I'll Love You, Tomorrow

Chapter 6 – The Guy Alone by the Window

Manuel…

"It's great that they all agreed when I invited them.", I said to myself while dressing up. I ruggedly put on a tank top and a tattered jean. I just wanted to get drunk. No need to put on anything nice. Warren and the rest of my friend were surprised by the invite. They were asking what's the celebration. I just ignored them.

Tonight, I am going to forget my feelings for Danny. I am going to get drunk and after tonight, he is gone. Danny is a great guy and he has Adrian. I am just an i***t, hoping that I could get a chance with him in the beginning. I put myself into messed up feelings and now I need to get rid of it.

Warren, Stephen and Rollan are my three best buds. We were together at work since day one. We like the same things that's why we jive. We like the same foods, movies and hangouts. They are like brothers to me. It saddens me to think that I cannot share these bad feelings with them. I am not sure if they will understand. But I am glad that they immediately said yes to my invitation.

Beep beep beep…..

Warren horned me from the outside. He has the car that we are using when we hang out.

"Coming!", I replied from the inside of the apartment. I ran to the door, locked it and ran outside to meet them.

"Looking hot there mate.", Stephen complemented.

I work out, they know that. Actually, most people notice because of the way I dress up. I eat right and take care of myself. I have some weights in my apartment since I don't like going to gyms. I'm losing my concentration when I work out there. I can't help but stare at some of the gym goers and appreciate their bodies. Yes, I like staring at other men's body, secretively.

"Where are we going tonight? What's the plan?", Warren asked while I sat down and put on my seatbelt.

"I think there is a bar along Santa Rosa road we can go. It's small but cool.", I replied shortly. Good thing none of them made a fuzz out of it and just agreed. Especially Rollan who was on his ipad.

We head to the bar and in 20 minutes, we were there. The three of us, Rollan and Stephen got off of the care while Warren is parking it. Not much car was parked yet so we were expecting less people inside.

When we got in we took the table by the dance floor, not close but close enough.

When we sat down, I called out to the waiter to order.

"Waiter, a bucket please, sautéed pork and squid. Don't forget lots of ice ok.",

"Wow, that was fast. Is there something that we have to celebrate?", Warren asked.

"Do we need reasons for us to celebrate? Aren't we doing this even before?", I replied defensively.

"To us yes, to you no.", Stephen said flatly.

Point taken. We go out most of time but I just ride along. We eat and we hangout but they are the only one who get drunk.

"Can't we just enjoy this moment and stop bugging me with those questions?", I said, slightly irritated. "Why don't you focus your attention unto something else, like those girls by the bar. They're eyeing us. Seems like they're interested. Why don't you invite them to join us?"

Sure enough, Stephen and Warren got to their feet and approach the two girls by the bartender leaving me with Rollan who was still on his ipad. In a short minute, they were heading back to our table.

"Guys, meet Angeline and Marjorie. Our new found friends. They're joining us tonight.", Stephen said. The two women said hi and smiled. It was like they were comfortable with this. They sat down with us and started chatting.

Our table was slightly lighted with a dim cozy light. You would think of this place more of a coffee shop instead if lighted properly. I sat by the edge of the table to hide from the light and to avoid the interrogation. I just suggested them to invite the two women to come sit with us, I didn't expect they'd do it really.

Angeline sat beside Warren and Marjorie was with Stephen. The four of them was already busy talking while Rollan was still quiet.

I don't know what's wrong with this dude.

A few more minutes, our orders arrived. All of us grabbed a bottle and went back into chatting with each other. I started drinking mine. Call me wimpy, but I am not good at this. I easily get drunk at one bottle of beer. That's the reason why I usually turn down their invitations to hangout most of the time.

I hope I can survive this evening.

While enjoying the music and isolation, I noticed a guy seated at the far end side of the bar by the window. He was alone with a bottle of beer. He was looking blankly at the window. There were few people in the bar yet so I was sure that at some point, he saw us at our table. He looked peaceful at his place. He was occasionally changing look at the window and at the dance floor.

After an hour, more people were coming in and the music started to get more hippy. Until the very familiar American song started playing that made the crowd cheer.

"Guys, let's dance.", I invited.

The guys were not into this and a bit shy but it seemed like the girls were. Eventually, we all went to the center.

It was funny because I was already feeling tipsy with my bottle of beer. Who gets drunk with one bottle right?

"Hey Manuel, you're starting to get red. Are you ok?", Warren noticed. I gestured him that I'm ok and went back to dancing.

When the chorus of the music hit, everyone danced in unison. The dance floor was flooded with lights, music and slightly drunken people. I danced when I was in college so I knew I could keep up. I don't know if it's because of the music or the alcohol that's in my system but I really felt like dancing. I didn't care what other people might think of me but I danced anyway.

I was enjoying my moment when suddenly, girls were circling me on the dance floor. They were dancing sexily and were making an impression. I could barely notice their faces because of the dancing lights. One of them started dancing closely with her back in front me. I didn't hesitate to dance along with them and made my moves.

Wasn't it the reason we're here? If Warren and Stephen can have fun tonight, so could I. Even Rollan had let go of his ipad and loudly talking just a while back. The entire moment we were dancing the floor was on fire. These three girls won't stop sexy dancing like they're in a competition.

I was relieved to hear that the first set of the songs were about the end as announced by the DJ so we could sit down. But just as the last song was about to end, one of the ladies grabbed me by the shoulder and started kissing me. A lot of people stared in shock. The kiss was hot and seductive. It was like she was thirsty and wanted to devour my entire lips. She was kissing me like that for about 20 seconds.

When she let go, I felt the piercing stare of the people around us. I didn't know how to react but I know I have to do something or else I'd look stupid. So, I grabbed her by waist and return the kiss; more passionately, more seductively and more intense. I heard an applaud of support from the crowd for what I did. I didn't know what I was doing I just know I had to do it.

"Hey, that's my girlfriend!", shouted by the guy on black shirt and jean from the crowd. He fast approached us and was about to swing an arm at me when his "girlfriend" stopped him.

"Stop it Jake! You're acting like a brat. Damn it!", screamed by the women who were just kissing me

"What's your problem ha.", Stephen fronted when he saw the situation. Warren and Rollan came to back us up. People are staring. The music couldn't drown the tension brewing on the dance floor. The guards were already coming at us.

"Hey, if you got problems you can settle that outside.", the bouncer said to us commandingly.

The "boyfriend" looked at us threateningly but eventually walked back with his "girlfriend. Warren and the rest of the guys gestured their apologies to the bouncer and pulled me back to our table.

The crowd dispersed immediately after that and the music resumed playing.

"You ok?", Warren asked when we sat. I nodded in response.

"What happened there? You were frozen. Were you threatened by that guy?", Stephen asked.

"No I was not. I'm just tipsy I guess.", I replied.

"Tipsy at a bottle of beer?", Rollan emphasized that made everyone laughing. So did I.

Honestly, I was not threatened by that guy. I know how to defend myself. My eyes were fixated to a person behind the crowd when the commotion started. He was that guy sitting alone at the back. He was staring at me while the boyfriend was making a scene. The light was low but I could somehow picture his face already. His stare was fixed on me; in surprised and maybe in shock.

Who are you?

I looked again at his table. I saw him handing his money to the waiter and about to leave. I'm not sure but I think he looked back at my direction when he was by the exit. Did he looked back at me? I hope he did.

"Dude, I'm just going outside to get some air.", I told the guys.

"Are you sure? Want us to come along?", Rollan offered but I gestured no and ran outside.

When I exited the bar, I saw the guy walking away. I ran after him but stopped midway.

"Why am I running after him?"

"I didn't know this guy, what I am going to do, introduce myself?

I thought to myself.

"Sh..t, what am I thinking"

I saw him took the first jeepney that stopped at him. I stopped running after him and just stood at the sidewalk watching him leave. His jeepney passed in front of me. I was hoping I could take a glimpse of his face closer when he passes but I didn't. The inside of the jeepney was not clear enough and he sat facing back at me.

I was left on the sidewalk standing still.

"Am I going to see you again?"