His Claws On My Neck

Chapter 4: Club Night

"Just a cut below the shoulder, please." The hairdresser showed her a photo of an ** model with short hair. "Yes, like that."

It was the following day, and she had just decided to go to a hair parlor to cut her hair. It was a spur-of-the-moment feeling, because she was feeling down, and she heard that cutting your hair makes you feel lightheaded and uplifts your mood in an instant. It might just be her being tired of her waist-long dark brown hair or because she was miserable, but either would still make her cut her hair.

Besides, her hair will go for donation to make the wigs of cancer kids, so it didn't make Leal feel bad since it was cut off for a good cause. Once the cut was over, her mouth was agape while looking at the unfamiliar person in her reflection. She softly touched her hair, its soft strands kissing her palm and falling back elegantly. Her head indeed felt light. It was a beautiful shoulder-length cut with soft curls. She loves it.

"Thank you so much," she smiled at the kind hairdresser and paid for the service.

As soon as she left the parlor, she stepped outside, looking at the far avenue where a two-story building captured her attention where rays of colorful blinding lights reached her eyes, the feeling of euphoria from inside the club reaching her.

She's never been inside a club before, especially one in New York, where clubs are where it's at. The club wasn't at its highest peak yet because there was still daylight. From what Leal knows, clubs are like werewolves that feel more alive when there's moonlight rather than sunlight. Giddily, she booked an Uber to take her back to Izzy's condo. She knows Izzy has been to every bar in the state, she's just that wild party-goer that has a decent job. No offense meant.

"Izzy!" She beamed at her, who was busy cutting clothes in her living room. Leal's smile slightly faltered at the sight of the mess Izzy created but kept it plastered. She'll need her help to fully enjoy a night at the bar.

"Hey, babe, looking good," Izzy complimented as she saw Leal's new cut. She quickly thanked her and sat in front of her on the floor.

Izzy, who was biting on a pin, frowned at her. "Yes?"

"Well, I saw a club earlier," she started. Izzy's eyes slowly widened. "And I thought I'd like to experience a night at the club. You know, to enjoy, have fun..."

Izzy aggressively held both her shoulders and repeatedly pushed and pulled her in excitement.

"You wanna party?! Sure!" She squealed and left her things on the floor as she ran to her wardrobe, already picking out an outfit for both of them. Izzy knew Leal was finally loosening up. She's looking for outlets where she can experience happiness to take a break from everything that's been happening and Izzy won't let this chance to make her happy pass. Her girl's been through a lot of things and she'll be a shitty friend if she doesn't help her cope.

She picked a strappy backless bodycon coral satin mini-dress for Leal. It was perfect for her, classy, yet sexy. Leal never wears dresses, only skirts, and pants, so that fitted dress will be new for her, but if she's escaping the environment lately, she'll have to stop wearing clothes or things that remind her of it. The best way to move on is to change your environment. That was a lesson Izzy learned the hard way.

Leal went to the bathroom to change, while Izzy changed into her wardrobe. She was wearing a black faux bodycon leather dress and the perfect black Louboutin pumps. She especially picked a pair of red suede pumps for Leal because it was perfect for her. They added a few more accessories before going and a few minutes later, they were already in the car, on the way to an elite club where Izzy's a member to enjoy the night away.

"Let's drink a few shots then dance to loosen up, alright?" Leal nodded as she let Izzy lead her first-time clubbing experience. Inside the club, there were mixed people, all with different drunk stages. It was dim inside, with a single disco bar with various lights the only lighting source on the whole first floor. Every beat of the deafening music from the DJ would vibrate to Leal's heartbeat, pounding in her ears. It was chaotic, messy, and everyone inside was carefree. She knew the people here also had the same intentions of clubbing as her—to forget and loosen up.

They did exactly as Izzy planned, they drank and drank at a table exclusive for the two of them, and giggled when they were both tipsy. Izzy had a low alcohol tolerance as she was already dizzy and her actions started getting reckless, like the other ones in the club. Leal chuckled and helped Izzy get up as she already wanted to dance. She held Izzy by the shoulder when a tall man in a suit walked over to them. He smiled and took Izzy by the waist.

"I'll help her, you do you," he suggested. Frowning, she asked Izzy if she knew the guy had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

"Yeah, he's that rude model..." she slurred.

Leal nodded, trusting her with the man as she ordered another bottle of black label. Surprisingly, she was only a bit tipsy even if they already had a few bottles of strong liquor. She didn't know she had a high alcohol tolerance since this was her first drinking. When she finally felt the alcohol kick in, she walked to the dance floor. If only Izzy was sober and here right now, she'd surely be proud of seeing the shy Leal swaying her hips in the middle of the dance floor, enjoying herself and feeling the beat.

The outgoing girls in her college block were right, clubs are liberating! That's why New York is so famous for its high-end clubs. It was really enjoyable and she felt the vibe of the club. A few minutes on from dancing alone, Leal felt a warm presence softly pressed behind her.

At first, she was ignoring the body since it might only be because the dance floor was crowded, but the body kept bumping into hers and so she decided it was best to confront the man. She turned around, her face greeted by a broad manly chest in a tux. She took a few steps backward but the man gripped her waist, stopping her from stepping back. Despite how weird and creepy the man was, she was oddly intoxicated by his scent and she didn't know why. She knew at this point she should push the man away but her arms turned jelly, as if losing control for a short amount of time.

"E-Excuse me?" She whispered. The man's dark complexion was illuminated by the disco's lights as she saw a glimpse of his dark eyes and sharp jaw. When he inched closer, she instinctively stopped him by placing a hand on his chest, making the man freeze in his spot.

From Leal's palm, she felt his erratic heartbeat. Why is it beating so fast? She thought. Her eyes drifted to his muscly arms, his veins protruding from his polo's folded sleeves. She swallowed the lump in her throat as the s****l tension heightened between them. The club's music suddenly turned romantic as couples were left on the dance floor.

"You smell so good," he huskily whispered, inhaling the perfume on her neck. Instead of feeling uncomfortable and weirded out like usual, Leal felt aroused... of some sort. She doesn't know what she's feeling, like there's this nagging feeling inside her, waiting to come out. It became even more aggressive against his warm touch, and Leal liked it.

"I-I don't know you..." Who are you and what are you doing to me? Were the questions she preferred to leave unanswered. She wasn't sure if the man knew the answer or if she was ready to hear it.

"Leal!" Izzy's voice broke her train of confused thoughts. The trance the two of them were in quickly shattered as she escaped from his grasp and found her friend. Izzy, now grumpy and looking sober, asked to come home and so that was what they did. Leal left the mysterious man alone on the dance floor, not turning back once, and forgot about his features as she puked out all the consumed alcohol that night. All that remains of that night at the club will remain as a vague memory to her, all thanks to the liquor.

"Was he one of your models?" Leal wiggled her eyebrows as she sat in front of Izzy on the floor. She's interrogating her about the hot guy that took her to the club. Izzy, who was busy cutting clothes on the floor, rolled her eyes.

"He's just one of my hook-ups, you know very well how that goes," she muttered.

"I didn't know you hooked up with your models," Leal teased. Since Izzy was a famous fashion designer, she has also showcased a few of her collections. Included in the showcases are models, both men and women. So the man from last night was one of her models.

"It was a one-time thing, Leal. Why? You like him?" She quizzed, a small smirk playing on her lips. Good thing Izzy forgot about the man she was intimately dancing with that night. She’s safe from the interrogation.

"Of course I like him..." Izzy's eyes widened. "...for you."

"Oh, come on." She rolled her eyes and continued on her design. "I don't do relationships. They never go well."

Leal sighed, deciding not to push the conversation anymore. "Fine, fine. But I would just like to let you know that I will support you if ever you fancy a guy."

"Never." Izzy scoffed. "Dating is so overrated."

Leal let out a chuckle, standing up from the floor. "I'll go make a fruit shake. Want some?"

"Please!"

A few weeks after Leal lost her job, she became a homebody in Izzy's unit and acted like a housewife. Cleaning, cooking, doing all sorts of chores to pass the time, and then waiting for Izzy to get home from her warehouse and cook dinner for both of them. Doing nothing bores her to death, and she has been behind walls for a few weeks, trying to find a job online—but to no avail. She's made all kinds of profiles, posted her credentials, and inquired about some other similar companies but they're always full.

So today, Leal decides it's time to wander outside to look for a vacant job position and apply personally. She's grown tired of looking through a screen for hours and getting nothing, so she'll go out, so even if she sees no job applications, it's fine since her eyes are full of the beautiful aesthetic streets of New York.

She grabbed a beige trench coat and put it over a white long-sleeved shirt, loosely tucking it in the fitted black pants. Since it's winter season, she also grabbed a stylish scarf with a similar color palette, and lastly, partnering the black pants with a pair of black ankle boots.

It was a refreshing walk outside, and since the unit is near Time Square, she got a chance to take a snap of it. She roamed around mindlessly, stopping in a few ice cream shops, and getting back on the sidewalk. It was a fun little exploration until Leal walked along the array of New York's top company buildings. She threw the tissue of the ice cream in a nearby trash bin, as her nose flared with the faint familiar scent. Her strides went faster, looking for the source of the smell that was making her delirious. She didn't know what it smelled like, as it was unfathomable, at the same time rapturously delightful.