But what about Serenity? Is she okay with it?" he questioned, wary of causing any trouble. Without giving him a chance to reply, Lavinia abruptly ended the call, providing him with the room number – 807 on the 8th floor. Reluctantly, Alex decided to take the elevator up to the 8th floor. Meanwhile, in the apartment, a series of events were unfolding. Lavinia, seized by a sudden desire for a warm bath, hastily wrapped a towel around herself and headed towards the bathroom. Serenity, noticing her actions, interjected, "Lavinia, we don't have hot water in the tub yet. It's not fixed." Lavinia reassured Serenity, "I'll fetch hot water from the kitchen sink. I'll fill the bathtub myself." Serenity, resignedly, went back to her book, leaving Lavinia to her own desire. "We have to get ready; we have dinner with our manager, we have to be on time," Candy chimed in. "I'm already dressed up, I'm just going to comb my hair," Serenity said. As preparations for a dinner with their manager ensued, Candy voiced her concerns about Lavinia's time-consuming endeavor. She saw her fetching some hot water from the sink in the kitchen. "Lavinia, we will be late, hurry up," Candy sighed. Nonetheless, she decided to lend a hand. "I'll help you do that to make it quick," Candy added. Just as the tub-filling operation gained momentum, the doorbell rang, signaling Alex's arrival. Serenity, upon opening the door, was taken aback by his unexpected visit, cautious of the potential consequences. "What are you doing here, it's forbidden," Serenity said worriedly.
Before Alex could explain himself, Lavinia, overhearing his voice, interjected, advocating for his entry despite the rules. "That's fine Serenity, no one will know except us," she called out. Serenity relented and allowed him in, but her expression has a mixture of worry. "I'm sorry to disturb you, I just want to..." When Alex was about to talk his intention to Serenity.
Inadvertently Lavinia paced in and accidentally dropped her towel. Alex's eyes widened in shock when he saw her nude, as he immediately averted his gaze, embarrassed by the sudden unexpected turn of events. Candy quickly intervened, acting swiftly to cover Lavinia and usher her into the bathroom. When she got in the bathroom, she smirked secretly, she did it on purpose. Serenity, exasperated by the events, turned to Alex, apologizing and gently asking him to leave. Disheartened, Alex mustered a smile, his invitation for dinner politely declined by Serenity, who cited prior engagements. With a heavy heart, Alex bid his farewell and exited the apartment, the echoing sound of the closing door a symbol of missed connections and unspoken words. After an hour, Serenity, Lavinia, and Candy went to the designated meeting place punctually. They were all looking forward to where their manager, Tencho, planned to take them for dinner. As they exchanged greetings, Candy couldn't contain her anticipation and inquired, "Where are you taking us for dinner, Tencho?" With a smile, Tencho replied, "I will bring you to my friend's bar and host you there." Lavinia and Candy's excitement bubbled as they followed him to the bar nearby, Serenity behind them. Upon arrival,
Tencho introduced them to his friend, the amiable owner of the establishment. After a brief chat, the owner excused himself to go to the counter, leaving them to settle at a cozy table. Tencho suggested, "Order whatever you like to eat and drink. I'll have a word with my friend for a bit." He strolled over to the owner, engaging in a discussion, while the trio pondered their choices. The waiter soon approached, prompting Candy to inquire about their selections. "What should we order?" she asked. "I'm famished," Lavinia interjected, glancing at the menu. Turning to Serenity, she inquired, "Are you hungry, Serenity?" to which Serenity replied, "No, I'm fine with whatever you choose." Taking the lead, Lavinia decided to place the order while Candy excused herself to the restroom. As Candy stepped away, Lavinia seized the opportunity and ordered a plethora of enticing dishes and drinks. Serenity was astounded. "Are you sure of that?" Lavinia scoffed, "Tencho said, order whatever we want, right?" Lavinia said and she returned the menu to the waiter. When Candy returned, she inquired about the order. "Have you placed it yet?" she asked. "Oh yes," Lavinia confirmed with a mischievous twinkle in her eye as they awaited the arrival of their selections. Gradually, the table was adorned with an array of sumptuous treats. Candy, taken aback by the abundance, leaned toward Lavinia and whispered, "That's quite a spread. Did you order all of this?" Lavinia chuckled softly and whispered back, "It wasn't me; Serenity made the choices."
Candy glanced at Serenity, slightly bewildered, realizing they were in for a sizable feast. "We'll have to make sure to savor every bite. It would be a shame not to finish, as Tencho Takumi is generously treating us tonight," Candy remarked.
Laughter danced in the air as Lavinia and Candy shared tales of their escapades, their voices rising and falling in animated conversation. The mood was jovial, the conversation took a darker turn. Lavinia's words turned sharp and cutting as she discussed their fellow club members, their gossip dripping with venom. Serenity sat quietly, feeling increasingly uncomfortable with each malicious word that passed Lavinia's lips. She couldn't bring herself to participate in the mean-spirited chatter, her conscience pricking at the thought of betraying her coworkers' trust. The topic had shifted to Alex. With his chiseled features and magnetic charm. Candy can't hide her feelings for him. "Alex is very attractive; his girlfriend is very lucky," she giggled, her eyes sparkling with admiration. Lavinia decided to interject. "He doesn't have a girlfriend yet. In fact, he is courting me," she proclaimed proudly, a hint of smugness in her voice. Serenity could sense the tension rising in the air as Lavinia's words hung uncomfortably. "Really, he is courting you?" Candy was stunned. Lavinia, with a touch of nonchalance, revealed, "Yes, but I turned him down. I chose Gino; he is better than him." Despite her discomfort, Serenity remained silent. In the meanwhile, unbeknownst to Serenity, Alex followed them in that bar, he was downstairs, waiting for her to come out, but Alex knew that it's been a while since they were there and he will wait for a long time, but he didn't bother.
Suddenly Serenity rose from her seat, causing Lavinia to pause mid-sentence. "Where are you going?" Lavinia inquired, noticing the subtle unease in Serenity's movements. "I will go to the washroom," Serenity replied, her voice tinged with a hint of hesitation. However, behind her polite excuse lurked a deeper desire to leave, to escape the confines of the crowded bar. Lavinia, ever perceptive, sensed Serenity's inner turmoil. "You can go ahead if you want to," she offered, her eyes reflecting a mix of concern, but deep inside her, she is just pretending to be concerned. "No, I won't go without the two of you," Serenity asserted. "We will go home together." she insisted. "It's okay, Serenity. We're still having a great time here. You don't have to force yourself to stay if you're not feeling up to it. We can another time," Lavinia insisted, her voice gentle yet firm. Despite Lavinia's reassurance, Serenity couldn't shake the feeling of wanting to escape the noise of the bar. "Are you sure?" she hesitated, seeking validation from Candy. "I think it wouldn't be right for you to leave. Tencho will be upset," Candy reasoned before excusing herself to the washroom, leaving Serenity and Lavinia. "No worries. I can see you're not enjoying yourself. I'll tell Tencho you're not feeling well. He'll understand," she offered with a reassuring smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. Overwhelmed by Lavinia's kindness, Serenity sighed in relief. "Okay then. Are you sure Tencho won't be mad at me for leaving?" Resting a comforting hand on Serenity's arm, Lavinia reassured her once more. "No worries. Trust me, I can handle him. Your well-being is more important." Lavinia implored.