The Dangerous Games

Chapter 1

Luna was busy tidying up her things when someone tapped her on the shoulder. She wouldn't have paid attention, but she heard the voice.

"Hey, workaholic! That's enough." She laughed, turned around, and removed the hand from her arm as it tried to put itself around her shoulders.

"Stop it, Miks. What do you want this time?" she asked. Miks smiled so sweetly that it made her raise an eyebrow. "I don't like that smile of yours, Miks Lanuevo," she said, but he just put his arm around her again.

Miks Lanuevo was one of her friends, a fellow lawyer, and her classmate since high school through college. As a result, she was always involved in his antics.

"Come on, don't you trust me?" he said, raising and lowering his eyebrows. She frowned. "And besides, the others are coming too," he mentioned their other friends.

She suddenly stopped. "Really? I thought they were busy?" she raised an eyebrow at him. Miks might be a joker, but he wasn't a liar. Still, she didn't believe him. If she was a workaholic, their friend Kahizer Javier was even more so.

Kahizer was the busiest of them all, as if there was no day for enjoyment. He liked being on top and hated being defeated, so no one could surpass him.

"Yes, they are! So, come with us!" Miks insisted. She removed his arm from her shoulders and grabbed her bag.

"Well, I'm done with the case I was handling, so..." she smiled, making him smile even more. "It's not wrong if I join the party tonight." To her surprise, he started jumping up and down.

"Ohh! That's my friend!" he shouted. She laughed but quickly stopped when she saw other people staring at them.

She scolded him and continued walking out of the courthouse. Her car had a flat tire earlier, so she commuted to work. And now? She thought, she might as well join her friend.

LUNA's POV

"Is everyone coming?" I couldn't help but ask the person next to me. From outside the car, he shifted his gaze to me.

"Hmm. I don't know, but I'm sure almost everyone will be there," Miks replied. I just nodded.

Even though I missed many of them, there was only one person I was really looking forward to seeing. God knows how much I missed him. But... I guess it doesn't mean anything. I just want to see him, nothing more.

A few moments later, we arrived at the party venue. It was a large hotel owned by the spouse of one of our friends. It was near the sea, and we could swim there.

There were many people, and I hardly recognized any of them. I've been all about work and home since I graduated. So, I was a bit afraid of people.

We hadn't even entered yet when someone blocked our way. "Yoo!" he greeted cheerfully. Miks shook his head with a smile.

"You startled me, James!" he playfully hit his friend's arm. But when James's eyes landed on me, they widened. I laughed.

"L-Luna!" he exclaimed and came closer. He hugged me, and I hugged him back.

James was one of our friends. In college, he was the biggest womanizer and the loudest. I was happy to see him because he was close to me despite his craziness.

We entered and found many people and loud music. Like us, everyone was dressed formally.

"Where are the others, James?" I heard Miks ask. James paused to look at us. He smiled.

"At the table. We've been waiting for you," he said as he took our hands. It wasn't a big deal for us, we're just friends, and it stayed that way.

A few moments later, we reached the table he mentioned. And he was right; our friends were there. They were noisy but fell silent when they saw us. Their expressions were shocked, and they suddenly stood up.

"Ouch, damn you, Calix!" James groaned as Calix pushed him away from us. Like James, Calix hugged both Miks and me.

"Calix," I laughed as he pushed James again as he tried to come closer.

The others approached, but I stopped when I noticed a woman sitting in a chair. She was staring at me.

'Do I know her?'

When they noticed me looking at her, they turned to the woman. "Oh. Luna, this is Mika. Mika, this is Luna. Kahizer's closest friend," Janice introduced the woman..

Confusion filled my system, but I chose to smile. She stood up and extended her hand. "Nice meeting you, Luna," she said, a small smile forming on her lips. I accepted her hand.

"Oh, c'mon! Let's enjoy the party!" Amanda exclaimed as they turned to look at her. She had just arrived, holding a glass of wine. She gulped it down and dragged Santino to the dance floor. Our companions started to make noise while I remained seated.

I'm not much of a party-goer, and I'm a little uncomfortable, especially since I noticed Mika kept glancing at me.

I reached for the glass of juice in front of me and drank it. I only came here to talk to Khaizer... but he didn't even show up.

"Are you close with Khaizer?" Mika's question caught me off guard. She was now staring at me, waiting for my answer.

I put down the glass and smiled awkwardly. I don't know... but she's making me uncomfortable with her stares, the way she looks at me, and the way she asks. Her tone.

I shook my head. "Not really," I replied briefly, avoiding her gaze. I can't say that Khai and I are very close, it's just... he's comfortable with me, like he told me before.

The woman seemed unconvinced but chose to nod and smile slightly.

Why is she asking me that kind of question? Is she... wait.

My eyes widened, and I looked away from her.

Khaizer's fling?

I swallowed hard. It wouldn't be surprising because of his charm and looks. It's just... hard to believe that he...

"Your juice is gone," Mika said, pointing at my empty glass. I looked at it, and she was right; it was empty. "Do you want me to get~" I quickly shook my head.

"N-No. But thank~" Before I could finish my sentence, she had already taken my glass and stood up. She smiled.

"Come on. You don't have to be shy. I'm trying to make friends with you," she said.

I pressed my lips together and nodded slightly. I couldn't refuse. Besides, she said she just wanted to make friends.

"Okay. I'll go ahead, then," she said, turning and walking away. Danna nudged me.

"What did you talk about?" she asked.

I shook my head. "Nothing. She said she'll get me some juice," I replied. Danna raised an eyebrow.

"Trying to make friends with you?" I nodded. She shook her head and took a sip from her glass.

In our group, Danna is the boyish and very observant one.

"Why?" I asked.

"I don't think she's sincere, Luna," she replied, very straightforwardly. I frowned.

"What do you mean?" She just 'tsk-ed.'

"You're a lawyer, Lun. You should be the one to notice." I was confused by what she said. "I think she likes Khaizer," she added. "And maybe that's why she's trying to make friends with you." I was stunned by what she said.

"You think so?" She didn't respond. We both noticed Mika approaching with the juice, so I straightened up.

"Open your eyes wide, Lun. She has plans," Danna whispered. I shook my head.

"She won't get anything from me, Dan. Khaizer isn't here~"

"You're wrong about that," she said just as I saw Khaizer behind Mika.

He looked so serious, cold, emotionless but very attractive. Mika was smiling widely while looking at me. But I frowned when I noticed the kind of smile she had.

"She's grinning," I whispered

Luna couldn't help but feel awkward around, and she also couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the behavior of the woman beside Khaizer. She knew even their companions were noticing, but they remained noisy and went along with the others' antics, but not her.

She felt heavy-hearted toward Khaizer because since he sat with them, he hadn't spoken to her or even checked on her. He only seemed surprised when he saw her, but when she smiled at him, he only gave a simple nod and looked away.

She couldn't help but pout and mentally curse her best friend. She missed him, but he didn't show any reaction when he saw her.

He's cold...

She felt a hand on her bare back. "That girl is really weird," Danna whispered to her. She reached for the juice and secretly glanced at Mika. She's extra sweet... and clingy.

Mika was always smiling at Khaizer and seemed to be softening her voice, which made Luna frown.

"She's not cute."

She saw how Khaizer's eyes landed on her. She didn't look away.

He didn't show any reaction. It's like... he's staring at her like she's boring.

His dark eyes slowly traveled down her body, making her frown. His eyes stopped and seemed to lock onto something. Following his gaze, she realized he was staring at her chest.

"Hey! I've been calling you," James nudged Khaizer, who seemed to come back to his senses.

Luna unconsciously swallowed and blushed, covering her chest.

"You okay?" she heard Danna ask beside her. She didn't look at her but nodded in response.

This is all Mika's fault.

The surroundings got noisier when romantic music started playing, and people began dancing..

To Be Continued...