Chapter 18
1608 Words
Chapter 18
THE TIPSY LADY IN A BEER FESTIVAL II
My call with my friend lasted for more than an hour. It lasted for three hours actually, and most of the time, since we always call each other to update about our lives being separate from one another for months now, the two-thirds of our time was spent not talking and just doing our own businesses. Maybe, it's the lives of single ladies.
Later that night, I couldn't sleep much because I kept thinking about the festival. I was just so excited that I even forgot to ask my mom about our two days and one night trip to Diendrel, the place where the Beer Festival occurs. I had not into one ever since. I had no one to accompany me. Rose was rarely allowed by her mother to go into far places so does Andy. Besides, we're all girls. Our parents thought that it would be hard for us, and instead of creating an argument, we chose to follow because we can attend the event when we're older, but now, oh my goodness! We had Reji to accompany us!
“Mom! Mom! Mom!”
I jumped out of my bed to run outside, but due to so much excitement and energy, I hit my forehead on the door. I groaned in pain and touch it. There was a small bump. The side of my eyes watered. It somehow calmed me.
I was about to open my door carefully, when it slammed right through my face again. This time, my butt hit the floor. My front part ached, and my forehead throbbed.
“Mom...” I winced. “It hurts.”
She rushed to me and blew my forehead. “I'm so sorry. I didn't knew. It's just that... I heard you calling me again and again, so I thought something happened.” She helped me stand up and guided me back to my bed. “I will go get an ice pack.”
I nodded. I touched the bump on my head again just to flinched again because of stupidity. My mom came back holding an ice pack and placed it carefully on the swelling part.
“Why did you have to call me, darling? For Pete's sake, my normal reaction was to worry. You should have a good reason for calling me many times and causing yourself a small bulge. What it is?”
I rubbed my nose and sighed. “Because...”
“Don't you dare give me something not worthy of the consequences we had.”
I made a face. “Rose invited me for a beer festival this Saturday and Sunday.”
“It's basically a two days trip, isn't it?”
“Yes,” I answered.
“Who would be with you?”
“Well, Rose and Andy, and Reji, Rose's brother who just returned home last last month, and his friends.”
“Male friends?”
“There were girls.” I tried to look straight into her eyes to hide my lie. Damn, I forgot to ask him about it, but Rose should have known his friends. If they were guys, she would not agree on going with them. “Please, mom? I want to—”
“You're big enough to wander everywhere. Just remember to be mindful of your surrounding. Stay safe. If someone tries to harm you, kill him as soon as possible.”
“You're making me a murderer with that.”
“Not really.” She brushed my hair. “Where will they fetch you?”
“I think I would tell them to pick me at the university, so they can easily find it unlike here. It might take time before they reach Marcadel.”
“Alright. I will send you there to see you off.” She rose from my bed and patted my head. “Next time, be careful, so this won't happen again.”
Tuesday, nothing important occurred. The classes were the same as before—boring, and, more importantly, Seth was absent. He did not text me about his whereabouts. Wednesday came, and I saw Seth stepping out of his vehicle. The moment our eyes met, his eyes, as fast as a lightning hitting the ground and vanishing after a few blink, avoided mine before returning his stare right back at me. He walked slowly towards me, and the time moved— No, there was no slow motion. I ran into him and stood beside him. For some unknown reason, something was off. I suddenly searched for the right words to say to him. I suddenly wanted to know what's wrong between the two of us. I was suddenly... careful of my words and actions. I felt restrained. My movements were limited. It was as if I was contained in a box although in reality, I had a lot of space to stretch my arms and legs wide.
Seth stopped walking to wait for me. I scanned his whole body with my two wondering orbs.
“Hey,” he called me. “Done checking me out?”
I couldn't answer his question. First of all, that's not what I was doing. Second, I didn't know what to say.
I didn't notice he was already standing in front of me. His thumb stroke my under eye bag. “Hey,” he murmured. “What's wrong, dear?”
I faked a smile. “You were gone for two days.”
Two freaking days. I didn't want to sound like a clingy girlfriend, but I was seriously curious as to what happened for him not to message me.
I put on a cheerful smile to hide what's bothering me. “By the way, I'm going to Diendrel this weekend for the Beer Festival. Are you up for it?”
“Actually, I have been there. The reason why I was absent. My best friend who lives there always invite me for it, and I wasn't able to refuse, even had to go during school days, because he would be leaving today for his work.”
My mind, even after receiving the answer I've been wanting to hear, still couldn't process the fact that he explained it to me now.
“I know there's something that bugs you, and seeing how you reacted just now, it must be my absence. I'm sorry.” He kissed my forehead. He took a step back and lightly touch my skin. “What's this?”
He might be referring to the bump.
“Got it from an accident.” I laughed. “Don't mind it.”
Like the usual, he sent me to our room and left for his class. The days, Thursday and Friday, just passed by quickly, and before I could take a note of the day, Saturday already came. I was so excited that I couldn't sleep until I had to prepare for my departure.
I took a warm bath and concealed my under eye bags with a make up. I packed my things last night and made sure that it was complete it. Still, I had to double check if I forgot any important stuffs. I opened the window, but I failed to remember of the cold weather. I shivered as the wind touched my body. I put on a denim jacket before eating a snack as my breakfast while my mom watches the dramas she recorded.
I revved the engine of our car, its sound coming to life. My mom sat on the passenger seat as I drove ourselves to the main gate of the campus. I already told the location to them last night on our call. I only hoped they weren't late because we called until two in the morning.
A car parked in front of us when Rose called me. They said they had arrived.
“Is that you?”
The car's light blinked twice. I opened the door to greet them so did my mom. Reji went down first. He greeted me, smiling as wide as his open arms, but I chuckled at him.
“Come on!”
“No,” I firmly said.
Rose screamed for my name and jumped at me for a hug. She also hugged my mother. “Long time no see, Maurice.”
“It's only been months, darling,” my mom muttered while tapping her back. “Have a safe trip. Take care of each other.”
The two saluted. “Aye, aye.”
“You look good in your outfit.”
My brow shot up at Reji, but I frowned and checked him out. “You, too. Nice jacket. Next time, put a gel on your hair, so you will look better.”
His eyes widened.
“What?” I asked. “Guys deserve compliments, too.”
“Thanks.”
“Small thing.” I faced my mom. She was already holding my bag. “See you, mom. Take care of yourself for those two days. I'll be back with stories to tell you.”
She stroked my hair. “Don't worry about me here, darling. I would be just fine. Enjoy the event.”
She kissed my forehead and waited for us to get in the car. I positioned on the back seat.
“Have you got enough sleep?” Rose asked as she buckled the seatbelt.
“I'll just sleep on our way there.” I rolled the window down and waved at my mom. “Bye, mom! Take care!”
It was until I can no longer see her in the horizon when I relaxed on my place.
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- Writer
