His and Her Circumstances

Chapter 9 - Never better

Chapter 9 - Never better

It’s all over now.

The silence left behind by the scrimmage makes me realize that the only remaining thing for me now is to move forward. I am the winner, but the fact that I am all alone will not change. This is the prize of bagging the winning prize and all I could do is embrace it.

It was always like this, but the emptiness brought by being left out is still the same. I’m seriously sick of this routine.

“Victoria…”

I instinctively flinched after someone called my name in this empty room. The once strict voice of that man is now soft and warm.

“...I reserved a table at Ana’s place. Let’s meet there after work. I won’t take no for an answer.”

Anthony’s slightly rugged look unfolded between the half-open door. He is breathing hard for some unknown reason, but what caught my attention the most was the dangling piece of hair on his forehead. He is the perfectionist type, so it was hard to believe that he let himself be seen like that.

“It is only Monday. The very first day of the week.”

“So what? Adults can drink whenever they want. Why are you so afraid of Monday? Seriously?”

I smiled sweetly as I watched Anthony turn his back and close the door. I’m stupid to pity myself for being alone. I have friends waiting for me to wash this sorrow away. What the hell with being single if I have tons of cash to waste night after night?

A romantic relationship is not the only key to a happy life.

It was still 7 pm when I reached Ana’s bar. The shop usually opens at 9, so it only means that we will be the only customers here. This is not the first time that we spent a night like this, but it will be the first that we will do it during the weekday.

That damn Anthony is a drinking expert and I could already see myself being alone with a headache tomorrow. The fact that I will be the one paying also hurts a little, but that is the rule of our friendship, so I can’t really escape it now. The one in sorrow will be the paying master of the night.

“Hey, Vic…”

The familiar nostalgic voice made me turn my head. The man that I consider my brother is standing with a very broad smile.

“It’s been a while, Third. I missed you.”

I ran to the man a head taller than me and gave him a big hug. I’m fully healed now. Just seeing this person made me realize that Lucas is nothing but a trying-hard insect in my life. His sweet and not-so-manly smell made me calm my nerves a little.

“Don’t hug him too tightly. I’m not sharing my boyfriend even with a heartbroken friend like you. Go get yourself a new man if you want to cuddle that much.”

I wrap my hands around Third even tighter after the domineering voice of another man interrupted our reunion. Just that deep voice alone gave out the identity of that lovable man.

“Back off, Anthony. It will be friendship over if you disturb our reunion.”

“Suit yourself then, but I’ll be sure to add more and more glasses of Romanée-Conti while you are hooking yourself to my man. You’ll be broke and single even before you know it.”

Laughter was my only answer to Anthony as I ran with arms open wide towards him. This is the real Anthony that I know and not the stiff H.R. manager in our company. He is a two-faced man who makes sure that his professional and casual sides will not be brought together in the same place.

For him, the separation of the two is vital to function as he intended. Well, I completely agree, since our co-workers would be totally shocked if they saw Anthony talking like that. He is well-known for being a cold-hearted and indifferent man in the company, so I would not doubt it if they would suddenly subject Anthony to an identity check if seen like that.

“How are you?”

“Never better.”

I love how warm and kind this man is. Also, I love how only a few could experience such feelings from him. This moment is bliss for me.

“Now, you are making me jealous. Let’s go in before Ana denies us entry.”

The curly baby-faced man softly put his arms around our shoulders and guided us inside the store. Third is Ana’s older brother. We’ve known each other since childhood and he is treating me as another sister from a different family.

He is my first unrequited love and heartbreak. I can still remember the day that he introduced Anthony to us. I did not hide my frustration and cried my heart out in front of them. He is gay but my sisterly love for him did not waver even a bit after learning the truth.

So what if he is not the man that I’m expecting him to be?

Third’s attitude and personality did not change even a little after announcing his hidden gender preference. Their parents disowned him and many people criticized the two, but he remained strong and happy. I know that there is a part of him that is hurt by the disapproval of some of his loved ones but he did not let it affect him in any way.

He is perfect the way he is and nothing could change that belief of mine.

“Hey, Brother. Hang this with the closed sign.”

Ana, who is already waiting inside her bar, threw a placard with a “RESERVED” word on it. I could now see myself forgetting Lucas and grieving the loss of my one-month salary. Damn Anthony tricking me again. I want to eradicate my first impression of him being so kind and warm to me.

“Anthony…I thought you said that you only reserved a table?”

“Change of plan, Vic. We can’t enjoy the night if Ana is serving others. You can’t cry your heart out as much as you want either. So, just better prepare your wallet before you get drunk.”

His deadly smile made me punch him a little in the stomach. It was my intention to hurt him, but karma bounced back to me in an instant since his hard muscles did not even flinch a little.

If and only he is not in a relationship with Third, then I will do my best to covet this man. I don’t care if he is not into women, since I will make him into one. Well, kidding aside, it won't really happen since Anthony is completely off my hook since the start.

“Stop the chit-chat. The drinks are ready.”

Ana’s enthusiastic voice only means that she brings out the expensive battles that he stores for regular customers. Third and Anthony will surely agree if I will say that her love for money and alcohol best her love for me.

Well, acceptance is the key, so I just embraced that fact to lessen the bitterness that I have in life.

“To our always heartbroken rich friend Victoria. May you treat us again with an overflowing amount of alcohol.”

“To the woman who can pay her own bills and walk straight with her head held high!”

“To the woman who wants it all, and can be it all!”

“And to my friends who are here to scam this pitiful woman with a night full of expensive alcohol. I love you guys with all my heart. Cheers!”

Everyone’s cheers and laughter made me forget whatever troublesome past that I experienced just this morning. Seriously? Why do I even have to rack my brain for something as stupid as being cheated on by my last boyfriend?

Now that I think about it, Lucas is not even that handsome compared to Anthony and Third. If Anthony is the cool, masculine type; Third is the flower boy among all the flower boys; then Lucas is nothing but a mere busboy.

His nose is too big to be called normal and no matter how much he hides it, I already noticed that his head has a very clean bald spot on it. Those insecurities could be the reason why he is ruining other people’s lives. Just too bad, since he met the wrong person to deal with. I will increase that bald spot if he intentionally runs into me again in the future.

“Vic, you have already tried guys of the same age and a man being a little older than you, so how about trying a younger one? Maybe your future is to be with a fresh boy ten years your junior?”

Ana’s joke hit me hard as if she was reminding me of the reality that happened just a week ago. Oh yeah, I haven’t mentioned it to any of them and it will be a disaster to say it now since they will not stop unless I spill all the beans on that hot night.

“No way. I don’t want to be sued and join the penitentiary with Lucas.”

“Suspicious. This woman smells fishy right now. Can you also smell it, Third and Ana?”

The three looked at me with serious eyes. I wouldn’t say anything even if they forced me, since the day I spilled the happenings of that night will be the same day that I will have a new nickname in our group chat.

“I don’t know what you are talking about. I think you are very much aware that I’m not into men younger than me.”

“You are lying to our faces, Vic. Come on say it.”

Third’s serious words made me think twice before I talked back. I know that it was just his way of making me speak, but the way he delivered it brought goosebumps to my neck. I will not waver whatever they throw at me. I already swore to myself that the happenings of that night will remain in my closet forever and ever.

“I’m not hiding anything. Seriously, guys?”

“Haha, we are just joking.”

The three bullies shrug their shoulders off and continue pouring out the drinks. They are a little suspicious about quitting that fast, but I should only look at the brighter side and be thankful that nothing will be told to these scary friends of mine.

The still long night continued and I had already lost count of the bottles that we flipped empty. I lost consciousness halfway and all I could remember was the strong arms of Anthony carrying me to my bed while cursing me to death.

My head feels like it will explode anytime soon because of the hangover. I reached out to my phone, which was still luckily in my pocket, and saw the clear 3 PM on the screen. Forget half the day, I can no longer work for today and I did not even file for any leave. I momentarily closed my eyes to curse the bitches who made me so drunk to death.

Those buffoons are aware that I need to work today and I know that it is not because of being considerate or anything kind that they decided to let me sleep a little longer.

I went down to the second floor, also the bar area, and saw the three peacefully drinking their coffee.

“Hey…”

“I know what you are thinking, Victoria. I already filed a 2-day leave for you so no need to act so grumpy first thing you wake up.”

I’m about to thank Anthony but the two days that he filed seemed excessive for me.

“Why two days?”

“Of course, you have to tell us more about that young neighbor of yours.”

The three grin ear to ear and it made me swear not to drink with them ever again.