s.jy || falling for the starboy.

chapter 3: spontaneous protection

i went back to the nightclub as promised. i wanted to have jiah as company since i had no other friends sane enough to join me at a bar before finals week.

however, jiah had important plans, so i came alone. suddenly, i remembered jake’s warning about coming here alone.

instantly, regret washed over me.

but it was too late to turn back now that i was standing in front of my cocktail, seated in the same spot as before.

glancing at the crowd behind me, i realized there was no point in trying to leave. the place was packed, loud, and chaotic. getting out would be a miracle.

i resisted the urge to drink my cocktail too quickly. my alcohol tolerance was low, and one drink with 30% alcohol might just make me tipsy.

“hey.” a man’s voice called out to me. i turned to see a half-drunk guy sitting beside me. “you look like you need company.”

his eyes looked off, and he was biting his lip at me. my face contorted into a disgusted expression, and I tried to hide it.

“i’m fine by myself, thank you,” i replied bluntly.

he smirked. “pretty alright.”

ugh, his face was so annoying.

“hey, uh, sir, can you make another vodka cranberry for this woman right here?” he called to the bartender, gesturing to me. “my treat.”

immediately, i shook my head at him and the bartender. “oh no, please don’t. i’m good with just one cocktail.”

“come on,” he groaned, and the tone made my skin crawl. “you’re being coy right now.”

what did this guy want? i was holding back an attitude, but the only thing restraining me was the fact that he was drunk and a man who might retaliate.

i needed a way to make him leave without being rude.

“i have a boyfriend,” i lied, hoping he would take the bait. “i’m just waiting for him.”

it wasn’t entirely a lie since i was waiting for jake.

the guy sneered and shook his head. “it’s always that same line.”

i furrowed my brows in confusion. “huh?”

“just say i’m ugly, man,” he whined, burying his head in his hands. “i always get rejected by the pretty girls.”

i pursed my lips, feeling very uncomfortable and unsure of what to do.

i glanced at the bartender, but he was too busy making cocktails for other customers to hear the guy's earlier comment. asking for help was impossible right now.

“hey!” the guy suddenly screamed, turning his head to me with a scary look on his face.

his voice startled me, making me flinch.

“just tell me i’m ugly, you little stuck-up bitch!” he yelled. “you women lie all the time.”

this guy sounded like a psychopath.

“i’m telling the truth,” i defended, trying to keep my voice steady. “i’m just waiting for my boyfriend.”

“oh yeah?” he sneered, rising from his seat with a threatening scowl. “then where’s this big boyfriend of yours, huh? i don’t see him anywhere.”

i swallowed hard, fear growing too obvious to hide. i was seconds away from running when suddenly, an arm slid around my shoulder. my heartbeat quickened, assuming it was yet another creep. but as i turned, i found jake standing next to me, his face just inches away.