"Uh... guys, maybe we can all just chill for a second... hahaha" David said awkwardly, trying to cut through the thick tension in the room.
"Tsk! Just what are you even doing here?" Ro muttered irritably, slumping into a chair with a loud thud.
"Dude, in case you’ve forgotten, it’s Dave’s birthday today," Lexter shot back with a raised brow. "We’re all here to have fun. But soone decided to stir up drama. We even helped you out earlier, and now you’re the one getting pissed just because we interrupted your little babe ti."
Ro shot him a nasty glare.
"No one asked you to help ," he snapped. "Tsk. I could’ve handled those guys myself."
"Haha! Yeah, sure—you looked totally in control when we found you downstairs, getting ganged up on!" Alfonso chid in, teasing as he leaned against the wall with a smirk.
"Tsk..." was all Ro could grumble in response.
"Oh right—Sylvia, isn’t it?" Dave suddenly turned to with a friendly smile.
"Mind telling us what really happened? Why did Ro get into a fight earlier?"
Caught off guard, I glanced toward Ro. He was already looking at ... and not kindly. His glare was sharp, as if warning not to say sothing he didn’t like.
"Ah... Ro saw getting... harassed by Jude—the guy he beat up earlier. He stepped in to help ..." I said to Dave, my voice trailing off, unable to et his eyes.
I could feel all their eyes on , and it only made shrink further under their gaze.
"Then Jude’s friends—the ones who ganged up on Ro—ca after him."
"Ahh... so that jerk did deserve a good beating!" Calyx said with a huff. "I should’ve punched that arrogant face even harder!"
Startled, I lifted my gaze to him. He grinned at casually, like what he said was just a normal thing.
"Yeah, that Jude guy and his gang aren’t even that scary. They’re just an ordinary bunch of losers who like to take advantage of the weak just because they have a little influence. So you don’t have to be afraid of them." Dave said before flashing a reassuring smile.
"Don’t worry about what might happen after this—or how it might affect your job," Alpheus chid in with a calm smile. "We already told the bar owner that if he doesn’t ban that creep, we’ll have this place shut down. Imdiately."
His words were kind... but the threat behind them wasn’t subtle. The way he said it so nicely only made it more intimidating.
"A-ah... ha ha..." I let out an awkward laugh, not sure how to respond.
Should I be grateful that they went that far for —or should I be worried? Either way, I had a sinking feeling I’d beco the center of gossip at work for days to co.
"By the way, Sylvia... I don’t an to bring up the past between you and Ro," Calyx suddenly said out of nowhere, "but I was wondering—what exactly was the relationship between you two before?"
The question caught completely off guard—and judging by the stunned looks on their faces, it surprised his friends too. I even saw Alfonso elbow Calyx hard and shoot him a glare sharp enough to cut.
"A-ha... haha... Sorry about our friend, Sylvia," Alfonso said quickly, now throwing an arm around Calyx’s shoulders like he was restraining a loose cannon. "He’s got zero sense of timing. Just blurts things out without thinking. So... please just ignore whatever he said."
"Yeah, we really are sorry about him." Lexter added, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.
A mont later, though, he leaned a little closer to like he was about to whisper sothing.
"Not to pry or anything... but I am kinda curious too—what was the deal with you and Ro back then?" he asked in a low voice.
He tried to keep it subtle, but his voice was still audible enough—and clearly, the others were waiting for my reaction too.
I glanced at him awkwardly. Lexter was just as nosy as the rest of them.
"Hey, you two—cut it out," Dave said, stepping in with a half-smile, half-sigh. "Can’t you tell you’re embarrassing Sylvia?"
He walked over and gave Lexter a gentle nudge, steering him a bit away from .
"I think it’s ti we got Sylvia ho," Alpheus said, his voice calm as he glanced at . "She’s probably had enough for one day. So rest would do you good." He offered a warm, reassuring smile.
"Yeah, that sounds like a plan." Dave added, giving an apologetic look.
"Sorry about them, Sylvia. They’re kind of emotionally underdeveloped—pretty sure they were raised on expired milk." he said with a teasing grin.
The two guys imdiately started to protest, but Alfonso stepped in before things could get going again.
"Alpheus, why don’t you take Sylvia ho?" he suggested. "She really needs a little breather."
"N-No! T-there’s really no need, Sir Alfonso, Sir Alpheus! I can go ho just fine on my own!" I stamred.
I didn’t want to trouble them any further—and more importantly, I didn’t want them knowing where I lived.
"No, I insist." Alpheus said firmly.
"R-really, there’s no need, sir," I insisted, forcing a smile. "I can get ho by myself, I promise."
"But what if Jude’s group is waiting for you outside?" Alpheus asked, his tone laced with concern. "Would you really be able to defend yourself if sothing happens?"
His words struck a nerve, and for a mont, I was at a loss for words.
"There’s no need for you to escort her." ca a cold voice.
Startled, I turned. It was Ro.
"What? But what if sothing happens to her—" Alpheus began to protest, but Ro cut him off sharply.
"I’ll take her ho myself." he said curtly, stepping forward.
His sudden declaration caught everyone’s attention. Even I wasn’t expecting it. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lexter and Calyx exchange knowing glances and whistle quietly.
"N-no! I—I don’t agree to that!" I blurted out, louder than I ant to.
The words ca so quickly, even I was surprised by them. Ro turned to look at , his gaze sharp and unreadable.
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