Empty bottles were pushed aside on the tables, glasses were constantly being refilled, and plates of food were half-finished as everyone grew louder. Old friends were leaning closer across the table, voices were mixing together, and jokes were flying without pause.
Samson lifted his fork high in the air and waved it around dramatically. "You know what? These reunions always end up the same. We sit here talking about jobs, families, promotions, and all that boring adult stuff. Why don't we talk about something more exciting—like sex?"
The whole table erupted at once. Some people groaned, some clapped, and others whistled.
"Trust you to say that," Kael said, grinning.
Clair shook her head and was laughing. "You really never change."
Sofia leaned her chin on her palm and smirked. "I bet he only brought it up because he hasn't had any in months."
Samson gasped loudly and pressed his hand to his chest like he had been insulted. "Excuse me? I get plenty, thank you very much. And unlike you boring straight people, I don't stick to the same plain positions every night."
The group burst into laughter so strong that some people nearly tipped their glasses over. Even I couldn't hold back a laugh, though I pressed my hand to my mouth, embarrassed.
Then Calixto leaned forward across the table, and his expression was suddenly more serious. His voice was casual, but his words cut through the noise. "Do you all remember Hana? From the architecture department?"
The chatter slowed. Celeste furrowed her brows, trying to recall. "Tall girl? Always wore black jeans? And the quiet one?"
"Yes, that's her," Calixto replied. He lifted his glass and was smirking as if he had been waiting for this moment. "She became a pornstar. Not an amateur. A real one. She's making serious money."
"No way!" Samson slapped the table so hard that his glass rattled. "Hana? Our Hana?"
Clair's eyes were wide. "She was so quiet back then. I can't even imagine her doing that."
"Quiet ones are always the wildest," Kael said, shaking his head like it was obvious.
Sofia leaned close to me, whispering in disbelief. "Can you believe it? Hana of all people?" Then she snorted. "At least someone's making money out of it."
The group's conversation shifted completely. Some people debated if it was shameful, while others shrugged like it was nothing. Samson leaned back and was grinning mischievously. "Honestly, if I had her body, I'd do it too. Imagine getting paid for what everyone already wants from you. That's not shame. That's business."
The table roared again with laughter and teasing. This time, Cali glanced at me before leaning in. "You know, Dana, what do you think?"
I blinked, caught off guard. "Me?"
"Yes, you," Samson teased, pointing his fork at me. "You're the one who always acted like a saint back in college. Tell us, don't you ever wonder what it's like to live… differently?"
The table chuckled, and I felt the heat creep up my cheeks. I forced a smile. "I don't know. I guess… I just never thought about it like that."
Sofia smirked. "Really? You've been married for seven years now and you still don't have kids. Don't tell me you two are just living like roommates?"
The laughter came sharper this time, and all eyes briefly flicked toward me and Cali. I shifted in my seat, my throat tightening.
Before I could answer, Cali placed his glass down with a small, controlled smile. "We've just been focusing on work. Not everyone needs to rush things."
Rafael, sitting across from us, finally spoke. His tone was casual, but I could feel the weight of his words. "Besides, it's their business. Not like anyone here has the right to measure their marriage by whether or not they have children."
The table quieted a little. Samson raised his hands, still smirking. "Hey, hey, don't get defensive. I'm just saying, we all thought you two would be the first to have kids. That's all."
Cali gave a short laugh, but his hand was tightened around his glass. I lowered my eyes, not wanting anyone to see how uncomfortable I was.
Kael leaned back with a shrug. "I say good for Hana. At least she didn't let society's rules stop her. She's earning more than most of us here probably."
Rafael smirked faintly, his eyes glancing at Cali again. "Money or not, people will always judge. That's just how the world works."
Their conversation carried on, with voices overlapping. Some are curious about Hana, others are mocking her, and a few are even admiring her boldness.
I stayed quiet, but my ears caught every word, and something was stirring in me. For the first time, I didn't just laugh off Samson's jokes. I found myself wondering. What kind of life was Hana living now? What did it feel like to embrace that world openly? To not be afraid of desire? To choose pleasure without shame?
The thought lingered in me as the night moved on. The bottles were emptied quickly. Some of my classmates were red-faced, slurring their words and laughing too loudly. Others were dozing off against the chairs, unable to stay awake. The restaurant owner had stopped checking on us, probably relieved that we were too distracted to ask for more food.
I turned my head to the side and only then noticed that Cali was no longer sitting beside me. Rafael was gone too.
I stood slowly, I brushed off my dress, and excused myself. No one paid much attention, everyone was too busy with Samson's new outrageous story.
I stepped outside. The street was quieter, lit by scattered lamps and the glow from nearby stores that were beginning to close for the night. I walked toward the parking area, expecting to find Cali and Rafael leaning against a car, talking the way they always did.
But what I saw stopped me dead.
Cali and Rafael were standing too close. Their bodies were almost pressed together. Rafael's hand was firm on Cali's shoulder, pulling him forward. Their mouths were connected in a kiss.
For a moment, my mind refused to believe it. I blinked, but the image did not disappear. Rafael tilted his head to deepen the kiss, and Cali did not push him away. In fact, his hand was resting lightly on Rafael's arm, holding instead of resisting.
My breath caught. I felt my chest cave in as if the air had been stolen. My tears were burning before I realized they had started falling.
I must have made a sound, because suddenly both of them froze. Their heads were turning sharply toward me.
Cali's eyes were wide, his lips were still wet, and panic was flooding his expression. Rafael, on the other hand, didn't flinch. His gaze was steady.
For a moment, none of us spoke. The silence between us was heavy, broken only by the faint sound of traffic from the road beyond.
"Dana—" Cali finally said, his voice was low and broken. He took a step forward.
I shook my head, and my tears were falling harder. "Why?" My voice cracked, my body was trembling. "Why?"
Cali looked desperate, but no explanation was coming out. Rafael didn't even look guilty. It was too much, and I couldn't stand there anymore.
I stepped back, then turned and ran.
My feet were pounding against the pavement as I fled down the street. The night lights were blurring in my eyes. My chest was hurting, but I didn't stop. I just needed to get away from them.
The city was alive around me, but I felt completely alone. My tears were blurring my vision, and I didn't notice the headlights rushing toward me from the side.
A horn was blaring. Tires were screeching.
I barely turned my head before the blinding lights of a six-wheeler truck filled my sight.
The impact came too fast.
The world was black before I could even scream.