Andre moved quickly through the crowd.
Searching.
Finding.
Esmeralda.
"There she is "
Applause still echoed faintly after Rihanna and Pacho love story came to a pause.
Laughter. Cheers. Clinking glasses.
Then
The lights dimmed again.
A softer melody replaced the noise.
Slower. Deeper.
"The dance resumes," someone announced.
Couples reformed.
Hands found hands again.
The rhythm returned.
When Andre finally reached Esmeralda, the energy shifted immediately.
She turned.
Their eyes met.
And before words could interfere
She pulled him into the rhythm.
Into her space.
Into her world.
"Well…"
She smiled, but this time it was softer.
"…You actually came."
Andre returned it.
"I was persuaded."
"By who?"
"A very persistent group of people."
Esmeralda chuckled lightly.
"I didn't think parties were your type."
"They're not."
"Then why are you here?"
Andre's gaze held hers.
A brief pause.
"…You invited me."
For a fraction of a second
She faltered.
Then recovered.
"You never seem to suprise me, Andre."
"I could say the same about you."
Their movements remained perfectly synchronized.
Effortless.
Tense.
Magnetic.
"So where's my birthday gift."
"Its here."
That intrigued her.
"Where?"
Andre's lips curved slightly.
"Why are you looking about? I'm right here, I'm your gift ."
Esmeralda laughed.
"I never thought you could crack a joke."
"Im not really the boring guy, I don't just want trouble."
Something about his tone unsettled her.
Yet pulled her in further.
"Is it me or the dance with you is a bit longer."
"Is that a compliment."
She leaned slightly closer.
"…you are my best gift for the evening. You made me smile."
Andre's eyes did not leave hers.
The air between them thickened.
Dangerously intimate.
Then
Her expression shifted.
Reality returning.
"You are charming no cap."
Andre sensed the change instantly.
"But you're not my class."
The words landed colder.
"And Carlos and I are back together."
Andre's movements slowed almost imperceptibly.
"…Is that so?"
"Yes."
There was something almost challenging in her voice.
As if daring him to react.
As if wanting him to say something.
Andre's gaze darkened slightly.
"…About that."
She frowned.
"What about that?"
Andre leaned closer.
"You deserve to know who you're standing beside. He's playing you"
Esmeralda chuckled
"Is this your best shot at getting me?"
"Listen to this."
He pulled her away from the crowd and played the recording for her. She bit her lip confused, clearly hurt, her eyes already starting to water.
"Can I borrow your phone."
Before Andre could respond she snatched it and went after carlos.
Then she found Carlos and played the recording Andre made
And she's asks what's this
Carlos eyes widened as he heard his voice
"Where did you get this."
Esmeralda yelled at him drawing attention to them.
"Answer the fucking question, what the hell is this."
Carlos laughed like a sick psychopath
"Don't act like the main chracter of the story, you my dear are a pawn to me nothing more. Did you even think I will ever want to settle for a selfish, arrogant bitch like you?"
Esmeralda eyes were trying hard to hold back the tears about to pour down like a river
"You were the one who hurt me, you broke my heart first. Did I ever do anything to you? Why do you hate me?"
Carlos smirked
"That's it, I want you to feel the pain you make others feel. You don't deserve love and nobody will ever love you."
"Maybe you are right, you've made me feel pain, you've ruined a perfect night for me. Thank you Carlos."
She arranged her dress and walked up to Andre
"Thanks."
Then she runs off crying.
"Party's over, guys."
Carlos turned and his eyes landed on Andre. He looked at the phone on Andre's hand then back at Andre, straight in the eye .
And he immediately lost it.
"You son of a bitch!"
He attached Andre immediately.
The first punch snapped Andre's head sideways with sickening force.
The second drove directly into his ribs.
A third caught his jaw.
Before Andre could stabilize
Two of Carlos' gang members slammed into him from the side.
Blows rained down mercilessly.
Fists crashed into flesh.
Kicks thudded into bone.
Andre staggered but did not fall immediately.
Carlos grabbed him by the collar.
"You think you're clever?!"
Carlos grabbed a bottle and exploded it against Andre's skull.
The glass shattered.
As blood sprayed.
Gasps tore through the party.
"What the fuck."
Andre collapsed to one knee
But Carlos wasn't finished.
He picked another bottle and smashed it on Andre's head again.
"You like her don't you?"
Then he picked the third bottle.
"But you should have stayed out of my way."
SHATTER!!
Jagged glass tore skin.
Blood streamed down Andre's face, soaking his shirt.
Still
Carlos continued.
Punching.
Striking.
Driven by blind, frothing rage.
"You ruined EVERYTHING!"
A kick slammed into Andre's stomach, sending him crashing onto the marble floor.
The gang descended.
Boots drove into his side.
His back.
His ribs.
Each impact echoing violently.
Andre's body jerked under the assault.
Blood smeared across pristine stone.
Maria, Marco and the others heard that they were picking on someone so they went to see what was going on.
Then
Maria had the shock of her life
"Andre!!!"
Marco charged forward.
Hugo right behind him.
Rufus, Mario and even pacho.
But Carlos, breathing heavily, wild-eyed
Lifted another bottle.
And brought it down with horrifying force.
CRACK.
Andre's head bounced against the floor.
The room descended into chaos.
Screams.
Shouting.
Panic.
And through it all
Andre did not retaliate.
Did not fight back.
Which somehow made the scene even more disturbing.
When Marco and Hugo finally tore Carlos away
Andre lay motionless.
Bleeding.
Broken.
Then slowly…
He stood up looked at everyone and just walked out.
Maria ran after him desperately.
"ANDRE, WAIT!"
He didn't stop.
But she grabbed his arm.
And froze.
The wounds were closing.
The blood vanishing, his skin repairing right in front of her.
Maria's breath hitched.
"…What…"
Andre gently pulled his arm free.
For once
He looked genuinely troubled.
"…You shouldn't have seen that."
Maria's voice trembled.
"…Andre…"
For the first time since knowing him
There was no teasing.
No nervousness.
Only raw emotion.
"…What are you?"
Andre looked at her but said nothing , he just turned and left