REBIRTH : Chasing The Limelight-Chapter 25 : Next time... come to me sober...

Chapter 25: Chapter 25 : Next time... come to me sober...

When the applause finally faded. Elara stood up from the piano bench. She smoothed the front of her dress with both hands, trying to look calm even though her fingers felt a bit shaky. Before she could step off the small stage, Mrs Vale’s voice came across the garden—soft and warm. "Come. Sit closer."

Elara paused. Just for a second. Then she nodded and walked toward the circle of chairs where the important guests were sitting.

She saw Ziva right away. Ziva was now sitting alone at a small three-person table, still inside the main circle but not right in the center. Elara felt a tiny wave of relief. She went straight there and sat down next to her.

Ziva looked at her sideways. "You handled that well," she whispered.

Elara opened her mouth to say thanks, but people around them started talking louder.

"She sings really well," one woman said.

Another person squinted a little. "True. But she looks familiar somehow."

Mrs Vale smiled subtly. "She’s the girl who sang her own song at Starhunt."

Most of the people there didn’t know about any girl who sang her own song, but those who did reacted immediately.

"Ohhh."

"So, that’s her?"

"No wonder she sounded so good."

People nodded, smiling more now . Someone even laughed in a nice way and said, "She’s not bad at all."

Then Relanie spoke. Her voice was warm and almost sweet. "She has real talent. With the right guidance, she could go much further."

All the eyes turned back to Relanie. People smiled at her like she was the nicest person in the world.

Someone joked, "Then she should stay close to you and learn everything."

Relanie waved her hand like it was nothing. "You’re flattering me too much. If you really pay more attention to her, you’ll see that we’re on almost the same level."

The table laughed softly.

"Oh Relanie, always so humble."

"Your voice is on another level, come on."

"You’re too nice."

Relanie just smiled. But from the corner of her eye, she glanced at Elara.

Elara didn’t say anything. She only kept quiet with her gaze lowered, as long as no one asked her a direct question.

The talk kept going—compliments, little jokes, normal party chatter. Ziva stayed quiet next to her, which was unusual.

Elara was so lost in thought that she didn’t even realize the time she started drinking the glass of wine in front of her. She took a sip. Then another. Then another. The drink was sweet and strong, and it went down easy.

She only snapped out of it when Ziva nudged her arm.

"Hey slow down a bit, you’ve had enough," Ziva whispered, though she was still drinking from her own glass without care.

Elara blinked. Her head felt light now, like it was floating a little. "I’ll be back," she mumbled. "You stay here."

Ziva nodded.

Elara stood up. Relanie glanced over for half a second before looking away. Mrs Vale didn’t seem to notice.

Elara walked toward the side door that led back to the waiting lounge inside the house. She just wanted to splash cold water on her face and breathe for a minute. Her steps weren’t straight anymore and the garden path felt wobbly under her feet. Her thoughts were blurry, mixing together.

She didn’t reach the door before she stopped dead in her tracks. A tall figure stepped into view. Not leaning against the railing like before. He just stood there blocking the way. Back straight. Steel grey eyes glistening in the dark, staring right at her.

Elara’s heart jumped once, hard. Why is he standing there like that? She wanted to walk forward and pass by him, but that was when she took note of her surrounding. Realizing she had came to the wrong place, she spun around to go back without a word.

But...She only took two steps. Before an arm wrapped around her waist from behind.

Strong. Firm. She was pulled back fast and spun around. Before she could even gasp, a mouth was on hers. Hard.

Elara’s mind went white. Her heart slammed against her ribs so loud she thought he could hear it. Adrian.

His lips were warm, firm, tasting faintly of whiskey and something sharp. He kissed like he was claiming something—deep, slow, no hesitation. His tongue slid past her lips, tasting her, and she felt her knees go weak for one stupid second.

Her hands hung in the air, not sure where to go. Then, without thinking, one of them moved up. Fingers slid into his black hair. Soft, thick. She gripped a little, not sure if she was pulling him closer or trying to pull him away.

Adrian stiffened for a second. Then his arm around her waist tightened, pressing her body against his. She felt every line of him—hard chest, steady heartbeat, heat coming off his skin through his shirt. He kissed her deeper. Slower now. Like he was memorizing her mouth. His free hand came up, thumb brushing the edge of her jaw, tilting her head so he could take more.

Elara’s breath came short. Her other hand finally landed on his chest—fingers curling into his shirt. She hated how good it felt. And she hated that she couldn’t stop herself.

When he finally pulled back, both of them were breathing hard.

His silver eyes had become darker now. They dropped to her lips—wet, swollen, trembling a little. Then he spoke. Voice low and calm.

"Next time," he said, "come to me sober."

Elara’s eyes went wide. The words hit like cold water. She wanted to shove him. Scream at him. Ask who he thought she was—did he think she was some easy girl? Some singer trying to climb using his bed? But the words stuck in her throat. She just stared at him. Cold. Hating him. Hating herself more.

Adrian lifted her chin with two fingers. Gentle, but firm. "Why are you always trying to get my attention?" he asked quietly, but all he got was Elara’s stabbing glares which made him raise his brow for a brief moment.

His thumb brushed her bottom lip once. Twice. Then he let go. He stepped back. Straightened his shirt. Smoothed the collar like nothing happened. And then, he turned to walk away. After three steps, he stopped.

Without turning his head, he said, "Tomorrow night. I’ll send a car."

It didn’t sound like a request, it sounds more like an order. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Elara clenched her fists at her sides. Is this life going to end up a mess too. She felt more sober now. And she couldn’t help but think that maybe he was drunk. Maybe she appeared at the wrong moment. Or maybe...

She sighed, standing alone in the quiet corridor, staring at where he had walked away.

This time, her expression had returned to normal. Calm. Distant. She couldn’t afford to make any mistakes this life.

–

The car ride back to Voice was quiet. Harris drove them in silence, not blabbering on this time. It was already very late, the city lights thinning out as they moved farther from the venue.

Elara never saw Adrian again after that moment in the garden. Not even a shadow of him. Ziva, however, had completely given up on dignity. Her head lolled to the side, breath uneven, body heavy against the seat. Dead drunk. Elara didn’t even know where Ziva stayed, so she told Harris to drive them both to Voice. She was so deep in her thoughts that she didn’t notice when the car stopped.

"We’re here," Harris said gently.

Elara blinked, coming back to herself. Harris moved to help Ziva out, but Elara shook her head. "It’s fine," she said. "I’ll manage. I don’t want to trouble you."

Harris looked at her for a moment. Then he straightened, gave his usual neat ninety degree bow, and returned to the car. The engine hummed softly before disappearing into the night.

Elara dragged Ziva inside, step by slow step.

In the room, she half carried, half dropped Ziva onto the bed. Ziva let out a small groan and turned to the side, already asleep. Elara knelt and removed her shoes, then her socks. She took off the beret, setting it aside. When it came to the glasses, she hesitated, then carefully slid them off and placed them on the bedside locker.

She pulled the blanket over Ziva. Elara stood by the side of the bed for a moment, staring at her face. Ziva looked different like this. Her sharp pride was gone, her brows relaxed, lashes resting quietly on her cheeks. Without the glasses, her face looked almost gentle. Beautiful, in a quiet way.

Elara turned away and went into the bathroom. Cold water splashed against her face. She stayed there for a while, hands gripping the sink. But when she came out, the thoughts were still there. Adrian’s words appeared in her head again.

Tomorrow night. I’ll send a car.

She didn’t believe it. His fiancée was here. He wouldn’t dare. He couldn’t.

Still, the words clung to her. Elara went to the bed and lay down flat on her back, staring at the ceiling. Her mind refused to rest.

She had to do something. She couldn’t refuse him...