Traizle
"Traizle." The younger Arias called me, sitting beside me as if we were close. Arching my right eyebrows at him, Arias lifted his hands. "I surrender." he added.
"Zarsuelo is not here." I replied.
He laughed. "I am not finding him," he responded and looked at me from head to toe. "Woah, you are beautiful tonight." he added.
I shrugged my shoulders. "They told me that already." I retorted.
He clapped his hands while shaking his head. "What confidence you have. I am starting to like you more," he answered. "What I meant is that I like you for my friend. You are feisty. You can control that dumb friend of mine who all he knows is to eat sweets." he added.
I don't know if it is sincere, or if he is being sarcastic. "That dumb friend of yours might be looking for you. Better go and find someone you can talk to." I answered.
"What a coldhearted woman." he replied, holding his chest as if he was sad about what I had told him.
"Why are you talking to my girl—oh, Aiden my friend." Zarsuelo said, about to act hysterically when he saw that it was his friend, Arias. "What are you guys talking about?" He asked.
Arias tapped Zarsuelo’s shoulder. "I told her to date you finally, but she is still a coldhearted woman we know." He responded.
Zarsuelo nods his head in agreement. These two punks are making my head ache. "I agree, but anyway let's just dance, Traizle." Zarsuelo told me.
"I don't dance." I answered shortly, declining his invitation.
"You don't have to dance hard, it's for a couple dance. I want to try it with you. Come on." Zarsuelo insisted.
Arias who’s nodding beside him said, "You guys should. Traizle, try to be softer outside, okay? You know, it doesn't hurt to be soft."
He is helping his friend. They are friends indeed. I can vouch for that. I sighed and stood up following Zarsuelo, who was now walking to the dance floor.
“Way to go, Asshole! I’m proud of you!” Arias screamed, supporting his friend.
"You just have to hold me here," Zarsuelo said, putting my hands around his neck. "And I have to hold you here," he added, as he put his hands on my waist. "Did you attend your ball party when you were in high school?" He asked.
"No." I answered flatly.
His eyes widened. "Why? You don't like your partner?" He asked again.
I shook my head. "My mom won't let me." I replied.
My mother would never allow us to take part in anything like that.
"That's better. I don't want them to see you being like this," he beamed. "But still, I hope you did. It was memorable, though. Why won't your mom let you? Because it is expensive?" He added.
We are now on the topic where my past is being dug up. I couldn’t help but to look away from him to avoid the question.
"You are not comfortable about it?" Zarsuelo asked when he noticed I was taking a time answering his question. "Don't bother, I won't force you to tell me if you don't like it. You don’t have to answer that one. I understand." he added.
Why is he serious now? Should I trust him?
"They don't want us to spend our day outside partying or whatever event it is." I shared.
I felt comfortable with him tonight. I feel like I could share some of it with him.
"Why? As if you are doing bad things." he responded.
I shook my head. "If they say don't, we shouldn't, or else they will beat us." I answered, tightening my hands.
He was surprised by my sudden sharing. "Are your parents beating Lyndon and Layzen too?" He asked right away.
"They did." I replied, gaining a frown from him. "How can they do that to my future brothers-in-law?" He asked back. "Let's not talk about it now, it is ruining your mood and I don't want that to happen. But I am happy that you are sharing your stories with me." he added.
"I feel like I can share that with you. That is why." I answered.
"Wait," he commented. "To whom did you tell those stories too?" He asked.
"Jake, the Snack Bar owner, Kelvin, and my friends at the restaurant." I replied.
He sighed in relief. "I will be sad if you tell the story to Layzen's babysitter or with my employees." he answered.
My forehead creased. "And why is that?" I asked.
"Of course, I knew you first. So, I have the right to know everything about you first. If you tell them first, it feels like you really don't like me or hate me." he explained.
"Well, sometimes I do hate you for being such an oddball." I commented.
"That is mean, you know?" he replied. I started to look from left to right, to see if someone was capturing us or what. I should be careful or else I will die in the hands of his fans. "There are no paparazzi here, if you are looking for them. This party is private. I won't ask you if it is." he smiled.
I sighed in relief. "That's good. I don't want to die early," I answered. "Mr. Andrade is here as well." I shared when I saw Mr. Andrade talking to a woman.
"They invited Mr. Andrade as well," Zarsuelo answered. "Do you know him somehow?" He asked.
I shook my head a little. "No, I just met him at your company." I answered.
He tilted his head. "It feels odd when I am seeing him," he replied. "It feels like he knows you or me." he added.
"How can you say so?" I asked.
"He told me before in our first meeting that I grew up well." he answered.
I nodded. "Probably because he saw you before. And if we meet before, I will know him." I replied.
"I hope that's the case. At first, I thought he liked you, but when I realized that he had a son, I didn't worry anymore." he confessed.
"Idiot."
Mr. Andrade is not already too crazy to like me romantically. This oddball intuition is too low and see everything a threat in winning me.