LOVING A MANNEQUIN

Chapter 37: Celebration

*NO ONE POV*

Wearing simple walking clothes, Barbie hesitated to enter the Chix Bar. They were already at the door inside where they could see a lot of groups and couples in the middle dancing intimately and unreservedly with their bodies already rubbing each other. There were many tables around it that were almost occupied by people and amazingly, the bar was quite luxurious, smells good despite the drunkards individuals and wines, and spacious.

For Barbie who was not used to such a place, the sound of music hurt her ears. She pulled Melanie's wrist, "Melanie, do we really need to come here? Why not just celebrate at your house?”

Melanie squinted her eyes, "Boring! We're already here so let's come in." Melanie observed her from head to toe. "Why do you look so tense?"

"Melanie, I don't feel good coming here. What if something bad happens later or there is trouble here. I don't want to-"

Melanie patted Barbie's head, "Relax. Not every day is a bad day. You're too worried about nothing."

"But-- I'm not really comfortable. Let's just go home. "

"No way! We are already here so come on. Let's go.” Melanie grabbed Barbie's hand and pulled her inside. In the middle, Melanie found their table where the six were already present except for them.

“ Hi!" Melanie greeted the six. The six also immediately greeted back as they saw them.

Anica met them quickly, "Ma'am Melanie, we thought you weren't coming." She moved over and took Barbie from Melanie's hand and led her in the chair.

Melanie also sat next to Barbie, "Don't ask why we took so long. It's all because of her. She is hesitating to come here."

"I don't like it here." Barbie said lazily.

"No way! Barbie, is this your first time going to this place?" Anica asked as she took two more bottles of wine and handed one to Melanie and the other to Barbie.

Barbie pushed back the wine, "I don't want to drink."

"You are mean, don't ruin the night. Just have a few bottles." Kris said, handing wine at her again.

"I really don't want to drink." Barbie said.

"Barbie, if you don't drink, don't you think it's a bit rude? Look, this is for ma'am Melanie's celebration. So, give us some face and drink with us."

"But--" Barbie looked at Melanie who also started gulping the wine she was holding, then she looked down at the bottle in front of her. Barbie swallowed hard as she slowly raised her trembling hands to reach for the bottle.

"Come on Barbie. Trust us, at first you will be hesitant to drink but once you start, later, you may not be able to stop drinking." Kris said laughing.

“Kris is right. Aren't you curious what a drunk feels like?" Seconded by Anica.

"I haven't experienced it yet but I'm sure it's not good." Said Barbie. "But, for Melanie, just for tonight, I will drink only two bottles.”

Melanie smiled and hugged her, "Thank you Barbie, you are really my sister."

"Alright!" Barbie lifted the bottle and offered a toast. Everyone took their wine and lifted it up in the middle. They collided with the bottles at the same time they said cheers.

Barbie thought that the taste of the wine was bitter or tasteless but she was amazed that she actually tasted the sweetness of the raspberry fruit flavor. She grinned and said, "Hmmp, it's sweet."

The five co-workers looked at each other and smiled. The victory was on their faces and they already expected that Barbie would not stop drinking. Just like that, Barbie continued to drink which surprised everyone. The content of a small bottle was just a few gulp for Barbie and she consumed it immediately. Afterwards, she would ask for it again.

"I didn't expect you to be a good drinker, Barbie." Denice said with her face leaning on her palm.

Barbie giggled, "I'm happy tonight Ma'am Denice. And then I think the wine is extremely good, making me want to drink more. Here, let's toast again."

"Cheers!"

Barbie wrapped her hand around Melanie's neck and put her mouth to Melanie's ear and as if whispered but she was still speaking loudly. "Look at that Nelia, Jess and Celine, they kept looking at the handsome ones behind us. Pooh, so gross. They seem intending to hook those three men."

"Gosh Barbie, don't break our trip. We're sure we can catch a hot guy here. With our beauty, finding men is a piece of cake. Right girls?" Nelia said softly while flipping the long curled hair behind her. Jess and Celine also joined in.

"Hahaha, that's right. Go ahead." Barbie teased.

"Barbie, do you see that guy in the red shirt? That's what I'm going to hook on to later." Jess pointed at the table behind Barbie.

Barbie almost lurch as she stood up and slightly faced to the back.

Melanie pulled her to sit down again but she looked like a big tree that could not be shaken. "Barbie, sit down. Don't embarrass yourself."

Barbie grinned as she reached for Melanie and slowly ran her index finger over Melanie's nose and pressed it to Melanie's mouth, "Pssst! Silent! Let's have fun. Let's see if the three witches are really handsome."

"God, they look at us." Jess screamed, pushing Nelia was slightly further.

"Jess, behave, don't show any motive first. I know they looked at us because that guy in the gray polo shirt also winked at me." Nelia said, biting her nails subconsciously while daydreaming.

"Mine too. That one in blue. So cute."

Barbie pouted. "Pooh, you three are really something. You're too easy and obsessed with men." Barbie looked at them again, "Just so-so. They are nothing to Angelo. Angelo is great." Barbie said, still hugging her hands.

"Tse, who cares about your Angelo. We haven't even  met him so no comment for now." Celine said. She suddenly jumped to the bottom and shouted, "God, they are coming at us."

Barbie glared at the three, "You three should behave like a reserved lady. Gosh, you're making me worry."

The three laughed, trying hard to hide their thrill from the approaching three men.

Barbie sat down again when Melanie pulled her and completely ignored the presence of the men who were already behind her.

"Hi!" The three greeted at once in a rather polite voice.

The guy in red who was staring at Barbie spoke first, "Hi, I'm Denver, these two with me are Oliver and Joseph. Beauties, can we join in the table?"

Despite the consent of the four, Anica also joined in, while Denice and Melanie remained silent, Barbie looked up with her eyebrows colliding each other and seriously replied, "No."

The man's sweet smile earlier had become awkward.