While the heat of passion between Raymond and Ally attracted onlookers, in the dimly lit corner of the club, amidst the growing fervor and intensity of the night, a different scenario of vulnerability unfolds.
An instant switch occurred when the club's energetic atmosphere and electrifying music filled the air, and suddenly, an abrupt shift of the pounding, upbeat music transitioned to a classical ballad, a stark contrast to the previous rhythm. The crowd began to adapt and slowed down, engaging in a gentle and passionate swaying dance number with their partners.
Raymond and Ally were in their own world and stuck to each other like glue, inseparable. They were completely absorbed in their fantasies and passionate embrace, kissing each other tightly. Some single bystanders were witnessing their love affair in envy; each one of them conveyed a surprised disapproval or even indignation towards the public display of intimacy. A slew of derogatory comments in whispers, such as "the audacity of her" or "she doesn't deserve such affection," "how shameless is she," and "what a slut," filled the atmosphere. Even in the club, women were not spared from such inequality and discrimination.
As the classical ballad filled the atmosphere, Selina, in her intoxicated state, laid her head down on the bar counter. Her consciousness was ebbing and flowing. The effects of the Pinot Noir clouded her mind, which caused her to drift back to her past. Each remembrance brought a pang of remorse, anguish, and shame. These reflections were so intense that they manifested physically, with tears beginning to trail down her cherry cheeks.
Meanwhile, a few predatory men hover around her, misinterpreting her vulnerable state as an opportunity. They attempted to rouse her, but their intentions were far from honorable. In her diminished state, Selina was dimly aware of their presence; her mind was preoccupied with the weight of her own regrets and sorrows.
The scene unfolded in front of Albert, who saw his friend losing control and kissing and fondling the suspect in question. Even with his flirtatious nature, Albert knew where to draw the line. Albert's partner, Annette, saw the display of affection shown before her in jealousy and secretly wished that Albert would soon reciprocate the gesture with as much affection for her as his friend exhibited for the bar girl. Albert sensed his partner's obvious dejection and dissatisfaction with the lack of affection from him and abruptly stood up, held out his hand and asked, "What a wonderful ballad. Shall we?" Annette was soon delighted and took his hand immediately. Both of them headed towards the middle of the dance floor. Albert decided to place Annette's head close to his broad chest to avoid looking at her gaze. It was now up to him to come up with a strategy to ditch the woman who was currently in his embrace.
The group of men encircling Selina were harassing her. They were near Albert, who was stuck with his delusional partner. Selina vaguely reminded herself of the dark side of nightlife, where moments of weakness can attract vultures and predators for the wrong kind of attention. She was by far the most beautiful and intoxicated woman in the room. "Don't cry, love, and come with me. Let us have a good time and get away from this buzzing place." "I will make those tears go away." "Let me cheer you up, my dear." "I can give you the pleasure of a lifetime; you will never forget it." "Just come with me and you will be happy forever." Those alluring temptations were no stranger to Selina. It created a poignant image of the crimson girl—that she clutched the Pinot Noir and started to climb on to the counter. Her sudden display startled the group of men surrounding her, and they moved away to get a better look at the girl. They were now doubting her vulnerability as she stood up, followed the rhythm of the melancholy rhapsody and started to perform a contemporary number on the makeshift stage.
The crimson girl instantaneously performed an impromptu dance, exhibiting her fluid and versatile movements. Her body displayed the complex emotions of pensiveness and sorrowfulness as she twisted and bent to contort her body, describing the toils and snares of life. Her tears continued to flow, but her movements were flexible, precise, and decisive.
Albert had never seen such a passionate display of dance and art and thought that this performance should be performed at the Kodak Theatre instead. While he was dancing with Annette, he continued to deceive her into believing that he was interested in her by gently stroking her hair and whispering words like, "You are breathtaking." Because Annette was blushing so intensely and having a flush of embarrassment, she kept her head on his upper body, which was to his advantage. Albert was trying to let his partner go without making a scene in the club like his friend Raymond. He was trying desperately to conceal his intention and switch targets. Annette was never the suspect, but an overly clingy girl.
"You have a natural talent to make a girl happy."
"Anything for you as long as you have a good time."
"Oh, Clark, I have never before found a man to be so charming."
Albert smiled in reluctance at Annette, revealing his bashful side in an effort to avoid suspicion. In the meantime, his attention was on the crimson girl and her beguiling performance. His gaze continued to linger on Selina throughout the dance, where he was unknowingly bewitched by her body and soul.
Selina held the wine bottle gracefully, using slow and delicate movements to establish a connection with the object. Even though she was heavily intoxicated, she acknowledged that the bottle still contained wine. She carefully held the bottle, not just as a prop but as a partner in the dance and an integral component of the dance, symbolizing an emotional clutch, a source of temptation, or a cherished memory. The Pinot Noir became the central character of her performance. She tossed the bottle in the air and deftly caught it with her eyes closed. Some of the clubgoers, moved by her professional display, instinctively pulled out their phones to capture the moment, and even the staff in the club were busy recording the wonderful performance on their phones, ready to post them on the web. A few social media influencers were live streaming the performance in the club, expressing their awe and commenting on her, dubbing her 'The Crimson Noir Lament'. The people in the club were gushing over her flawless performance.
In the heart of the club, a spontaneous and riveting exchange unfolded between the club's DJ and Selina, the dancer. The DJ, keenly observing Selina's improvised contemporary dance routine with the wine bottle, was inspired to sync the music to her movements, creating a dynamic and harmonious interaction—a conversation without words—where music and dance communicate. A transformation transpired in the club as the usual erratic and vibrant lights adjusted to complement the dance and music. Soft and focused spotlights followed Selina's movements, casting her in a warm, ethereal glow. The rest of the club is bathed in subtle shades of crimson and gold to match Selina's hair and dress, mimicking the ambiance of a classical ballroom. The unusual changes eliminated the club's typical modern and pulsating atmosphere and gave away a sense of timeless elegance. The crowd, once a disparate group of clubgoers, now appeared as attendees at the grand ball, watching in amazement as Selina performed.
The entranced Selina, lost in her past, immersed herself in the shifting music and transformed her movements into a dialogue with the music. She allowed herself to become enchanted, lost in her own past, and carried away by the ever-evolving music. The DJ subtly altered the beats, tempo, and rhythm to complement the crimson girl. What was a solo exhibit of emotions has now become a shared performance. The interplay between Selina and the DJ captivated the club's patrons; it was a powerful display of empathy as both artists adapted to each other's cues.
As the videos and streams gained traction online, the number of clubgoers increased exponentially; everyone wanted to get a glimpse of this burning performance that was propagating on social media. The performance reached its peak with both music and dance in perfect synchrony, creating intense emotional and aesthetic beauty. At the finale of the performance, it was the countdown, and the clubgoers were yelling, "Five! Four! Three! Two!" The moment the mob yelled, 'One!' Selina quaffed the remaining Pinot Noir, marking a heart-rending and synchronized conclusion to their unscripted collaboration.
The sea of upturned faces confused Selina, who was unaware of her space and time. Her mind still clouded her judgement as the last gulp of alcohol took a toll on her mind and body. She staggered on the bar countertop, thinking it was the stage in the theater room, and fell face-first on the floor. The Pinot Noir shattered and the crowd gasped!