03|beauty wrapped in shame

Brenda G

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"If midnight finds you in that goddamn party, just find a place to stay!"

My mother's words echoed in my head as I arrived at Sydney's place. She was not approving the party but as my father said, I needed to make friends and interact with the people I was gonna be schooling with.

I was clad in a knee-length, white cotton dress that hugged my slim figure impeccably. The dress was decent, except for the part where it exposed a whisper of my breast cleavage. I had to wrap a scarf around my neck region to hide my exposed flesh.

My feet were adorned with low-heeled silver ankle boots.

It was around 6 pm and the music blaring from the stereo was enough to awaken Egyptian mummies from their place of rest. The windows and everything else that was in close proximity were vibrating in response to the tormenting beats of the song.

A short runty lady, whom I assumed to be the help, ushered me into the bungalow. Knowing the reason for my arrival, she escorted me to the venue of the party, which was at the swimming pool area.

A pool party, cool!

I thanked the kind lady who smiled in return then strolled off.

The pool area was massive enough to accommodate an entire whale. Bodies of teenagers both male and female, danced to the catchy beats of whatever song was playing. Most of them were drunk, judging by the staggering movements and the nauseating stench of alcohol that wafted in the room. A mixture of expensive colognes suffocated my nasal cavity, triggering a sneeze from me.

I hate strong perfumes! I inwardly lamented.

The place was decorated with bright yellow balloons which were engraved with the words,' Happy birthday Sydney'

Neon lights from the bulbs flickered in some parts of the room thus creating a lovely ambience.

My eyes darted around in an attempt to locate Sydney but they landed on several teenagers making out in the dimly lit corners of the room, while others were playing beer pong. Some were playing in the cerulean pool water by splashing water on each other.

I was stunned upon not spotting Sydney because I knew no one except for her.

A frustrated groan left my lips as I strolled into the area. I decisively marched to the end of the pool where there were vacant benches.

A thought crossed my mind as I plopped on one of the benches. I took out my phone and commenced scrolling through it, in an attempt to busy myself. Suddenly, someone snatched it from me.

"Hey angel, wanna dance with me?"

I whipped my head to locate the intruder.

My eyes landed on a tall masculine figure. He was clad in a dusty noir tee shirt that hugged every contour of his manly chest. His massive biceps bulged under the pressure of his short-sleeved tee. His dark blue pair of denim pants fit his posterior impeccably. Due to the neon lighting of the room, I was unable to clearly make out his facial features.

I stood up intending to grab my phone back but unluckily, someone showed up behind him. He was jabbed on the shoulder and as a result, he stumbled forwards, towards me.

I stepped aside, avoiding the collision of his body with mine.

"You are drunk, man. We better get going," a deep familiar voice ordered. I didn't see the guy's face but I grasped his attire.

A baggy silver hoodie cap covered most of his face. Part of his hair was resting lazily against his forehead. He reminded me of the boy that I met at the stream earlier.

"Oh come on! Okay, let me have a dance with her and we will leave." He turned to me, letting out a burp that reeked of whiskey then held his hand out for me.

I outstretched my hand and demanded in irritation, "Can I have my phone back? "

"Darl-" he commenced but I rudely interrupted.

"Phone!" I insisted, my eyes not leaving his dazed ones.

He just cackled, facing the other boy over his shoulder, then pointed his thumb at me, "they-act like this-then -I finally take them to bed," he slurred his words.

I laughed silently, biting my lip in frustration. I was about to say what I felt the jerk deserved but the other boy stepped between us. He had taken the phone from him and then handed it to me.

"Here," he placed it on my palm. His deep voice was low. It felt like he was talking to himself.

I decided to leave before I could end up screaming and taking out my anger on them.

I thrust my phone into the clutch I was carrying as I galloped towards the exit. My conscience warned me to watch my steps but I was too late since I had made an accidental step that sent me straight into the swimming pool with a splash.

I felt all my strength vanish just from the thought that I had fallen in the damn pool in front of everyone, with my clothes on.

The cold water seeped through the fabric of my cotton dress, soaking it up entirely. Laughter roared in the air as the spectators enjoyably watched me struggling to stay afloat. Most of the onlookers were busy taking photos of me with their phones.

Humiliation devoured me.

I felt like drowning myself in the pool. Maybe then, the embarrassment would be drowned along with my corpse.

I held my breath to help me last a minute as I calculated how to show up in front of everyone soaked to the bone.

Suddenly, someone jumped into the pool and grabbed my drenched body and yanked me out of the water as I battled to free myself from his grasp.

"Damn, play the music, it's just miss clumsy." A girl yelled-ordered and in a swish, the music was back on and everyone started walking away except for my saviour.

I turned to him and my mouth dropped. He was the same boy from the stream and still the boy who appeared while I was fighting with the crazy drunkard boy a few minutes ago. I couldn't forget how his wet hair had clung to his forehead in the stream just as it did at the moment.

But even though his hair hid his face, I got to see his cerulean eyes which shimmered under the flickering of the neon lights as he stared down at me.

"Now, you were drowning." He smirked then pushed his cap down hiding his face once more.

I was about to talk when Sydney appeared behind him. Her face held a look of surprise which swiftly vanished.

"You need a change of clothes," she addressed my mysterious saviour.

He waved his hand off and then turned back to me as if anticipating my speech.

I could have thanked him but he looked like he was about to laugh at me. So, I just decided to follow Sydney and overlook his act of goodness.

"You are welcome." He whispered in my ear as I walked by next to him, and I didn't miss the sarcasm in his voice but I ignored him.

We had just stepped into the entrance of the house when a girl jumped on us while screaming. She held a sharp shard of a whiskey bottle.

It was so sudden that I didn't understand what was happening until I saw Sydney lying on the tiled floor, blood oozing from her assaulted area, and I had fallen ass flat beside her, as people approached the scene.

"I will kill you!" Those were the girl's words that she uttered as she got dragged out of the place.