chapter 6

Josh picked me up from my house at precisely eight o’clock. He was wearing dark blue jeans, partnered with a white shirt and a black leather coat. Josh didn’t like cross-dressing like other gay guys. He looked formal and handsome to say so. I wore a blue lacey above knee dress perfectly fitted to my body and three inches wedge shoes.

        “So where exactly are we going, huh?’” I asked Josh. We were driving around for almost 30 minutes.

        “Patience, babe,” he said winking at me,

        “Come on, Josh!”

        “We are clubbing, babe. How long have you been staying here, Again?’ he mocked me.

        “What?” I blurted out.

        I’ve been here for months but never been to any sort of social party and club. I spent my precious time resting if not sleeping.

        “You were never out!, so let us do this once and for all, I’ve asked you many times to go out with me, but you keep saying no, so now it’s happening!” he bantered.

        “Clubbing!? On Thursday night? Are you insane?, I thought we’re just going to chill out?” I divulged. I was starting to rethink my choices about friends

        “No, baby, we are going to drink, scratch that if you don’t want it, I brought extra condom just in case you need it,” he playfully teased me,

        “Shut up!” rolled my eyes

        “Just kidding K!, relax” he took my left hand and kissed it

        I took back my hand and wiped it on my dress, “Eww, Josh!” I laughed

        “I never thought you have hots on me!!”

        “In your dreams, babe!, I prefer having Burrito over Tacos, and you know that, do you want me to tell you about…” he flippantly said.

        “Okay, whatever. I don’t need to hear the details,” clapping my hands over my ears. Josh laughed. We drove around for another 10 minutes before pulling over in front of a big building.

 ~

        “Ugh!!!” I woke up from the endless screeching sound of my alarm!,  I reached for it and tapped the stop button without looking. I palmed my forehead and checked my bedside clock, it’s eight o’clock! “shit!!, I bolted up, “fuck! I’m late!!”

         I was still wearing my clothes from last night. I ran to the bathroom and washed my body in record time. I put on my scrub suit and took my bag and shove my phone and wallet; it was half-past eight in the morning.

        “Shit, fuck!”.I cursed nonstop. I’ve never been late to work. Even when I was still studying, I have never gone out late at night, and yet if I was, I never arrived late to any of my appointments the next day. I would like to kill Josh for doing this to me.

        I decided not to drive my car since my head was throbbing and aching from God-knows how much alcohol we consumed last night.

        “Hey!!” waving to the cab, the driver stopped and got in the car in a rush.

        I told the driver the address, and he drove-off. I wasn’t a heavy drinker, and I only drink occasionally, but  last night was an exemption. I consumed every alcohol Josh offered to me. I just wanted to forget what transpired last night.

            Josh and I entered the club. Colorful bright lights were on and off with the heavy beat of the music coming out from giant speakers welcomed us. The place was packed with party-goers. I looked around to see the people, young girls making out with their partners, boys cheering and chugging beers, drinkers sitting alone, so bizarre to find. It was busy even on Thursday night.

            We took a seat on a bar far away from the noise of the music, Josh ordered a shot of rum, and I asked for vodka. I didn’t plan on drinking tonight since I had to work the next day. Josh and I had a little chit-chat about our life.

            We were talking when he decided to go to the dance floor.

            “Come on, Kathy!, it’s only dance, and you’ll be with me,” Josh assured me

            “No, can do, Josh. I’d rather watch you from here,” I told him,

            “Please!” Josh was pleading to me with his puppy eyes.

            “Okay!, but I will stop once I feel tired.”

            “Yes!” Josh grabbed my hand and led me to the dance floor. We danced around for some time when we decided to go back to our seats and ordered another set of drinks.

            “I can’t do it anymore,” I said to Josh.  

            “Just one, K. Don’t be a boo.”

            I was about to gulp down by the glass when on my peripheral, I saw a couple entering the club. I had a second look to check who they were, but they were gone in seconds. I shrugged my thoughts and took the glass of vodka Josh offered to me.

            “This is my last, Josh. I can’t drink anymore”  I warned him

            “Cheers! Baby” Josh lifted the glass and cheered it to my mine

            “Cheers!” clinking my glass with his and took the shot

            “Ughhh!” as I felt the burning sensation of alcohol in my throat. I never liked the taste of hard drinks. I only drink with people I trust, and I knew Josh will not ditch me. He also promised me he wouldn’t drink much so he can drive me back home safely.

            I put the glass down on the table when I heard someone giggling loudly. I turned my stool chair around and found the owner of that sound. My eyes widen to see who the person was, It was none other than Nadia. She was standing between the legs of a guy, who was sitting on the other side of the bar, he was whispering something on her ears that kept her chuckling. I couldn’t see the face of the man as his back was on me. Nadia pulled the guy’s face up, and they started making out. I feel disgusted about what they were doing. I gazed my eyes on the man’s back, and out of sudden, he swung her around, making Nadias back on me. My eyes widen to see who the guy was. ‘It was Miles’ His eyes slowly opened while their lips were still locked. Our eyes met, and I huffed as I saw his eyes widen as a saucer, I took the opportunity to turn and faced Josh.

            “You look, petrified? Are you okay?” Josh asked me worriedly

            “yes, I- I’m okay, I need one more shot,” I asked the bartender to give me a tequila shot.

            “Hey, hey...I thought that was your last one?”

            “No, I think I needed another one before we go home, actually two! I feel tired,” I assured him as I asked for another glass. The bartender obligingly settled the drinks in out front.

            “Cheers!” shoving the first glass on my mouth, then down the other one, and licked the lime with salt.

            “You’re incredible!” Josh chuckled.

            “Let’s dance!!” I didn’t wait for Josh to answer as I dragged him on the dance floor. We danced ecstatically to the music. Grinding my body nonstop to the music as I felt the alcohol was kicking in my system. I was so confident. I was swaying with Josh when I felt two strong hands grabbing my waist, it spun me around, and I met the burning blue eyes I’ve been trying to forget. ‘Miles,’ Our eyes met for the second time.

            He pulled and draw my body closer to him, the faint smell of his cologne and alcohol was drowning me. He was drunk and so was I. Instinctively, I circled my arm around his neck and my other hand on his upper arm, while his hands were still both on my waist. He didn’t say a word, nor did I. Face just inches to each other. Our eyes were doing the talk. Blue to green, green to blue. We ground both of our bodies intimately without breaking the contact. It felt like no one was around us, only me, him, and the upbeat music. We stayed for minutes in each other’s arms, and I was hoping it would never end. I didn’t care about anything until I felt a hand tugging him away from me. He was shocked as I was. It was the mighty Bitch Nadia.

             “What’s wrong with you?!” Miles barked while I death glared at her.

            “Nothing is wrong with me. Why are you with her?” Nadia shouted back. I don’t like the scene she’s making. Thank God, the music was still loud, and just a few eyes were staring at us.

            Miles grabbed her arm, “It is none of your business” he whispered-yell, scowling at her

            “You’re my boyfriend, and you’re dancing with a slut!” she barked

            “I am no…” I cut and shunt Miles away from her and slapped her face.

            She was beyond shock on what I did. She held her stinging face.

            She was about to grab me when Miles meddled the situation. He hugged her away from me.

            “Let’s go, Nadia,” he said and walked away with her. “Stop this nonsense fucking thing,” he said, dragging  Nadia away from of my sight.

            Josh grabbed and pulled me to him

            “Are you okay? I’m sorry,” brushing his hand on my hair. Checking if I got hurt.

            I looked at him and smiled “I’m fine, let’s go home,” Josh nodded, and we left the club.

        The taxi pulled over outside the gated building of the orphanage. I gave the driver the amount and told him to keep the change.

        I got out of the taxi. Checking my phone, Belinda has sent me a voice message.

        I opened it “sweetheart, It’s Friday, don’t forget the Dinner tonight! See you!”

        I sighed and whispered

        “Friday it is then…”