Perfect Little Paradise

The sounding of the car horn alerted the pedestrians on the pavement about the incoming car. It was a KIA sports car and it drove into the compound on its right. The driver parked at the car park. He opened the door and got out of the car. He had worn a red polo shirt and a pair of black trousers. His hair seemed messy and revealed the stud he had in his ear. He held on to the driver's door, ready to close it when his phone rang from his trousers' pocket. He reached for his phone and got it out.

"Emma!"

He rolled his eyes and declined the call.

"Answer the call, Rex!"

A notification bar appeared on his homescreen. The message was sent by the same person. He scrolled up the homescreen and saw the status bar. He tapped the 'Do not disturb' option and activated the screen's time-out. He put his phone back in his pocket and walked to the door.

Rex pulled the front door of the building and walked in. The music was louder in there but could barely be heard outside. The timing of the coloured light bulbs made the room more lively. People danced to the rhythm of the music on the designated floor which wasn't from the main entrance. Rex walked through the crowd and made sure he didn't hit those dancing. A lady who was at the floor bumped into him. She turned to her side and smiled at Rex but he ignored her and went to the bar. He sat down on a stool and signalled the barman who was cleaning the glass he was holding.

The barman poured him a drink in a tumbler and gave it to him. Rex furrowed his brow at him.

"I haven't placed my order yet." Rex said confusingly.

"The lady over there said I should give it to you." The barman replied.

"Which lady?" Rex asked curiously.

The barman pointed at the lady who was seated two seats away from Rex. She maintained eye contact with the glass and drank the content in it slowly. She had no facial expressions on. She had worn black sequin spaghetti strap bodycon dress. Her bob hairstyle covered the hoop earrings she had on. Rex grabbed the glass and walked towards her. He placed the glass next to her. The sound of the glass when it touched the counter got the attention of the lady. She turned to her side and glanced at Rex.

"I never asked you for a drink." Rex said curtly.

"I never said I was going to take it back." The lady replied plainly and finished the content in her glass.

She signalled the barman and he gave her another glass.

"I'm not a beggar if you are assuming that's what I am. I can afford my own drinks." He said proudly.

The lady chuckled and looked at her glass in the bright lights of the bar.

"What is funny?" He asked brusquely.

"You remind me of my fiancé. Or would I say husband. You both are alike. So proud and boastful." The lady replied candidly.

"Has she gone nuts or what?" Rex muttered.

"I heard that!" The lady replied plainly.

"I came to return the drink back. Whether you accept it back or not it's totally not my business." Rex said and turned to leave.

"You know, it isn't good to leave in the middle of a conversation." The lady stated.

"What conversation?" Rex asked confusingly.

"This conversation! The one we're having right now. I bought you a drink and you started a conversation." The lady replied playfully.

"She is definitely out of her mind!" Rex said.

"If I were crazy, the security guards at the entrance wouldn't have let me in. But see, I'm not," The lady said and pushed the glass gently to him,

"The drink is for you."

"Again, I'm not interested." Rex replied coldly.

"I am-."

The lady's phone rang and she glanced at the screen.

"Oh!"She groaned,

"Why won't he leave me alone?"

She declined the call and drank her drink.

"Aren't you going to answer? Seems important." Rex said.

"It's my husband. I don't want to answer." She replied.

"It looks like he is worried." Rex pointed.

"He shouldn't be. I'm not even his wife yet he treats me like an item." She revealed.

"Doesn't seem like an ideal man to spend the rest of your life with." He said and sat down next to her.

"No! It's always, 'Abby sit here!', 'Don't go anywhere!' blah blah." She replied.

"Mm! Caring husband!" Rex said.

"No, he is..." Abby said and paused.

"Nevermind."

"Looks like someone is having trouble in paradise." Rex said and picked up the glass he had rejected.

"Our love is only on a piece of paper, nothing else." Abby said bluntly.

"Wrong choice, I guess." He blurted and drank the drink.

"My life isn't picture perfect!" She said inwardly.

"Hm!" Rex hummed,

"Same here!"

Abby looked at him askance and Rex noticed.

"Have you ever wanted something badly and tried so hard to make it happen but couldn't?" Rex asked dryly.

"I asked for a barbie doll for my sixth birthday and I got a wicked step-mother instead." She blurted,

"And you?"

"Wanted a child." Rex muttered.

"Are you married?" She asked airily.

"No!" Rex said sharply.

"In a relationship then?" She said.

"I thought I was." He said.

"Looks like I'm not the only one whose paradise is on fire." She said.

Abby noticed the glass in the hand.

"I thought you said you weren't interested." She said with a smile on her face.

"I got thirsty!" He replied.

"You do know you will have to pay for it though." She hinted as she drank the content in her glass.

"I thought it was a gift." Rex asked jovially.

"It was but you rejected it. So now, you'll have to pay for it." Abby said playfully.

"Really now?" Rex said and she chuckled.

"How about we make a bet?" He proposed.

"Mm! Go on!" She said, looking at him with her glass in her hand.

"We will play a game. Whoever wins, gets to decide the fate of the other and the loser pays for the drinks." He said with a smirk.

"Too bad you'll be the one paying." She said.

"And who said I was going to lose?" Rex replied confidently.

"So," Abby said as she drank the content in the glass,

"What should we play?"

"Have you thrown darts before?" Rex asked.

"Yes!" She said.

"Perfectly, while being under the influence of alcohol?" Rex said with a mischievous smile.

Abby agreed to the bet and the rules. They both drank two glasses of the alcohol that Rex chose. It had a mild effect on Rex since he was used to it but Abby's case was different. It was strong for her to handle. She barely made it through the second glass and left it the way it was ordered. Rex set the game 100 to zero and only twenty points to win. Abby was at fifty points. She threw the dart on the board but it feel off the board. Rex played his last dart and scored zero before she did.

"I won!" Rex said triumphantly with a smirk.

Abby nudged him on his arm.

"You cheated! I could have won!"

"But I did!" Rex said.

"I will go and pay for the drinks we-we-," Abby staggered, ready intoxicated with the alcohol,

"We drank! Yes!"

"I'll follow you just in case." Rex suggested and she nodded.

Abby went back to the bar and paid for the drinks using her card.

"So, what's now?" Abby asked, not in her complete state of mind.

"Come, let me show you!" Rex said as he grabbed her hand and led her to the staircase.

The staircase led to the rooms upstairs. Rex pulled the door open and they went in.

"Where are we?" Abby asked confusingly.

"We are in paradise." Rex said, closing the door behind them.

"Your definition of paradise is too plain." Abby said.

"It doesn't have to be as long as we both are here." Rex said seductively, pulling her close him and had his hands on her waist,

"I'll make you forget about your problems."

"And I'll do the same." Abby said, kissing him passionately.