An Elegant Lounge - Nighttime
The lounge was the kind of place that made you feel like you should be wearing pearls and sipping something expensive while discussing art. Crystal chandeliers cast warm golden light across velvet seating areas. Soft jazz played through hidden speakers. The air smelled of expensive perfume and even more expensive alcohol.
It was, in every way, Wony's natural habitat.
The five girls were celebrating a classmate's birthday, nestled in a corner booth with a view of the entire room. Fatimah sat at the head of the table, surveying her friends with the practiced vigilance of a shepherd watching over particularly chaotic sheep. Chima was already on her second drink, complaining loudly about her boss. Naila had curled into the corner of the booth, her eyes half-closed as she listened to the music. Alice was practically vibrating with excitement.
And Wony was holding a glass of something pink and sparkly.
"Try this one, Wony!" Alice pushed another colorful cocktail toward her. "It's called 'Fairy Dust'! Perfect for your elegant aura!"
Wony examined the drink with suspicion. It was far from her usual single glass of wine. But Alice's enthusiasm was infectious, and the others were watching expectantly.
"Fine," Wony said, while taking a delicate sip. "Just one."
Three cocktails later, things had changed.
Wony's eyes were glassy. Her perfect posture had devolved into a slight sway. She stared at the chandelier above them like it held the secrets of the universe.
"Alice..." she said slowly, her words slightly slurred. "I think... this light is... too flashy. And the music... too loud..."
Chima exchanged a look with Fatimah. "Uh oh."
Wony stood up, wobbling dangerously. Her elegant composure had completely evaporated, replaced by a wide, goofy grin that looked entirely foreign on her usually refined face.
Suddenly, she burst into laughter, cackling laughter that turned heads across the lounge. "HEHEHE... CHIMA! YOUR NOSE... IT'S TWO OF THEM!"
Chima groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Oh no. She's drunk. Really drunk."
Fatimah was already reaching for her bag. "Alright, let's get her home before she does something she'll deeply regret."
But it was already too late.
Wony had spotted the large decorative plant in the corner. She approached it with the reverence of a pilgrim approaching a holy shrine, leaning in close to whisper to its glossy leaves.
"Pssst... you know..." she murmured, her voice carrying across the now-quiet lounge. "Your leaves... they're very green. But don't be arrogant. Because I could also buy a green jacket... but... but not right now yet. Hehehe."
Chima's jaw dropped. "Did she just... have a conversation with a plant?"
"She's having a very elegant conversation with a plant," Naila observed, a sleepy smile spreading across her face. "That's... new."
Wony spun around dramatically, her arms spreading wide. "I am... a butterfly... trapped in a... human body... that is drunk!"
She began to dance. Her movements were slow and strange, like a ballerina who had consumed too much cough syrup. She twirled gracefully for exactly two seconds before stumbling sideways into a waiter.
"Oh my god," Fatimah whispered, already moving toward her. "Wony, come back to the table."
But Wony was on a mission. With Alice's enthusiastic help and loud, hysterical laughter. She climbed onto a chair.
"ATTENTION!" Wony shouted, swaying precariously. "I WANT TO TALK ABOUT... HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO MAINTAIN... AN AURA! BUT TONIGHT..." She paused dramatically, nearly falling. "I ALLOW MYSELF TO... NOT BE ELEGANT! HAHAHA!"
Naila was now fully awake, her eyes wide with amusement. "I like Wony, when she like this. She's funny."
"Until she throws up in her own shoes," Chima muttered. "Tomorrow you'll see her crying hysterically."
Fatimah reached the chair just as Wony wobbled dangerously. "Wony, please... come down. Let's go home."
"No!" Wony pouted. "I'm having... a very important... conversation!"
"With who? The chair?"
"With MYSELF!" Wony declared, pointing at her own reflection in a nearby mirror. "She looks... confused. I need to... explain things to her."
Alice was still recording everything on her phone, tears of laughter streaming down her face. "DON'T STOP HER, FATIMAH! THIS IS HISTORY! 'WONY: THE LOST ELEGANCE'!"
"I'm going to kill you both," Chima said, but she was laughing too.
It took all five of them, including a very reluctant Naila, to finally get Wony down from the chair. But not before she wrapped her arms around a pillar and began singing a children's song at the top of her lungs in a completely off-key voice.
The entire lounge was watching now. Several people had their phones out.
Fatimah sighed deeply, the sound of a leader who had seen too much. "Okay. We're leaving. Now."
"I haven't finished my song!" Wony protested.
"You're finished," Fatimah said firmly. "The song is finished. The night is finished. Everything is finished. Let's go."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN11uIhW9El
***
Group Chat: "FIVE GIRLS" - Morning After
Wony: My head... is pounding. What happened last night? I only remember the flashing lights...
Chima: You were the star of the night, Wony. Just ask Alice.
Naila: You were so funny last night. Like a broken doll.
Wony: OH GOD. That is not a comforting answer. Alice? What did you do?
There was no response from Alice.
Wony: ALICE?! I DON'T LIKE THIS SILENCE!
Then, a notification. And another. And another.
Alice had posted a video.
Alice's Caption: "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! PROVING A MYTH! Even the Queen of Elegance can fall from her throne (and from a chair) after a few glasses of Fairy Dust! @wony.anggunly - don't be mad, okay! This is just for a memories! #ElegantDisaster #DrunkIsFunny #DontTryThisAtHome"
The video was a thirty-second compilation of Wony's greatest hits: giggling uncontrollably, whispering to plants, dancing like a drunk butterfly, giving an incomprehensible speech from a chair. It was edited with funny effects and a cheerful background track.
The group chat EXPLODED.
Wony: ALIIIIICCCCCEEEEEE!!!!!!! I'M GOING TO KILL MYSELF! OR WORSE, I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!
Chima: LMAO. I told you.
Naila: But... it already has 10k views, Wony. You're... going viral.
Fatimah: Alice, this is too much. Delete the video. Now.
Alice: (Finally responding) But it's funny! And she looked happy! Life is only once!
A few minutes passed. Then Wony sent a voice message. Her voice was hoarse, absolutely defeated.
"I can't... leave my room. I've checked three phones. My mentions are out of control. My brother from Korea sent me laughing emojis. MY BROTHER! My elegant aura... DESTROYED IN ONE NIGHT!"
Fatimah: Alice, I'm serious. Delete it. Or I'll delete your social media accounts myself.
Alice: (Finally relenting) Okay, okay. I deleted it, but... I already backed it up for my personal collection. Hehe.
Wony: ALICE, I HEARD THAT!
For the rest of the day, Wony locked herself in her room, refusing to see anyone. Every time she went online, she was bombarded with tags and comments about "Fairy Dust" and "drunk butterflies." Her carefully cultivated image of elegance and poise had crumbled overnight.
In Wony's living room, the others gathered.
Alice was scrolling through her phone, looking immensely pleased with herself. "At least now people know Wony is human, not a elegant robot."
Chima sighed, shaking her head. "You are a walking disaster, Alice."
Naila smiled softly. "But... thanks to Alice, we have memories that... we'll never forget."
Fatimah just shook her head, already preparing herself for the inevitable confrontation between Wony and Alice. She had a feeling this wasn't going to blow over quickly.
From Wony's room, they could hear muffled sounds of suffering and occasional threats directed at Alice's entire family line.
"I'm going to need more coffee," Fatimah muttered.
"Make some for me too," Chima said. "We're going to need it."
Naila curled deeper into the couch. "Can someone... bring me a blanket? And maybe... some food?"
Alice was still scrolling through her phone, occasionally giggling at the comments. "You know, I'm kind of famous now. People are asking if I have more videos."
"Alice," Fatimah said warningly.
"I'm kidding!" Alice held up her hands in surrender. "Mostly."
From the bedroom, Wony's voice rang out: "I CAN HEAR YOU, ALICE! I WILL FIND A WAY TO REVENGE! ELEGANTLY! BUT I WILL REVENGE!"
"She's threatening revenge elegantly," Naila observed. "That's... progress."
Chima burst out laughing. "This group is insane. Absolutely insane."
Fatimah couldn't help but smile. Insane, yes. But they were her kind of insane.
She just hoped Wony wouldn't actually kill Alice before tomorrow.
The odds were not in Alice's favor.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5ttbLeIgK
and then Add to home screen.