Chapter 4 A Forgettable Face

• BETH.
• "Alright, you guys are in luck! Tony will be joining us today. He mentioned he wanted to see me and all that nonsense," Lara announced, approaching our group. She had excused herself a few minutes ago to use the restroom. I couldn't help but envy her graceful stride and the radiant glow of her caramel skin.
• It was truly amazing how effortlessly Lara maintained her complexion without the need for various lotions, soaps, or worries about acne or eczema. She had always relied on coconut oil ever since I had known her. She also applied the oil to her thick, afro-textured hair, which emitted a delightful coconut scent whenever she passed by. Her hair fell at a perfect length, not too long or short. It was neither poker straight nor overly curly, but what captivated me the most was its intense jet black color. The shade was rich and dark, with shimmering highlights that created a stunning contrast. Her tresses felt soft and silky, and I could almost distinguish each individual strand.
• It was evident that Lara adored these aspects of herself, as she never missed an opportunity to showcase them. She wore a shiny silver tube dress that gracefully stopped three inches above her knees. Completing the look were her silver heels, adorning her legs.
• Suddenly, a wave of self-consciousness washed over me, prompting me to pull out my mirror and examine my reflection. My blue eyes sparkled like the depths of the sea, and my cheekbones were accentuated by carefully applied makeup. I had styled my 20-inch blonde hair into loose waves, framing my face in an elegant cascade. My pale complexion had been enhanced with a touch of makeup and blush, emphasizing the sharp angles of my bone structure. I adorned my thin lips with a soft pink shade. As for my attire, I wore a black dress that gracefully reached my lower thighs, hugging my figure in an elegant yet feminine manner. The dress featured a straight neckline, accentuating my chest, and cinched at the waist to highlight my curves. Completing the ensemble were a pair of simple black heels that gleamed like mirrors in the bright light.
• We were having our girls night and we had planned to be sexy and crazy at it. We'd even paid for male strippers, well, Lara did. The five of us were seated in a VIP reserved part of the club area while some pot-bellied men kept throwing winks our way but what they got were glares.
• "I'd rather do Spongebob than do these old men that look as disgusting as hell. I don't care if they have billions, I mean, how do girls even do it?" Lara said while we laughed.
• "It baffles me too though. You can see the young girls circling them already. I can bet that the one in the middle isn't even up to eighteen yet, I swear." Chioma, one of us added.
• "Obviously. Fucking child abuse." I contributed.
• "Well, they aren't forcing them, are they?" Lara countered.
• "Doesn't make it right all the same. The adults should know better if they're truly that age." I said.
• "Yea... whatever." Lara grunted.
• Suddenly, the club music changed to Wizkid's Essence as Grace stood up hastily to shake her ass to the song. She was a die hard fan of the artist, no slander of him was allowed wherever she was else she'd take it up, you'd think he was her brother or something.
• We all laughed as we hyped her up while she shook her ass without breaking a sweat, she was the one with the biggest butt amongst us all after all. Lara and I being the slimmest.
• When the song changed to one she didn't like at all, she hissed and sat down.
• "One would think you have a crush on Wizkid, huh, Grace?" Janet, another one of our friend teased.
• "Well, there's nothing wrong with that, is there? The only thing is it's a dream that can never come to pass."Yeesha rebuked.
• "Oh please, never say never." Lara countered, as expected.
• I was about to contribute to the conversation when my gaze unexpectedly landed on a familiar figure making his way into the club. A rush of recognition washed over me as I observed his masculine presence. He donned a loose black silk shirt with leather cuffs, paired with black trousers, and the more I looked, the more his appearance captivated me. His head boasted a crown of rich black hair, tousled with an alluring ruggedness that promised sophistication. His strong, well-defined eyebrows and thick, luscious eyelashes seemed almost illegal. But it was his eyes that truly mesmerized me—a deep, catastrophic shade of vivid brown, with silver flecks that sparkled as he drew nearer. His distinct cheekbones and angular jawline, complemented by his devilishly handsome dark skin, made him an irresistible sight. As someone who had always been drawn to Black men, particularly those with dark skin, I couldn't help but feel a magnetic pull towards him.
• How could I ever forget those eyes, those lips, those arms? The very features that had granted me nights of intense pleasure. It had been over a year since I last saw him, yet his striking good looks struck me anew. The once lanky frame had been refined and tailored by success, and he exuded an effortless self-assurance in his tall stature. And those eyes—oh, how he knew precisely how to use them—held a subtle caution.
• We never exchanged names during our one-night stand, an encounter I would gladly relive repeatedly. I was taken aback to see him approaching our section, prompting me to readjust my appearance, striving to exude allure and recapture his attention. However, when he walked towards Lara and planted a lingering kiss on her lips, it felt as though someone had doused me in freezing cold water.
• "Hey, girls! Meet Tony, my boyfriend," Lara introduced, leaving me stunned and speechless. Tony settled between Yeesha and Lara, waving to the rest of us. He was seated directly in front of me. Though I heard the other girls greet him, I remained silent, struggling to process what was unfolding before my eyes.
• ‘Why does Lara always have incredible guys fawning over her? Why?’ The question echoed in my mind, fueled by a mix of envy and confusion.
• The fact that he greeted me without a flicker of recognition intensified the throbbing ache in my head. While the others engaged in lively conversation, oblivious to my suspicious silence, I couldn't tear my eyes away from him. Normally, I prided myself on not gawking at people, but this man, radiating an air of grace, held me spellbound. He was captivating in every way. When his gaze finally shifted and acknowledged my presence, a surge of butterflies simultaneously calmed and mystified me. His face bore a knowing expression, as if he were racking his brain to recall where he might have encountered me before.
• I couldn't believe it. It had only been a year, not even five years or more. Was my face or our encounter truly that forgettable? I, on the other hand, never forgot a single minute of our passionate rendezvous.
• The bottle of Hennessy on the table suddenly beckoned to me, appearing delicious as I poured cup after cup down my throat, neglecting any mixers like cranberry or Coca-Cola.
• "Hey! What are you doing? It's Hennessy, not Hollandia Yogurt, babe!" Lara snapped the cup out of my hands just as I was about to down another.
• "I'm sorry. She's been going through a rough time since her boyfriend dumped her. That's actually why we planned this outing," Lara explained to Tony, who nodded in understanding.
• Did she really have to divulge my personal business like that? I felt irritated. The more I observed their public display of affection, the more my irritation grew. So, I abruptly stood up, causing everyone to look at me.
• "I'm going to the restroom," I announced, my voice unintentionally louder than intended, drawing attention from people around us.
• The pungent scent of alcohol clung to me, noticeable since I had spilled some on my dress earlier. Others could see me struggling to maintain my balance, and I was aware of my own struggle. It felt like an out-of-body experience. My legs refused to cooperate, as did my hands and fingers. Somewhere deep within, I knew my brain was sending signals, instructing me on what to do. But whether my body was listening was another story. I could feel it moving, doing as it pleased. Could I stop it? We all know the answer to that. It continued to act independently. I attempted to walk towards the restroom, but my legs had other plans. They swayed unsteadily from side to side. No matter how many steps I took, I seemed no closer to my intended destination. It was a struggle, compounded by my intoxication.
• "Ugh, just take her to the restroom, Yeesha!" I heard Lara snap, and then I felt a feminine hand around my waist.
• Finally, we managed to navigate our way into the restroom. I expressed to Yeesha that I wanted to go home since I no longer felt well. She nodded understandingly and went to retrieve my bag. I stumbled into the backseat of my car as my driver started the engine and drove off.
• As the cool air from the car's air conditioner washed over me, thoughts of Tony occupied my mind. One thing was certain: I had strong feelings for him. Perhaps too strong. But friendship always came first.