The laughter and chatter from Marikina River Gold still echoed in the minds of the ZeroCrypt members as they made their way to their respective hotel rooms. It was tradition for the group to book a hotel near their headquarters whenever a mission was about to begin. It allowed them to stay close, stay focused. Tonight was no different; everyone was a bit tipsy but still mindful of the challenges that lay ahead.
Outside the hotel entrance, Dezer and Dominic escorted Glaiza to her hotel room. The alcohol buzz was strong, their steps unsteady, but their playful banter carried on.
"I can't believe I almost tripped on that last step," Glaiza laughed, leaning against Dominic for support.
"You guys must think I'm totally helpless."
"Not at all," Dezer chuckled, holding her arm gently.
"Everyone has their moments. Besides, we're here to make sure you don't end up on the floor."
Dominic, his usually serious demeanor softened by the alcohol, grinned.
"Just take it slow, Glaiza. We wouldn't want you to have an embarrassing story for tomorrow."
They reached Glaiza's hotel room door, and she fumbled in her pocket for the keycard.
"You two might as well come in," she said with a playful grin.
"I swear, I'm going to drop this key at least three times before I get it right."
As they entered the room, the atmosphere seemed to shift. The dim light of the bedside lamp cast a warm glow over the space, and the lingering effects of the alcohol blurred boundaries. What began as lighthearted fun had started to evolve into something more charged.
"So, this is where you're staying, huh?" Dezer murmured as he glanced around the room.
"It's a lot nicer than mine."
"Same here," Dominic added, closing the door behind him.
"You definitely know how to pick a place, Glaiza."
Glaiza smirked, sitting down on the bed.
"Well, I always say that if you're going to be working hard, you might as well treat yourself a little." She patted the space next to her.
"Come on, don't just stand there. It's not like I'm kicking you out."
Dezer exchanged a quick glance with Dominic, who raised an eyebrow, as if silently asking, Are we really doing this?
There was an unspoken agreement between them as they walked over and sat down on either side of her.
"So, what's the plan for the rest of the night?" Dezer asked, his voice low, as he leaned closer to Glaiza.
"We can stay and chat… or maybe something else?"
"Hmm," Glaiza said, her playful tone now laced with a hint of mischief.
"Well, I could use some company. You know, just to make sure I don't end up doing something stupid on my own."
Dominic chuckled. "You're already doing something stupid. You invited two guys into your room when you're drunk. Sounds like a recipe for trouble."
Glaiza grinned, her gaze flicking between the two of them.
"Maybe a little trouble is exactly what I need tonight."
Dezer leaned closer, his hand brushing against Glaiza's arm.
"We wouldn't want to disappoint you, then."
The atmosphere thickened as they all moved in closer, and the night took on a different tone altogether.
Meanwhile, across the hotel, Zark sat on the edge of his bed, the sounds of the city muted through the thick window glass. He stared at the darkened skyline, his mind a swirl of thoughts. Despite the relaxed atmosphere at the bar earlier, he couldn't fully shake the tension that clung to him.
"Tomorrow's the real deal," he murmured to himself, his gaze fixed on the distant lights. "We can't afford any mistakes."
He ran a hand through his hair and tried to focus, but his thoughts kept drifting back to ZionTech and all the possible ways things could go wrong.
The anxiety gnawed at him, a constant reminder that despite all the preparations, there were no guarantees. Zark stood up, pacing the room as if the movement could help shake the feeling. He needed to clear his head, but even the comfortable hotel bed didn't seem inviting.
"Maybe I should just go for a walk," he thought aloud, but something held him back.
He wasn't ready to face the quiet streets; not yet. Instead, he grabbed his laptop and began reviewing his notes again. It was the only thing that seemed to calm him—keeping his mind occupied.
Outside on the veranda of his own room, Rene stood with a cigarette between his fingers, the tip glowing bright in the dark. The cool night air was a relief against his warm skin, flushed from both the alcohol and the day's events.
"Always the same," he said to himself, taking a long drag and exhaling slowly.
"The calm before the storm."
There was a certain familiarity in this quiet moment, a kind of ritual he'd developed over the years before every major mission.It helped him ground himself, to focus on the task ahead.
He flicked the ashes off the side of the veranda and glanced up at the sky.
"At least it's a clear night," he said quietly, as if the stars were listening.
"Maybe it's a good omen."
Just then, his phone buzzed in his pocket. It was a message from Zark:
You ready for tomorrow?
Rene smirked, typing back a quick reply.
"Always. Don't lose sleep over it."
A response came almost instantly: Can't promise that.
Rene chuckled to himself, putting the phone back in his pocket.
"That guy," he muttered, shaking his head.
"He always worries too much."
He took another drag of his cigarette and leaned back against the railing, letting the night's calmness settle over him once more.
Back in Glaiza's room, the air was thick with heat and the sweet musk of alcohol. Dezer was the first to speak as the three lay sprawled on the bed, breathing heavily, their bodies still entangled.
"Well, that was… unexpected," he said, a satisfied grin on his face.
Dominic laughed softly, his voice a bit hoarse.
"You could say that again. I didn't think our night was going to end like this."
Glaiza, still catching her breath, grinned up at the ceiling.
"It was a good way to blow off some steam before the mission, don't you think?" She turned her head to look at them both.
"I'm definitely not going to regret this in the morning."
Dezer chuckled, his tone teasing.
"Well, if you do, just don't tell us. We prefer the memory intact."
Dominic smirked, shifting to get up.
"We should probably get out of here, though. We all need some sleep."
He reached over and gave Glaiza a quick kiss on the forehead before standing up.
"Agreed," Dezer said as he stood and began searching for his shirt.
"Sleep is the least we can do for ourselves right now."
As Dominic and Dezer quietly left the room, Glaiza lay back, a lazy smile playing on her lips. She wasn't sure what tomorrow would bring, but tonight had definitely been a good distraction.
In the final quiet moments of the night, each member of ZeroCrypt prepared for what lay ahead in their own way. Some sought comfort in routine, while others let the night's events take them where they may. But as the hours crept on, the city outside remained indifferent, a silent witness to the calm before the storm.