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Chapter 9

"My buddy asked me to hit the bar."

David blurted it out, leaving Alice scratching her head.

"Well, I guess I'll just..." She still had some cash, so a cab ride home wasn't a biggie.

David shot her a look, "Nah, you're coming with me."

Alice was baffled.

When they rolled up to the bar and stepped into the private room, they were swarmed.

"David, dude, we've been waiting forever! What took you so long?"

"Come on, man, we're just waiting on you!"

David got mobbed by a bunch of gorgeous girls and plopped down on the couch.

The room was packed with more chicks than dudes, and David had beauties on both sides, leaving Alice in the dust.

David grinned, holding a deck of cards, "So, what are we playing?"

"Let's play high card!" The chick in the black dress on his left piped up, "If you lose, David, you gotta kiss me!"

David's grin widened. "Deal."

Alice glanced at her arms and touched her face, thinking about how David usually whipped out the first aid kit whenever she got into scrapes. Why was he acting all nonchalant and dragging her to a bar?

Alice thought, 'Something's fishy; this isn't like David at all. What's his game?'

Earlier, she figured David was dodging her; why else would he keep his distance?

Now she wasn't so sure.

David was acting out of character, dressing down, and always smiling. Alice was getting anxious, 'Is he trying to get my attention?'

Suddenly, Simon's words echoed in her mind.

"Maybe David's into you, and you don't even know it."

So, was all this to make her jealous?

Alice eyed David. He'd already lost twice and had pecked the chick in the black dress on the cheek twice. Now he was moving on to play with the girl in the white dress on his right.

Alice squinted. Even though David was trying to play the playboy, he frowned a bit when he touched the other girls. He wasn't happy.

'Is he really trying to make me jealous and mad?' Alice wondered.

Alice didn't buy it. She knew herself too well. With her knack for trouble, bad temper, extreme thoughts, and average looks, would David really be into her?

To see if David was really up to something, Alice decided to test him.

Alice strolled over, propped her hands on the table, leaned in, and flashed a sweet smile, "David, I wanna play too."

David looked up at Alice and gave a faint "Sure."

Alice kept smiling, "I wanna sit next to David."

The girls in the black and white dresses looked at David.

David motioned for the girl in the black dress to give up her seat for Alice. Alice plopped down next to David, grabbed the dice on the table, thought for a sec, and said, "David, let's roll the dice. What's the bet?"

David leaned back, his collar open, half his face in shadow, eyeing Alice's profile.

Before he could say anything, Alice suddenly turned, and their eyes locked.

David was a bit stunned and looked away.

Seeing David avoid her gaze, Alice felt like she had him figured out.

David was doing all this just to get her attention. Thinking that, a mischievous grin spread across Alice's face.

She used to tread carefully around David, but this time, she decided to mess with him.

Alice grinned and said, "If I lose, I won't fight or cause trouble for a week. If I win, David, you gotta sleep with me tonight."

David was caught off guard, his usual calm shattered, and his face showed surprise, even his ears turned a bit red.

The room was filled with gasps.

"David, you've got a lot of admirers."

"Miss, how old are you? Aren't you worried about getting a nosebleed if David sleeps with you?"

"Hey, we're not kidding. David's got a killer body."

David was annoyed and shot a warning look at his teasing friends, making them stifle their laughter.

David tried to play it cool, "Make it a month."

Alice grinned, "Deal!"

The dice game was all about luck.

Alice shook the dice first, giving them three good shakes before slamming them on the table. David did the same and placed his dice on the table. Everyone in the room crowded around.

Alice opened her dice first. One, three, four. Low numbers.

"Looks like luck's not on your side. Guess you won't be seeing David's body tonight."

"Who here has actually seen David's body? Just us, right? Any other ladies?"

"Can you guys shut up?" David sighed in relief, but when he lifted his cover and saw the numbers, he froze.

"You're really killing me."

"One, one, two. Wow! David, looks like you're sleeping with Alice tonight."

David pursed his lips, glancing at Alice beside him, his face a mix of disbelief and a hint of shy blush.

He was even more convinced Alice was into him, going to such lengths to get his attention.

David felt conflicted. Alice had these feelings, and not only did he fail to stop her, but now he had to sleep with her!

But with everyone watching, he couldn't back out. Was he really gonna share a bed with Alice tonight?

David's ears turned red, his heart pounding. Besides the confusion, he felt a bit excited, though he couldn't figure out why.

"David, remember the bet." Alice was in high spirits, her face glowing as she reached for David's wallet.

The wallet was in the inner pocket of his suit. Alice opened his jacket, took out the wallet, grabbed a $100 bill, and left the room. When she came back, she had a bunch of snacks.

Around ten, David couldn't take it anymore and found an excuse to take Alice home.

As soon as they got inside, David quickly said, "You go to bed early. I have a headache. Tomorrow morning, get your own breakfast and head to school."

Alice watched David press his left hand against his temple as he went upstairs. Her eyes sparkled, and she licked her dry lips, following him. When David entered his room and closed the door, she blocked it and walked in.

David froze, seeing Alice's head resting against his chest. His previously foggy mind cleared up immediately. His heart was racing, and he wondered if Alice could hear it.

Alice pushed David, who was blocking the door, and walked in.

This was her first time in David's room.

The decor was dark gray, the space large but sparsely furnished.

If she didn't live here, David would probably stay in his apartment, and this place would just be a pit stop.

"Alice," David called out in a low voice, his eyebrows stern, his expression serious.

"David, you lost to me. Are you trying to back out?"

David explained, "I was just messing around."

Alice sat at the foot of the bed, her hands on the blanket, pouting, "But you still lost. Are you denying it?"

David clenched his fists, wanting to say something but not knowing where to start. Alice was also looking at him, neither of them speaking, nor compromising.

They were at a stalemate, and the atmosphere was tense.

After a moment, Alice shrugged, stood up, patted her butt, and straightforwardly said, "David, do you like me?"

David was stunned, "What?"

But then, he felt a bit panicked. He didn't know where he had slipped up, but Alice had noticed.

At the same time, he felt very troubled, not knowing how to face Alice.

"Otherwise, why would you act so differently today, trying to get my attention, seducing me, and making me jealous?"

Alice didn't notice David's expression. She spread her hands, "But I don't like you, so you should give up. Alright, David, goodnight."

It wasn't until Alice returned to her room that David reacted and couldn't help but laugh. "What a waste of effort!"

So, what was all his sacrifice and out-of-character behavior for today?

Thinking about it, David transferred money to his friend to settle the balance payment and took a shower to sober up.

In the private room, the women couldn't help but gossip after receiving the balance payment, "Did David do this to make his girlfriend jealous?"

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