Unlucky: Luxury And a Lies

Chapter 8: Strangely Delighted 2 POV's: I know her better than you do

James's POV: 🍃

He laughed at my words, and to be honest, I couldn't even remember what I had said just five seconds ago. The room was thick with a hazy cloud of smoke, and I decided to take another hit of the blunt before passing it back to Perez. He was here, sharing this moment with me, and that was all that mattered.

Perez was laughing quietly, and I found myself staring at him, unable to resist the magnetic pull he had on me. He noticed my gaze and turned to look at me. "What?" he asked with a hint of curiosity.

I shook my head, my thoughts a jumbled mess. "Nothing," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

He took another drag and passed the blunt to me. I accepted it, taking a hit and then placing it down, killing the fire. Perez looked confused for a moment until I gently took his head into my hands and kissed him. He made a surprised noise but quickly responded, kissing me back with a fervor that left my head spinning.

"What was that for?" he asked, his voice low and filled with curiosity.

I smiled against his lips. "For standing up for me," I whispered, the words filled with gratitude.

He chuckled softly, his breath warm against my skin. "I did barely that," he admitted, but his smile showed a hint of pride.

"Yeah, you did," I affirmed, my admiration for him evident in my eyes.

He looked at me, his eyes slightly red from the weed. "If I really did, he'd be in the hospital or some shit," he remarked with a hint of nonchalance.

I paused, considering his words. Did he really have the power to take things that far if he wanted to? He was chuckling to himself as he lit another joint. I stopped him, a question on my mind.

"Really?" I asked, my voice laced with curiosity.

He nodded, taking another hit. "Sure, nobody pushes James. Only me," he said, and I couldn't help but scoff, feeling slightly delighted by his words. Perez was someone who would go to great lengths to protect those he cared about, and I found that incredibly endearing.

Perez took another drag from the joint, and I used the moment to glance around the room. "Is my music taste really that bad?" I asked, genuinely curious about his opinion.

He laughed, exhaling a plume of smoke before responding, "Nah, I was just messing with you. I like New Jeans too."

"Really?" I raised an eyebrow, surprised by his admission.

He nodded, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Yeah, I can be on some super shy shit too," he joked, and I couldn't help but laugh.

He was surprisingly easy to be around, and I found myself enjoying his company. "You, shy?" I questioned with a playful grin.

He nodded, his smile genuine. "Everyone's shy. What about you?" he asked, returning the question.

I nodded in agreement, not expecting such an honest and open conversation. "Super shy," I admitted, feeling a connection with him that went beyond our usual interactions.

He chuckled, his laughter warm and inviting. "I believe you," he said, and in that moment, I realized that there was more to Perez than met the eye. He had a depth to his personality that intrigued me, and I was eager to get to know him better.

-

Her name is Mia, pronounced 'mee ah,' and she has her arm draped around my shoulder. I can't help but notice her interest in me, and it makes me giggle to myself. She's been chatting away about something, but my attention keeps drifting toward Danielle. She's sitting across the room, and her gaze is fixed on me, but her expression is far from happy. I can't help but think it's her own fault; after all, she was the one who wanted to be here in the first place. She should be able to deal with it.

Mia leans in closer, her voice pulling me back to the present. "Are you listening, darling?" she asks.

I nod, but my tipsy state makes me feel like I'm leaning back too far. My head rolls to the other side, and I find myself too tired to turn it back.

Mia chuckles, clearly amused by my intoxicated state.

"I'll take her home," a voice interjects.

I glance up, surprised to see Danielle standing there. Mia turns to her, clearly confused. "Excuse me?" she says, her tone edged with curiosity.

Danielle doesn't look happy, and she's determined to take me home. It's clear that she's not willing to let me spend more time with Mia, and I can't help but wonder what's going on in her mind.

The atmosphere in the room shifts as Mia and Danielle engage in a silent but palpable standoff. Mia's arm remains around my shoulder, but she starts to withdraw slightly, sensing the tension in the air.

Danielle, with her usual poise and a hint of assertiveness, repeats her intention. "I said I'll take her home."

Mia raises an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by Danielle's intrusion. "And why should you take her home?"

The two women exchange a wordless but intense gaze, their unspoken rivalry crackling with tension. It's a strange and surreal moment, with the backdrop of a pulsating party fading into the background.

Finally, Danielle responds, her voice laced with a mixture of determination and annoyance. "She's my friend. I know her better than you do."

Mia doesn't back down easily. She tightens her grip on my shoulder and stares at Danielle, as if silently challenging her. "I think Minji can decide for herself."

As they continue to lock eyes, I find myself caught in the middle of their unspoken battle. It's evident that Mia is attracted to me, and Danielle, despite her initial nonchalance, seems unwilling to let me drift further away from her. I watch, feeling torn between the two, as they size each other up in a silent clash of wills.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, I speak up, my voice slightly slurred from the alcohol. "I'll... I'll go with Danielle," I mumble, my words a tentative attempt to diffuse the situation.

Mia reluctantly lets go of me, and I rise from my seat, a sense of unease still lingering in the air. Danielle offers me a reassuring smile as she leads me away from the party and out into the night.

As we step into the cool air, I can't help but feel conflicted. My gaze shifts from Danielle to the party I'm leaving behind. I know I've just left a potentially intriguing connection with Mia, but at the same time, there's an undeniable comfort in being with someone who knows me as well as Danielle does.