As Daniel was heading back home, his phone suddenly rang.
At first, he didn't want to check to know who it was that kept calling nonstop but after some minutes, he sighed and pulled out the phone from his pocket.
Seeing the caller ID, he sighed.
"James," he mumbled.
"Hey bro, where have you been? I've been calling you for a while now!" The caller yelled from the other side.
"I am not in the mood to speak to anyone right now?" Daniel replied.
"Why? Don't tell me that your girlfriend finally broke up with you? Hahaha!"
Daniel knew that his friend was only joking but the thing now was that the guy had no idea that what he joked about was really the truth.
He didn't stop laughing until he noticed that Daniel didn't respond to his jokes.
"Hey man, why are you suddenly quiet? It's unlike you, you know?" He asked.
"I'm hanging up now," Daniel said and was about to hang up when his friend shouted.
"No! Wait!"
"What now?" Daniel asked with a tired expression.
"I am at this famous bar, I got two free entry tickets and I have no one to share it with, how about you come over?" His friend asked him.
"No, I'll pass—"
"Everything will be on me, free food, drinks.... Everything! Just come! This way, I can also see you," his friend said, cutting through Daniel's words.
"Fine," Daniel sighed. "I'll be there soon."
After he hung the call, Daniel didn't head back home again, instead, he boarded a cab. Soon, a text message came to his phone.
"To Paradise Hotel," he said to the driver, glancing at the location his friend had sent to him.
Throughout the ride, Daniel was not happy. His mind wandered back to when things were still good for both him and his family.
He was born into a rich family, his father had a company that deals on wears both male and female ones. Even though they were not or could not be classified as those among the richest in the City, they were satisfied. They could afford what an average person could not. And since growing up, Daniel never lacked anything — He went to the best school, had the best, and lived so well. He was really spoilt that he ended up not knowing how to do most things properly.
Unfortunately, everything ended when he was fifteen years — that was after he graduated from high school.
His father was involved in a car accident that instantly took his life. After he was buried, a woman and a girl came, claiming that they were the man's wife and daughter.
No one believed until a DNA test was conducted and it was discovered that the girl was truly the man's daughter. More shockingly, all the rights to the man's property was handed to the woman and her daughter, leaving Daniel's mother with nothing.
They were later driven from their home and were forced to pack into where they now live. Ever since then, things became difficult for them. Now, the mother owned a small stall where she made and sold candies. As for Daniel, he couldn't further his education.
Thinking about everything that has happened in his life, he couldn't blame Sonia entirely because she was after all, right. Who would want to stay with someone like him?
He glanced down at his belle and chuckled — that bitter kind of chuckle. Earning a glance from the driver.
"Boy, are you okay?" The man asked him.
"I've never been more okay," Daniel replied and looked out of the window. 'Never been more okay.'
From his reply, the man realized that things weren't all good with his passenger, so he didn't ask further and concentrated on his driving.
After driving for an hour, they arrived at the place and Daniel came down from the car. After paying the man, the latter drove off while he stood, glancing around.
Daniel approached the hotel building with mixed feelings. "Paradise Hotel," he mumbled with a frown. "Why would James come to a place like this?"
While he was still talking to himself, someone came and forcefully hugged him from the back, causing to trip and almost fall.
"The hell!" He grunted and was about to attack the person but the moment he saw who it was, he halted. "James?"
"Surprised? Hahahah" James laughed, seeing how surprised his friend was. "It's been two years now, bro. How have you been?"
"Take a look at me and you'll know," Daniel replied, frowning.
James stared at his friend for a while — the way his once-smooth skin looked tired now, the way his shirt clung in the wrong places, the faint, forced smile trying to hide how hollow his eyes had become. And of course, that belly. The kind that said life hadn't exactly been generous with grace.
"Damn," James muttered, not mockingly this time. "You really let go of yourself, huh."
Daniel snorted, brushing past him and heading toward the entrance. "If you're gonna drag me out here just to insult me, I can turn around now."
James caught up quickly, still grinning but with a softer edge now. "Nah, come on. I'm just… surprised. I mean, the last time I saw you, you weren't this bad."
Daniel paused. "Yeah. I remember."
They stood at the hotel's glass doors for a moment. The soft hum of music leaked out from inside, low and pulsing, like a heartbeat in a dream. There was laughter too — the kind that didn't belong to people who worried about rent or skipped meals to save transport money.
James gave a low whistle. "Let's go in. Trust me, you'll feel better after a drink."
Daniel didn't respond, but when James pushed the door open, he followed.
The inside of Paradise Hotel was a different world.
Dim lights bathed the lobby in warm amber glow. Soft jazz played under the loud buzz of conversations. Couples sat in plush chairs, glasses in hand, dressed in things Daniel hadn't touched in years — silk, satin, real gold.
He felt like a stain on clean linen.
"VIP lounge is this way," James said, holding out two cards like trophies. "Friend of mine works here. Slipped these to me."
"Of course you know someone," Daniel muttered, but followed without protest.
They entered the lounge — a lavish space with velvet-lined booths, a glowing bar, and mirrors that made everything feel both infinite and too close. A waiter in a crisp white shirt approached them with a practiced smile.
"Mr. James," the waiter said, nodding. "Welcome back."
James grinned like a prince. "Bring us the usual. Oh, and make it quick — my friend here's having a rough night."
The waiter bowed slightly and left.
Daniel sat down heavily, sinking into the seat like it might swallow him. "I shouldn't be here."
"Sure you should," James said, plopping down across from him. "You just forgot what it feels like to breathe."
"I didn't forget," Daniel said quietly. "I just couldn't afford it anymore."
There was a pause. Not awkward — just honest.
James leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Listen, I know I've been out of the picture. I should've called more. But I didn't drag you here just to eat and drink."
Daniel looked at him, wary. "Then why?"
James lowered his voice. "Because I might have a way out for you. A real one."
Daniel raised a brow. "What do you mean?"
James hesitated, glancing around to make sure no one was listening. Then he leaned in even closer.
"I've got a job," he said. "Not a regular job. But it pays. I mean really pays."
Daniel frowned. "You running drugs now or something?"
James laughed and then leaned closer. "Yeah but don't worry, I won't introduce you into that. I have a suitable one for you"
"I can't believe you now do drugs, James," Daniel breathed. He wasn't all that shocked — like, he had known that his friend was into something illegal. "So tell me about the job."
"There is this bar, they only accept boys and are open only at night till dawn. The job vacancy there is delivery boy — they are in need of one."
Daniel squinted his eyes. He wasn't so sure about a job that sounds suspicious but then...
"Think about it, bro," James urged him. "You can make your life better for you and your mother, as well as your girlfriend."
At the mention of his girlfriend, Daniel's face darkened. "Don't ever mention about Sonia to me... We are done."
James fell silent. He needed not to be told. "Sorry about that, bro," he softly said. "That's why I don't do girls," he added with a whisper.
"What did you say?" Daniel asked him.