Chapter 20


    After two awkward minutes, Dn just predominantly talked as if in a monologue since she and the


    irritable man they were with, would only give Dn some verbal nods here and there. He did not seem


    to mind though.


    Serene had known Dn from hosting fashion shows when she was in college. In the couple of times


    she''d work with him, she''d known him as somebody with a mboyant personality, and easy to get


    along with. She recalled  Mary had a crush on him back then.


    “Shen, sorry I got caught up in traffic,” a sveltedy approached her.


    Slightly catching her breath, she pecked each of her cheeks, not caring about the men Serene was


    with. She was wearing a ck halter top and a leather miniskirt that entuated her long slender legs.


    Her hair in a short bob.


    “It’s OK,” Serene answered her with a smile.


    Remembering the others with them, Serene blurted, “This is my best friend, Mary. Mary, this is my


    former boss, Justin Rain,” she motioned towards Justin who did not give any reaction. She then


    motioned to the other man, “And this is Dn…” she stretched Dn’s name as if trying to jog


    something in Mary’s brain. When she did not get any reaction, she added, “Kurosawa,” she did not


    forget to give Mary a secret wink.


    Serene and Mary looked at each other. Their lips did not open, but their eyes seem to have talked to


    each other.


    Mary smiled at Dn then extended her hand, “Hi”. She coyly smiled and touched her right earlobe.


    Serene cannot help but roll her eyes. She knew very well that Mary was secretly flirting with him. Mary


    red at Serene, then looked around. “They’re not here yet?”


    “They are on the long table by the side” referring to the group of people she was with earlier.


    “I see”


    “You wanna head back?” Serene inquired.


    “Nope,” she walked towards the bar and gave the bartender her order.


    With a drink in one hand, she surveyed Serene. She''s beautiful, as always. Since she tied her hair in a


    bun, it exposed her neck. The golden tassels that dangled on her ears highlighted her face.


    But she knew Serene better than anyone else. Most people will see the undeniable beauty in front of


    them and get distracted by it. However, only a few knew that Serene only goes out when something''s


    troubling her.


    “You said you wanted to talk,” she looked at Serene as she slowly sipped on her drink. “Are you sure


    you want to do it here? It’s noisy here.” Her eyes surveyed the ce that was packed by party goers.


    Loud music red in the background.


    “I have a private room upstairs. If you don''t mind,” Dn offered.


    “No, no, it’s OK. We can go somewhere else,” Serene waved her hand in front of her as she hurriedly


    answered, slightly pinching Mary’s waist.


    Mary ignored her signal. “Oh, that’s great! Shall we?” She stood up, drink in hand. "Don''t worry, I''ll just


    message them we moved somewhere else."


    Serene shot angry looks towards Mary who just shrugged her shoulders and followed Dn.


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    Left with no choice, she followed Dn and Mary while Justin quietly walked behind her. His dark eyes


    looked at her exposed back. All the while looking darkly at the men who looked at her direction.


    The private room had its own bar, a pool table, lounge chairs, and a television that showed an


    American Football match but no one watched.Serene and Mary sat together on a lounge chair while


    the men were on the bar, giving them a semnce of privacy.


    “What’s up, Shen” Mary held Serene’s hand and stared at her. Her eyes swept over her friend''s facial


    features, trying to pick up signals.


    “I met Bryan and his husband,” keeping her voice as low as possible, very conscious about the other


    people who were with them.


    “What?” Mary’s high-pitched voice caught the two men’s attention. Justin’s drink stopped midway to


    look at the two girls who were initially whispering to each other.


    Serene self consciously covered Mary’s lipsticked mouth. “Shush” she reprimanded her.


    Mary gathered herposure and in a quiet voice repeated, “What?” Although she significantly


    lowered her voice, her facial expression was still the same. Her eyes were round and her mouth almost


    dropped to the floor.


    Serene narrated the events that happened in the past couple of days, starting from when their former


    President handed down his post to Justin to the day husbands Bryan and Chester bolted to Justin''s


    office. She deliberately skipped hers and Justin’s encounter previous to this.


    Mary’s face was an open book. Justin witnessed all the changes in her face since she was facing the


    direction of the bar. He saw how her eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed into slits.


    He can guess what the two were talking about.Mary covered her mouth and looked at Justin. After


    which, she hugged Serene and stroked her exposed back. Serene’s shoulders were shaking. She''s


    obviously crying. He let out a sigh. He wanted so much to go to her side andfort her. But he


    couldn''t. In what identity is he qualified to do that?


    After a while, to Serene’s surprise, Mary angrily stood up and strode towards the bar. The two men


    pulled their backs straight as they looked at Mary, who was advancing towards them in furious strides.


    If she were a cartoon, she''d have smokeing out of her nose and ears.


    In a fluid motion, Mary’s palm crisplynded on Justin’s cheek, surprising both Dn and Serene. “Stay


    away from, Shen, you jerk!”


    She smoothly made an about face, grabbed Serene by the hand and without a word the two left the


    private room, leaving the two sunned men behind.


    “What was that about?” confused, Dn looked at Justin who was rubbing the cheek that Mary just


    pped.


    “Nothing.” Justin impassively answered.


    “Nothing? That hot girl just pped you, man,” Dn pointing at the red mark on Justin’s cheek.


    His gossipy mode cannot help but turn on. He scanned his friend''s face, looking for answers. Mary


    would not just angrily charge and p him for no reason. He''s Justin Rain, for crying out loud. A person


    must have a death wish to even think about pping him.


    Also, Serene looked like she was crying. From the way her shoulders shook, and Mary stroking her as


    if soothing her, she''s definitely crying. But why? Did Justin do something to her?


    He and Justin have known each other for a long time, although he''s arrogant, he does not hit women.


    Heck, he''d never even seen him get close to a woman.


    What is going on? Dn''s head wanted to explode from all the questions he had.


    “Nosy,” Justin red at Dn but still gave his version of the recent events. Like Serene, he also


    skipped the part that he met Serene the night before.


    Just like Mary, Dn’s face disyed a myriad of expressions that made him look funny.


    “OMG, so Shen, Bryan, and Chester were in a love triangle,” he disbelievingly shook his head. What


    are the odds of such a thing happening in actual life?


    “Stop calling her that!” he snapped at him. Hearing people call Serene as ''Shen'' made him feel left out


    of her intimate circle, which irritated him.


    “What? Shen?” He did not respond to his questions, but the daggersing out of his eyes answered


    him.


    Dn cannot help cannot help but run his fingers through his hair. With knowing eyes, he surveyed his


    best friend. Justin was the pickiest man when ites to women and rtionships, seemed to have


    finally fallen for a girl. But of all the girls he’d fall for, he helplessly fell for his brother-inw’s ex


    girlfriend. He shook his head and cast a concerned look at his friend.


    “Well, they’re over, right? So there should not be any problem right?” He’s not sure if he was assuring


    Justin or himself because hearing him say what he just said, the more absurd his statement


    sounded.