Laura
"Holy shit!" Martin exclaimed suddenly, jumping to his feet. 'Do you know what time it us? It's past midnight, so, laura... 'Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you...'?" He sang.
Michal and karolina stood, too, and joined in the merry, loud, and raucous rendition of the birthday song. The other guests were looking at us, intrigued, and then joined as well, singing in italian. The restaurant reverberated with loud applause, and all i wanted to do was vanish. I hated that stupid tune. I dont think anybody really likes it. Nobody really knows how to behave as everyone is singing it - sing along, clap their hands, smile like an idiot? All options seemed bad, and you are just left the center of attention, looking out of place. With a fake smile plastered to my face i rose and waved at everyone, bowing and thanking them for their wishes.
"You just had to do this to me, didn't you?" I growled at martin, the smile still stretching my lips "reminding me of my age isn't too polite. Besides, did you have to involve everyone?"
"Well, babe it seems that truth is a hard pill to swallow. But, by way of apology, i've ordered your favourite drink".
The waiter appeared with four, tall glasses and a bottle of Moët &chandon Rose in a bucket filled with ice.
" oh, i love it!" I squealed, jumping up and down and clapping my hands like a little girl. My glee wasn't unnoticed by the waiter, who opened the bottle and filled our glasses. He then smiled at me widely and put the cooler and the nearly empty bottle on the table as he left.
"Na zdrovye!" Called karolina in polish raising her glass. "May you find what you're looking for, always have what you want, and fulfill all your dreams. Cheers!" We clinkef glasses and drank the champagne.
After midnight, the restaurant turned into a club. The colorful lighting drastically changed the atmosohere of the place. The elegant, classy white and sterile interior suddenly exploded with all kind of gaudy colors. The white was all the more undarstandable now. With a bit of lighting, you easily could change the character of the room.
I really had to go tothe restroom now. This time however the waiter pointed me to the right direction. I elbowed my way through the crowd toward the ladies room, when i had the strange feeling of being watched again. I stopped and took a careful look around on a pedestal, leaning over one of the wooden beams, stood the black clothed man, pinning me with his icy stare again. He measured me with his eyes, his face showing no emotions. He looked like your typical italian, though he might been the least typical man i'd ever seen. His black hair cascaded down his forehead. His jaw was covered with a meticulously trimmed dark stubbles. His lips were full and well defined. Perfectly suited to pleasure a woman, i thought. His stare was cold and piercing. It was the stare of a wild animal ready to pounce. Seeing him from that distance, i realize just how tall he was. He loomed over the woman standing nearby. He must have been six three. I dont know how much time passed with us just staring into each other's eyes. It must have stopped for all i cared. My bewildered stupor was broken by a man who walked into me on his way somewhere. With all that staring i had grown rigid and numb at the same time., so i just wheeled around on one foot and toppled to the ground.
"You okay?" The man in Black asked, appearing suddenly at my side. "If not for the fact that i saw it wasn't you who walked into him this time, i would have thought bumping into people was your way of guys".
He grabbed me by the elbow and lifted me up effortlessly. He was so strong it seemed i didn't weigh a pound. This time i gathered my wits and the alchol made me braver.
" i would have thought the problem is that you're always in my way, pretending to be a wall or a crane", i retorded, shooting him the coldest stare i could muster. He withdrew, but kept his eyes on me, looking me up and down, as if he couldn't believe i was real.
"You've been watching me the whole evening, haven't you". I asked fiercely.i might be paranoid sometimes, but when i have a hunch, it's rarely wrong. The man smirked.
"I watch the club," he replied. I supervise the staffs, check on the guests, and look for women in need of a wall or crane". I found his response amusing and discomforting in equal parts.
"In that case, thank you for being my crane. Have a good night". I sent him porocative gaze and headed towards the restroom. When he stayed behind, i sighed with relief. At least this time i didn't look like a complete idiot and had been able to speak like a normal person.
"
See you around laura ", i heard him say. I spun on my heel, but the Man in Black was nowhere to be seen anymore.