INSOMNIA

Chapter seven

I found my way back into the guest bedroom. Walking towards the bed, I let myself fall on it and, surprisingly, I drift off to sleep.

Waking up on my own accord this time, I scanned the room for the wall clock; it was 5:36p.m

Had I really slept that long?

Reaching for my phone, I went through my emails. Seeing nothing of interest, I dropped the phone.

I was really feeling the need to have a long, long shower. That was what I intended to do.

I stood up from the bed, trying to ignore the pain in my head. Taking my time(as usual), I walked up to the bathroom and pushed open the door. I stood in the middle of the bathroom, staring at my tired face from the small mirrors surrounding me.

Felix had been right; my chin was covered with stubble. Small patches of uneven hairs which, on a normal day, wouldn't have survived a few minutes of my sighting them. Now they thrived happily; sprouting here and there, paving the way for a 'Jesus beard'.

I took a deep breath. Loosen up. Sure, I could do that.

I opened the cupboard and brought out my shaving kit.

After about five minutes, I was staring at my clean shaven face. I couldn't help but smile a little.

I'd forgotten to turn on the water heater. This meant that I'd have to shower with cold water; that was okay by me. The cold water will be refreshing and soothing. I was wrong.

The water was too cold that I immediately ducked aside and turned off the shower.

A few minutes later saw me sitting on my bed, naked except for a towel around my waist and dripping wet. I was waiting for the heater to work its magic.

Around 6:30, I heard the door bell ring. I was still in a steam covered bathroom,

I grudgingly turn off the shower and wrapped a towel around my waist. I opened the door to a smiling Felix; he wasn't alone.

"Good evening, brother!" He beamed and pushed his way in, as always.

I looked at the girl, Gloria I presumed.

"Come in," I said, not in the least bit worried that I was clad only in a bath towel.

"You're here early." I said, seriously weighing the possibilities of resuming that shower.

"What do you mean?" Felix asked, dropping himself on the Sofa.

" I mean, I didn't think you'd be here by Six-thirty. I thought maybe eight or nine."

Felix shook his head slightly, "And when would the party start if we leave here by that ridiculous time?"

I just shrugged and started walking towards the hallway.

"Speaking of leaving," he called out, "be fast and get ready. I need us to leave soon."

I muttered an inaudible 'Whatever you say' and walked into the bedroom. I could hear Felix talking loudly in the living. I walked up to my wardrobe and opened it; I absentmindedly picked out a baggy Hockey shirt and a brown trouser.

I stood in front of the mirror and thought of Angela. She'd been the one who always picked my clothes. According to her, I had a disgustingly thin taste in clothing. She was always right, though. I smiled at thought. I put on the clothes I'd picked out and watched myself in the mirror. I nodded satisfactory; I looked just okay. I wasn't going to impress anyone after all.

I walked into the living room moments later and was about to say 'Lets go' but the look on Felix's face told me that something was horribly wrong.

"What is it?"

Felix got up from the couch arm, where he had been practically crowding Gloria and, with a weird smile on his face, grabbed me by my arm and pulled me back into the hallway, towards the room.

"What?" I asked again, my arm almost hurting.

"What do you think you're doing?" He asked, almost whispering.

"Were you not the one who..."

He waved his hand, "Just stop there."

He looked around the room as if he would find someone eavesdropping. Then he turned to me.

"You're like what a brick layer would look like if he suddenly dropped the blocks, puts on a shirt and headed for the club." He said this with a look of dismay.

Was there a reply to that, I thought.

"I don't understand, is something wrong with what I'm wearing." I asked.

I watched him put his hand on his forehead as if he was suddenly faced with the burden of a national crisis.

"William, when I look at you right now, I'm not attracted. And I'm a guy!"

"So?" I smiled,

"We are going for a night out. There would be lots of people there."

I sat on the bed, "And by lots of people, you mean women?"

"Not specifically, but yes. Now, where do you keep your clothes?"

"Why do you want to know?"

He opened the wardrobe, "Because, who wears a Hockey shirt. I didn't even know you had one."

"I bought it two years ago. Angela never let me wear it."

Felix paused, and turned to me, "The shirt is horrible and those trousers are hideous; did you do this on purpose?"

"Do what?" I feign ignorance.

"Did you put on that hideous outfit on purpose?"

I looked at my watch, "Of course. Its only babies that don't get to wear clothes on purpose. How can you even ask me that?"

Felix gave out a frustrated gasp, "Jesus, William! I mean, did you you..you know what? Forget it, lets just go."

I got up, "Finally."

****

I sat in the backseat of Felix's car, He was behind the wheels with Gloria beside him.

I sat quietly, praying for us to arrive already, so this can end. The car was quiet most of the way until Gloria spoke.

"Am sorry about your wife, Mr.William."

"Gloria!" Felix almost shouted, "You really had to bring that up now?"

I looked at her and smiled, "Thank you. And just William is okay."

The car was silent again. I felt obliged, as a courtesy, to say something.

"So, Gloria, where do you work?"

"Oh, I'm still in school. I'm a final year Law student."

I nodded and looked at Felix who seemed to know I was staring at him.

"Oh really, that's impressive. Finally, someone to get that guy out of trouble."

It wasn't that funny, but She laughed and Felix chuckled. I was almost tempted to ask Felix how they met, but no, I was through with talking.

"Is it this street?" Felix asked.

"What?" I said, leaning forward.

"Not you, brother. I was asking Gloria."

"Okay."

"No, its the next one," Gloria said, looking around, "I'm Chatting her up. She says she's outside waiting."

Curious. Who's waiting?

"Uhm, are we picking up someone?" I asked, now suspicious.

Felix looked into the rear mirror and then gripped the wheel tightly; he was definitely up to something.

"Uh, yeah. Gloria's friend. She's going out with us."

I nodded my head. How naive did this guy think I was? I did the math: We were three in the car; two guys and a girl. One guy is with the girl while the other guy is sitting alone in the back seat. Now they were picking up a new girl, a friend to the first girl.

That son of a b***h, he's trying to pair me with a girl.

The car stopped and Felix tapped the horn, he didn't bother to look at me. He probably know's I want to kill him now.

Gloria got out of the car and walked into a thin street. Finally, my chance.

"Felix, what are you doing?!"

He hesitated and then turned back to me, serious faced, "What does it look like I'm doing?"

"It looks like you are trying to hook me up."

"Since you already know, why ask?"

I opened the car door and stepped out. I looked around me and beginning walking towards the road. The shirt was really baggy; flaying in the evening breeze like a flag.

"Where do you think you're going?" Felix asked, running up to me. I didn't answer.

"William!" He shouted.

"What?! I shouted back and faced him.

"What are you doing?" Felix asked.

"I don't know, what are you doing?"

"I asked you first."

"And then I asked you again."

Felix turned around and faced the direction of the car. The girls were already standing by the car, waiting. Felix waved at them and then turned to me.

"Come on, Will."

"I thought you understood that I'm still trying to live with the fact that I lost my wife."

"I know, but.."

"I can't start having dates already. Its unfair to her."

Felix sighed, "Its just a little company, you don't have to do anything. And yes, I understand. Why do you think I'm going through this stress?"

I didn't answer.

He sighed, "Look, sooner or later, hopefully sooner, you'll have to move on. Okay, lets just say this is a practice run, yeah, a practice run. You don't have to do anything, just talk."

"Okay."

Felix smiled and tapped my shoulders, "If it makes you feel any better, you look like a hideous mannequin in that outfit, She'll probably not even like you."

I smiled, "Shut up, you."

We walked back to the car, "Sorry ladies," Felix started, "we were having a little 'manly' discussion." He made an air quote with his fingers.

I looked at Gloria's friend. She was very beautiful, I had to admit and very young. Must have been twenty one. She also looked shy; not a good thing, I concluded. That would make all the social responsibilities fall on me. I would have preferred one of those chatty ones.

"Hello, Rose," Felix said to Gloria's friend, "This is My buddy, William. William, this is Rose, Gloria's friend."

"Hi," I said, taking her hands in mine. Soft and trembling? Shy alright.

She raised her small eyes to mine and smiled, "Hi," she replied.

I shook her hand and quickly left it. Looking at Felix, I said: "Let's go then." I could see that he was watching the expression on my face. I gave him nothing.

****

Felix pulled into the parking lot of SHAX, a discrete Club that didn't open past midnight.

It was dark already, although with a little light. I stepped out of the car, totally forgetting about Rose. I was the displeased friend who was dragged to go out clubbing on a Saturday night, and I was ready to play the part.

Felix locked the Car doors and grabbed Gloria's waist.

"Let's go, baby." He said, walking towards the entrance with her. I stared at him; I might as well not have been there.

I sighed and looked at the Shy Rose. I smiled a little and started towards the entrance. She followed suit.

The club felt crowded and the music loud. But as usual, Felix didn't feel the same way.

He picked a table with four chairs; a pair on each opposite end.

"SHAX is dull today." He said, taking a seat and offering me the one beside him. He leaned towards me, "The ladies sit opposite us. What do you think of Rose?"

"I just met her, Felix. What should I think?"

He shrugged and, thankfully, let the matter drop. I brought out my phone and began scrolling for something to read.

"You'll drink beer." I heard Felix say. I turned to him, "uhm, okay."

"It was not a question, buddy. Remember, loosen up." And with that he grabbed my phone and placed it on the table.

"And that includes you, too." He said loudly, collecting Gloria's phone. The drinks arrived. Thank God.

For some reason, Felix felt inclined to make everyone talk.

I poured a little of the beer into a glass cup and watched the million bubbles sizzle.

Felix was blabbing something about work and somehow everyone laughed. I couldn't get myself to care but I chuckled anyways.

The one thing I was grateful to Felix for was his ability to 'engage' the ladies.

I sipped my beer slowly and watched Felix recount some supposedly hilarious experience; apparently, it was 'so' funny. I didn't get it, though.

My 'date' had obviously lost interest in me by now. I was grateful for that.

Although, I was beginning to feel self conscious about my oversized

Hockey shirt.

I looked around the bar, it was beginning to get a little too stuffy for me.

I shifted my chair backward and got up to my feet.

"Please excuse me." I said and began to squeeze my way towards the exit.

The cool night air hit my face as I pushed the door open.

I walked through the parking lot and stopped by a mini-mart. I bought a chocolate wafer(it used to be her favorite).

I opened the wafer and began picking it. I roamed round the parking lot and then began to walk back towards the entrance. Before Felix gets any more excited.

"William." Someone said my name. I turned around to see who called; it was Cassidy. The new girl from work.

I smiled faintly and walked up towards her.

"Hi." I said, not knowing if to stretch out my hand for a hand shake. Luckily, She didn't seem to bother.

She was wearing a black gown that fell just above her knees and her hair was free.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" She asked me.

I pointed towards the building.

"I accompanied a friend."

She nodded.

"You...er..are you with someone?"

"Oh, yes." She muttered as if she'd just remembered, "I came with a couple of my girlfriends.

They literally dragged me here."

She chuckled and I followed suit.

"That's the same story over here. I prefer staying at home on Saturdays."

She smiled, "Me, too."

She then narrowed her eyes at me, "You have a funny shirt."

I immediately felt uncomfortable the moment she said that. What was I supposed to say, thanks?

I stammered, "I..uhm."

She laughed. A rich, sincere laughter.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I really don't care about your shirt."

I laughed, relieved. I shuffled my feet and thought of what next to say. Here I was, standing with a pretty girl who, by the way, was watching me and I literally had no idea what to say next.

"Have you been to the Arcade before?"

"What?" I asked, looking at her.

"The Arcade. You know–where you play games."

I nodded, "Oh, yes. I–uh–I've taken my daughter there a few times."

She smiled, "Awesome. I love the Arcade. There's a new one open in the Mall," She checked her watch, "Its still early, we can still get in."

I was about to say 'okay' but I remembered Felix.

"What of uh–your friends?" I pointed towards SHAX. Also asking myself about Felix.

She shrugged, "They'll be fine. I'd rather visit that new arcade than sit around a table gisting aimlessly. Lets go!" She walked off.

I followed her. Felix can cover for me.

"Did you drive here?" My voice is hoarse.

She turned to me, "No. Did you?"

I stopped, almost colliding with her. I shook my head.

"The Arcade is not that far. We can walk the distance."

I cringed at the talk of walking any sort of distance with her, saying nothing and just breathing.

"Okay." I said, and we began our walk.