Time passes, and an hour has elapsed since Helia first entered the party. The party is in full swing, and the ambiance is lively.

Guests are laughing, chatting, and enjoying themselves. Helia, on the other hand, maintains her focus, diligently attending to her duties whenever needed.

As the evening progresses, a few guests approach her with requests or questions. She attends to their needs, providing assistance and guidance whenever necessary.

With her back partially exposed due to the design of her dress, she can't help but notice that some guests are stealing glances at her scars.

Their expressions betray a hint of surprise or shock, as they take in the markings on her skin. The stares serve as a constant reminder of the scars that mark her back, creating a sense of unease.

[...]

Toji, being a member of the clan, is present at the party as well, though not willingly. He downs a few drinks, his distaste for such events quite evident.

Despite his reluctance, he understands the importance of his presence, especially as the heir of the clan.

He stands off to the side, observing the festivities with mild disinterest, his eyes occasionally darting around the room.

He is lost in thought, recalling his latest interactions with Helia. He realizes that he hasn't been particularly kind or considerate towards her lately.

The guilt and regret of his actions weigh on his mind, and he responds by downing a few more drinks in quick succession, as if he's trying to drown out his conscience with alcohol.

His inner conflict rages on within him. He's frustrated with himself for feeling remorse and guilt regarding her situation, but his emotions get the better of him despite his best efforts to suppress them.

In an attempt to numb the nagging feelings, he chugs down a few more drinks, trying to drown out his emotions with alcohol. However, the alcohol seems to intensify his turmoil rather than lighten it.

[...]

Helia is still standing and waits for a guest in need of her assistance, she overhears a guest addressing her.

"Hey you."

The sound of their voice snaps her out of her thoughts, and she turns her attention to them, preparing to provide whatever service they require.

She's surprised to see that it's Naoya. She looks at him with a mix of surprise and unease. She knows that he is a very important member of the clan, but she had heard bad thing about him.

Naoya's gaze is fixed on the scars on her back, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. He doesn't soften his words, bluntly stating his observation.

"Damn, those are some serious scars you've got there. Must've hurt like hell."

His unapologetic remark leaves Helia feeling taken aback and embarrassed. She finds herself at a loss for words, unsure how to respond to his blunt and tactless comment about her scars.

His smirk lingers on his face as he continues to address her, his tone indifferent and slightly mocking.

"You must have messed up big time to end up with scars like. Can't imagine what you could've done to deserve that kind of treatment."

Despite her urge to defend herself or protest at his insensitive remark, she bites her tongue and maintain a polite attitude.

Recognizing his status within the clan, she understands the necessity to remain respectful and attentive to his needs.

She responds with a formal tone, still feeling a pang of embarrassment from the earlier comment.

"Is there anything you need sir?"

He responds to her question with a hint of sarcasm.

"Well, since you're asking so nicely, there is something I need. Bring me another drink, will you?"

With a mixture of frustration and resignation, Helia turns away from Naoya and set off to procure a drink for him. She clenches her teeth, clearly annoyed by his attitude.

With a forced smile, she returns with the drink that he requested, making sure it's strong enough to satisfy him.

She hands him the drink, the tension still palpable in the air between them. He takes the drink from her, an amused smirk on his face as he observes her carefully masked irritation.

She hopes that he will choke on his drink.

He takes a gulp of the strong drink, relishing in its powerful flavor. Then he turns his attention back to her, his smirk remaining as he speaks.

"Thanks, sweetheart. That's exactly what I needed."

She bows and he receives her bow with a condescending nod, his smirk still in place. His eyes rake over her body, taking in the scars on her back once more.

"You know, those scars are distracting. It's hard not to look at them."

His comment about her scars only fuels the anger and sadness within her. It feels like a cruel reminder of the physical evidence of her past suffering.

Despite her internal turmoil, Helia maintains her composure and keeps her emotions in check, knowing that showing any signs of weakness in front of Naoya wouldn't be wise.

Naoya turns around and tells her one last thing before leaving.

"You might want to consider covering up those scars. They're not exactly pleasant to look at."

His parting comment strikes her like a small jolt of electricity. His words, though seemingly casual, carry a hint of cruelty and lack of empathy.

They resonate deep within her, bringing up feelings of shame and vulnerability regarding the scars on her back.

As he walks away, Helia feels her emotions threatening to overwhelm her. The pain, the shame, and the unfairness of his words hit her hard, and she struggles to keep tears from welling up in her eyes.

She takes a few deep breaths, trying to steady herself and regain her composure. The party continues around her, but in this moment, everything feels distant and muffled.

She despises those scars on her skin, and Naoya's comment only deepened her hate towards them. How many times did she wish they could just disappear?

But she knows that there's nothing she can do about it, and it only intensifies the pain and resentment within her.

The effort of holding back her tears becomes increasingly difficult for her. It feels like a tight band is compressing her chest, making it harder to breathe.

The need for some fresh air becomes of great importance to her. The environment of the party feels suffocating, and the weight of her emotions becomes too heavy to bear.

She knows she needs to step away and get some breathing space, even just for a moment, in order to regain her composure and collect herself.

She makes her way to the balcony, each step she takes a little shaky and faltering.

As she reaches the balcony, she leans against the railing, trying to steady herself and take deep breaths to calm her emotions.

Despite her efforts to hold back, a few tears manage to escape and roll down her cheeks.

Her fingers quickly wipe them away, trying to hide any signs of emotional vulnerability. As if she's erasing the evidence of her pain and sadness.

[...]

She remains on the balcony, allowing the cool night air to envelope her. Her focus on taking deep, steady breaths, each inhalation bringing a sense of relief and helping to quiet the storm of emotions within her.

A few minutes pass as she lets herself be soothed by the tranquility of the night, gradually regaining her composure and feeling more in control of herself.

The cool air of the night outside feels like a soothing balm to her troubled heart.

The sound of a familiar voice behind her snaps her out of her peace. She recognizes it as the voice of Naobito, and she quickly turns around to face him.

"There you are, I was looking for you. I need your help with something." He says.

She was definitely not getting a few minutes of peace tonight.

•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•

Hello guys! How are you doing?

I really hate Naoya with all my being, and I can tell you that we are not done with him in this story.

I'm curious to hear your thoughts on this chapter!

See you in the next one!

Sarah ☆