I remembered that this same young man had spilled the woman's drink earlier. His approach to me then seemed to indicate a definite interest. In fact, he'd probably been attracted to Saé.
Saé wasn't immune to his charm. It was understandable, after all, this man had the physical advantage.
Body privilege was the innate ability of certain men to attract attention and seduce without even meaning to. It was that ability to capture attention from the moment they enter a room, to arouse admiration by their mere presence. It was the aura of confidence that surrounded them, the result of the self-assurance their appearance conferred.
In this nightclub, body privilege was particularly palpable. The men who had it moved with ease through the crowd, attracting envious or admiring glances from others. Their sculpted features, confident bearing and natural charisma made them central figures of attention.
For them, doors opened easily, conversations began spontaneously, and opportunities presented themselves effortlessly. They were like magnets, attracting energy and attention, while others, less favored by the genetic lottery, remained on the sidelines, silent observers of this game of seduction.
The impact of body privilege was undeniable. It gave those with it a definite advantage in social interactions, offering them opportunities and privileges that others had to fight to obtain. And in this nightclub, where appearances counted as much as words, it was hard not to be influenced by this dynamic.
I watched him as he chatted with Saé, while I remained at Fumi's side.
With his gaze lost in the hustle and bustle of the nightclub, Fumi broke the silence by asking me an unexpected question. Her voice echoed in my mind, already troubled by the situation.
"Say... Do you have a girlfriend?" she asked, curious in a shy voice as she tried to unravel the mystery surrounding my love life.
I decided to be frank, letting out a sigh tinged with resignation. "No, I'm not really interested in that sort of thing," I replied, letting my disinterest in relationships show. "In fact, I don't think I have the ability to attract anyone, unlike some men..." I added with a touch of pessimism.
Fumi couldn't help laughing at my self-deprecating remark. Her light laugh echoed in the energy-charged air of the nightclub. "You're such a pessimist! Surely you have another natural gift?" she replied with a gleam of amusement in her eyes.
These words resonated within me, sparking a spark of reflection. My mind returned to the scene that had just unfolded, and an undeniable, inescapable conclusion came to me.
Imbued with a sudden determination, I could not stand back, a mute witness to the scene unfolding before me. My thoughts swirled, mingling reflections, I knew what was going to happen.
As Saé let herself be charmed by the young man's undeniable charisma, I felt a new strength emerge within me. It was as if a part of me, long buried in the shadow of my doubts, had suddenly awakened, driven by a surge of confidence. With cold, resolute determination, I took the lead, determined to act.
In a calm but firm voice, I stood up to the charming man, my piercing gaze expressing an assurance he didn't know I had. In this moment, I was the protagonist of my own story, and I wouldn't let anyone dictate the course of it.
"Excuse me, but I think you've had enough time with her," I threw out, my voice echoing in the lively atmosphere of the nightclub. My words were sharp, devoid of any hesitation.
"Relax man, we're just talking."
Saé seemed taken aback by my intervention, displaying palpable embarrassment as she visibly sought a way to evade the awkward situation ahead. Meanwhile, the man in question turned his gaze to her, throwing her a question that exuded arrogance.
"So, is he your boyfriend?" he asked Saé, a condescending smile on his lips. He stood there, far more imposing than I, and seemed to derive a definite satisfaction from his physical advantage.
I then repeated my request firmly, staring him straight in the eye. "I told you to back off," I insisted, giving in to his haughty attitude.
He then began to insult me, hurling acerbic remarks at guys like me.
"Ahaha, what are you doing with that kind of guy Saé? He's the kind of virgin who wants to play manga hero in real life."
His words were hurtful, and although he didn't know me, he seemed to have managed to pierce certain facets of my personality. However, he was wrong about one thing: I wasn't trying to be a hero!
As he slowly withdrew his hands from his pockets, I realized he was ready to fight. Ready to fight. Anticipating his movements, I had no trouble anticipating his sneak attack.
He continued to insult me, obviously trying to destabilize me.
"Dirty bastard! How could you dodge that? I'm sure it was just luck!"
His words were aggressive, but I remained focused on the situation.
Our echoes had sparked a brawl in the club, drawing everyone's attention. For a brief moment, I was at the center of the action. My opponent's movements were impulsive, uncalculated, merely swinging his fists in the hope of hitting me.
"I see... I understand their usefulness now." I smirked.
Even though I wasn't a big fan of fighting, I was beginning to see the usefulness of the few fighting games I'd played in the past. In this moment of chaos, I realized I was doing much better than he was.
I easily dodged and parried his blows, dancing around him with almost superhuman agility. The movements I was executing seemed almost familiar, as if I'd practiced them many times before. I resolved not to counterattack, determined not to be drawn into the violence.
Saé tried desperately to stop him, but he was like a raging bull, blinded by anger and alcohol. Nothing seemed to calm him down.
In my head, I was replaying the fluid movements of the Tekken characters, quickly thinking of the best way to defend myself. Every blow he threw was predictable, almost as if I'd already anticipated his every move.
I continued to dodge and parry his attacks, waiting patiently for an opening to end this pointless fight.
As a bouncer approached to separate us and put an end to the argument. The young man I'd confronted began to tell his version of events. He claimed that it was I who had initiated the aggression and that Saé was my companion.
"He's the one who started it! I'm sure it's just a couple looking to cause trouble!"
I realized that he seemed to suffer much more from the consequences of our altercation than I did. Without a scratch on me, the bouncer seemed more inclined to believe his version of events rather than mine.
The situation reminded me of how quick people are to judge without really trying to understand. They were often content to rely on appearances, on first impressions, without taking the time to dig deeper to discover the truth. It was as if the surface of things was enough to forge their opinions, without worrying about the nuances and details that might lurk beneath.
This tendency to judge on appearances was a reflection of human nature itself, made up of instincts and prejudices. In this world, where the stakes were high and everyone had to fight for survival, this tendency seemed exacerbated. People were quicker to distrust others, to look for culprits rather than real explanations.
We were then both escorted out of the club, under the scrutinizing gaze of all the other customers. I could feel the heavy gazes on me. It was as if every pair of eyes was silently passing judgment, scrutinizing my every move with suspicion. The sensation was oppressive, suffocating, and made me feel increasingly anxious.
The accusing glances seemed to pierce my skin, to penetrate the depths of my being to judge my soul. I felt vulnerable, exposed, as if all these strangers could read me like an open book. This sudden exposure made me uncomfortable, making me regret every action, every word that could have led me to this situation.
It wasn't just the weight of the stares that disturbed me, but also the silence that reigned around me. It was as if everyone was holding their breath, waiting to see what my next reaction would be. This silence, laden with expectation and prejudice, weighed heavily on me, making me feel as if I were alone in a hostile crowd.
I could feel the panic rising inside me, the urgent need to escape from this scene, to flee these inquisitive eyes that seemed to judge me without mercy. In this moment of solitude and anguish, I felt totally exposed, unable to hide behind anything.
Once outside the nightclub, the weight of the stares had disappeared, but my relief was short-lived. I'd barely had time to breathe when Saé turned to me, her face contorted with anger. It was as if a storm had swept over her, shattering her usual gentleness to give way to unexpected fury.
"Why did you do that? What were you thinking?" she snapped at me. "We were supposed to have an unforgettable time and you ruined it!"
Her words cracked like whips, accusatory and loaded with blame. She glared at me, as if trying to pierce my soul with her fiery eyes. This sudden transformation was disconcerting, almost terrifying, and I felt like a child at fault in the face of her parents' implacable authority.
Every word she uttered was like a stab to my heart, reminding me of how much I'd ruined this moment for her. Saé, usually so sweet and smiling, was unrecognizable in this state of anger. It was as if a mask had slipped off her face to reveal a side of her personality I'd never suspected before.
Saé's harsh words hit me right in the heart, driving a wedge of incomprehension between us. I couldn't accept that she didn't understand that everything I'd done was for her own good. I had only used my gift, as Fumi had reminded me.
"Besides, what will she think of me now..."
But instead of acknowledging my good intentions, she rejected me, blaming me for my actions. A cold anger rose inside me, fueled by frustration and incomprehension. She didn't understand, she didn't want to understand.
In a calm but disappointed tone, I told her how I felt.
"You see, Saé, this is why we could never be friends."
My words echoed in the darkness, underscoring the bitterness that pervaded my heart.
Without waiting for an answer, I slipped away into the darkness, leaving behind our friendship shattered by unspoken words and misunderstandings.