By Zephyria 8. Nevertheless, the night fades away
one
The scorching sun had waned, and a pleasantly soft sunlight began to filter through. In this brief interlude before Indian summer, DeAndre stretched expansively, savoring the crisp season.
“Ah, this is the life.”
He shouted the words aloud and looked up at the sky, a satisfied expression on his face as he turned around. It was then, in stark contrast to the clear weather, that he spotted a man slumped over, and he stopped in surprise.
“What, what’s wrong?”
He raised his voice without realizing it, but the other man didn’t react at all. Feeling foolish, DeAndre cautiously approached and asked, “Dane, what’s up? You okay?”
Hearing the worried tone, Dane, who was sitting on a chair staring at the ceiling with an exhausted expression, replied listlessly, “Yeah. Go away.”
His slurred speech made DeAndre even more concerned, but he knew better than to bother him at a time like this.
What’s with him?
DeAndre, casting glances back, couldn’t bring himself to ask more and left. Dane remained in the garage where the fire truck was parked, blankly staring at the ceiling. Another tedious and futile day was passing.
Desire Me if you can
“Cheers!”
“Let’s drink!”
The men raised their beer bottles, clinked them together, and immediately brought them to their lips. They gulped down the alcohol, and one by one, they set down their bottles and began to chatter.
“So, I had a fight with my wife yesterday. Of course, it was my fault. But still, sometimes…”
“When should I propose to Charlotte? She seems a bit off lately…”
“Did you see the game yesterday? That guy, getting paid so much for playing like that? I could do better myself. He should have pulled the bat back like this…”
Dane tuned out the rambling conversation and continued to drink his beer. After work, someone had suggested grabbing a drink, and naturally, they all headed to the same bar they always frequented.
“Ezra’s fundraiser was held here, too.”
At those words, the boisterous atmosphere suddenly turned somber. No one spoke, and they all glanced at each other awkwardly until Wilkins spoke up.
“Sandra seems to be doing much better. The new drug was effective, I heard.”
His words were met with eager agreement from all around.
“Oh, really? That’s great…”
“That’s a relief. Ezra messed up, but Sandra and the kids are innocent.”
“That’s right. Isn’t that right, Dane…?”
Everyone looked to Dane for his reaction. After all, he was practically a direct victim of Ezra’s actions, so they couldn’t help but be mindful of him.
Everyone was on edge, but Dane’s reaction was indifferent. He silently drank his beer, staring into the distance. He seemed completely oblivious to their conversation, and his apathetic response left them bewildered and scratching their heads.
“Alright, alright, that’s enough. Let’s all just drink.”
At Wilkins’s words, they quickly changed the subject and resumed their trivial chatter. As they became pleasantly drunk and the atmosphere mellowed, the waitress who had brought their drinks subtly gestured to Dane. Dane, who had put down his bottle, met her gaze, and the waitress smiled as if she had been waiting for this.
DeAndre saw it, nudged the guy next to him with his elbow to let him know, and after a few more nudges down the line, everyone was aware. They exchanged knowing glances and meaningful smiles. The waitress, as if nothing had happened, turned and walked away. Dane, watching her retreating figure, finished his bottle and stood up.
“Hey, Dane. You leaving?” DeAndre asked.
Dane nodded, took out his share of the bill from his pocket, placed it on the table, and raised a hand in farewell. Everyone watched him with the same thought in mind. As expected, Dane headed in the direction where the waitress was standing and waiting. It was obvious what would happen next. Dane would leave the bar with that woman…
“Huh.”
One of the men watching made a strange noise. Soon after, another man who had been watching Dane spoke up.
“That guy, he’s just leaving?”
Everyone looked toward the entrance, bewildered. Dane was walking out alone, leaving the woman looking clearly flustered.
The remaining men blinked and looked at each other. Some shrugged, others shook their heads. No one knew what was going on. As they exchanged puzzled glances, one of them spoke first.
“What happened? Dane’s going home alone.”
DeAndre chimed in, “Come to think of it, he doesn’t seem to go to clubs anymore either.”
Soon, murmurs began to spread.
“He’s changed. Dane’s been too well-behaved lately.”
“What’s going on? Does anyone know why? Why is he acting like this?”
“For a guy who used to be like a stallion in heat to become this tame…”
“Could it be that…”
The same thought crossed everyone’s minds. Their faces turned pale as they looked at each other.
Is there something wrong down there?!
The horrifying thought left them aghast. But oblivious to their shock, Dane walked out of the bar and waited for a taxi.
In contrast to the bustling bar, the outside was quiet. He took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and exhaled a long stream of smoke as he fell into thought.
People’s interest was fleeting. After a couple of months, the stream of visitors from various industries dwindled, and people stopped seeking him out as much. The number of people who cheered and rushed to greet Dane also decreased significantly.
He was still popular, and greeting new people and taking photos every few days had become routine. He was living a slightly chaotic life that he thought he could tolerate, but at the same time, he felt bored.
Is this the life I wanted?
Feeling a sense of doubt, he took a deep drag of his cigarette and suddenly thought, I wonder how he’s doing.
Desire Me if you can
The bar located in the hotel’s sky lounge was, as always, filled with thick cigarette smoke. When a man appeared in the dimly lit space, filled with drunken laughter and hushed conversations, everyone’s attention immediately focused on him.
“Oh my god…”
Someone murmured in admiration. Some blushed, others stared in surprise as the incredibly tall man scanned the bar and then headed straight for a spot, as if he had found the face he was looking for.
The eyes in the bar followed him. The man, seemingly unfazed by the intense attention, strode confidently and stopped behind two people sitting at the bar table.
“Hi, how have you been?”
The twins, who had been giggling as they drank, turned around in shock. One of them almost fell off his chair. The man quickly steadied the staggering twin and asked with a gentle smile, “Are you okay?”
The twins were even more surprised and speechless. One of them, who had been helped back onto his chair, finally spoke.
“Who, who are you?”
The man laughed as if he had heard a funny joke. “It’s me, Grayson. Did you forget?”
The twins simultaneously gasped. Unfazed by their reaction, Grayson continued, “I’ve been looking for you. So you were here.”
He was about to say something more, but the twins weren’t listening. They simultaneously screamed in terror.
“Liar! That’s a lie!”
“You’re a fraud, you’re not Grayson Miller! You killed Grayson and took his skin, didn’t you? I’m not falling for it!”
“That’s right, or maybe you’re an alien in disguise. You’re a fake!”
“Or maybe you have amnesia?”
“Is that really it? Marco was like that in the drama we watched yesterday.”
“After acting so high and mighty, someone must have hit you on the head, you bad guy.”
“What goes around comes around, I knew this day would come.”
Grayson, watching the twins ranting nonsensically, was dumbfounded and could only laugh.
“I get what you’re saying, but I’m the Grayson Miller you know. I don’t have amnesia.”
He spoke calmly, but the twins’ faces were still filled with suspicion.
“I don’t believe you.”
“That’s a lie.”
“I’m telling you, it’s true.”
Grayson chuckled at their continued skepticism. As if he couldn’t help it. Soon after, he presented the most irrefutable proof. A faint, sweet Pheromone scent spread around him.
Oh, the twins exclaimed in surprise. Seeing their hesitant expressions, Grayson withdrew his Pheromone again and said, “Do you believe me now?”
It was hard to deny any longer, but they were still confused. The Grayson that the twins knew wouldn’t act like this. What on earth was going on?
The twins looked at each other and then turned their gaze back to Grayson. Like wary cats, they sharpened their claws and asked simultaneously, “What do you want from us?”
A faint Pheromone leaked from them, as if they were slightly nervous. Grayson sighed softly and opened his mouth.
“I came to apologize.”
An awkward silence fell after his calm words.