LOST IN THE NIGHT

We had just gotten to our location when loud music and a crowd welcomed us.

The moment I stepped out of the car, my nerves kicked in.

The way I was feeling and my current location didn't rhyme at all.

I was nervous.

I was worried.

And somewhere deep inside me, I was afraid I might do something crazy.

But strangely, the urge to do it was stronger than the fear.

I needed to clear my head.

The place was beautiful.

The lighting was perfect, casting a warm glow over the entire room. People were dancing, drinking, laughing, and enjoying themselves without anyone questioning what they were doing.

For a moment, I just stood at the entrance and watched.

Freedom.

That was the only word that came to my mind.

Everyone looked free.

Nobody cared about anyone else's problems.

Nobody cared about their past.

Nobody cared about their mistakes.

And for the first time in what felt like forever, I wanted to feel that way too.

I wanted to forget everything.

I wanted to forget my mother.

My job.

My problems.

Everything.

My body felt heavy as I sluggishly walked inside.

“Jane, are you lost?”

A familiar voice echoed beside me.

I turned and saw Lisa sitting with her boyfriend.

“Come and sit here."

I forced a smile.

“I’m fine. Don't worry. I'll find my way.”

I didn't want to be a burden to them.

Besides, I needed some space.

I walked toward the bar and took a seat.

From there, I could see almost everything.

It had been years since I'd been in a place this beautiful.

Actually, it didn't even look like the regular clubs and parties I knew.

Everything screamed expensive.

The furniture.

The lighting.

The people.

Even the way the staff moved around made it obvious that this wasn't an ordinary club.

This place looks like it's meant for high-class people.

I looked down at my clothes.

Then at the people around me.

But Lisa and I are nothing close to high class.

So how did we even get here?

“Excuse me, ma'am.”

The bartender's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

“What will I get for you?”

“I'm sorry…”

I hesitated.

“One serving of whisky.”

The words left my mouth before I could stop them.

The bartender walked away.

I stared after him.

Who even gave me the nerve to say whisky?

I've always been a soft-drink girl.

So why did I just order alcohol?

I shrugged.

I'm not a child anymore.

Maybe I deserved to have a little fun.

A few minutes later, the bartender returned and placed a full bottle on the table.

“Here is your order, ma'am.”

I stared at the bottle.

“I'm sorry, I didn't order for this. I—”

“Someone ordered it for you.”

He cut me off

I blinked.

“Wow.”

I looked around.

“Really? Can I thank this good Samaritan?”

“I'm sorry, ma'am. It's anonymous.”

“Oh.”

I frowned.

“Okay then.”

He opened the bottle, poured some into my glass, and walked away.

I stared at the drink.

Then I smiled.

“Cheers to forgetting everything.”

I took a sip.

Then another

One glass became two.

Two became three.

And slowly, everything around me began to change.

I became bolder.

I laughed louder.

I started dancing in my seat.

The music suddenly sounded better.

The lights became brighter.

And my problems?

They seemed miles away.

That should have been my sign to stop.

But I didn't.

I didn't even know what being drunk felt like.

I'd only watched it happen in movies.

I'd only seen Lisa get drunk before.

I never thought it would happen to me.

Until that night.

Just then, the atmosphere suddenly changed.

I noticed people looking toward the entrance.

Some stopped talking.

Others moved aside.

I turned around.

A man had just walked in.

And strangely, it looked like the crowd was making way for him.

Nobody had asked them to.

They simply moved.

He walked with an authority that didn't need an introduction.

Respect followed him without him asking for it.

I narrowed my eyes.

Was he a king?

Or a mafia boss?

I giggled at my own thought.

The alcohol was definitely getting to me.

He was tall.

Very tall.

Broad shoulders.

Sharp features.

And there was something about the way he carried himself that made him impossible to ignore.

Some people looked afraid of him.

Others looked away.

But a few didn't seem to know who he was at all.

I watched as he took a seat in the middle of the crowd.

“He actually looks good…”

I smiled.

“I think I'm crushing on him already.”

I laughed quietly at myself.

Then I turned around, searching for Lisa.

Nothing.

I looked again.

Still nothing.

“Fuck these motherfuckers.”

I frowned.

“They left me again.”

I knew I couldn't go home alone in my condition.

Maybe I should just wait until I felt better.

I turned back toward the bar.

And froze.

My eyes met his.

The man from earlier was staring directly at me.

His eyes didn't move.

He wasn't looking around.

He wasn't distracted.

He was looking at me.

I swallowed.

Why the fuck is he looking at me like that?

There was something familiar about his eyes.

Like he'd seen me before.

But I'd never seen him.

At least…

I thought I hadn't.

He smiled.

Then he stood.

And started walking toward me.

My heart suddenly began beating faster.

He stopped beside me before pulling out the chair.

“Hi, pretty.”

His voice.

I froze.

For a second, I felt like I'd heard it somewhere before.

But my drunken mind couldn't connect the pieces.

I stared at his wrist.

His watch caught the light.

It didn't look like an ordinary watch.

I pointed at it.

“Are you rich?”

He raised an eyebrow.

I burst out laughing.

“You definitely are.”

I covered my mouth.

“You look cute."

I leaned closer.

“I like you.”

He simply watched me,

I picked up my glass and took another sip.

“Do you know that I'm jobless again?"

He remained silent.

“And guess what?”

I laughed.

“My mom said I would have slept with my boss and kept the job.”

The laughter suddenly became harder.

Tears rolled down my cheeks.

I didn't even know whether I was laughing because it was funny or crying. After all, it hurt.

The man's expression changed.

Just slightly.

But I noticed.

He reached for his phone and made a call.

“Hello?”

There was no response.

He tried again.

Nothing.

He lowered the phone.

Then he looked at me.

Something in his eyes had changed.

He leaned closer.

“I miss you.”

I blinked.

“You miss me?”

I laughed.

“I don't even know you.”

He stared at me for a few seconds.

Then he stood.

“Let's get you somewhere safe.”

Before I could respond, he lifted me into his arms.

“Wait!”

I grabbed his shirt.

“Where are you taking me?”

I looked around.

Everyone was staring.

People looked at us as if something unbelievable had just happened.

“Who are you?”

I looked back at him.

“And what's your name?”

He didn't answer.

“Why is everyone looking at you?”

I laughed.

“I know you look cute, but this is more than just looking good.”

He only smiled.

That smile somehow made me even more confused.

He carried me through a hallway.

Past several doors.

Until we reached one at the end.

He opened it.

The room looked like a luxurious hotel suite.

He carefully placed me on the bed.

I stared at the ceiling.

Everything was spinning.

“Stay here.”

He turned toward the door.

“Don't leave this room.”

His voice suddenly sounded serious.

“Bye.”

He turned to leave.

Something inside me panicked.

I immediately reached

out and grabbed his wrist.

“Don't leave me"