Chapter 42:

Every Move You Make

-x-

The lights were bright, the screams were deafening and the thrill was just overwhelming.

The crowd cheered his name all the time as though he is the main star of the night. In reality, he just had his come back and preferred to take it light by being Mike's backup dancer for the night.

Chest bare with only a necktie hanging, Mike sizzled the dance floor with his move, turning, spinning and grooving his body in the hazy brothel bar. His dance with Levi is a sight to be in love with. Well-built solid body whose sweat made them seem like a dancing diamond made the crowd go wild.

The raven haired petite man who had a police cap and sporting a necktie as well made his popular moves consisted of some tumbles and back and front tucks was definitely missed by the crowd.

For the finale, the raven petite man executed a front tuck and landed lying on the floor while the blonde sexily shook his ass and crawled on top of the shorter one as they both playfully waved their bodies to one another as the blonde then moved like a humping frog with his long massive legs doing the glorifying movements and his abdomen.

The petite black haired man then did the same underneath him, and the crowd went wild and started to pour more money into them. Some even went to reach and touch their abs and ass sneakily before placing a few bucks in their little attire.

The blondie winked at the girl while the man underneath him sent a flying kiss into a man who screamed in a high pitch tone before sending him a whole lot more and then a few bucks, which he immediately caught.

To end the show, they both then separated and squirmed on the floor like a salted sexy worm and the crowd cheered in delight, wanting nothing else and was absolutely grateful for what they are seeing.

In a span of more or less five minutes dancing and performing on the stage, the two dancers left the crowd breathless and wanting some more when the giant with his petite dancer exited the stage. The crowd was already yelling for some more but the two dancers went to the backstage and grabbed all the tips that they had in their body.

"Well done you two" the brothel owner greeted but it also meant another thing. It means he had witnessed the amount of money that they received for the night and he would want his part as well.

The two dancers know what to do though, and they wouldn't let the old hog to get more percentage of their hard earned money than him. Besides he would even have a cut on their fee for tonight, he already had his share most especially a lot came because of Levi's comeback into the stage.

"Fucking shit" he murmured and looked up into Mike.

"Are you still up for some private sessions?" he asked despite knowing the answer.

"No. I promised Nanaba that I would lessen my private hours with the clients and that I will just stick with the dancing." Levi sighed, knowing he is just going to be the only for tonight then. Damn it, he thought. Mike was really trying to be sober and have a good life and somehow, he kind of wished the same, that he would be cleaning himself out from this kind of night activities.

"We're almost out of this hellhole Levi" he reassure his partner and pats him lightly from behind. "I enjoyed tonight's choreography by the way."

"Tsk" Levi knew they always did well better when together but he doesn't like remembering what they would do every after performance.

Mike then went to prepare his things and computed the tips they had. As promised, seventy percent is theirs and the remaining thirty percent goes to the old baboon, claiming that it was his half share.

"I'll see you tomorrow at school" the blonde bid and went on his way while the raven haired stared.

"Fuck" he sighed heavily yet again and prepared himself to entertain a dozen of customers tonight in their own cubicles for a couple of minutes.

To them it was heaven, for him it was hell.

He pretend to be amazed of their body, touch them adoringly, and dry hump them until they felt satisfied. Men or women, he will do the same. Sucking their necks like a vampire, grabbing their ass and whispering pleasures and praises that they would want to hear will help him earn more tips. He actually has no choice since he had been limp for a couple of days already and has no other choice but to be back in his old routine.

In reality, he earns more in getting laid but at least, he has an income for tonight.

Sucks to have a life forced to whore around, he thought.

-x-

Hanji's recent day events had become better compared to when she returned to school after being 'expelled'.

Seeing Levi and ignoring him was still tolerable to be done as negative memories of what he had done easily surpasses and reminds her that he is not a person that she should hang around with, and definitely does not deserve her friendship.

Nothing could also help get excited by the nearing of their graduation, since she is excited to choose a course and university to study, even if she is already passing her requirements and has been already getting scholarships from varied institutions.

One thing that makes her excited to graduate is to show her parents the never ending gratefulness through the fruits of her labour. She still does not want to claim things already or even be too assuming but with her efforts ever since then, she is really hoping to graduate on top, most especially she wanted to make it up to her parents of the recent unwanted situation happened, most especially letting them think that she had become a person that they do not know.

Not only that her grades and honor roll is looking bright but her heart also seemed to be cheery and more alive like before. She won't deny that it is all Erwin's fault and his chivalry, his leadership on his organization and just being him. He is way too different than that of Levi, their hair color definitely the opposite, their chivalry on the opposite sex, background, height, pretty much everything. Because of that, Hanji also knows that her friendship with Erwin is going to be different.

Pretty much different because she never got to feel like she is going to pee because of nervousness and consciousness whenever she is with Levi, but with Erwin, almost not just going to pee but she also felt like she wanted to go crazy and do tumbling anywhere and even jump for joy and scream on top of her lungs. She sure is that it is not a crush since she knows it would mean to have her act like awkward and aloof, scared but wanted to be around the person she has a crush with.

This is definitely not just a crush, and she knows it.

Fortunately for her, she is close with him.

Or so she thought.

Day and night, she studied well and tried her best to catch up with the lessons she missed, took notes, read and spent every hour for the benefit of her grades and for the love of learning. She had two, almost three months to catch up and fortunately, her parents were pleased to see her with what she is doing.

At night, she would scribble on her books and notes when her phone would light up indicating a message.

It was always from Levi.

He would be asking her how she is, if she is eating, that he is still always all ears for her and he is more than willing to adjust just to see and hear from her.

Of course, she would ignore but at times, she couldn't help but wonder how he is doing. She would even curse to herself when she would feel like her fingers about to type and respond back to Levi.

Because the very thought of checking him out is really tempting.

Everything was doing great until a fine and perfect day when things suddenly went downhill. It was the day of announcement of the honor rolls, mainly means they will find out who is on top and who would be receiving awards. Afterwards, graduation practice is going to start and completion of requirements before finally living the school for good which would take at least three weeks.

And there it was, heart breaking and surprising her in all aspect.

#1. Erwin Smith

#2. Zoe Hanji

It was clear as it was told and written and showed to them after being called and gathered altogether of their batch. Everybody started greeting Erwin, who also seemed surprised and then congratulated one another. Hanji on the other hand was surprised herself as well.

Hanji was never the student type to always aim high and keep it that way, her natural performance on her academics lets her maintain on top. She never wanted to be always on top nor even yearn for it all of the time but this time, she has a reason to want it.

But she guesses that when she needed and wanted it, that's the time she will not have it.

"Hanji" Erwin tapped her on the shoulder as it woke her up back into reality. She turned to look at him slowly, not knowing what to feel whether she would feel happy for someone she adores had now earned the top spot and not her or feel sad because she did not had that spot.

Yet, how could she even feel bad on the smile that he has for her?

"Congrats to us Hanji" he said with a beaming smile and without thinking properly, Hanji just wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him so tight that even after a few seconds that he believes is already enough and slightly gives first indication of breaking their embrace, she still won't let go.

"Yeah congratulations to us" she managed to say despite placing a very deep pain her heart and forcing a smile.

Erwin sighed, his guess seemed to be right, but he did not meant to do it, he was not expecting it to happen anyway. Even if he gives way for her, things might go sour and not turn out the way they wanted it to be. As of now, all he could do is just give her what she needed.

After they broke apart, Erwin tried to cheer her up and asked her a question.

"Can you help me with something?" he asked with a nervous expression, somehow wanting to show her that she is still the best of everything and trusts her more than anyone.

"What is it?" she asked back, somehow with the will power of returning almost the same degree of smile.

"Can you give me some ideas on how to be closer to a girl I like the most?"

Hanji then felt the world crumbling under her feet.

-x-

Erwin stayed with Hanji and accompanied her until she gets home.

"I know you mean well Erwin but really, I'm okay" Hanji reassures him as they ate together in awkward silence. He decided to treat her out as their celebration and knowing her huge appetite.

Still, Hanji only managed to gulp a few soup of her ramen and eat a few noodles. Erwin does not want to push her in both telling him of what she feels and in finishing her entire food.

Fortunately, she started out first.

"I'm sorry Erwin" she said with a big sigh. "Not that I am always used being on top but I kind of needed it now to make my parents happy and proud and make up for what had happened" she blurts out, with a sad smile.

"Not that I am not happy for your success, don't get me wrong." Somehow, she is hoping that Erwin will not feel bad about it, aside from feeling pride and guilt at the same time for being hesitant on telling him the truth.

Erwin didn't really know what to tell her or react, but what he knows is that he didn't mean things to go like this. He knows that he won't be the top after all this years but he suspects something behind for such thing to happen. Not that he does not feel happy over it but rather, he is feeling overwhelmed and surprised. He just wanted to know the truth because he knows the spot is meant for the rightful person.

"You don't need to feel bad about me" Hanji said with the same old cheery tone.

But Erwin know that she is really feeling bad for herself, but he does not want to push her either.

"Not matter what happens, I'd always be happy for you." She tells with much effort to contain the ache on her heart of not getting what she desired, and make it double. Still she is happy for him and for his achievements.

Hanji immediately ate after that, aware that her actions has been telling Erwin the opposite of her words and knew right away that it was working when he smiled at her actions and ate with the same amount of eagerness.

In the middle of their conversation, Hanji gathered all the energy remaining in her and asked Erwin.

"So who's the lucky girl?" she asked with a smile full of noodles. She truly is lucky, she thought.

Erwin tensed and then relaxed, taking him a few minutes before he could respond.

"Her name is Marie" he said with a hint of embarrassment and pride. In reality, he never got to talk to anyone about Marie and he feels happy in bringing her up with Hanji.

"She's a girl I know from our place" he started and directed his worries on Marie go along the noodle soup he is eating. "I knew her since we were teenagers and already had a liking on her."

He smiled, and Hanji saw the brightest reflection on his teeth and the serenity on his lips. It made her realize that he really is into that girl, to that Marie, and she knows that even if she doesn't a single thing about this Marie, she would never be her.

Would never be the person to make Erwin smile like a high maniac nor make him very tensed. Whoever she is, Hanji hopes, that she would never hurt Erwin.

With that acceptance that is still hard to swallow, a thought came rushing into her together with the cold cruel pain.

-x-

Levi was surprised to hear the news that Hanji didn't made it into top one.

He is aware of Hanji's intelligence as well as hard work, but the thought of her being just the second became too hard for him to handle. He knows that what he did to her made a huge impact, and her failure became his fault. Despite being aware of it, he is still unaware on what should be done to make it up to her, most especially that she sees him like a pest.

He sighed, he can't blame her in the first place.

He knew what he did, it is just that as he just got trapped on and needed to sacrifice. Still, it was the worst sacrifice he did and just hope to get back in time and do things differently.

Hanji was the only remaining friend and family to him, aside from his team. But she is definitely the closest to him and the only person he is comfortable with. Losing the friend that he had shared with her was tormenting.

Her smile and laugh haunts him, as her eyes and her abnormal psyche deaden him.

He has been trying to at least get to talk to her but all he received is nothing but glares and full ignoring of him. She obviously condemns him and if there is something he could do to patch things up between them is to leave it to time and space and hopefully it gets okay and better.

He is hoping for as soon as possible though.

Because he can deny it all he wants but he miss her, a lot.

With a heavy sigh after school, he went back to the brothel and awaited for the same old clients that he had, actually hoping for a client since he had greatly loss a few after performing very poor lately. Getting hard was tough and even maintaining the hardness, and even concentrating was difficult for him to handle.

He needed the money since he was already able to save enough for college.

And that reminded him, not even a single university contacted him yet, but hoped at least even one would still contact him. He had did a lot just to save money for college and even if it is not yet enough, a good amount was already saved good for a year's necessities for college.

While making his way towards his room, he had been focusing on what to do and to get hard and think of many nasty thoughts, he was surprised once he entered his room.

There by the chair that has by the table, Hanji sat on her huge clothes that she usually wears.

"Hanji" he whispers in what seemed like a question.

It was just like the first time they met.

Too much surprised enabled him to move and stare at her, as she did the same to him. He noted her eyes were still beautiful as ever but hinted an amount of unhappiness.

And it bothered him.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, books still on his arms. He could feel his mouth wanting to say more but only opened slightly and was not able to produce anything anymore.

Without a word and without breaking their eye contact, Hanji removed her clothes and threw them on the floor.

-x-

Author's Notes:

Sorry if this is inaccurate. I have never been into a bar, a disco or a brothel. Ironically, this is the story that I have decided to make. . Nor have I experienced seeing men dancing around half naked.

Anyway, just to rant or to express myself (since I don't have anyone to talk about this). I felt bad and did not expect to feel this worse for failing my second attempt of working abroad. Seriously, I have been criticized a lot in almost all aspects of my individuality. Maybe those who were telling me here recently how bad I build my grammar were right. No wonder I failed. I need to work outside of my country and with a Master's and license, a lot was expected of me but I recently kept on failing. Sucks and I felt very bad of myself, most especially for failing those people who believed in me that I can work outside the country. I can't feel anything anymore, I can't even cry or shit. I would prefer cutting my hands off or my ears, I think it is less painful. And pain makes me feel alive. Or reminds me that I am alive.

Anyway, sorry about that my rant. It's just that, I also had a fucked summer last year. (it's summer right now here in the Philippines)

P.S. Anyone here played or playing The Last of Us? Yeah coz I just saw the leaks and damn I was so pissed. I have never gotten this pissed ever in my life over a freaking video game to think it has not yet been released. It made me remember my other fic, I Never Wanted to Live Without You but at least, it's just a fanfiction and I am no pro but TLOU 2 is just worse. Maybe worst is the best word for that rather.

Wherever you guys are, please be safe and hope you guys are doing well.