The Devil's Good Girl-Chapter 224: Claim your ticket to freedom, little halfling.

No one could throw a party like Michael. It might not be just as grandiose as how Marcus does it nor how formal as Vincent’s, but it was always fun and wild. Each of his guests knew that if it was Michael, they could do anything without fear of getting caught.

It almost became a saying now among the socialites: whatever happens at Michael’s party, stays in there. This explains the bold acts of drinking, smoking, taking pills, casual hookups, and all sorts of things that none of them would openly do in other places.

"Hey!" Michael energetically jumped on the corner where Anton was hiding. "What are you doing here? Tell me."

Anton frowned, looking at the party animal beside him. "I’m drinking."

"Just drinking?"

"Yeah. Just drinking."

"Oh, come on, man! What the hell is wrong with you?" Michael casually took out a small box from his pocket and handed it to him. "Here. Take it."

Anton looked at him dead in the eye and said. "I’ve been clean, dude."

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"Yeah."

"Is the world ending?"

"Nope. I’ve just been clean and I want to stay that way."

Michael squinted his eyes suspiciously. Anton? Refusing to take on anything? As far as he could remember, this guy wouldn’t survive a day without smoking a joint. There was no way he would suddenly not want to take anything. But then again, Michael realized whenever they hung out these past months, all they did was drink.

"Since when have you been clean?" asked Michael out of pure curiosity.

"Three months."

"Three months?!"

"Yep. I threw all my stash away and buried myself with work. I made it for three months and I don’t want to start over again. Actually, I might not be able to start over again if I stop this now." Anton raised his bottle of beer, pouring a mouthful into his mouth. Meanwhile, Michael just stared at the man in disbelief.

"You’re really devoted to changing yourself?" Michael probed. "What happened? Did your management find out about your habits?"

"They already knew about it for a long time. They just turned a blind eye." Anton cast the man a curious look. "Fil won’t really come?"

"Don’t know, man. It’s late and I don’t think she’ll come —" Michael stopped when he realized something. "Err... why are you asking about Fil?"

"I just want to see her."

"Hey. Stop right there and tell me. Do you like her?"

"Yeah, I do."

"I mean, as a woman?"

"Fil is a woman and I don’t think that matters?"

"Gaddamit, Anton. Stop playing with me."

"Tch." Anton clicked his tongue at him. "You got the nerve to announce your fantasy relationship with her, but I can’t even mess with you? Fine. I like her, but only as a friend. I can’t believe I have to clarify that even after three months."

"Let me guess." Michael casually leaned back while giving him a sarcastic look. "She’s the one who convinced you to stay sober."

"Well."

"Why listen to her? If Fil wants to go to the convent, she will be accepted there without a problem. But didn’t you say this helps you with your creative work? Are you going to take a risk just because someone like Fil told you so?"

Anton opened his mouth, but then, chose to keep them together again. "Mike, we’ve known each other for as long as I can remember. But are you really my friend?"

"Huh?"

"Never mind."

"You’re being weird."

"Just leave me alone and have fun. As for me, I would like some time alone and just watch everything on the side."

Michael observed Anton’s side profile as the man chugged his drink. "Well, if you change your mind, you know where to find me. I’m everywhere."

With that being said, Michael left him alone while Anton followed him with his gaze.

[You know, Anton, friends are supposed to be there to support you or to keep you on the right track. Real friends encourage you to be the better version of yourself. Because if the people you call friends do the opposite, then, they are not real friends. They were just... seasonal friends. Someone who would be there to have fun with you, but absent in the trying time.]

Anton cast his eyes down as he was reminded of Fil’s advice when she left. He called her the soonest he heard she accepted a job abroad, and fortunately, she answered. They talked for a while and somehow, they ended up talking about this.

Initially, he didn’t think much about it. But then, when he was about to start his pot session, he was reminded of her remarks. In the end, Anton completely threw his stash away and wanted to see how it would affect him. It explained why he had been preoccupied because he needed something else to do to distract himself.

"Should I give her a call and ask her out for a coffee? I wonder what she’ll say if I tell her I took her advice?"

Anton slowly looked around the now crowded second-floor VIP section. People were still having the time of their lives, with or without him. Michael was still the same party animal who controlled the direction of the party, Shanaiah dancing and drinking with the man she hooked up with last time, Marcus and Vincent were gambling on the other table, while Marianne talked to some of the girls at the corner.

Now that he was watching this, Anton was more than sure that what Fil said was true. These people weren’t his friends. None of the faces in here were there for him when he needed help or company. There wasn’t a single memory he had with anyone at this party that he could say he had a real, genuine talk about life, passion, or all those valuable things in life.

"I should get going." Anton placed down his bottle of beer and grabbed his jacket. He casually walked away as he put it on, not expecting anyone to stop him. Not that he wanted to be stopped. Matter of fact, leaving this place was what he wanted, as he felt more like going home to rest or write a song.

Anton was probably getting older, indeed. Or perhaps he was just maturing. Either way, he smoothly made his way outside of the building. But as soon as he walked out, he stopped and gazed at the person in front of him with wide eyes.

"Fil?" he called in surprise, his lips stretching in relief. "You made it?"

Fil slowly tilted her head to the side with furrowed brows. "Anton, where are you going?"

"Home."

"Home? This early?"

"What do you mean this early? It’s already past midnight." He laughed, glancing at the woman standing behind her. "I know you."

Elise smiled brightly, a little flattered such a famous person remembered her. "It’s Elise!"

"I know." He nodded and then shifted his eyes at Fil. "You’re going in there?"

"Michael practically begged me to come. He said he’s going to throw a party for me."

"For you?" Anton furrowed his brows but then realized Michael didn’t say what this party was for. "Since when did you two become close?"

"Since the time I did him a favor for his father’s company? He didn’t tell you this party is for me?"

"Well, I guess he didn’t feel the need to tell us, since we all thought you wouldn’t come."

"Might," she stressed. "I said I might not make it, but I did. Anyway, are you going home now?"

Anton smiled. "I changed my mind," he said as he darted his eyes between the two ladies. "This reminds me of that time during Marcus’s party. You also took her with you at that time. I’ll probably stay around just to make sure no one spikes your drinks."

Fil chuckled at him, nodding before they made their way to the nightclub. On their way, Fil’s phone rang and Anton caught sight of Michael’s name on the screen.

"Oh, it’s Mike," she said aloud, answering the call while slowing down her steps. "I’m here now."

"Oh, perfect timing!" Michael, who was enjoying the situation from the corner, smirked. His eyes went to Vincent and Marianne, who were openly making out in the lounge chair while another woman jumped on Marcus flirtatiously.

"Everyone’s having a good time now..." he said suggestively, eyes glinting. "... go and claim your ticket to freedom, little halfling."