I looked around, taking in the atmosphere.
The dim lights, the soft music vibrating in the air, and the sight of people whispering and moving confidently as if they belonged here.
It was eerie, intimidating, but not entirely disturbing.
It was a world I'd only seen in movies, and now I was standing right in the middle of it.
Felix looked at me, smiled, and leaned closer so I could hear him over the music. He asked,
"So, how did you find the place?"
I bit my lip, thinking for a moment before answering honestly.
"It's... intimidating, but also magical! It's unlike anything I've ever seen."
He laughed lightly, as if pleased with my answer, then said,
"You'll get used to it! Everyone does it."
I hesitated for a moment, then decided to ask what was bothering me.
I said in a low voice "Felix, what about the boss? What's he is like? I mean... if he's rude or something, I'd better be prepared before I confront him."
Felix tilted his head toward me, amused.
"Why do you think he might be rude?"
He asked with a playful smile, and I shrugged in confusion.
"I don't know... it's just a feeling, I guess."
He tapped his fingers on the table thoughtfully before answering.
"Honestly, I don't know how to describe it exactly. I haven't dealt directly with him much."
I blinked at him in surprise and asked,
"But... didn't you sign the contract too?"
"Yes, I did, but just like you, I signed it with a masked person. I never met the manager face-to-face! They let me do whatever I want as long as I don't break any rules."
I stared at him, trying to process it.
"Then why does he want to meet me?"
I asked slowly, and Felix smiled, leaning back casually.
"Maybe because of the service you requested. A sex teacher isn't something you just offer to just anyone, and maybe he want to make sure... that you're safe and serious."
I swallowed hard and felt a burning sensation in my cheeks again.
Seriously?
Oh my god, was I really serious about this?
I leaned closer and lowered my voice again, feeling a little silly, but I needed to know.
"So... are you telling me I'll be receiving my lessons directly from the owner of this place?"
I asked, half joking, half terrified.
Felix laughed softly and shook his head.
"No, I don't think so. I haven't seen the boss in the Red Room or the pleasure rooms with any customers or members."
I relaxed a little until he added,
"But... if one of them is a member of the leader Room, then maybe... maybe there's some kind of special interaction... I honestly don't know, and like I told you, I've never been inside, and no one here can know exactly what's going on there."
I stared at him, a knot forming in my stomach once again.
Felix laughed when he saw my face and waved his hand casually.
"Don't worry," he said reassuringly. "Maybe, if you find yourself a sex teacher, you'll be sent to the Red Room right now. Nothing to worry about! It's the natural process."
Natural...
Yes, definitely.
I nodded slowly, though I couldn't find anything natural about what I was doing right now.
As we walked around the sin-filled hall, I tried hard not to stare at people... all together.
My cheeks were flushing from things I'd barely glimpsed, and just when I thought it couldn't get any more embarrassing, Felix nudged me gently, pointed to a small table, and said with a smile, "Come on, try some chocolate! It's famous here."
Without thinking much, and because I honestly needed something sweet, I reached out and picked up a piece.
The moment it touched my tongue, a sharp, strange, and pungent flavor exploded in my mouth, making me gag.
I rushed to a tissue and spat it out as politely as I could onto the nearest table.
Felix burst out laughing, and I frowned.
"Calm down, I was about to tell you what you put in your mouth."
I gave him another deadly look, wiping my mouth violently and whispering.
"What the hell is this?"
He said, still laughing.
"Chocolate mixed with wine... and something special."
"Special?"
I asked suspiciously.
"Drugs."
He simply said, as if he were telling me the weather.
I frowned at him, feeling both horrified and angry.
"Is he crazy to put this in a club? He might kill someone!"
He shouted to raise his hands.
"Calm down princess. They're being very careful about this. It's a small dose, and no one takes more than one! Club rules. Have you seen that man?"
He tilted his chin toward the corner, and sure enough, there was a man dressed as a waiter, but standing firmly, his sharp eyes fixed on the trays of chocolates like a hawk.
"His job is to make sure no one cheats or overdoses. They call it 'happy chocolate' here. It's... part of the fun for some people."
I crossed my arms, still staring at him, and muttered, "This place is absolutely insane."
Felix's smile widened, clearly enjoying every moment of my wide-eyed terror.
As we continued walking, Felix suddenly turned to me, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"So... what brings you here? And why exactly do you want a sex teacher, if you don't mind me asking?"
He said in a calm tone.
I remained silent, my heart pounding.
I could have lied, or said something vague... but after a while, my cheeks flushing and my voice barely a whisper, I said,
"I've never done this before."
He raised an eyebrow and tilted his head slightly.
"You mean... you're just curious about the experience?"
I shook my head quickly, biting my lower lip.
Founding up some courage, I looked at him and confessed.
"No, I mean... I'm still a virgin."
The words sounded too heavy, too loud, even though I barely spoke.
I stood there, embarrassed, waiting for the inevitable laugh, the sarcastic smile, and the playful comment.
But it never came.
Felix kept looking at me, his face surprisingly soft and thoughtful, then he said quietly,
"You... really are special."
I frowned automatically, unsure if he was making fun of me.
He noticed my expression and quickly added,
"No, no, I mean that sincerely! Seriously! A girl your age who hasn't let anyone touch her? That's... rare! Innocence like that is special."
Still, I didn't bother to correct him.
Not because I hadn't let anyone touch me.
But because... no one wanted to.
Because I wasn't the type of person to be looked at that way.
As we stood there, Felix leaned slightly toward me, his voice lowering as he whispered my name, as if he were about to say something I wasn't sure I was ready to hear.
His eyes flicked to my lips for a fleeting moment.
But before he could continue, someone approached us and interrupted him, a man wearing a dark outfit and a black mask.
"Miss, please follow me. I'll direct you to the boss's Office."
I turned to Felix, my throat tightening nervously.
He smiled at me gently and said,
"You can do it! Come on."
I gave him a faint smile, then mustered what little courage I had left and followed the masked man.
But my mind refused to be silent.
A hundred questions raced through my mind.
I came here to break through that invisible barrier and learn, to become someone capable of fulfilling Alexander's desires, someone who wouldn't embarrass himself in front of him.
But... was I ready?
Maybe I should have eaten that ridiculous chocolate, or taken a drink to relieve that terrifying, tight feeling in my chest.
Oh my God.
What if I can't find what I need?
What if he laugh at me?
What if the boss of this strange and dark place saw me as a naive fool and treated me with contempt or worse?
The man in the crow mask stopped in front of a large, suspicious-looking door.
He knocked once, then twice, then again.
Seconds later, a deep voice from inside said something I couldn't hear.
The masked man opened the door slightly and announced,
"Member number 111 has arrived."
I blinked and frowned slightly.
The number 111?
Was this supposed to mean something?
Was it... bad luck? Something special?
Or was it just a meaningless number they attach to newcomers like me, or the number of members they've acquired so far?
Before I could think about it further, the man turned to me and politely gestured.
"Please, come in."
I swallowed hard, my throat feeling dry and tight, and I stepped forward.
The moment I crossed the threshold, a shiver ran down my spine.
I felt like a lamb entering a lion's den.
Or maybe... an angel foolishly stepping into the devil's den.