me. He asked if I was alone. I lied, saying I was with my boyfriend, so I looked for a fake boyfriend and looked at yours, so "lonely."

"Oh... okay."

Hayami got up from her chair, noticing that the explanation was enough for the girl.

"I'm leaving. It was nice meeting you."

Andrés just smiled, but Carmen took her hand.

"Don't you want to stay?"

Hayami looked at her a little strangely. She had noticed that she wasn't the typical jealous girlfriend.

"It's fine."

She sat back down and looked at Andrés, who until that moment had seen how attractive he was. She shook her head, wondering why she could be anything, but one of her rules was never to be with someone who had a partner.

Hayami ordered a round of drinks.

"Tonight's on me," Hayami said, sipping her drink...

The night had gone well. Hayami had danced with the girls, and Andrés had sat alone, drinking like a bodyguard.

Hayami had drunk more than on previous occasions; she knew she couldn't even drive. She went to the bathroom where it wasn't very noisy and searched for her cell phone in her purse, which, due to her drunkenness, she couldn't find. When she finally found it, she searched for her sister's contact information.

Isabel was fast asleep, but the ringing of her cell phone woke her up abruptly, scaring her. She looked at her phone with her tired, puffy eyes and the first thing she saw was the time, which read 3:00 in the morning. Then she saw it was her sister calling.

"What happened, Hayami?"

She answered, her voice dull with sleep.

"Sister, I need you to come here finally... I mean for me."

Hayami started to laugh, her intoxication so strong that she couldn't string her words together properly.

"You're very drunk."

"I know, I'm drunk, but I'm wise enough to know I can't drive in this state, but if you can't, I'll drive, no problem."

She answered, her voice clearly intoxicated.

"No, no, I'll see what I'm doing now. Tell me where you are?"

Hayami gave her the name of the place, and Isabel hung up the phone. She didn't know what to do; she didn't like driving at night because she had once crashed, which made her afraid of driving at night. She always avoided it. They had a driver at home, but it was too late to call him. She was afraid of taxi drivers at night, and all she could think of was to talk to Noah. He made the call. The first time she didn't answer, but on the second try, he heard her slightly hoarse voice.

"Is something wrong, Isabel?"

He asked, surprised.

Noah had never received a call from her so late.

"Sorry I woke you up, but I don't know what else to do. I didn't want to bother you... Hayami needs me to pick her up at a club. She says she's too drunk to drive. Could you give me a ride?"

"Drunk? Isn't she always drunk?"

He joked a little.

"I imagine she had too much to drink this time."

"Okay. But don't worry, I'll pick her up, you rest."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, text me the name of the place."

"Okay, thanks, and excuse me."

"No problem, I'll head over there now."

Hayami put her cell phone in her bag and, upon leaving the bathroom, noticed a girl in a corner kissing the blond man who, when she arrived, had spoken to her. She looked closer and realized it was Carmen. She turned her head as if she hadn't seen anything and returned to the table where Andrés was still sitting. She sat down next to him.

"And your girlfriend?"

"She went to the bathroom with the girls."

"Ah..."

She answered, still standing close to him.

"Why don't you like dancing?"

"Ah, I'm not very good at it."

"We're all very good at it, it's just a matter of confidence."

She took his hand and, as they stood, placed his hands on Hayami's hips. She began to dance, and he blushed as he looked into her eyes.

"You know, a few years ago I developed a sense for men. I mean, I know what they're like just by seeing them, and even more so by listening to them. That instinct has almost never failed me, and now that same instinct tells me you're a good guy."

"What's all this about?"

She leaned closer to his face.

"You deserve someone better than that girl."

"Like that? Someone like you?"

He replied flirtatiously.

She smiled.

— No, I'm not someone you should love, I only hurt, even if it's not my intention, and I wouldn't want to hurt someone like you.

He looked into her eyes; she seemed very sincere. He had only met her a few hours ago, but he was happy he had. They were so close despite the darkness; they could see each other's eyes.

— Grrrrr.

Noah cleared his throat...

Noah had parked his car in the spot Isabel had mentioned. He got out and entered the space. He scanned the tables and the people, looking for Hayami. His gaze stopped when he saw her with a boy very close, almost about to kiss. He approached them; he had to clear his throat for her to realize he was there.

— What are you doing here?

She asked, separating from Andrés, seemingly surprised.

— I came for you. Your sister called me and asked me to bring you, but I offered to come alone.

"Hmm. Well, worse is nothing."

Noah turned and walked toward the exit.

"Well, I'm going. It was nice meeting you, Andrés, and I mean what I said, find someone else who appreciates you."

"Okay, okay."

He replied, smiling at her.

She took a card out of her purse and offered it to Andrés.

"I work here. If you want to go out dancing someday, just ask for me."

He took the card and tucked it into his pants.

"Sure."

Hayami approached him and kissed him on the cheek.

"Goodbye."

She waved goodbye; before leaving, she found the waiter and paid for all the drinks they had consumed. As they left, Noah was leaning against his car with his arms crossed, waiting for her.

"Come on, I'll take you home."

"In your car?"

"Yes, we'll leave yours. Give me your keys."

She turned her head away, but gave him her car keys, which he put in his pocket. Hayami walked over to the passenger seat and got in. Before Noah got in, he just sighed.

Neither of them spoke during the entire drive. Hayami only glanced at him a few times while he drove. When they arrived at her house, Hayami got out of the car and didn't let him help her.

"Do you have your house keys?"

She took them out of her purse to show him, waving them, just before he took them. She fisted them, hiding her hand behind her back.

"Give them to me."

He was losing his patience.

"No."

He answered defiantly.

"You're unbearable. Drunk, well, and sober too, but even drunker."

"I didn't ask you to come for me. You're no longer mine."

"Your sister is pregnant. You can't call her in the middle of the night just so she'll go after her 'drunk sister.' Give me the keys."

She showed them to him again, slightly opened her blouse, and dropped the keys inside.

"If you want them, take them."

He tossed his hair, not knowing what to do, and twirled it around a few times. Hayami just laughed; for some strange reason, she enjoyed pissing him off. He leaned in close to her and then reached for the doorknob, praying it was unlocked, which it was.

Isabel had left it unlocked in case Hayami lost the keys.

Opening the front door, he took Hayami's hand like a little girl, and they went upstairs. He went into her room with her, and Hayami sat on his bed.

"Well, I'm going now. I've left you safe and sound."

"Uh-huh, and then?"

Hayami got out of bed, put her hand inside her blouse, and took out her keys, throwing them on the floor. He just rolled his eyes; he was just doing that when she took off her blouse and approached him. She took his hands and placed them on her waist. He felt her soft skin again.

"What are you doing?"

He asked calmly, as if the touch of his hands on her skin wasn't affecting him.

"You interrupted something today, don't you think? So I have to get even for it."

"What do you mean?"

She approached Noah, who didn't move an inch. Hayami closed her eyes and her lips touched his, which responded to the kiss. She placed her arms around his neck, and they both parted their lips slightly. He thought those kisses were poisonous; he knew they weren't out of love or affection, they were just meant to annoy him, but they were still delicious.

He felt the touch of her tongue against his. She pulled away from him and smiled wickedly.

"Deal settled, now I'll sleep."

He smiled too, as this woman drove him crazy. He really didn't like her, just as he knew she didn't like him either.