TWENTY-THREE
“All right, that’s it. As your stage manager, I now forbid you to drink another bottle,” Mark declared, snatching an unopened bottle of beer Ramon pulled out of the ice bucket.
“I can hold my liquor, Mark.” Ramon held his hand out, a silent demand for his choice of poison.
“Nope, nope...” Mark cleared the table of the bucket. “You don’t want to show up hungover at Lakambini tomorrow. Juliana will murder you.”
This small, nondescript bar called Tambayan was a popular hangout for yuppies and college students who were looking for cheap beer and open mic entertainment. On weeknights like this however, the place wasn’t as packed, which also meant the ambient noise allowed for actual conversation.
“I’m not drunk.”
“Not saying you are.”
A waitress approached their table to inf
