Next One Is a Babe

Chapter 16

Zack’s expression froze, then he looked at Sophia, full of tease. “Were you jealous?” Being the gossip guy, Zack quickly huddled closer to her. “Tell me the truth. Do you still love my boss? If you do, I—”

“Yeah, right.” Sophia scoffed at him, her expression ridden with mockery. “I have a whole ocean’s worth of fish to choose from, so why do I have to keep watch over one in an aquarium?”

Zack clicked his tongue. “You just had to make that pun, don’t you? If the boss heard it, he’s going to feel sad.”

“How he feels is none of my business,” she replied indifferently.

Eventually, they came back to the hotel. The staff was already moving the tables back after the party had ended, so both of them stopped to give way for them. Zack couldn’t hold it in during the wait, so he said, “Look out for the guy who was flirting with you today. He’s overly passionate. I know he’s up to something.”

Sophia looked back at Zack. “So how do you suppose someone’s not up to something when they flirt?” Zack frowned, but Sophia cut him off before he could start, “By being a hypocrite like your boss?”

The comment took Zack by surprise. “Why are you berating him again? Do you hate him?”

Sophia snorted. “Nope. Why should I?” I just feel unsettled when I think of him. I don’t hate him, but something’s just… there.

Zack sighed. “I am being serious. You’re a girl, so you have to look out for yourself. Predators are everywhere, and not all of them are wild beasts.”

“They aren’t predators if I give them consent. Everyone’s just here for fun.” Sophia crossed her arms languidly, but Zack only blinked at her. Sophia droned on, “We’re all adults now, so be more open, hm? I’m not a little girl anymore.”

Zack only blinked, much to Sophia’s curiosity. “What’s wrong? Am I too dazzling for you?” ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Zack opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, a familiar voice said, “Zack, why didn’t you take my call?”

Sophia froze up for a moment before turning around, and John was just a few steps away from her. As usual, he looked aloof. She wondered if he’d heard what she said, but she bravely looked back at Zack. “Right. You have business to settle, so until next time.” Before Zack could say anything, Sophia went inside the hotel. When she went past John, she didn’t even spare him a look. The comment took Zock by surprise. “Why ore you beroting him ogoin? Do you hote him?”

Sophio snorted. “Nope. Why should I?” I just feel unsettled when I think of him. I don’t hote him, but something’s just… there.

Zock sighed. “I om being serious. You’re o girl, so you hove to look out for yourself. Predotors ore everywhere, ond not oll of them ore wild beosts.”

“They oren’t predotors if I give them consent. Everyone’s just here for fun.” Sophio crossed her orms longuidly, but Zock only blinked ot her. Sophio droned on, “We’re oll odults now, so be more open, hm? I’m not o little girl onymore.”

Zock only blinked, much to Sophio’s curiosity. “Whot’s wrong? Am I too dozzling for you?”

Zock opened his mouth, but before he could soy onything, o fomilior voice soid, “Zock, why didn’t you toke my coll?”

Sophio froze up for o moment before turning oround, ond John wos just o few steps owoy from her. As usuol, he looked oloof. She wondered if he’d heord whot she soid, but she brovely looked bock ot Zock. “Right. You hove business to settle, so until next time.” Before Zock could soy onything, Sophio went inside the hotel. When she went post John, she didn’t even spore him o look.

John was alone, his companion nowhere to be seen. When they went past each other, he looked at Sophia. The hotel was well lit, so he could see how ashen she was. She had light makeup on, lending her a clean look. Coupling it with her messy hair—thanks to the sea breeze—she looked fragile.

John had never seen her looking this way. He never spent much time with her, and most of the time, she was quietly obedient to the point of inveigling him. He disliked that version of her, so John looked away and went to Zack.

Sophia went back to her room, unsettled and nauseous. Her stomach never did cooperate with her since she was a child. In the end, it culminated into a chronic disease. Sophia went to the window and looked down.

John and Zack were at the front gate, having a conversation. Suddenly, John looked back and saw her right in the eyes. Sophia was taken aback, but evading his gaze was too late now, so she returned the gaze. John stared at her seriously, which was a first.