(Present Time )
The bar throbbed with music, laughter, and clinking glasses. The crowd moved in waves-dancing, drinking, celebrating. On the upper floor, Adrian leaned against the railing, arms crossed, eyes scanning below. His friends lounged nearby, nudging each other as they watched.
"See her?" Jake whispered, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Jenny. Still pining for you, man. Classic."
Adrian didn't smile. He barely glanced at the crowd. "I feel nothing for her," he said flatly. "Only disgust. And I will make her father pay for what he did to my mother."
Ben, his another friend raised an eyebrow. "You're still talking about revenge? Man... maybe just take her tonight and be done with it."
Adrian's jaw clenched. "I want nothing to do with her. She disgusts me. Leave it at that."
Meanwhile, on the ground floor, Jennifer laughed with her friends, swaying slightly to the music. But her eyes were fixed on him-the man who had ruled her heart since junior high.
"I can't believe he's here," she murmured to her friend. "Every Friday... he's always here."
Her friend, Marie laughed softly. "Jenny, you're hopeless. You've been obsessed with him forever. Didn't you say he was everything?"
Jennifer nodded, a wistful smile on her lips. "I can't help it. I've waited for him my whole life. And now I'm back. Nothing else matters."
Another friend leaned closer. "But what if he doesn't even remember you the way you remember him?"
Jennifer's jaw tightened. "He will. He has to."
From above, Adrian's eyes narrowed as he caught sight of her. She moved among the crowd like a fragile flame, laughing, swaying, unaware of the danger around her. He felt nothing but a cold knot of disgust.
"She's... still devoted," Samuel said, shaking his head. "Crazy, huh?"
"Don't care," Adrian muttered. "She'll never see me the way I see the world-never. And her father... he will pay."
Jennifer laughed at something one of her friends said and took a small step back, bumping into someone. Her balance faltered, eyes glassy. Some men in the crowd moved closer, leering.
Samuel said, laughing. "Remember how she used to follow you like a little puppy back in school?"
Adrian's eyes narrowed, voice icy. "She disgusts me. Nothing more. Leave it at that." He rose abruptly, leaving his friends chuckling in the shadows.
Outside, the night air was cool, heavy with the scent of rain. Adrian's car waited at the curb. After completing a business phone call, just as he slid in, he saw movement near the sidewalk-a stumble, a shimmer in her eyes that didn't belong. Some men loitered behind her, too close for comfort.
Before he could react, she collided with his chest, almost toppling over.
"Ah! Watch where you're-" he stopped, noticing her glassy eyes.
"Please... help me," she whispered, voice trembling, almost incoherent.
Adrian's brow furrowed. "Jenny? What-what's going on?"
She clung to him, swaying. "I... I don't know. They were-" Her words slurred, her knees buckling. "They were after me. I didn't-"
"Who? Who's after you? And where are your friends?" he demanded, scanning the street.
She shook her head weakly. "I... I just... please...I lost Marie and others, don't know where"
Adrian grabbed her by the shoulders, steadying her. "Hey, stay with me. You're okay, I've got you."
Jennifer's hands clutched his chest. "I can't... I can't-Please... help me" she whispered, almost inaudible over the music.
"Shh! Listen to me. I'm not letting anyone touch you," he snapped, eyes darting to the men lingering nearby.
"Leave her alone or get ready for the consequences".
The men smirked but hesitated as Adrian's cold stare pinned them. After a tense moment, they backed off, disappearing into the night.
Jennifer leaned heavily against him, trembling. "Thank... thank you..."
Adrian exhaled sharply, still wary. "What did you take, Jenny? Are you drunk? Or... something else?"
Her gaze flitted away, guilty and fearful. "I... I don't know. I thought it would... make me braver. To see you. I didn't-"
"Never. Again. You almost got yourself killed," he said, voice low, dangerous. "Do you understand me?"
She nodded weakly, tears welling. "I just... I needed you."
Adrian's jaw clenched, fists tightening. He wanted to feel anger, wanted to push her away-but he couldn't. Not completely. "Climb in. I'll take you home. And Jenny... stay out of trouble next time."
Her small nod was all the answer he needed-for now.