"How did you get my number?" I asked calmly. I didn't let my sudden suspicions towards this girl affect me instantly.

"Ooh, I have my ways~" She said in a chirpy voice and my frown couldn't help but get deeper.

"Okay... so, what's up?" I tried to ask casually. She was not necessarily a friend of mine as she's the girlfriend of my ex husband, still I had to keep up the polite pretence.

"I'm good. Are you busy right now?"

I looked at Shu for a moment then said, "No."

"I just called to tell you that tomorrow is my birthday so my family is throwing a biggg party~. Since you're a acquaintance of Sei-kun and a friend of mine, I want to invite you and your boyfriend to the party. Ah, if you are not busy tomorrow."

'Now, who's my boyfriend again? Ah, right, Shu was my pretend boyfriend...'

My eyes narrowed slightly. Why was she inviting me? Were we that close in the first place? It's not possible that she's literally that naive, or was she?

"I've... no plans tomorrow since its Sunday..." I was hesitating. Going to this party means meeting Akashi and not only him but with Aihana clinging beside him. Even though there were no attachments remaining between us, I still wasn't very used to with his presence especially with his dumbhead of a girlfriend.

Maybe noticing the scowl on my face, Shu looked at me curiously though didn't ask me anything.

"I guess, I can... come."

"Great!~" She chirped in her usual shrilly voice and I cringed. "Don't forget to bring Shu-san too!~"

Then the call ended. Shu looked at me, searching my face for a plausible explanation. I looked outside of the window, the raining has stopped leaving behind a drenched environment and moist, greenish smell lingering in the air.

"Looks like the rain has stopped." I mused looking at the dark night sky. "Now, get out of my house. And,"

Shu looked at me surprised and I smiled.

"I think we've got an invitation to a party. You're free tomorrow?"

_

"This is what you called a party?" Shu asked me calmly but I could sense his bitter sarcasm from a mile away. "Yesterday when you said party, I thought we're going to a club or something as in a real party but you actually brought me in a place like this."

I ignored him and looked at the party before us. And I realized the reason behind his irritation was absolutely justified.

It was one of those fancy parties we see in the movies but never actually see in real life.

The whole mansion was decorated in a superfluous manner. Everything was so gorgeous and eye catching as if the main reason behind the party was flaunting their riches and wealth in front of everyone not celebrating someone's birthday. The long dining table at one side was filled with delicious food though everyone around there were only picking at their food as of they weren't interested.
People were wearing expensive designer clothes, jewels, plastering a sugary fake smile on their faces which was caked up with make ups.

I felt nauseous just by looking at it.

It's not like this was my first time on a party like this; back then when I was still a married 'happy' woman, I used to go to these sort of parties with Akashi. I never liked these parties from the very begining. All the people who comes here were freakingly fake and only cares about themselves and their businesses. They don't hesitate do anything to save their own ass.

"You thought, I was someone who actually goes to club?" I asked Shu as we entered further in to the mansion with my arms entangled with his. "And why the hell am I holding you arm like this? It feels weird."

"I was surprised when you said party, but then I thought you might show me a very unpredictable side of yours but alas! You're just plain as I thought." Shu smirked when I rolled my eyes. "And we have to hold hands like this. We're in a relationship, remember?"

"You talk a lot these days, you know." I snarled, holding the side of my floor lengthened maroon gown with another hand. "And for your information, it's a fake relationship. And seriously, for how long do we have to keep this shit up?!"

"You curse a lot these days, you know." Shu shrugged. "And besides I don't mind. You might be very plain but I can manage a few hours."

I scoffed. I was going hit him back with an even stronger retort but then we got interuppted.

"Ena-san, Shu-san! Welcome!~" A shrilly voice exclaimed and we looked ahead of us.

Aihana was standing there with a smile on her face, holding Akashi's arm beside her. I looked at her and realized why my ex husband was actually dating a girl like her; you can tell that she's rich just by one glance.
She was wearing a gorgeous halter necked magenta gown with a sharp v cut neckline that ended at the middle of her cleavage, which complimented her every gracias proportions of her body. She had a nice voluptuous body and she was definitely not afraid to show it off. She had a smile on her cherry red lips and I couldn't understand if it was real or not.

Then my eyes averted to the man beside her. He was wearing a black suit with a dark maroon shirt, his crimson hair was styled nicely with gel. His one hand was wrapped around her slim waist and his expression was emotionless and stoic.

Then I looked at myself; thanks to Haruka earlier, I wasn't exactly looking like a beggar and quite decent compared to my usual messy self if you ask me. Even after my endless protests, she still ended up buying me a new dress, saying that it was an early gift for my birthday. The dress was made of maroon silk satin fabric that cascaded to the marble floor. It was sequined finely and sleeveless with nothing but two thin straps holding the entire dress up. I didn't have a body I was highly proud of- it actually resembled a log more than a woman's body- but I didn't mind showing more skin than usual if the dress was nice and it was a very beautiful dress.

Surprisingly, Shu also wore a suit today; a whole black suit, even the shirt was black too. I was astonished to realize that he actually had a dress code sense in his head since all he ever wears in the Cafè are just hoddies.

"Hey." I waved my hand awkwardly at Aihana who seemed to look at me up and down. My grip on Shu's arm tightened as his one hand slowly snaked around my waist as a gesture of reassurance. "You... look gorgeous." I said. I didn't notice Akashi's gaze turned hard.

"Oh, thank you!~" She chirped as if I was the first the one to compliment her though I was sure she heard it over thousand times today already. "You look great too, Ena-san. Don't you think so too, Sei-kun?"

I turned to Akashi slightly, who seemed to glaring at me from the very moment I entered the room. If it was any other person, they would've turned into ice just by this intense stare but fortunately, I've experienced these glares enough in my life to finally become immune to them.

"Not more than you, love." Hearing his sugary yet nonchalant reply, my body flared up. When did he become so childish? Oh, right, he always was...

"Of course, not!" Aihana giggled as if that was the funniest thing ever. I scoffed. "And Shu-san you look very handsome too."

"Thank you." He replied monotonously. Neither did he complimented her nor Akashi.

"I'm so happy that you guys made it. I thought you would probably have plans today since its Sunday." Aihana came to me and embraced me happily. Oddly enough, I didn't feel like she was pretending.

"I was right beside her when you called last night." Shu said coolly. "I cancelled my plans just for this party so it better worth my time."

Aihana was still hugging me and I saw Akashi behind froze on his spot. His eyes were slightly widened hearing Shu and his head snapped towards me. Now, I realized that his eyes were heterochromatic and were digging holes at me. My arms lamely wrapped around Aihana's curvy body as I stared at him.

"You two were together last night?" Aihana released me from her grip and looked at us suggestively.

"Yes." I said staring at Akashi as I saw his eyes turned dark.

"You're finally hitting it off, aren't you?~" Oblivious to the fact that me and Akashi were still staring at each other, she slapped my arm playfully.

"Nothing happened." Shu interjected. "Don't have the wrong idea." He took a glimpse at me with the corner of his eyes.

The storm in those red and golden eyes didn't stop though.

"Ms. Aihana."

Suddenly a man called Aihana from behind and she excused herself. Sgu looked at me and Akashi for some time. Then he sighed and lightly put his hand on my bare shoulder. I looked up at him confused, he said nothing but gave me a small nod then went towards the table.

"Looks like he has more sense than you." I heard Akashi's deep voice as I stared at Shu's departure.

"What do you mean?"

"You don't know what I mean?"

I stared at him for some time. His expression was unfathomable but somehow hostile so I couldn't help but let my guard on. "No."

"Letting a man stay at your house at night seems like a sensible thing to you?" His voice was cold and dripping with sarcasm.

"He's my boyfriend." I said nonchalantly.

"Boyfriend," He smirked a little, full of scorn and disgust. "And how long? One month?"

I smirked too, sensing his taunting. "If you really want to play this shitty, stupid game then let me ask you too," I took one step closer to him and took a glimpse at Aihana who was happily chatting with someone afar. "Did you sleep with Aihana?"

"Yes." Without any hesitation, without a single pause, he stated with a straight face.

I smiled and took a step back from him. "Then looks like I'm still one step behind you."

His face turned dark just like the sky turns black before a storm. He was fuming, I knew it, but he was so good at controlling his emotions that I was baffled for a moment.

I glanced back at Shu who standing at the corner of the room, leaning against the wall, with his earphones on, staring at the party before him, all bored and careless just like usual. I smiled a little.

"I'll let you know once I take the next step." My voice was filled with pure resentment and taunt as I took a last glimpse at Akashi and turned away from him.

He didn't say anything, nor did I saw his face if he really wanted to say anything. Ignoring the his intense stare at my back, I slowly marched towards Shu clicking my heels on the marble floor.

For someone who always rants about showing and knowing everyone's place and status, I hope after this, he will know his own place. Arrogant bastard.

_

A/N: IT'S A 10 FREAKING K?!? 🖤💙🖤💙 Thank you so soooo much for all the reads, votes and comments!! ♥️♥️ And it's 10K+!!! Like whoah?!

I've been thanking you guys since I got 1K reads and now that this story has reached such a big number (at least for me it's HUGE!!) I don't know how to thank you guys more. *cheers* 🍻🍻

And maybe I won't be able to update frequently tilk September because my entrance exam is coming up, wish me luck!!

This is a big chapter. I hope you enjoyed it 😀😀

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||By my leave||