Killer's Kiss

Chapter three

Lisa hated it already. The noise, the crowds, and the sharp sting of alcohol that hit her the moment she entered the sprawling mansion. Music pounded relentlessly in her ears, making her wince. She resisted the urge to cover them with her hands. She had no idea how she'd ended up here, but Momo had practically dragged her out of their apartment.

The sight before her was a chaotic mess. Sweaty bodies collided on the makeshift dance floor, and the air was thick with perfume, sweat, and smoke. Fun? she thought bitterly, scanning the Lee family's lavish but overcrowded home. How anyone could enjoy this racket was beyond her. Lisa had always preferred silence to this cacophony.

Momo, on the other hand, fit right in. She'd chosen cargo pants and a scandalous top that barely clung to her curves. Lisa wore her usual: a leather jacket, black pants, and winter boots, despite spring's warmth. Sweat pooled at her back, but the stifling heat was the least of her worries.

"Why are you glaring like that?" Momo teased, her grin wide as she swayed to the beat. "Do you even know how to have fun?"

"You'll flash everyone at this rate," Lisa shot back, eyeing Momo's flimsy top. It was a cloth scrap, held together by strings at the back.

"Lucky them," Momo said, unapologetic. "My tits are a blessing to the world."

Lisa rolled her eyes, pulling a cigarette from her jacket pocket. Her fingers stilled as she remembered leaving her matches back at their apartment.

"Sign from the universe that you should quit," Momo quipped, pointing to her chest. "Your lungs are screaming for mercy."

"I didn't ask." Lisa tucked the unlit cigarette behind her ear and surveyed the room. "Food?" she asked after a beat, her tone flat.

"Say less!" Momo lit up, already heading toward the buffet. "The wings smell incredible."

Momo devoured the buffet like a hurricane. Spicy chicken wings coated in sweet chili sauce disappeared by the dozens. Lisa, however, stuck to the sidelines, stomach too queasy to even try. 

"I can't find Chanyeol anywhere," Momo groaned between bites, her hands sticky with sauce. "I need to talk to him about the candy drops."

Lisa raised a brow. "Did you even look for him?"

Momo grinned, holding up a chocolate-stained hand. "I was busy making sure these brownies didn't go to waste."

''You have a match on you?'' Lisa suddenly asks, a cigarette trapped between her two fingers.

''Even if I did, I wouldn't give it to you.'' Momo responds, giving Lis the look of judgment. ''You didn't eat anything.''

''I don't want to. I ain't hungry--'' Before Lisa could finish her sentence, a woman stands before her and lights up Lisa's cigarette with her rosy match.

The woman winks. ''There.'' She extends the lighter in her palm towards Lisa. ''If you want it you can have it, hottie.''

''Thanks.'' Lisa exhales a puff of smoke, blurring the woman's face from her vision. ''You want a joint?''

The woman shakes the smoke away from her face with her hand rapidly, scowling at Lis. ''No.'' She takes a step closer towards the Thai woman. ''I want something else, though. In exchange for the match.''

Lisa smiles. ''I don't want your match.''

''Are you sure? It's expensive and brand new.'' The woman dangles the lighter between her fingers, a daring emotion shown in her eyes.

Lis shrugs, inhaling another puff. ''Momo may be interested.'' She nods over at the scowling Latina.

The woman turns to look at Momo, her face slumps in disappointment. ''You're hot, girl, just not my type.'' She says to her, walking away in anger, stomping her feet like a toddler.