Chapter 7 (Lana) – I am a strong independent woman…

“Everybody is happy and yet here you are a the corner of the bar, not to mention in the dark like you are hiding from someone,” Calvin said as he took the seat in front of me. 

“I am happy,” I said, as I took a sip of my beer without looking at him. 

“We’ve been friends for a long time, Lana,” Calvin said as he open a bottle of beer with the use of a spoon,” I know very well when you are trying to hide something.” 

“I don’t have anything to hide,” I said with a shrug, as I finished up the beer in my glass and signaled for another glass. 

“Yeah,” Calvin said in agreement, finally! But just when I thought that he had already given up, he said the words that I never wanted to hear, “Yeah, you have nothing to hide. You are just hiding from someone,” Calvin added with a wink. 

I laugh a little louder than I usually do to try to hide my embarrassment for being caught, as I continued to pretend that the woman beside Nori, who by the way wouldn’t get her hands off away from him, is not affecting me in any way.

“How long will you pretend, Lana?” Calvin asks. 

“Pretend what?” I asked Calvin innocently. 

But instead of answering my question, he just sat there in front of me as he quietly stared at my face. 

“Stop looking at me like that,” I said as waved my hand in front of Calvin’s face, “You’re making me uncomfortable.” 

Calvin gave me a sheepish smile, which made me hate him more, “That’s the whole point, exactly.”

I can never win against this guy. 

“But seriously, Lana,” Calvin started to say as he shifted from his seat moving closer to me, “Don’t you think it’s time to move on?”

“There’s no need for that,” I said shaking my head as I finished another glass of beer. I raised my glass up as I asked for another refill, “There was never an us, Calvin. So there is nothing to move on from.”

“We both know that’s not true,” Calvin said softly. I am not quite sure if it’s the buzz from the beers that I have drank or if it was what he truly felt. But somewhere in his voice, I sensed a bit of sadness. Like, the thing between me and Nori is somehow affecting him as well.

I took a deep breath and placed my hand on his chiseled face. Calvin is handsome, actually, he’s very handsome, in a CEO - kind of way. Out of the four great Alphas of Purple Hill, Calvin is the one who always looks smart without even trying. Because the truth is, he is really smart. And the way he handles himself including the way that he dresses gives off an I-own-my-own-company-and-I-am-rich kind of guy vibes. 

Drake on the other hand is more of a boy-next-door type of guy. The Alpha was chosen to lead Purple Hill once his father steps down. He may have everything but he always seems to have something that he is looking for. That despite having Isabel, or the efforts that he exerts just to be close to her. He always seems incomplete. But regardless of these little details of imperfection, everyone would agree that he deserves to be the next Alpha of Purple Hill.

Leon, is the gangster of the group, from his looks to the way he talks, he will give you the impression that he is a gangster. But trust me when I say that behind the facade, he is really a softy. I guess that’s one of the reasons why I don’t hate him.

And we’re down to Nori. Nori is like a mafia god. Like those guys, you see in Asian gangster movies. Well,  minus the tattoos. With slicked-back undercut black hair and piercing eyes that disappear whenever he smiles, Nori never fail to get the attention of the ladies. Not that, the rest of these Alpha boys doesn’t make any girl’s head turn. But for me, Nori has been the most handsome of them all. 

Aside from his looks, Nori has the talent to say the right words at the right moment that would make your heart go crazy. His outgoing personality, which he started to develop, in his early pubescent years was something unexpected and yet lovable. Sadly, I was not the only one who find this side of him attractive.

I have to admit that there are times when I wish for Nori to go back to his quiet self. To go back to being just my Nori. To have our secret little quiet world back. But I know that life doesn’t work that way. 

We all know that in this world that we are living at. The only thing that is constant, is change. Drake has to change to fit what is needed to become the successor of his father. Leon has to change so that he could contribute to the vision that Drake has for Purple Hill. Nori has to change so that he could provide the needed balance in everything. And lastly, I am yet to see what change would Calvin have to add strength to the kind of leadership that Dake wanted to have for his people and alliances. 

Sometimes, when I see them as they grow and be a better version of themselves, I couldn’t stop but feel a bit jealous. Here they are trying to make a difference, while I am left with nothing else to contribute but my power (which is very limited) and the combat skills that I have learned from them.

As much as I want to have my own identity, it would be impossible, because I know that I will forever be the twin sister of the greatest mage in Purpura. They will remember Dana’s name but not mine. 

“Earth to Lana,” Calvin called out my name as he snapped his fingers in front of me, “What the hell it is that you’re thinking, you better stop right now,” he added seriously. 

“I am not thinking,” I lied. 

“Lies!” Calvin hissed as he raised his eyebrow at me. 

“Okay, okay,” I said as I wave my hand as a sign of defeat. 

“Stop overthinking, Lana,” Calvin ordered, “Tonight we celebrate, let’s drink until we drop and dance until our legs gave in,” he added excitedly as he ordered more beer. 

After several glasses of beer, I can feel my shyness disappear as I let Calvin lead me to the middle of the dance floor. Calvin started to dance and I dance along with him. But once in a while, my eyes went in a certain direction to see if the person I wanted to see me is watching. 

I don’t quite know if it was because of the booze or if I was just really that confident that I walked up the stage and did a little sexy dance. Something I would never be caught doing if I was sober. 

I never thought I would enjoy dancing, but every time I hear people cheer for me, give me a certain high that makes me sway my hips more.

Everything was fine until I start to lose my balance and the world around me started spinning. I tried to grab onto something but there was nothing to hold on to until I begin to fall. I was ready to hit the ground but someone caught me before I did. 

“Easy now,” A voice that sounded like it belonged to an angel said.

“Are you my guardian angel?” I asked slurring. 

“Trust me, I am no angel,” he said. I feel the anger, but why does his voice sound so sweet? 

“Why are you so sweet?” I asked, trying to sound sexy but he gave no response. Instead, I felt my legs being lifted from the dance floor as he carried me in his arms. My vision became hazy and the next thing I know was that I was in the parking lot.

I heard a door open, as he laid me down on the car seat and tied me there with a seatbelt. I tried to break free but every time I move, my head hurts. 

“Stay still, Lana,” he said. 

“You know me?” I asked my guardian angel.

“Yes,” he replied.

“Are you taking me home?” I asked a question once again because I wanted to hear his voice. 

“Yes,” he replied and I pouted. I wanted to hear the sound of his voice that’s why I kept asking questions but it felt like he was always brushing me off. 

“You know what,” I said my voice slurring, “I thought you were a handsome angel but I changed my mind. I don’t think like that anymore.” 

The man in front of me stood back and looked at me. But there was something in the way that he was looking at me right now that I found more interesting than the way he looked at me before. Because this time there’s a smile on his lips. 

“Really now,” he said smiling. In return, I ended up smiling back at him because once again I heard his amazing voice. 

“Yes,” I said proudly, “Really now.” 

Upon hearing my answer another sound came from him and this time it was the sound of his laughter. The sound vibrated all over my body, sending an electric current all over my body making my skin tingle.

He crossed his arms and asked, “Then, what do you think about me now?” he asked seductively. I frowned at him but he just kept that freakingly beautiful smile plastered on his face making me more intoxicated than I already was. 

“You’re the devil,” I said as I crossed my arms as well. 

He took a step closer and gripped the roof of the vehicle that I was in with his right hand. His left hand held the side of the car as he leaned closer to me. No, let me correct that closer to my face.

“I don’t believe that I did something wrong to be called that,” he was too close for my own comfort but there was something about him that stopped me from pushing him back. I listen to his husky voice and I found myself ready to surrender. Who the hell is this guy?

“Then if you’re not the devil, who the hell are you?” I asked him.

“Just an ordinary guy who wanted to make sure that this damsel in distress does not cause any trouble.”

“I am not a distress,” I said, I know that my words are clear but I am not sure if it really is, “I am a strong, and independent woman!”

The sound of his chuckle didn’t make me feel offended. In truth, I find it amusing.

I am not sure if it was the atmosphere or if it was the beers but what happened next was something I didn’t expect I would do. I reached for his shirt with my two hands and pulled him towards me as I removed whatever distance we have. And as our lips met, I felt so many different emotions but none of them are bad. It felt like I found the place I belong to. The place that I can call my home. I wanted it to last a bit longer, but then everything turned black.