Araina didn't know if it was the alcohol messing with her reasoning or the fact this stranger had asked if she was okay but she felt safe as he held her hand, leading the way.
Some would call it being foolish by letting him lead her to God knows where but for some reason, despite the danger signs she just walked with him.
A part of her curious about who this man was the other part warning and reminding her she was to be married in a week and shouldn't be too friendly with a man she just met.
They finally got to a private area which looked like the VIP area. Taking their seats, Ariana noticed this area had better lighting and she took a good look at the stranger.
He had a nice frame, muscular but not too muscular, tall, caramel like skin, deep emerald eyes and dark hair that was tied in a loose bun.
"Wow" Ariana said under her breath, trying not to stare too long as she watched him order a drink for her. He was the most attractive man she had set her eyes on.
He turned to her quicker than she had expected and Ariana swiftly looked away; feigning innocence and a smiled curled up his face seeing her cute behavior.
"You don't want anything strong right?" He asked raising one of his thick but neat brows.
"Yeah I don't" she admitted, knowing she was already slightly drunk and she wanted to get home in one piece.
The bartender served them and the stranger was the first to speak. "Do you feel better now?". Ariana paused for a moment before it clicked he was referring to the moment she almost threw up.
"Yes I do actually. Thank you" she answered.
He scanned her face and it seemed that she was truly fine and he went further to say "If I may ask, why are you here? I take it you're not the kind to come to places like this".
"Oh I'm here with a friend for a bachelorette party on the second floor. A party I do need to get back to soon" she explained.
A knowing expression adorned his face as he stared at her.
"You don't need to come to places like this if you don't want to. You don't want to be tainted".
Ariana stared at him wondering what he meant by that statement as her mind went back to what she experienced earlier on.
The thought made her skin crawl and she nervously shivered. Her body movements caught his eye and he said "There's something on your mind right? Mind spilling?".
Ariana was amused by how he spoke with so more grace and manner that comforted and compelled her simultaneously.
Despite the fact she didn't know him, she found herself narrating how her entire day went. He stared and listened.
"Its sad to have something you've worked for being taken away from you. What's your plan now?" He asked taking a sip of the red liquid in his glass. Her eyes followed his movements and the unexpected question spilled out of her mouth.
"Did you do something to me? I am quite surprised by how comfortable I am telling you all this. Why did you care anyway...when I almost threw up on you? Why are you so nice?" She asked squinting her eyes and puffing her cheeks in a manner that made her look cuter than usual. The alcohol kicked in for a moment there.
A deep chuckle fell on her ears as she noticed he was laughing.
"Why are you laughing?" She asked wondering what was funny. Not knowing her round cheeks and squinted eyes made her look so cute he couldn't help it.
"Well first, I cared because I was the one you almost threw up on. Secondly, let's just say I'm someone who's willing to listen" he said staring at her eyes. Ariana bit her lips as they kept eye contact. His gaze; alluring, deep, dark and intense.
She drew in a breath and quickly stood up. "It was nice chatting with you but I think I need to get back to the party. Thanks for your company".
She began walking away before he could utter another word. His eyes followed her retreating frame and something in him dared to pull her back but he remained calm as he took another sip of his drink.
Ariana quickly returned to the party which had kicked off to see Yvonne frantically asking around for her. Finally seeing Ariana, Yvonne sighed in relief "I was so worried about you. I had our phones so I couldn't call but the bartender told me you went to the bathroom. Please don't get me scared like that ever again".
"Sorry. The line at the bathroom was so long". She lied.
She didn't want to tell her friend about how she was harassed earlier because it would only make her more worried.
The party went on and though Ariana shared happiness with the bride to be, she wasn't exactly having fun as she thought she would. For some reason,the green eyed stranger lingered on her mind longer than she wanted or expected.
She quickly left him because there was something about the way he spoke and stared at her that pulled her in and she didn't want that. He looked like a chronic player and the kind of bad boy her mum warned her about in highschool. Additionally, she couldn't imagine having feelings for another man asides Rodrigo. She loved Rodrigo and she preferred it stayed that way.
Though the stranger was sinfully handsome, he was the type she avoided. She heard the danger alarm blaring in her head while she was with him but somehow, he still seemed nice to talk to.
"You're engaged, you shouldn't be thinking of other men Ariana. Rodriguez is enough for you" She told herself as she gulped another glass of wine. A weak and temporary attempt to forget her troubles.