Chapter 111 - Party III

"Uh… Dev? Do you hate me?"

Devon frowned. "What gave you the impression that I abhor you?"

"You win. I will… drink for you." Mike's breath hitched as he poured himself a glass of wine with his hand shaking. The game was just a simple truth or dare, but her initial questions indirectly told them she won't be playing fair.

"This game is quite confusing," Devon commented as she turned her head to Bella with puzzlement in her eyes. The latter could only smile and chuckle weakly.

"You are an expert in chasing away flies and bugs." Bella chuckled while shaking her head, realizing she was being a bit overprotective of nothing. Now, she understood Dion's action… or what she wanted to think.

Devon didn't understand what she meant, but she ignored it. Again, Mike just drank three glasses, making Dion shake his head as he just shot himself at the foot.

'Did they think my sis is normal? Only my big brother can handle her.' Dion nodded in agreement because, until now, Devon would still give him a headache. 

"Let's not play anymore. This game is unfair." Mike dribbled as he wiped the corner of his lips with his arm. "Let's just drink."

"I hope you finally learned your lesson." Dion clicked his tongue and shook his head. "Drinking is better than partying. I don't know how you manage to like parties after many years."

"Oh, ho! Qin Dion! You sound like an old man!" Mike remarked and applauded, gazing at his best friend with eyes full of disdain. 

"I've matured," Dion argued proudly.

"Third young master, why have you been rejecting on making a comeback? Are you really not going to renew your contract?" asked another male friend as he stared at Dion with interest. 

Dion smacked his lips. "It's not that. I'm just busy lately."

"Busy? You mean busy protecting Miss Lin?" 

"You're right." Dion nodded, arms-crossed. He actually planned on going back into the limelight after his hiatus. However, he was afraid that Lewis would mess up and will stay as a bachelor. Also, babysitting Devon had more benefits.

"Wow… are you two really not lovers?" Mike's face distorted, as this was just getting weirder for him. "Are you saying, you're giving the boss a headache just because you're busy with a woman?"

"Hey, hold your tongue, you motherfather." Dion seethed as he ground his teeth. "My sis has a name, duh?"

While the men engaged in a conversation that mostly centered on Dion's career, Bella kept her ears open. She pursed her lips in a thin line before shifting her attention to Devon.

"Dev?" Bella called in a tiny voice, waiting for Devon to face her, and then asked when the latter did. "Are you really not Dion's lover?"

Did these people have trust issues? Devon wondered internally as she studied Bella's expression.

"We're not, I can assure you that," Devon answered for the nth time. "Hmm? Do you perhaps like Dion?" 

Bella pursed her lips, biting her lower lip as she glanced in Dion's direction. "Well… I do, but he never once looks at me."

"What did you like about him?" Devon furrowed her brows and tilted her head to the side. 

"Well, he is very cool on stage and a very talented artist." Bella smiled gently as she kept her voice low. "Also, he is handsome."

While Bella described Dion, Devon couldn't help but furrow her brows even more. Although she knew Dion was actually good-looking, he was more than his handsome face and talent.

"If you want someone to look at you, you have to look at them first," Devon advised that puzzled Bella for a moment. 

"What do you mean by that?"

Devon chuckled as she shifted her eyes towards Dion. "Instead of looking at his physical appearance, you have to look at their heart. Dion had shown me his live performance, and I could tell how fierce and amazing he was. His music also touched the hearts of his listeners, and he was quite charming. However, for me, he was more than that."

"He had his strange way of showing his concern, and one can easily misunderstand him. He might also be loud, but he rarely speaks his heart. He can be annoying most of the time, but he is kind and compassionate," Devon continued. "Instead of seeing him as a goal, you have to see him as a person."

Devon faced Bella with a gentle smile on her face. She had noticed Bella's way of looking at Dion and could tell the reason Dion never bat her an eye. Bella's feelings were not the kind of love she thought it was. 

"How can I know all that when he never showed me those sides of him?"

"You were hostile to me because you misunderstood my relationship with Dion. You didn't tell me that, but how can I tell?" Devon cocked her head to the side, seeing how Bella froze, wide eye.

"You… you knew?" When Devon nodded as an answer, Bella asked, "How? And why hadn't you said a thing? I mean, I will understand it if you dislike me."

"I don't want to regret gaining a friend. I liked your confidence the first time we met each other, and your character for standing up for others." Devon explained with a shrug. "I told you, didn't I? Not all friendship starts right off the bat. Your enemy can be your closest friend the next day."

Bella let out a defeated sigh as she stared at Devon. "You've really matured, I'm speechless."

"Haha. Am I?"

"Yes. I've been in the industry for a long time, and I've rarely met people like you." Bella leaned back, cozying up on the couch. "People treat people based on their status, and how they could benefit from it. It's hard to look at them otherwise. That's why I'm mostly closed with men since they have less drama, even so, since they have less complaints, I couldn't really talk about anything personal."

"You have one now, right here." Devon smiled as she raised her glass of wine for a toast. 

Bella chuckled as she raised hers and clinked glasses with her.. "I hated you at first."