One: Trick or Treat!Superman and the damsel in distress
The damsel in distress
This wasn’t any of those
a hundred and one day let’s try this fling. Or any of those I believed I would make the most gorgeous guy on earth fall to my knees story. Maybe this was one of those ‘I wish’ trash list under a mistletoe.
“Trick or treat!” I shouted at the top of my lungs. I better not be drunk. Not
this sober drunk. I should have been any place tonight but here.
“Hey, you, you should be drinking with me!” I hissed and snatched Natalie’s cell phone. I thrust another bottle of Tanduay Ice in her hand instead.
She yelped.
“Let’s go home Mia! You’re—”“Drunk? Em not!” I giggled.
“Exactly.” She whispered annoyingly.
“Those are the in famed words of persons who don’t admit they are drunk.” She presented her palm to me. I rolled my eyes heavenward and handed her cell phone.
“It’s 31st of October. Why are my friends celebrating with their boyfriends? And not with me? Tell me, had Valentine’s Day been moved today? Officially?” I raised one brow at her and chanted under my liquor-smelling breath.
“Happy Birthday to me… Happy Birthday to me…”“Mia I need to go home, it’s already past eleven and—”“No, don’t tell me you need to sleep early. That’s rubbish. We know where you’re going.”“And we know what you’re doing. It’s semestral break, dear.” She said in an even tone. I avoided eye contact with Natalie. I didn’t want to see in her eyes how a heart could break into million pieces.
“I’m going to call Ethan.”“Okay, call Ethan.” I waved my hand dismissively. Then in apprehension my eyes grew wide,
“You won’t fu—cking call Ethan, Natalie!”She shrugged her shoulders.
“You never curse Mia... except when you hear the name Ethan.”“What the fu-ck.”“See?”I gritted my teeth in anger. She stood up and patted my shoulder blade.
“It’s because I’m drunk.” I said defensively.
“A-and it’s because he’s got a new girl.”“Shut up, Natalie. Ethan and I don’t see each other that way!” I wailed. My tone mellowed down a notch.
“We’re not even in speaking terms unless it’s about... you.”“F-fine. But he’s still going to get you home.” She held out her cell phone as I tried to reach out for it the second time. I heard the voice so familiar from the other line it sent shivers down my arms and back. The hair on my nape stood on ends. I was really, really, really, really, really this foxed to even feel this way.
“Natalie. Hallo?” His voice was low, husky. And it could be a million years before I could forget it. And another million years before I decided that I didn't want anything to do with the owner of that bedroom voice. Ahem, in or out of the bedroom.
“Mia’s drunk. She needs a lift.”I wanted to bang my head against the table. Natalie shouldn’t be doing this to me!
“I’m busy.”My head shot up as those two words rang silently and precariously in the air.
“Natalie, I don’t need anybody else!” I shouted not minding the curious stares of the people around us. I was drunk remember? I had an excuse to act like this. For once, I had to shed my goody two shoes sometimes.
I never cared about him anyway. It was a mantra I had for a year now that made me still alive to this day on. Because if I believed otherwise I might go insane or worst profess some undying love I had for a man who cared little about me. Who knew I existed because… well, because…
“Ethan still loves you Natalie.” I whispered out of the blue, still playing with the rim of the bottle.
Because Natalie was the only link I had of that guy I couldn’t even bear to name.
Her lips quirked. Didn’t know if that was a sad smile or if it was even a smile.
“But he didn’t want to change.” It was barely out before she could take it back.
“Not with me.”“He’s going to fetch you in a minute or two. And I have to go, so behave.” She stood up and turned her back on me when I abruptly dropped the bomb that was overdue to explode,
“He’s your ex, for Chrissake.”“So?” I couldn’t look Natalie in the eyes. I couldn’t even tell her outright how I felt when she summoned that guy to do things for her. And now she asked him to fetch me.
Me! Like I was some lapdog. Some poodle that needed affection. Was Natalie giving me something on my birthday?
I hated this feeling.
Who’s the coward here, Nat? I wanted to ask her. But she quietly and quickly took her bag. Her stilettos were dragging on to the tiled floors. And believe it or not, she was leaving me to the arms of her hero. So much for happy ever after.
But I wasn’t just going to sit here and wait for him. As I was doing… forever.
I felt the sting in the corners of my eyes. I stood up dizzily. I walked several steps and breathed for relief. I could still take seven bottles down and be sober. I could still walk upright and think clearly because I wasn’t that—
My eyes grew wide. As if on cue, my stomach twisted painfully. And my hand flailed, holding on to something more substantial. To the wall. To anything that my panic-induced mind couldn’t grasp.
“Hello.”I swallowed convulsively. Two arms snaked around my waist to support me. And for the first time in my life I felt the static electricity hitting every nerve, every pore in my body. It was painful. Tingly even. And delicious afterwards. Just the simple touch.
And just like that I felt like hearing that famous line of Jerry Maguire,
you had me at hello.
Poll
