Lucas guided Eren and Yuna through the crowded club, weaving past dancing bodies, music, and the faint haze of smoke in the air. Finally, they reached a large table where a group of familiar faces was laughing, drinking, and teasing one another.
"Look everyone!" Lucas announced with a wide smile, "Eren and Yuna are here too. Now the party's going to be even better."
Cheers and greetings rose from the table. Some waved, others raised their glasses.
"Hey, Yuna! Eren"
"Finally, you two made it".
Yuna immediately jumped into the mix, shaking hands and laughing as if he had known them all forever. Eren, in contrast, only gave nods.
Lucas gestured. "Come, sit here."
By chance or perhaps deliberate design Mark ended up with the seat right next to Eren.
Yuna leaned toward Lucas with a grin. "So, Lucas, what have you been up to lately? You've been vanishing these days."
Lucas laughed, running a hand through his hair. "You know how it is. Ever since exams ended, I've been busy preparing to join my father's company. But I didn't want to miss celebrating with everyone. A birthday is the perfect excuse to bring people together, right?"
The table clinked glasses, laughing and cheering.
Eren sat quietly, his sharp eyes taking in the noise and colors without any trace of amusement.
Mark, noticing the silence, decided to break it. He leaned slightly closer, voice light and friendly. "Hi, I'm Mark. I've heard quite a bit about you from Lucas."
Eren's gaze flickered to him, cool and unreadable, but no words followed.
Yuna chuckled, slapping Eren's arm. "Don't scare him like that, Eren."
Mark raised his hands innocently. "It's fine. I don't scare easily." He tilted his head, trying again. "So tell me—first time in a club, or do you come to these places often?"
Eren's voice was calm, almost indifferent. "First time. I'm not interested in these things."
Andrew, a Beta sitting across the table, laughed and leaned forward. "Oh, come on, man! Who doesn't like this? Drinks, music, people—this is the best part of life."
"Not for Eren," Yuna teased. "Our Eren here is too serious for fun. Always strict, always composed. But hey, Eren, you should at least try to enjoy it tonight."
The others at the table joined in with their jokes and comments, But Eren, as always, remained reserved—answering some things with only a nod, others with silence.
Mark, however, refused to give up. His smile widened playfully. "You're… different from the rest. I guess today's my lucky day to finally meet you." His tone shifted, bold yet teasing. "How about giving me your number? That way, we can talk again sometime." He even added a wink for effect.
The table fell into a brief hush, eyes flickering between them.
Eren didn't move, his face a mask of cold composure. He neither accepted nor rejected—simply ignored.
The silence stretched for a moment too long. Mark's smile stiffened, a faint shadow crossing his features. But he quickly covered it with a laugh, lifting his glass as though nothing had happened.
Lucas leaned forward, about to steer the conversation elsewhere, when suddenly—
Crash!
A loud clatter echoed through the room, followed by curses. Everyone's heads turned.
Near the bar, a young Beta waiter had stumbled, dropping a tray of glasses. A furious customer was already shouting at him, pointing accusingly. Beside him, another waiter Kael was trying desperately to calm the situation.
"I'm sorry, sir, it was just an accident please, don't make a scene" Kael said quickly stepping between them.
But the angry man shoved his hand away, not willing to listen.
In the midst of the chaos, Kael glanced around and froze.
Across the room, Eren was watching him. Their eyes met for the briefest moment.
Kael's face turned crimson. His breath hitched, and he quickly looked away, pretending to focus on the shouting customer.
But his hands trembled slightly as he held the tray.