When We Were Drunk

Night 013

           “What the hell are we doing here, Alfonso?”

            I looked around me and I can’t help but cringe at the sight. Why am I being surrendered with balloon hearts and red roses and pink chairs?

            “We’re here to date.” Then he winked at me.

            I could suddenly feel my face heating up.

            “What?” I tried asking calmly even though there are currently a thousand horses running inside my stomach.

            He looked at me as if I’ve grown three heads. “Don’t you know what dating means? Two people going out, dining somewhere---”

            I kicked off his feet below the table. “I know what “dating” means dumbass,” I air quoted. “What I’m asking is why? And why here in a freaking dating booth?”

            “You’re really funny tonight, Marg!” he suddenly laughed. “You think…pfft…you really think this is a real date?”

            I should have known. Of course, Marg. Why would he date someone like you?

            We became silent for a moment. I tried giving an awkward laugh but I stopped it ‘cause it just made the atmosphere more uncomfortable.

            Then his expression changed into a serious one. “You think so low of yourself, Marg. If I’m going to ask you out on a real date, I will take you to a more interesting place than this.”

            Damn you, Esquivel. Stop making me feel things!

            I know I would only stutter if I tried to speak so I just gave him a death glare and because he is Alfonso, he just laughed at me.

            Good thing, the waiter came to our table.

            “Are you ready to order, Ma’am and Sir?”

Alfonso was the one who ordered for the both of us. After the waiter verified our order, he left our table and once again, we are alone.

“Seriously, Alfonso? Why are we in a dating booth?”

He smiled. “You have to complete the stub, right? That’s why we are here.”

It was like a slap of reality. Of course. Why would he even take me here? He doesn’t even like me and I don’t like him, right?

Instead of sulking, I managed to throw him a teasing glance. “I didn’t take you as “dating booth” kind of guy, Esquivel. There are a lot of activities out there y’know. But maybe, just maybe, do you like pink that much?”

“I’m not gay!”

It was my turn to make fun of him. “Hey, I’m not saying anything about you being a gay! Why are you being so defensive?”

“But that’s what you’re insinuating,” he pointed out.

“Oh my gosh, you are imagining things I didn’t say!”

He shook his head in surrender. “Whatever makes you happy, Marg.”

When the food arrived, both of us went speechless. I can already feel my face heating up just by looking at our order. And I am pretty sure Alfonso is too, he can’t even look at me straight.

They just served us a single drink with a lover’s straw in it! I am definitely sure that we ordered two different drinks and here they are serving us one drink only.

We tried ordering for another drink but the waiter turned us down saying it’s their policy. Policy their ass, they charged us for two drinks!

Alfonso moved the orange juice towards me. “It’s yours.”

“No, it’s alright. Drink it.” I placed the glass near him.

He pushed it back to me. “Marg, I’m okay. I can just drink later.”

“I insist, Alfonso.”

“If you insist…then let’s just drink it together.”

It’s as if my jaw has dropped from the tenth floor. What the heck did he just say? We will drink it…together?

“What?”

Alfonso sipped from the straw and smirked. I really really hate to admit this to myself but why does he look so sexy right now with that grin on his face?

Oh gosh, Margaret Santua! You are so screwed!

***

            After finishing our food and the drink (yes, we did share it), I immediately pulled him away from that booth. I can’t believe I agreed to sharing drinks! Good thing, there is a straw. But still, it was so awkward especially when one time I sipped from it and he suddenly did too.

And I keep wondering how he was able to smile the whole time when I’m having a war inside my system?

“So what’s next on our list, Marg?”

“You’re seriously going with me?” I asked.

He just smiled. This guy! Does he really think he is cute?

Hell, he is. And I hate that!

“Fine,” I said as if I have no choice. “But we will take turns in deciding where to go next. I don’t trust your ugly taste, Esquivel.”

“What? You enjoyed dating booth with me! You even liked the lover’s straw!” he teased.

“Shut up.” I said as I pulled him towards the booth I would like to visit.

I paid for two tickets on the bump car booth since Alfonso is the one who paid our order on that freaking dating booth. We entered the driving area and settled down on the car of our choice.

I suddenly laughed when I saw him sitting inside the car. “You look like you can damage that small car, Alfonso! You’re too tall for this game!”

“And you’re so comfortable in yours, kiddo,” he countered.

I just raised an eyebrow. “Let’s just see who’s the loser, oldie.”

“Challenge accepted, kiddo.”

We started driving the small car and looks like the both of us has the same plan. Alfonso kept on driving towards me while I would always provoke him by bumping the front of his car.

He grinned when he was able to kick my car towards the gutter.

Of course I won’t die a loser so I just showed him my middle finger. The staff helped me to swerve back on the track.

To get back at him and to avenge my bruise ego as well, I chased after his car. He was chuckling the whole time I tried to bump into his car. He looks so happy that I want to stare at him and store that face of him in my memory.

Before our time run out, I managed to shove his car on the gutter twice. Yes, I did it two times! And that is the reason why I kept on pestering him right now and he was just ignoring me while we walk to his choice of booth.

“So who’s the loser now, Alfonso?”

“I just let you win, Marg. You know, I should be a gentleman.”

I chuckled. “Gentleman, my ass. You’re still a loser!”

He chose the basketball booth to which we both did not win a prize. We were so annoyed because we felt like we were cheated on so we moved next to a magic booth. The whole span of ten minutes of us sitting there, I just kept on laughing because Alfonso won’t stop whispering to me the “false tricks” on each magic.

“How do you know a lot? Are you a magician before?”

He shrugged. “No. I’m just really smart, you know.”

Here we go again. I rolled my eyes. “Arrogance is in the air, don’t you think?”

Alfonso wanted to try the horror booth so we went there. He paid a hundred peso because one ticket costs fifty pesos. He kept on looking at me and offering me his hand inside the booth. I just declined him because it will be no use.

When we arrived at the exit, he looked at me unbelievably.

“You’re not even scared?” he asked.

I laughed when I realized what he’s been doing earlier. “You really think I’d get scared on that lame ass booth? Wow, I’m offended, Esquivel.”

He just scratched the back of his neck and smiled awkwardly.

For our seventh booth, I dragged him towards the dart stall. Not so surprisingly, he won a small teddybear keychain. I was shocked when he picked up my hand and placed the keychain. I was about to ask him why he’s giving me that but I secretly smiled when I saw his ears getting red.

Alfonso is being shy!

It was already eleven in the evening when we finished our ninth booth. Alfonso suddenly stopped in his tracks and looked at his phone.

“It’s already starting, Marg. Come on,” he said as he pulled me towards I don’t know where.

“What? Where are we going? I need to go to one last booth!”

He smiled. “I know. This is gonna be your last sticker on the stub.”

I was shocked when I realized that we are heading towards the activity grounds. There are currently a lot of people in here because the Christmas concert just started. There is a live band playing on the stage.

Alfonso held onto my wrist and we walked past the people until we arrived at the backstage.

“Hey, what are we doing here?” I asked.

“Just stay here for a while, okay? I’ll just check if everything’s on roll for the concert.”

Still confused, I just nodded at him. Maybe he needed to do something since he’s part of the council. Until now, I’ve been wondering why he went with me whe it is really obvious that he has things to do for this event.

I’ve been an organizer of Paskuhan for three years. And for all those years I wasn’t able to wander around for hours like what Alfonso did. Usually, my best friend and I could only try out the booths for an hour and that’s it.

After a few minutes, Alfonso came back. I thought we’re gonna join the crowd but he has a different plan. On the side of the activity grounds is the green fields. I don’t know where he got the mat that he laid down on the grass, maybe when he went backstage?

He invited me to sit down next to him so I did.

“So is this is where I’m gonna get my last sticker?”

“Yes,” he answered. “We invited various bands and there will be lots of performances.”

There’s something fascinating in his eyes right now, they look so bright and happy.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Don’t you like it?” he questioned. “I’m sorry…I thought you will like it.”

My smile went wider.

“No, I like it.”

I glanced around and realized that there were only a few people surrounding us. They laid down mats too, and I stopped myself from blushing when I recognized that there were a lot of couples.

            We just sat down there the whole time as we watched the performances on the stage. He brought some snacks on the food stall nearby so it’s like we are having a picnic of our own.

            I brought out the can of beer Alfonso won from earlier. I don’t know if it’s because we already shared the orange juice but it was no longer that much of a big deal to me when we drank on the same can of beer.

            But it’s still a big deal with my heart, I guess.

            When the Filipino rock bands started playing, we were shocked when the both of us knew the song so we stood up and started singing aloud. We laughed when we noticed that some people looked at us as if we are crazy.

            But who cares? We are so happy we don’t care if they call us lunatics.

            And like clichés fairytales, the night has to end with a fireworks display. But unlike those stories, our lips did not meet each other.

            Only our eyes did while we’re both smiling widely at one another. And that was enough for me.

            To be continued…