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Chapter 6. Introduction IV
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As the commotion in the hall stirred, Thomas turned curiously and walked toward the gathered crowd. His gaze fell on Lucy, standing alone amid the murmuring guests.
"What's going on here?" Thomas asked in a low, demanding tone.
"Mr. Thomas," Sushi's husband sneered, "your wife just slapped my wife. I suggest you stop bringing such uneducated women to such elegant gatherings."
Thomas turned sharply to Lucy. "Did you hit her?" he asked coldly, his voice stripped of warmth.
"I... dear, I—" Lucy's fierce spirit crumbled in an instant. Before him, the lioness turned into a trembling kitten. She reached out as if to explain, but Thomas scoffed and stepped back, his expression twisted with disgust.
"Keep your distance. If you have no proper excuse, wait for me outside this building," he said flatly, and without another glance, he walked away.
Lucy opened her mouth to speak, to call him back—but the words caught in her throat. Around her, the other women snickered behind their jeweled hands. Their mocking eyes stabbed at her like cold needles.
Unable to bear it any longer, Lucy fled toward the garden beside the hotel.
Outside in the quiet night, beneath the faint light of the garden lamps, she let the tears fall. Her eyes burned, her breath caught in her chest.
Why?
Why has our perfect life turned into this? Why does he believe cruel rumors before his own wife? I've tried so hard to explain... but he won't even give me a chance...
Biting her lip until it hurt, the tears kept streaming.
Suddenly, something cool pressed against her cheek. Startled, she looked up.
A young man stood before her, smiling gently, holding a glass of juice.
"Who...?" she murmured, blinking away her tears.
"Not joining the party?" the man asked softly.
"I... no. I felt a little unwell, so I came out for some fresh air." She wiped her cheeks quickly, trying to compose herself.
"Here," he said, offering the glass. "I was also escaping for some air... and I happened to find you instead."
She glanced at him, then at the drink. "Fresh air with two glasses? You're drinking liquor, and giving me a juice?" she teased weakly, taking the glass anyway and draining it in one go, to quench her thrust.
"I thought about mixing the two, but dropped the idea. Besides...for your questions I don't like giving women alcohol," he said simply.
She gave a small, grateful laugh. 'At least someone here has manners.' She noticed how he sat a respectful distance away, not too close to make her uncomfortable. The gesture made her ease a little inside.
"So... what's your name?" the man asked gently.
"Lucy Brik," she answered gracefully, bowing slightly—as if to remind him, without words, that she was a married woman.
"Brik... hmm. What's your relationship to Mr. Thomas Brik?" Alex asked, even though he already knew. It was courtesy.
"I am his wife," she said softly, her voice carrying a bittersweet weight that could melt the hardest heart—man or woman alike.
For a moment Alex paused, feeling an unexpected pang in his chest. I want to hold her... comfort her... the thought flashed through his mind. But he shook it away quickly, straightening with purpose.
"He's... a lucky man," he said carefully, hiding his deeper feelings with a quiet smile.
Lucy noticed the flicker of sadness in the stranger's eyes. Oddly, she felt guilty. Why? She didn't know.
"I've told you my name... may I know yours now?" she asked gently.
Alex didn't reply to her directly but he glanced toward the hotel. "Ah... the party is nearly over. How about this—let's walk to the main gate? It's on my way, and we can talk a little more before we part."
Lucy though for a while, looked at her watch and nodded. "Alright. My husband asked me to wait for him by the main gate, anyway."
So the two of them, strangers from different worlds, began walking slowly side by side under the quiet sky
After walking for a while, they reached the main gate. Tilting his head slightly, Alex glanced at Lucy and said gently,
"Miss, I'll take my leave here. But if we meet again, please call out to me. I'd like to think of you as a friend."
Lucy gave a small, polite smile.
"I will. But if I don't see you first, and you see me—you should call out, too. It's only courtesy."
Her voice was light. After all, he wasn't asking for her number or anything improper, so she answered kindly.
Alex paused for a moment, looking at her thoughtfully. Then, after taking two steps away, he turned back with a small grin.
"Miss… to be frank, crying makes people age faster. People would rather see you smile. I can guarantee it—after all, your smile is beautiful."
With that, he jogged off, vanishing into the night.
Suddenly, a loud voice broke the moment:
"Security! Stop that bastard!"
Lucy stood frozen, startled by the shout. Fear crept into her chest as she turned to see Thomas—her husband—rushing toward her, face twisted in anger.
"Who was that bastard? Why were you with him? What did he say to you?!"
Thomas fired question after question without pause, his voice sharp and demanding.
But Lucy, still bitter from the humiliation inside the party, met his gaze coldly.
"Why should I tell you?" she snapped.
Realizing her tone, and seeing Thomas's furious expression, His eyes were wild, sharp like glass shards... not the calm businessman the world knew. She stammered to soften it:
"I-I mean... I don't know him. He didn't even tell me his name..."
Thomas clicked his tongue harshly.
"Tch."
Without warning, he grabbed her wrist tightly and dragged her toward the parking lot.
His grip was tight. 'It hurt' Her heart beat faster, but she bit her lip and said nothing.
"If I find out you're lying… I'll fucking hunt him down and kill him."
His low, dangerous threat hung in the air as Lucy stumbled behind him, her heart pounding—not from fear of Alex, but from seeing the men she love changing slowly to someone she don't know.
Along with the darkness devouring the light and her heart slowly being painted black, his gentle words—"Your smile looks beautiful"—felt like a distant dream slipping away, fading fast as Thomas's harsh grip and furious anger dragged her back to cruel reality.
Alex, humming a quiet tune with a faint smile, unlocked the door and stepped into the house. As he entered the hall, he saw his father sitting comfortably, reading the newspaper.
"Did you meet Danish's daughter at the party?" his father asked without looking up.
"Yes. She's beautiful," Alex replied simply.
"Did you leave a good impression on her?" his father asked again, glancing over the paper.
"Not sure," Alex shrugged.
With a long sigh, Mr. Smith folded the newspaper on his lap. "Where's your sister? She's not home yet."
"Oh... her?" Alex scratched his head, trying to recall. After a moment of awkward silence, he muttered under his breath,
'I don't want my best friend to become my brother-in-law... but I guess he'd be better than some random bastard…'
Louder, he said, "She mentioned something about going to the gym."
"Gym? This late? Call her. She's not answering my phone either."
"Don't worry, Dad. It's probably her friend's gym—she said she might help them out. I'll call her after a quick shower."
"Do that." His father sighed heavily, getting up. "I've spoiled that girl too much… look what she's become." He muttered as he headed toward the stairs.
Alex watched him go and sighed to himself.
"Ahhh... Vasco... there... harder...!" Urial moaned softly, her breath catching in her throat.
Vasco's hand paused mid-motion, sweat forming on his brow. "I-I... Sister Urial, don't say such weird things while I'm massaging your back... anyone hearing this will totally misunderstand..." he mumbled nervously, glancing toward the slightly open door of the gym's private room.
Urial chuckled wickedly, resting her chin on the yoga mat. "What? Afraid someone will think you're doing something indecent to me?" she teased, tossing him a side glance. "C'mon, you promised to help me relax these sore muscles after sparring. You're the one who wanted to learn how to defend from Ikken Hissatsu kicks, remember? I gave you bruises the size of melons today. You owe me this much, kid."
Vasco grumbled, red-faced, as he pressed his thumbs gently into her tense shoulders. "I'm only doing this because you asked. You bully me into these things. I'm not some spa masseuse, you know."
"Then stop acting like a scared virgin and push harder," she smirked.
His hands pressed more firmly, drawing another pleased sigh from her lips. He bit his lip, praying nobody walked in.
As his hands worked, Urial's mind drifted away—back to that chaotic afternoon two years ago.
The alley behind the market. Five men, tough guys, catcalling and circling her like vultures. She cracked her knuckles... and left them all groaning on the pavement, faces bloodied, noses broken.
And then... Vasco.
Standing at the corner, gym bag in hand, watching her with shining eyes—not with fear like most men—but with pure, stunned admiration.
"That spin hock kick... How did you do that three times in row so perfectly!" he'd gasped, rushing forward. "You fight like the bruse lee ! Where did you learn that?!"
She'd been surprised. A man who wasn't running away or flirting... but genuinely interested in her technique.
Later, when she found out he was Alex's close friend—and younger than her—she'd sworn to ignore him. But he asked her for lessons, day after day.
And she gave in.
Because unlike the others... he never flinched from her bruises, her scars, her strength.
"Sister Urial," Vasco said softly, breaking her thoughts, "you're sighing weirdly again. You sure you're okay? Should I stop?"
"No... keep going," she replied, smirking. "You have good hands for a kid who smashes faces for a living."
His face flushed, ears red.
'Why do I always end up like this with her?' Vasco thought miserably, trying not to stare at the smooth line of her back.
She was gorgeous. Not the fake beauty of the models his gym buddies drooled over. Urial was muscle, heat, sweat, bruises... real. Dangerous.
Like a panther that let him come close—for now.
But to him... she was just Urial-senpai. The terrifying older sister of his best friend. His teacher in karate. His toughest sparring partner. A force of nature.
He owed her so much.
She never missed a match. Even when he fought underground tournaments. Even when no one else cared. Urial always stood ringside, arms crossed, her fierce gaze locked on him.
"Vasco, that spinning kick sucks! Do it again!"
"Stop lifting your chin, you moron, you'll get knocked out!"
Her harsh words... were weirdly warm to him.
But did she know how he admired her? How even his Taekwondo from James, or mu thai from Alex... none of it felt right without her yelling in his ear?
"You're lost in thought," Urial said suddenly, twisting her neck to smirk at him from the mat.
He froze. Busted.
"Thinking about my pretty back, kid?"
"N-No! I was just... uh... thinking about your spin hock kick ! From that time... two years ago. When you broke that guy's nose in the alley."
Her eyes softened, just for a breath. "You remember that,?"
"Of course. That's when I decided... I want to fight like you someday."
For a moment, the gym was quiet except for their breathing.
Then Urial grinned, sitting up suddenly—forcing Vasco to stumble back, flustered. She leaned close, her face inches from his.
"Careful, Vasco. Keep saying things like that and I might really eat you whole."
His heart skipped.
But before he could speak, she laughed and stood, grabbing her towel.
"Let's hit the bags. You still punch like a grandma," she teased.
Vasco blinked, still dazed.
Does she mean it? he wondered.
Or... was she just messing with him again?
As they returned to the ring, both pretending the moment didn't happen, the heat of unspoken feelings hung between them—like the heavy scent of sweat and leather in the air.
At Parri's house, he was lazily sprawled on the sofa, phone to his ear, chatting with his friend James.
"Thoi School?" Parri exclaimed. "Isn't that where Sophia teaches?"
James sighed. "Seriously, that far? Couldn't she find a closer school? It's almost 15 kilometers just to get there from her place right?"
Parri snorted. "Bro… aren't you the same? You're going to be teaching there too starting tomorrow. Driving those 15 kilometers yourself."
James grumbled. "Yeah, but I was forced into it. Sure, I agreed after going there once, but in the beginning? Pure mom-pressure. Emotional blackmail at its finest."
"Serves you right, lazybones," Parri chuckled. "Your mom did the right thing. You've been in bed so long I thought you'd started growing roots there. 24/7-365 lounge mode."
"Hey, don't exaggerate. I'm not that bad..." James sighed. "Anyway, I gotta hang up. Need to wake up early and pretend to be a responsible adult."
"Sure, sure. I'll let Sophia know you're coming to her school."
"Yeah, yeah. Goodnight."
"Night."
As soon as the call ended, Parri smirked and scrolled through his contacts until he found the name saved as "My Lovebird 💕🐦". He pressed call.
It barely rang once before the call connected.
"Hello?" came a soft, familiar female voice.
"Sweetie, were you about to sleep? Did I wake you?" Parri asked gently, using the nickname he'd given her.
"Nooo, I was waiting for your call. I can't sleep without hearing your voice, silly," she said with a soft giggle.
After a minute of mushy, lovey-dovey nonsense that would make any bystander gag, Parri remembered something (What he called for).
"By the way, there's going to be a new teacher at your school tomorrow."
"Hm? Who?"
"James. You remember him? My lazy friend who thinks getting off the couch is cardio?"
She laughed. "Ohhh, that James. The one who tripped over a slipper and blamed gravity?"
"That's him. Please keep an eye on him, okay? He acts like a kid sometimes... forgets where he's supposed to be."
"Mou~... Sometimes I feel like you're secretly dating him," she teased. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think your friend circle was suspiciously... close."
Parri choked. "Eh?! That's way off!"
"Is it?" she giggled. "Think about it yourself. Except for you, the other four guys in your group? All in their 30s. Still single. Not even interested in anyone."
"...Damn. You're right." Parri sighed. "Should I start finding partners for them? Set them up before any rumors start?"
"Yes, please! Before someone writes a fanfiction about your secret bromance squad!"
Parri groaned dramatically. "Ugh... Operation: Matchmake the Bros begins tomorrow."
"Good. I'll bring popcorn and watch."
They laughed together, the warmth of their teasing filling the quiet night.