Chapter 4 The fate

***Denichka***

I just finished my shift. We are in the employee locker room talking. Diana is trying to convince me in spite of myself.

"You know I can't. This morning I had a terrible stomach ache" I say with difficulty.

"But you still came to work. It's Friday, sweetie, we've been working all week and we deserve to de-stress" she said.

She starts by rolling her eyes. When she starts, it is impossible for me to resist her.

"Well, it's okay" I sighed.

She starts jumping up and down with joy.

"Don't worry, I'll be careful with whatever you drink."

Like every time we go out, we get ready at Diana's house. My parents work during the day so they are home. As for Diana, she lives alone. Her parents are on the other side of town. She has all the freedom she needs.

We take our bikes and arrive at her house. She lives in a building with many apartments. Hers is on the second floor.

The owner of the place is a very nice lady in her fifties who does not give us a hard time.

"Good evening, Mrs. Jada."

"Good evening, girls. I hope your day wasn't too tiring."

"Yes, but we have no choice. In life you have to work." answered Diana.

"You are right. I like it when young people talk like that. Denisha, when are you going to meet my son Bastien. He already has a stable job and is looking for a girl with whom to plan for the future, you know how to make children, all that."

This moment is almost embarrassing. I try in spite of myself not to laugh and to act as if nothing had happened.

"Uh, I'm not currently looking for a relationship. Why don't you talk to Diana about it?" I asked her.

"Diana said she is already in a relationship that and you were single" she replied.

Of course, Diana. She loves to do that to me.

I cast a murderous glance at Diana, who stifles a laugh.

Not knowing how to push her away, I accept despite myself.

"I'll think about it, Madame Jada."

She smiles with all her white teeth.

We take our leave of her. On the second floor, Diana and I start to laugh.

"Wait, what was that?"

"Her son I've seen a few times before and let me tell you, he's not my kind of guy at all. So I thought of you. You should be thanking me instead of being mad at me.

"I'm not mad at you, but I'm going to give you this one back," I say, laughing.

We laugh heartily.

Once inside, we get ready.

"What are you wearing?" asks Diana.

"I don't know yet" I reply as I pass the body lotion over myself.

She pulls out a little red dress with a wide neckline in the back and sequins all over.

"Ah no, I'm not going to wear that tiny thing" I say stifling a laugh.

"That tiny thing as you say, you created it yourself. Since when does an actress disparage her own accomplishments?"

"I don't denigrate my achievement just by creating it, I was thinking more about her very beautiful supermodel girls who have the world at their feet."

She walks over to me and places me in front of the mirror.

"Look at you, beautiful. You are an exotic goddess. You can have any man you want. We are both single. How do you expect us to get married if we don't meet nice guys?" she said on a humorous note.

I sigh and lower my head.

"Here, wear this dress quickly and I'll do your makeup. You know how hard it is or we are already late." she says.

I nod and do it. Diana's dream is to revolutionize the world of makeup and hair. She dreams of doing the hair and makeup of the biggest stars the world has ever known.

It's not because she's just my friend, but this girl is an ace makeup and hair stylist. She does wonders.

We finish getting ready and go downstairs to get into the cab we ordered.

"Good evening my pretty ones" says Mrs. Jada, the smile on her lips.

We return her smile and enter the cab.

"Get ready my pretty, we're going to spend a crazy evening" announces Diana.

"Can I know where we are going?"

"In one of the biggest nightclubs in Bali: THE NOUR"

***Chaz***

I am glued as if I had been hypnotized. I can't even describe what's going on in that moment.

"Hey, Chaz! What's going on?" asks Yuz, shaking my shoulder.

"Uh, no, I..." I say with difficulty.

We continue our discussion but I'm no longer concentrating on what he's saying. All I can think about is this angel that just appeared.

It was like a warmth when I saw him. Not to mention the smell she gave off, a sweet soothing smell.

"Hey Chaz, are you listening to me!?" questioned Yuz.

"I'm fine, don't worry" I said.

"You know we can do this another time if you don't feel well" he says, scrutinizing me with his eyes.

"No, I'm fine" I replied.

In the back of my mind, I was hoping she would come back or pass by us again. But there was no sign of her.

I half listened to Yuz talking about his job and all the extraordinary things that happen in it.

"This night is kind of lame. We're just two men alone. I should have invited some girls." said Yuz with a huff.

"Especially no girls. It wouldn't be right for me. Personally I don't want to and the paparazzi would love to write about me" I said with a sigh.

"There's nothing extraordinary there. Just a soccer player enjoying his vacation in Bali." he said with a laugh.

We start laughing.

He tells me about his sister and his parents.

I'm an only child but Chaz has a younger sister, Trixia. I remember her trying to get my attention any way she could when I spent all my time with her older brother.

Chaz just told me that she got married earlier this year and is currently pregnant.

"She's only twenty-three years old. Why would she get married so young!" I exclaimed.

"There is no age to get married, Chaz. If you feel ready and able to do it, there's no need to hesitate because you're not old enough yet" he said between two sips.

I nod. To tell the truth, I don't really think about marriage. Not that I'm frivolous by nature, but the only thing that keeps me busy is my career.

I'm more interested in my career and I care about how to be the best in my field. I don't have any limits and I do everything to go much further.

I thought I was young for this kind of thing but hearing that Trixia had jumped in made me think.

Yuz asks for more drinks for us but this time she doesn't come.

I call her that because I don't even know her name. I am overwhelmed by this wave of feelings that takes hold of me. I've never felt like this before. I can't even say exactly how I feel.

On the one hand I want to see her again and on the other I am afraid. Afraid to feel what I just felt

Yuz insists that we go to dinner in the restaurant in the hall. What I end up accepting against my heart.

We left the VIP box for the restaurant. We ordered steak but to tell the truth I ate almost nothing.

"What's wrong, Chez? For a moment I observe you and I see well that you are not on your plate" questions Yuz to me.

"Did you see the angel from earlier?"

"What are you talking about?" he answers

I knew full well that I would have a hard time expressing myself. I decided not to say anything more and keep it to myself. I don't want him to think I'm crazy.

"No, leave it alone. Come on, tell me about your job."

"I've already told you most of what I have to tell you about it. Tell me a little about your career. You were a quick success. On every soccer field or TV it's Chaz here, Chaz there. I always knew you were going to make it in this business. It shows that you have an indescribable talent. It was just a matter of years," he says with a smile.

I smile at his comment. I remember our teenage years. I used to watch soccer games while he went to parties.

So much so that my dad would question my sexual orientation. It made me laugh inside.

To be honest, I've only had two relationships in my life. But I never really fell in love. Those girls were all shallow and rich kids, like me. But what I mean is that they had nothing special to offer. They spent their time making collections of shoes or bags that cost an arm and a leg. And all of this, in my money.

Which made me wonder if they really loved me or if they were with me just because of the money.

They made me lose the desire to start a relationship. I've been waiting ever since. I don't even know what I'm waiting for.

I tell Yuz a little bit about everything that is happening in my career, how things are going.

"I hope I'm not boring you too much," I say, taking a time out.

"Not at all, I love soccer like most men. I heard on a TV show recently that several clubs are fighting over you. Do you know yet where you'll be signing for next season?"

"No, it's my agent who takes care of that kind of thing. Of course we discuss how to analyze the offers. But at the moment I have no idea which club I will choose. I just want to clear my head and enjoy my vacations" I say between two sips of my fruit juice.

Yuz raises his head as if he had an enlightenment.

"I know exactly where to enjoy your vacation," he says with a smile.

I was about to refuse but he didn't let me.

"Come, follow me."

He grabs me by the shoulder and takes me who knows where.

After a few minutes of travel, we arrived in a crowded place. It is a nightclub.

"I don't like crowded places" I say to defend myself.

"At NOUR, all the parties are blackout. It will be dark, no one will see you. And then we'll stay away for a while. You know you need this kind of time to loosen up a bit. I think you're too serious. You weren't like this before. I want to find my best friend and spend some unforgettable moments with him before you leave again next season" he says.

His words touch me and I decide to go.

We go through a less crowded area and we are seated in the VIP seat upstairs. People seemed to know Yuz well.

Indeed it was a blackout evening. The night club was plunged into the black but there were nevertheless some small lights which came by moment.

We were served champagne. I am not supposed to drink alcohol but I take advantage of this evening to break the rules. I feel like I'm becoming a second person.

I begin by dancing to the rhythm of the music with my glass in hand. Moreover, the DJ plays sounds that I love. I don't deprive myself and I have a good time.

Yuz left me for a moment to go. I don't know where. He was running as if he had seen the devil.

I have a strong urge to pee and I decide to go to the bathroom.

I go down the stairs and I find myself in a corridor always plunged in the dark with the light which comes by moment.

"Oh, no, can't you pay attention?"

I just spilled my drink on a woman.

"I'm sorry, my apologies."

I can't see anything since we are in total darkness. All I can see are the sparkling sequins on her dress and that very bright red color.

And there, the light reappears revealing her pretty face. Here, I feel like I know her. In spite of her imposing make-up, I manage to find myself: it is the angel of earlier.