CHAPTER 4: She's in Everywhere, Dude

Monday 7th January, 23.10 P.M. Night Club, London.

"You're not tired at all, do you?"

Jennifer turned to her friend, Brittany, and smiled her signature smile.

"Even though you've been busy all day and Ruby says you're tired. Just go to the club like this, you become even more excited." Said Brittany.

"Club always makes me calm, hehe. I'm with you, after all, right?" jennifer nudged Brittany's arm and fiddled with her eyebrows. Brittany herself just rolled her eyes because of Jennifer's behavior.

Jennifer circled her gaze looking for Charlie, who turned out to be serving other customers. After her eyes met Charlie's, Jennifer smiled and Charlie walked over to her.

"Hey, Jen. Ruby reminded me to keep you here and warned you not to get drunk like last night." Charlie said and jennifer nodded at him. Charlie glanced and smiled when he saw Brittany, who turned out to be with Jennifer. Brittany smiled back in a friendly manner. "Good thing Brittany came with you," Charlie continued afterward.

"Um, looks like you're the one who feels very lucky that I brought Brittany here." said Jennifer and Charlie just clearing their throat. Oh, luckily Brittany is focusing on her cellphone screen right now. So, maybe Brittany didn't hear what Jennifer said.

"Ah, mojito. Britt, what do you want?" asked jennifer who made Brittany immediately put his cellphone into his hand bag.

"I suggest not alcohol, Brit. You know, I still doubt Brittany if she gets drunk, who will help her if not you. Yes, right?" Charlie suggests Brittany.

"Ah, yes. That's right. Take it easy, Charlie. Besides, I really don't want to get drunk right now. You might be overwhelmed later," said Brittany who then got laughter from Charlie.

"Okay, just give me the Long Island Iced Tea Mocktail."

Charlie immediately made drinks for Jennifer and Brittany. Actually, Jennifer wanted to order a drink as usual. But, because she remembered Ruby's threat this afternoon and also, it turned out that Ruby had also left Charlie a message.

"Are you usually like this too, jen? Sit still until you get bored?" asked Brittany then.

Charlie placed Jennifer and Brittany's drinks in front of them.

"No. I'm lazy." Jennifer replied by shaking her drink glass.

"Hmm, all right. Then, I'll be there myself. Remember, don't get too drunk." Said Brittany and Jennifer nodded her head. Brittany immediately went to the dance floor which was already busy with visitors dancing together.

*

Usually, Arthur would argue with his friends, like 2 days ago. But, now here he is. He entered the same club again. Actually, he had to go home because he had to work tomorrow. But, He has no idea— something in his mind told him to come here.

Arthur walked with an aura full of charisma. Many pairs of eyes of the women stared at him hungrily. Well, it is normal. And as always, arthur doesn't care.

When arthur was about to walk towards a ladder where he would spend his time like 2 days yesterday, he stopped. He tilted his head when he saw a woman sitting alone on a bar stool. Without being asked, his feet walked over to the woman and sat down beside her. Charlie-the bartender approached Arthur.

"Martini." Said Arthur. Charlie immediately made the drink.

Arthur tried to turn to the woman.

"Looks like you come here often, don't you?"

Since in the line there were only Arthur and the woman — whose name Arthur didn't know — it was obvious that the woman would turn to Arthur. However, the woman's response was beyond Arthur's expectation. The woman just stared at him in bewilderment, a second later she changed her gaze as if examining Arthur from top to bottom and refocused with his own drink.

This woman is making fun of him?

Who does she think she can do that?

Arthur regretted his actions to talk to this cold woman who knew where the urge came from. Luckily the bartender had finished making him drink. So, he can drink it right away.

"Hey, does this woman come here often?" asked Arthur to the bartender. Charlie was confused why this man asked him that. In addition, Jennifer, who seemed to hear it, turned to Charlie. So Charlie just shrugged and walked away from his place.

"I thought you were a polite and friendly man because you already greeted a foreign woman like me. But, I think I have to throw my thoughts away." Said Jennifer sarcastically.

Arthur snorted. "I did try to be friendly to you, because I've seen you a few times here, that's why I asked you. But, guess what respond did I get? So, who is the one not friendly here?"

"Besides, it looks like you're a man who isn't quite sensitive to your surroundings, huh? Where have you been all this time?" snorted Jennifer.

"Pardon me?" Arthur was confused why this woman continued to treat him as if she had branded him as a bad person.

"You should know who I am."

Crazy woman. That's what Arthur was thinking right now. Of course arthur knew nothing about her. Besides, he was trying to get acquainted earlier, right? Why is she's the one here who is so awry.

"I'm sorry, miss. Looks like you are indeed one of those honorable people or a famous woman here. Unfortunately, I don't know anything about you. Because, I just moved here. I think that explains enough?"

It seemed that the woman did not intend to hear more clearly, because the next response was still the same as before. Arthur became convinced that this woman had branded him as a man with bad temper.

"Woman? Why do you keep calling me woman, woman and woman?" jennifer was getting annoyed because the man who didn't know the manners kept calling her a woman as if he was no longer a girl.

"I have a name, sir."

"Oh, yes? I was going to ask what your name is. But, considering you didn't respond to me at the beginning, I also wondered if you want to tell me what your name is?"

Jennifer snorted. She wondered why this man didn't know her name. Even if it was true that he had just moved to London, she should have been a well-known name out there - wherever he lived before London.

Just as Jennifer was about to tell her who she was, Brittany walked over to the two of them and put her arm around her shoulder.

"Are you okay? Is he bothering you?" Brittany asked Jennifer. Her eyes scrutinized the man who was still sitting next to Jennifer.

"I'm fine, Britt. There. They're looking for you." Said Jennifer who saw several people looking at them. Jennifer thinks they are Brittany's friend.

"Hm, okay. I'll be back later. Remember, don't-"

"Don't get drunk. Yes, Britt." Interrupted jennifer while pushing Brittany away.

Jennifer let out a sigh of relief. Jennifer didn't like the way those people looked at her like she was a bully.

Arthur was still staring at Jennifer in silence. Aware of Arthur's silent gaze, Jennifer turned to Arthur.

"She's my friend. I'm here with her." Said Jennifer. Arthur just nodded his head in understanding.

"I thought she was one of them." Arthur then said.

Jennifer furrowed her brows. "They? Who do you mean?"

"Ah, those women who bullied that poor woman. At that time, my friends and I saw you from above, and we saw you again the next day. So, that's why I asked you." Arthur explained.

"Oh. Leave it. After all, it would be 'my food' when I met them. Usually I don't meet them here. But, never mind. I don't care either." Said Jennifer shrugging her shoulders.

Arthur fell silent. The food? So what she meant by this woman in front of him, that it has become her habit? This is crazy. In fact, this woman could still stand those who snared her? Arthur didn't know whether the woman in front of him was really strong and didn't seem to care or it was just a mask that the woman put on every time she met those hellish women, but somehow Arthur didn't like to hear it.

Brittany came back to Jennifer again. She drank her drink until it runs out. Jennifer and Arthur who saw it were silent.

"Ah, yes. This is the third time we've met. Ah, or am I the only one who saw you 3 times in a row? Whatever. But, the point is, I'm going to introduce myself here. I'm Arthur Dale Campbell. And like you said earlier, where I couldn't just call you 'woman', your name is? " Arthur extended a hand to Jennifer after saying what he thought was trite. Again, the response he got was different from what he thought.

Jennifer just stared at Arthur's helping hand in silence and looked back at Arthur's eyes. She raised her eyebrows with a sweet smile - too cute to seem mysterious to Arthur.

"Nice to meet you. But, I don't think I want to tell you my name. And I think you should find out for yourself, Mr. Arthur."

For some reason, Jennifer wants to play tricks on this man whose name is Arthur. Usually, she will leave immediately without wanting to meet other people. After all, she will never be close to other people again after what happened. She only has a handful of people she can trust.

Arthur was stunned and took his outstretched hand. "Excuse me?"

"You heard her." Brittany interrupted.

Jennifer got out of her seat and embraced Brittany.

"It's late and I have to go back, Mr. Arthur. Then, adios."

Jennifer and Brittany left Arthur still speechless - not knowing what had just happened. That unknown woman, just made fun of him, right? Oh, gosh, Arthur was so late in that emotional conversation that he thought she could melt away. and now, she was left just like that.

Arthur laughed sadly. He returned to drinking his martini. A bartender walks up to him.

"Honestly, this is the first time I've seen her fight with a guy and act childish like that."

Arthur looked up at the bartender who had suddenly spoken to him.

"You are Arthur? I've heard you guys a long time ago. Introduce, I'm Charlie and I'm one of his friends he trusts." Charlie said introducing himself. Arthur frowned at the word 'trust' as if that woman had friendship problems like most teenagers.

"What did you say? The first time?"

Charlie nodded his head. "Yes, this is the first time I've seen her fight with a man acting like a child." Said Charlie who then chuckled.

"Really? And what I caught from your saying is, you want to see your friend continue to fight with me, is that so?" sarcastic Arthur.

Charlie laughs at Arthur, who is annoyed at being teased by Jennifer. "Easy, bro. That's not what I meant."

Arthur just grieved. "And what do you mean, then?" asked Arthur.

Charlie stopped laughing and smiled mysteriously. A second later, he shrugged his shoulders - irritating Arthur again.

"Seriously?"

Charlie laughed again. He took Arthur's martini glass which was empty.

"Never mind, don't worry. Besides, you must know who she is easily. She's in everywhere, dude." Charlie said with a smile back.

Arthur didn't know, just a trifle like this could annoyed him. He grieved and got out of his chair. After paying, he left the place and threw away his thoughts that were trying to figure out the riddle of who the woman was.