Chapter 2

ROZETA: 

I went through a week that I wouldn't want to talk about. And just to feel better, I decided to go for a cool-off last night as it was a Friday. But little did I know that a simple cool-off would lead to something unplanned. 

The supposed love bite on my neck opened my memory to almost everything that happened the night before. Yeah, almost. I've been thinking about it all morning and it brought me to an unexplainable point. 

I wasn't looking for anything when I decided to head over to Hawking Nightclub all alone. You got it right — I had no friends to go with and my roommate was super exhausted after a long day at work... her words. 

I started the whole club experience with a shot of vodka before venturing into random dances. In between all of that, I took two extra shots and I promise that it was the last I intended to take. That is until I decided to rest my weary legs in a corner of the club that had fewer people. 

I was already feeling the effects of the alcohol in my system. Turns out I'm a light drinker. This is why I never have more than two to three shots whenever I go out to drink. 

In the middle of the loud music blasting from the speakers coupled with the vibrating effects of those dancing around, I heard a loud “Hi” that grabbed my attention. And I did turn around to check who it was because the bass of that masculine voice sent a tingly sensation through my half-slurry mind in some way.

My hands were folded right across my chest as I stare at the really tall man as compared to my short height of 5 ft 5. My height didn't stop me from noticing his dark soft-looking hair that I would love to run my hands through.

I know I should not have been harboring such dirty thoughts but, damn, he was one fine piece of meat, so much that I was resisting the urge not to gape at his most surely ripped body in the black shirt he was wearing.

"Isn't it odd that you're here alone?" I hear him say that but I was too mesmerized by his looks to even process his words. 

I was able to snap out of it in time, embarrassment flooding me instantly. I didn't expect to be caught off guard like that. 

"Sorry, what did you say?" I demand to know in a high-pitched voice. 

"I was wondering why you're here alone. Or am I wrong about that?" he asks, his tone oozing concern. For some reason, he didn't need to raise his voice like I was doing. 

"Oh," I mutter, tightening my folded arms together. "You're actually right. I'm here alone," I admit. 

"I would like to ask why but it would seem like I'm prying," 

I liked that he was seemingly trying to get my consent first before getting personal with me. All though it might be a tactic, I didn't mind. I was down for a decent conversation. 

"No one had the time to tag along," 

"That's rough," 

"Not as half as rough as the week I just had," 

The genuine concern on his face after I said that made me like him instantly. Not like it was hard to come by... I just needed that. 

Nothing is said between the two of us for a while but I was quite happy with the fact that I was holding out a conversation with someone I never knew before. Was going pretty well in my opinion. 

"What about I buy you a drink then?" the man says not too long after. 

I shake my head. "No, thank you. I won't be able to handle anything else going down my system," 

He narrows his eyes. "Am I crossing a boundary already?" he asks. 

"Not at all..." I blurt the words out of my mouth and I regret it almost instantly. I sounded like I was easily compromising with a total stranger. 

"So, a drink?" 

I think it through a while. It wouldn't hurt to have another shot. At least I came here for a cool-off. 

I agree to his request and we both go off to the booth where he gets two shots of tequila for the two of us. 

The instant the liquor hits my tongue when I made to down it, I knew the night was going to take its own turn and I simply let it through. 

I got talking with the stranger whose name I fail to recall. And the moment I finally knew the night was going astray for me was when I found myself infatuated with the face of the stranger — Blame it on the alcohol. 

Before I knew it, I was kissing him. Yes, I kissed a random stranger that I met for the first time. And normally I wouldn't do that but I let myself be free for that time frame. 

One thing led to another after that small intimate moment with the stranger because the next thing was the both of us leaving the nightclub to go get a room in a hotel a few blocks away from the nightclub. It wasn't just a hotel. It was a four-star one. 

I remember playing it rough with the stranger as we got cozy on the bed. It was the first time I was getting this intimate with someone I was meeting for the first time so I savored every moment of it. 

His touches on me sent ripples down my skin as he used the upper hand on me. I did try to keep up with the momentum. 

I tried to stifle a moan that threatened to escape my lips after he buried his face in the crook of my neck. I never could guess how he knew where my sensitive spot was. 

I give in to the pleasure. And at first, it was soft kisses being planted there by me while I moan uncontrollably, it didn't really surprise me when I felt something sharp prickle on my skin. 

I wondered what he was trying to do until I was certain his teeth dug into my neck. Honestly, that was the last thing I remember because I must have passed out after that. 

"Is this how hickeys are meant to look like?" I ask myself as I keep looking at my reflection in the mirror. It was confusing because this wasn't the first I ever had yet this one looked so different. 

My hand still traced along the swollen part of my neck which looked nothing like a hickey. It was one hell of a mark right there. I think I must have been bitten too hard. 

I'm so stupid, I tell myself inwardly. What was I thinking when I decided to hook up with a stranger? I could have put myself in danger without even realizing it. It's a good thing that I got back to my apartment in one piece. 

I walk over to my cabinet to see if I have any ointment left in the drawer. I need to apply some on my neck so I could get rid of the bruise on my neck in time. And I sure needed to get rid of it before Monday. I can't go to work with this. 

There was nothing that could pass for an ointment in the drawer so I give up on the search. It didn't take too long for me to recall that Lauryn had some on her so I move to ask her for it. 

I haven't even taken a step when I suddenly felt dizzy. So dizzy that it felt like my head was spinning. 

I try to reach out for something so I could balance myself but I couldn't even lift my hand. Every part of my body was stiff and I lost control of myself. 

My last attempt to regain composure was futile as it led to me plopping down to the floor, my head hitting the edge of my cabinet before everything turns dark.