The night sky seemed to understand how chaotic Alaska Bumi Arganta's chest felt.
Amid the loud music of a bar owned by one of his men, he sat in the VIP booth, accompanied by Kenan Ardion his right hand man and childhood friend who always kept him grounded.
"You look like a hungry lion, Boss," Kenan said, sipping his whiskey.
"What exactly are you waiting for?"
Alaska merely raised an eyebrow. His eyes were fixed in one direction toward a long haired brunette laughing with her friends at a corner table.
Alana Arasya.
A name he'd just heard from the bartender. Nineteen years old, fresh out of high school, yet her aura seemed to challenge the entire world.
"She's different, Ken," Alaska said flatly though there was something in his voice, something rare… interest.
"Look at the way she laughs. Look at how she stares at the world without fear."
Kenan chuckled under his breath.
"Are you saying that because you're impressed… or did your obsession relapse again?"
Alaska straightened, placing his glass on the marble table.
"This isn't obsession, Ken. This is…"
His gaze stayed locked on Alana as she stood up and lit a cigarette.
"…addiction."
Meanwhile on the other side…
"Eca, Vina, Manda! Look at that guy in the VIP section damn, he's crazy hot!" Manda exclaimed, eyes sparkling.
"He looks super rich," Vina added. "But his stare is scary, I swear. Like he could make you forget how to breathe."
Alana glanced over for a split second.
Their eyes met.
A few seconds that felt like an eternity.
"Why is he staring like that? Ugh, weird," Alana muttered, quickly turning away though her heart thumped faster than usual.
"He's been watching you all night," Eca whispered.
"You really haven't noticed?"
"I don't care," Alana waved them off, pretending to stay cool.
"Guys like him only play around. I'm not interested."
Yet fate was unavoidable.
When Alana stepped out of the bar toward the parking lot, heavy footsteps echoed behind her.
She turned and the man stood only a few steps away.
"You're Alana Arasya?"
His voice was deep, commanding… yet strangely soft in her ears.
"And if I am, so what?" Alana folded her arms, glaring.
"Following someone isn't exactly polite, you know?"
Alaska gave a slight smirk. A dangerous one.
"I'm not following you. I'm just… confirming the one who made me lose control tonight."
"Control?" Alana scoffed. "Guys who act dominant like you are everywhere. I'm not interested in being someone's game."
"Game?" Alaska stepped closer now just inches apart.
"If this is a game, then you've already won, Alana."
She swallowed but refused to look away.
"I'm not scared of you."
"You should be," Alaska replied low almost a whisper.
"Because I'm not a good man. I own half this city… and I lead something you can't even picture."
"Mafia?" Alana smirked.
"Funny. People with real power don't need to brag."
Alaska held back a laugh clearly entertained by her boldness.
"Feisty, aren't you? I like that."
"I don't need you to like anything about me," Alana snapped back.
"I just want you to stop looking at me like I'm some auction item."
Silence stretched.
Kenan, who had been standing behind them the whole time, shook his head slightly knowing his boss was falling again.
But this time, it was different.
"She's not someone you can control, Al," Kenan murmured.
Alaska glanced at Kenan, then returned his gaze to Alana with a tilted smile.
"Maybe. But when I want something… I never stop until it's mine."
Alana turned away.
Her motorbike roared to life, breaking the night's silence.
But in the side mirror, she saw those eyes again.
A gaze she already knew she wouldn't forget.
The gaze of Alaska Bumi Arganta.
A gaze not simply wanting to possess
but to claim, to bind.