I blinked, my gaze refocusing on Christian's face. The party music and chatter swirled around us, but for a moment, it was just the two of us. What are you doing here? Do you know the host" he asked.
"The host?" Do I have the know the host before attending a party?I asked my voice having a little edge than I intended. Christian smile wavered, hummus I'm sorry I was just surprised to see you here, he rubbed the back of his neck." I shook my head, feeling suddenly ashamed for my reaction . "It's okay, uhmm I'm sorry ," I said. "Actually my friend Nana brought me hehe. She's friends with the host." Christian's expression turned thoughtful. "Ah, that makes sense," he said. "Nana seems like the type who knows everyone." I smiled slightly, feeling a sense of agreement. "Yeah, she's got a big social circle."
What about you? I asked suddenly curious"
I had a meeting with a potential client, he invited me here, Christian replied". A meeting at pool party, I asked with raised brows…. Yes, turns out my client is into such frivolities
The conversation flowed easily, and for a moment, I forgot about the tension between us.
You look beautiful tonight Susan, you should wear red more often, he winked.
I looked down , it then occurred to me I was wearing nothing but a bikini the Bikini Nana gave to me in front of him, I suddenly became uncomfortable and angry, what was the point anyway it's not like we did not have a one time affair.
When I looked to catch his gaze watching me I couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking. Was he genuinely interested in me or is this just a charming facade?
I pushed my chair back, the sound scraping against the floor, and stood up, my eyes avoiding Christian's. I felt a wave of embarrassment wash over me, wondering how I had let myself get caught up in this conversation. Without a word, I turned and walked away, leaving Christian sitting alone at the table. The music and laughter of the party swirled around me, but I didn't look back. I just kept moving, my heart pounding in my chest. I needed to get out of there, to escape the awkwardness and the memories that seemed to linger in every glance, every word.
I kept walking, as Christian's voice called out after me. "Susan, wait!" The music and laughter of the party swirled around me, but I didn't look back. I didn't want to give him the satisfaction of thinking I was interested. I quickened my pace, my heart pounding in my chest. I felt a mix of emotions: anger, hurt, and frustration. Why did he have to show up here and act hero? Why did he have to look at me like that, like he still cared? I pushed through the crowd, my eyes scanning the room for Nana. I needed to get out of there, to escape the tension and the memories that seemed to linger in every corner. As I reached the edge of the room, I felt a hand on my arm, spinning me around. Christian's eyes locked onto mine, his expression intense. "Susan, please," he said, his voice low and urgent. "Just listen to me for a minute."
I tried to brush off his hand, but Christian's grip on my arm was gentle yet firm. "Let me go," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, and I felt a lump form in my throat. I just wanted to find Nana and get out of there, away from Christian's piercing gaze and the memories that seemed to suffocate me. "I need to find my friend," I repeated, my eyes welling up with unshed tears. Christian's expression softened, and he released his hold on my arm. "Okay, I'll help you find her," he said, his voice low and calm. But I shook my head, taking a step back. "No, I can find her myself," I said, my voice trembling. I turned and walked away, leaving Christian standing alone, his eyes fixed on me with a mixture of concern and longing.
I approached Nana, my eyes scanning the room until I spotted her laughing with two guys. I made my way over, my heels clicking on the floor. "Nana, can we go?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. Nana turned to me, a smile on her face. "Susan, this is Kelvin and Marvin. We were just catching up." Kelvin, the party host, smiled warmly. "Nice to meet you, Susan." Marvin nodded in agreement. I forced a smile, feeling a bit out of place. "Nice to meet you too." Nana noticed my unease and wrapped her arm around my waist. "I think we're going to head out," she said to Kelvin and Marvin. Kelvin nodded understandingly. "It was great having you both here. Let's catch up soon." As we said our goodbyes, Nana promised to stay in touch, and I nodded along, eager to leave. Once we were outside, Nana turned to me, concern etched on her face. "What's wrong, Susan? You seemed really upset back there." I took a deep breath, the cool night air filling my lungs. "It's Christian," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. Nana's expression turned serious, and she pulled me into a hug. "Let's get out of here," she said softly. "We'll talk about it when we get home."