Chapter 5 Meetings (2)

"Dani! Wait! Don't run too far!" Alina shouted, seeing Danielle's back getting farther away and disappearing into the crowd at the exhibition on the resort's ground floor.

Alina sighed in resignation and tightened her grip on her bag strap before delving deeper into the ballroom where the exhibition was taking place. Glancing at her watch, she saw that it was already ten a.m.

After spending yesterday exploring the resort and relaxing on the beautiful and calming beach until sunset, they planned to spend today trying out the various entertainment facilities available. They would end the day by swimming in the pool while enjoying the beautiful beach view. However, they saw an exhibition in the resort's ballroom on their way to the outdoor area.

A high-ranking Vampire organized this exhibition because not just anyone could host such an event. Alina observed the paintings on display and realized her guess was correct. The paintings were mostly about Vampire history and related subjects. Alina was initially worried that vampires would dominate the exhibition. Still, after hearing positive reports from the pack members who came with them as guards, Danielle was thrilled and ran to the west side, where the main attraction paintings were located. At least Alina could feel relieved that even though the artist was a vampire, the attendees were mostly other supernatural beings.

"You can wait for me somewhere else if you're uncomfortable here, Felix," Alina said to the faithful guard standing by her side.

Alina was still puzzled as to why Alpha had assigned several pack members as her and Danielle's guards. However, Felix or the other pack members would give mysterious answers whenever she asked. The others followed Danielle or stood guard at the room's corners.

"No, Miss Alina. Alpha's orders are to guard you and Lu-- I mean, Miss Danielle," Felix said.

Alina wondered in her heart what Felix was about to say. But she chose not to ask further because she already knew where the conversation would end. "Alright."

"But if you're uncomfortable, I can walk behind you, keeping a distance to make you more comfortable." Alina nodded briefly and watched Felix move away and disappear. Still, she knew simultaneously that Felix was close and watching her.

A light sigh escaped Alina's lips as she walked on, observing each painting on the wall. Soon, her phone vibrated inside her bag, and she took it out. The word 'mama' and her photo appeared on the phone screen, and Alina decided to go to the toilet to talk because it was very crowded. Once in the bathroom, she pressed the green button and said, "Hello, Mama."

"Alina, how is your vacation at the resort, dear?" her mother asked in a familiar, gentle tone.

"It's very enjoyable, Mama. Today, Dani and I plan to try all the entertainment facilities available. Still, right now, she's busy looking at the paintings at the exhibition."

"Exhibition?"

"Yes. There's an exhibition here, and Dani is very interested in seeing it."

"When is Justin arriving? Have you asked Danielle?"

"She said at lunchtime." After that, they had a light conversation until the call ended.

Alina looked at her reflection in the mirror and took a deep breath. Her gray eyes, inherited from her father, were always a point of attraction for others. At least among all her features, Alina could feel proud of her eye color. She turned on the water faucet and splashed water on her face. After ensuring her appearance was intact, she walked out of the toilet, intending to return to the ballroom where the exhibition was being held, and pull Danielle away.

When Alina re-entered the ballroom, the first thing that caught her attention was a man standing not far from her. He stood there, facing Alina. His blonde hair was neatly and perfectly styled, and his cold, sharp blue eyes looked so beautiful.

Alina's body froze as their eyes met, and she could have sworn she saw the corners of his mouth lift into a small smile before disappearing into a thin line. The man was like a god created to showcase his handsomeness.

Alina's heart beat quickly as the man slowly walked toward her. Still, unfortunately, their eye contact was broken when Danielle stood in front of her with bright, excited eyes. Alina glanced at the man briefly and found him watching her intently. Her cheeks flushed red before she turned back to Danielle and focused on her friend.

"Come on, Aline! Now let's go to the outdoor area! I can't wait to try the resort's flying fox!" Alina nodded and let Danielle pull her out of the ballroom. Still, before she left, she turned back and looked at the man one last time with one question lingering in her mind.

Who is he?

Alina was busy questioning the mysterious man's identity in her mind, so she didn't notice that Danielle and Felix were exchanging glances.

....

When lunchtime arrived, Justin came with a gloomy expression. Alina watched her friend's movements closely and realized he was hiding something. Whether it was a big problem or not, it was enough to upset him, with occasional flashes of anger in his eyes. Of course, Danielle also noticed her boyfriend's odd behavior. Still, unlike Alina, who didn't dare to ask because it would seem nosy, Danielle bravely asked, though privately and without involving Alina.

Seeing all this certainly made Alina feel uncomfortable. Her instincts told her something was wrong; whatever was bothering Justin must be serious. Alina sighed softly and looked at Justin and Danielle alternately.

"How long are you two going to whisper to each other? Have you forgotten I'm still here?" Alina asked casually. Her head was bowed, watching her hands stirring the food on the table. She glanced at them briefly before returning to her plate.

"Umm ... Alina ..."

She looked up and gazed at Justin inquisitively. "I don't want to force you to talk, but if you keep discussing things before me, I'll get more curious. Besides, isn't this supposed to be a vacation?"

"We're sorry, Aline," Danielle murmured.

Alina pushed her lunch plate away, no longer interested in eating. Then she gave a reassuring smile to her two friends, who were looking at her with apologetic expressions. Slowly, Alina stood up and grabbed her bag.

"Where are you going?" Justin asked, noticing Alina's actions.

"I will buy some cake from the shop near the resort. I saw it on our way here yesterday. You two wait for me at the pool area. I'll catch up with you. Do you want me to get anything for you?" Alina said.

"Do you need to buy a cake from that shop, Aline?" Danielle asked with a difficult-to-describe expression. She looked scared and a little panicked, or was it something else? Alina didn't want to guess what her friend was thinking. "Uh ... no ..."

Alina nodded briefly and walked towards the exit. "Wait, Aline!"

"Yes?" She turned around and looked at Justin, who was walking towards her. "What's up?"

"I'll go with you."

Alina clicked her tongue lightly and waved her hand dismissively. "No need. I'm a big girl. Besides, the shop isn't far from here, just a few meters, and if you're worried, there are guards assigned by Alpha to accompany me, right?"

Justin looked awkward and glanced at the two men standing not far from Alina with a neutral expression. After a moment of hesitation, Justin finally nodded. Alina smiled and patted him on the shoulder before waving to Danielle and turning to leave the restaurant.

Alina didn't know that it would turn out to be the wrong choice.

...

Chapter 5 Meetings (2)

"Dani! Wait! Don't run too far!" Alina shouted, seeing Danielle's back getting farther away and disappearing into the crowd at the exhibition on the resort's ground floor.

Alina sighed in resignation and tightened her grip on her bag strap before delving deeper into the ballroom where the exhibition was taking place. Glancing at her watch, she saw that it was already ten a.m.

After spending yesterday exploring the resort and relaxing on the beautiful and calming beach until sunset, they planned to spend today trying out the various entertainment facilities available. They would end the day by swimming in the pool while enjoying the beautiful beach view. However, they saw an exhibition in the resort's ballroom on their way to the outdoor area.

A high-ranking Vampire organized this exhibition because not just anyone could host such an event. Alina observed the paintings on display and realized her guess was correct. The paintings were mostly about Vampire history and related subjects. Alina was initially worried that vampires would dominate the exhibition. Still, after hearing positive reports from the pack members who came with them as guards, Danielle was thrilled and ran to the west side, where the main attraction paintings were located. At least Alina could feel relieved that even though the artist was a vampire, the attendees were mostly other supernatural beings.

"You can wait for me somewhere else if you're uncomfortable here, Felix," Alina said to the faithful guard standing by her side.

Alina was still puzzled as to why Alpha had assigned several pack members as her and Danielle's guards. However, Felix or the other pack members would give mysterious answers whenever she asked. The others followed Danielle or stood guard at the room's corners.

"No, Miss Alina. Alpha's orders are to guard you and Lu-- I mean, Miss Danielle," Felix said.

Alina wondered in her heart what Felix was about to say. But she chose not to ask further because she already knew where the conversation would end. "Alright."

"But if you're uncomfortable, I can walk behind you, keeping a distance to make you more comfortable." Alina nodded briefly and watched Felix move away and disappear. Still, she knew simultaneously that Felix was close and watching her.

A light sigh escaped Alina's lips as she walked on, observing each painting on the wall. Soon, her phone vibrated inside her bag, and she took it out. The word 'mama' and her photo appeared on the phone screen, and Alina decided to go to the toilet to talk because it was very crowded. Once in the bathroom, she pressed the green button and said, "Hello, Mama."

"Alina, how is your vacation at the resort, dear?" her mother asked in a familiar, gentle tone.

"It's very enjoyable, Mama. Today, Dani and I plan to try all the entertainment facilities available. Still, right now, she's busy looking at the paintings at the exhibition."

"Exhibition?"

"Yes. There's an exhibition here, and Dani is very interested in seeing it."

"When is Justin arriving? Have you asked Danielle?"

"She said at lunchtime." After that, they had a light conversation until the call ended.

Alina looked at her reflection in the mirror and took a deep breath. Her gray eyes, inherited from her father, were always a point of attraction for others. At least among all her features, Alina could feel proud of her eye color. She turned on the water faucet and splashed water on her face. After ensuring her appearance was intact, she walked out of the toilet, intending to return to the ballroom where the exhibition was being held, and pull Danielle away.

When Alina re-entered the ballroom, the first thing that caught her attention was a man standing not far from her. He stood there, facing Alina. His blonde hair was neatly and perfectly styled, and his cold, sharp blue eyes looked so beautiful.

Alina's body froze as their eyes met, and she could have sworn she saw the corners of his mouth lift into a small smile before disappearing into a thin line. The man was like a god created to showcase his handsomeness.

Alina's heart beat quickly as the man slowly walked toward her. Still, unfortunately, their eye contact was broken when Danielle stood in front of her with bright, excited eyes. Alina glanced at the man briefly and found him watching her intently. Her cheeks flushed red before she turned back to Danielle and focused on her friend.

"Come on, Aline! Now let's go to the outdoor area! I can't wait to try the resort's flying fox!" Alina nodded and let Danielle pull her out of the ballroom. Still, before she left, she turned back and looked at the man one last time with one question lingering in her mind.

Who is he?

Alina was busy questioning the mysterious man's identity in her mind, so she didn't notice that Danielle and Felix were exchanging glances.

....

When lunchtime arrived, Justin came with a gloomy expression. Alina watched her friend's movements closely and realized he was hiding something. Whether it was a big problem or not, it was enough to upset him, with occasional flashes of anger in his eyes. Of course, Danielle also noticed her boyfriend's odd behavior. Still, unlike Alina, who didn't dare to ask because it would seem nosy, Danielle bravely asked, though privately and without involving Alina.

Seeing all this certainly made Alina feel uncomfortable. Her instincts told her something was wrong; whatever was bothering Justin must be serious. Alina sighed softly and looked at Justin and Danielle alternately.

"How long are you two going to whisper to each other? Have you forgotten I'm still here?" Alina asked casually. Her head was bowed, watching her hands stirring the food on the table. She glanced at them briefly before returning to her plate.

"Umm ... Alina ..."

She looked up and gazed at Justin inquisitively. "I don't want to force you to talk, but if you keep discussing things before me, I'll get more curious. Besides, isn't this supposed to be a vacation?"

"We're sorry, Aline," Danielle murmured.

Alina pushed her lunch plate away, no longer interested in eating. Then she gave a reassuring smile to her two friends, who were looking at her with apologetic expressions. Slowly, Alina stood up and grabbed her bag.

"Where are you going?" Justin asked, noticing Alina's actions.

"I will buy some cake from the shop near the resort. I saw it on our way here yesterday. You two wait for me at the pool area. I'll catch up with you. Do you want me to get anything for you?" Alina said.

"Do you need to buy a cake from that shop, Aline?" Danielle asked with a difficult-to-describe expression. She looked scared and a little panicked, or was it something else? Alina didn't want to guess what her friend was thinking. "Uh ... no ..."

Alina nodded briefly and walked towards the exit. "Wait, Aline!"

"Yes?" She turned around and looked at Justin, who was walking towards her. "What's up?"

"I'll go with you."

Alina clicked her tongue lightly and waved her hand dismissively. "No need. I'm a big girl. Besides, the shop isn't far from here, just a few meters, and if you're worried, there are guards assigned by Alpha to accompany me, right?"

Justin looked awkward and glanced at the two men standing not far from Alina with a neutral expression. After a moment of hesitation, Justin finally nodded. Alina smiled and patted him on the shoulder before waving to Danielle and turning to leave the restaurant.

Alina didn't know that it would turn out to be the wrong choice.

...