"Uh… guys, maybe we can all just chill for a second… hahaha" David said awkwardly, trying to cut through the thick tension in the room.
"Tsk! Just what are you even doing here?" Rome muttered irritably, slumping into a chair with a loud thud.
"Dude, in case you've forgotten, it's Dave's birthday today," Lexter shot back with a raised brow. "We're all here to have fun. But someone decided to stir up drama. We even helped you out earlier, and now you're the one getting pissed just because we interrupted your little babe time."
Rome shot him a nasty glare.
"No one asked you to help me," he snapped. "Tsk. I could've handled those guys myself."
"Haha! Yeah, sure—you looked totally in control when we found you downstairs, getting ganged up on!" Alfonso chimed in, teasing as he leaned against the wall with a smirk.
"Tsk…" was all Rome could grumble in response.
"Oh right—Sylvia, isn't it?" Dave suddenly turned to me with a friendly smile.
"Mind telling us what really happened? Why did Rome get into a fight earlier?"
Caught off guard, I glanced toward Rome. He was already looking at me… and not kindly. His glare was sharp, as if warning me not to say something he didn't like.
"Ah… Rome saw me getting… harassed by Jude—the guy he beat up earlier. He stepped in to help me…" I said to Dave, my voice trailing off, unable to meet his eyes.
I could feel all their eyes on me, and it only made me shrink further under their gaze.
"Then Jude's friends—the ones who ganged up on Rome—came after him."
"Ahh… so that jerk did deserve a good beating!" Calyx said with a huff. "I should've punched that arrogant face even harder!"
Startled, I lifted my gaze to him. He grinned at me casually, like what he said was just a normal thing.
"Yeah, that Jude guy and his gang aren't even that scary. They're just an ordinary bunch of losers who like to take advantage of the weak just because they have a little influence. So you don't have to be afraid of them." Dave said before flashing a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry about what might happen after this—or how it might affect your job," Alpheus chimed in with a calm smile. "We already told the bar owner that if he doesn't ban that creep, we'll have this place shut down. Immediately."
His words were kind… but the threat behind them wasn't subtle. The way he said it so nicely only made it more intimidating.
"A-ah… ha ha…" I let out an awkward laugh, not sure how to respond.
Should I be grateful that they went that far for me—or should I be worried? Either way, I had a sinking feeling I'd become the center of gossip at work for days to come.
"By the way, Sylvia… I don't mean to bring up the past between you and Rome," Calyx suddenly said out of nowhere, "but I was wondering—what exactly was the relationship between you two before?"
The question caught me completely off guard—and judging by the stunned looks on their faces, it surprised his friends too. I even saw Alfonso elbow Calyx hard and shoot him a glare sharp enough to cut.
"A-ha… haha… Sorry about our friend, Sylvia," Alfonso said quickly, now throwing an arm around Calyx's shoulders like he was restraining a loose cannon. "He's got zero sense of timing. Just blurts things out without thinking. So… please just ignore whatever he said."
"Yeah, we really are sorry about him." Lexter added, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.
A moment later, though, he leaned a little closer to me like he was about to whisper something.
"Not to pry or anything… but I am kinda curious too—what was the deal with you and Rome back then?" he asked in a low voice.
He tried to keep it subtle, but his voice was still audible enough—and clearly, the others were waiting for my reaction too.
I glanced at him awkwardly. Lexter was just as nosy as the rest of them.
"Hey, you two—cut it out," Dave said, stepping in with a half-smile, half-sigh. "Can't you tell you're embarrassing Sylvia?"
He walked over and gave Lexter a gentle nudge, steering him a bit away from me.
"I think it's time we got Sylvia home," Alpheus said, his voice calm as he glanced at me. "She's probably had enough for one day. Some rest would do you good." He offered me a warm, reassuring smile.
"Yeah, that sounds like a plan." Dave added, giving me an apologetic look.
"Sorry about them, Sylvia. They're kind of emotionally underdeveloped—pretty sure they were raised on expired milk." he said with a teasing grin.
The two guys immediately started to protest, but Alfonso stepped in before things could get going again.
"Alpheus, why don't you take Sylvia home?" he suggested. "She really needs a little breather."
"N-No! T-there's really no need, Sir Alfonso, Sir Alpheus! I can go home just fine on my own!" I stammered.
I didn't want to trouble them any further—and more importantly, I didn't want them knowing where I lived.
"No, I insist." Alpheus said firmly.
"R-really, there's no need, sir," I insisted, forcing a smile. "I can get home by myself, I promise."
"But what if Jude's group is waiting for you outside?" Alpheus asked, his tone laced with concern. "Would you really be able to defend yourself if something happens?"
His words struck a nerve, and for a moment, I was at a loss for words.
"There's no need for you to escort her." came a cold voice.
Startled, I turned. It was Rome.
"What? But what if something happens to her—" Alpheus began to protest, but Rome cut him off sharply.
"I'll take her home myself." he said curtly, stepping forward.
His sudden declaration caught everyone's attention. Even I wasn't expecting it. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lexter and Calyx exchange knowing glances and whistle quietly.
"N-no! I—I don't agree to that!" I blurted out, louder than I meant to.
The words came so quickly, even I was surprised by them. Rome turned to look at me, his gaze sharp and unreadable.