Alcohol

It’s a Sunday and Cove’s driving to Cos’s place. I opted to wear a fitted black tube dress, denim jacket, and some white sneakers. I curled the ends of my hair and put on some accessories to match my outfit. Cove on the other hand was wearing a white button-down shirt with its three-button opened. He tucked it in his cream-colored cropped trousers and a white low top sneaker. His hair was brushed up and he was wearing a metal necklace. He looks hot in his outfit that I can’t help but admire him when he arrived at our house. I even uttered the word ‘damn’ when he got out of his car with his sunglasses on.

When we arrived the girls were already there. Cos lives in Makati and to my surprise, it wasn’t a traditional Chinese house ‘cause Cos half-Chinese. It was a three-story modern type of house that has a black, white, gray, and gold palette; they have a huge glass window overseeing the garden and the pool. Their receiving area has this big chandelier that made it bright and they have some paintings hanging on their wall. It was an open-down view if you’re on the second and third floor. They even have some antique things and a grand staircase.

Moments later, Tita and Massy were approaching us with sleeping Marmee in Massy’s hand.

“Oh, hi girls,” greeted Tita. We all greeted her back as well as Massy and then I noticed Tita Sha eyeing Cove.

“And who is this young man?” and Tita raised her brow. Cove nervously smiled but Tita’s reaction remains passive. Tita has a snobby attitude but right now she’s just trying to frighten Cove, and my friends knew it the reason why they’re trying so hard to hold their laughter. Even Massy who’s a joker kept a stoic reaction.

“I’m Cove, Ma’am,” Cove respectfully answered and even got Tita’s hand to bless. Tita secretly smiled at Cove’s gesture and mouthed to us “I like him.” I laughed as I shook my head.

“And who are you courting among these women?” Cove choked with his own saliva.

“Of course, Tita he’s courting Kirsche. Such a flirt,” Rya butted in. Her mouth formed an ‘o’ and she turned her gaze to me, and I just smiled because it suddenly felt awkward.

“In fairness, Kirsche you sure know how to pick the good ones,” teased Tita. We laughed at her retort. When I looked at Massy she mouthed “Handsome” while tapping her chin using the back of her hand. They kind of interrogated Cove. At first, it was obvious that he was nervous whenever Tita questions him but as the conversation goes on he became at ease. We, girls, played with Marmee the moment she woke up.

Moments later we proceeded to their garden because that’s where the event will take place. Before I can enter the garden I saw Tita.

“I like that guy, Kirsh. He was raised well by his parents. Better keep a tight leash on him,” she said as she smiled at me. I don’t really have a plan on letting him go.

“Not on my watch, Tita,” I jokingly retorted.

She laughed at my answer, “As always, put study first. Boys should only be on top 3 of your priorities,” she said giving me some advice. I nodded at her. I’m one lucky girl to have friends like them because even their parents treat us as their own. They always give us advice and it’s funny because they sure got different personalities. Tita Sha has this free-spirited personality that she can vibe with us. She can sometimes be snobby but nonetheless a kind person too.

After that little chitchat we had, we went to the garden and ate. We talked about school happenings as well as their new crushes. It was a typical children's party with all its clown, bring me games, a trip to Jerusalem, and of course, singing happy birthday to the celebrant and blowing of the candles.

We thought Marmee’s party would end as peaceful as that but then Massy secretly put Cuervo on our table.

“This is just a secret. Don’t let my mom sees it.” And she winked at us before going to other tables to hand out more drinks. The atmosphere on our table took a 180 degrees shift, they suddenly became wild and started pouring drinks to shot glasses and ask who will drink. I was contemplating whether I should drink or not but my friends sure knows how to tempt me, but the last time I drink alcohol the outcome wasn’t good.

“Hey, if you don’t want to then tell them. I know they’ll understand, but if you want, then I’ll be here. I’ll take care of you,” said Cove like he just read what’s on my mind. He held my hand and squeeze it a bit.

“Will it be okay?” I worriedly asked him. ‘Cause mommy is pregnant and I’m about to give in to my temptation and I’m scared that what has happened before may happen again.

“It’ll be fine, Kirsh. Whatever happened in the past I know that you’ve changed and grown for the better,” he assured me and that made me smile. This guy shouldn’t be a doctor. He can be a writer or a motivational speaker or even a counselor.

I looked at him and tilted my head as I reached for his face, “Help me sober up, okay?” and he nodded. I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek that left him dumbfounded and when I turned to my friends a shot was waiting for me to be gulped in one go.

“Take a shot and stop flirting with each other,” and I drank it in one go that earned me a roared from them.

Shots kept on coming and we purposely get Cos drunk because she won’t admit that she’s got a crush on Piolo of the Engineering Department. We conspired with her brother James and cousin Aya. When she saw that the drink was halfway finished she blurted out that we’re getting her drunk but good thing Rya came up with an excuse and she bought it.

“What now, Cos you like that guy Piolo, no?” we asked with our phones at her face. Her eyes were closed when she suddenly giggled resulting in us laughing because she’s wasted as fuck.

“Hey…” then she giggled, “That guy, Piolo… I like him!” she declared and giggled again. We all laughed at her drunken confession. She’s indeed wasted.

“But… shush… don’t tell him! I’m shy!” and she even put her index finger on her lips and acted as a shy girl.

She kept on saying things about Piolo and all those were documented in case she denies it when she sober. At the time we finished the Cuervo, Massy showed up holding two bottles of Bacardi and one bottle of Tequila Rose. We all shouted and smiled.

We were just starting with our second round when Tita went to our table. We innocently looked at her while Cos was still giggling. Kaiei pinched her to stop her from giggling because her mother’s sending us death glares.

“Did Massy give you those?” she calmly asked.

“Yes! That’s our second bottle already, mommy,” Cos joyously answered and so James hurriedly covered her mouth.

We nervously laughed at Tita but her brow remained shot up. We’re screwed.

“That mischievous lady; I told her no alcohol. Massy!” and she was gone. We even saw Tita pinched Massy on her ear at reprimanded her as to why she gave us alcoholic drinks. Massy, in defense, told her to just let us off the hook since today’s a celebration. Silence enveloped us for a while as laughter filled us later on.

We took turns taking shots when I noticed that James was trying to get me drunk but I didn’t complain because why not? It’s not like every day that I get to drink. We danced, fooled around, and dare each other.

When suddenly Rya shouted, “I want someone to flirt to! Fuck you, Kirsh and Cove!” and she even raised her middle finger in the air. We just laughed at her and poured a drink directly into her mouth which she gladly drank.

I was dancing while holding the bottle of Bacardi. I swayed my body to the rhythm of the music with Kaiei and Rya joining me. Cos was already asleep inside their house while Eli was just watching us and silently laughing. Randi didn’t drink because she was not allowed to and so she was just laughing around while taking videos. Cove didn’t drink too because he’ll drive us home.

I was just about to drink the remaining alcohol in my bottle when someone gets it from my hand.

“Hey!” I protested to whoever got it.

“That’s enough, Kirsh. I’m taking you home,” oh, it was Cove. I giggled to myself and I heard him saying goodbye to our friends. And with sleepy eyes, I saw him getting my things.

“Tita, we’ll go ahead. Thank you,” I heard him say to Tita. I was surprised to see Tita in front of us and so I smiled at her and waved my hand.

“Hi Tita, we’ll go now ‘cause this guy is such a buzz killer,” and I rolled my eyes at Cove and even poked his arm but he just shook his head.

“That’s a good thing to do, Cove. These kids getting wasted; they can barely hold their alcohols. Drive safe, okay?” she said then she turned her gaze to me, “Kirsche, get yourself together. Your parents can’t see you in that state because they might think that I’m condoning you guys to get drunk.” I laughed at that.

“No, Tita. It was fun!” I knew I was uttering nonsense, but I guess this is what alcohol does to your system. I saw Tita tapped Cove’s shoulder and she went to Rya because they were all wasted. I don’t know if it was because I’m drunk but I saw a guy about our age picked Kaiei’s things, carried her bridal style, and bid goodbye to Tita.

I was swaying while walking when someone grabbed my wrist and went in front of me and squatted. I confusingly looked at Cove and the stunt he’s doing.

“Hop on,” was all he uttered. My mouth formed an ‘o’, getting what he wanted to happen.

I recklessly hop on his back and circled my arms on his neck. I heard him grunt because of what I did but I just giggled. I was playing with his hair while we’re walking then with his ear. Then I kissed his cheeks and giggled.

“Kirsche Artemis you have to stop doing that,” he said through gritted teeth, but I think it was the alcohol working that I kissed him again. I saw him clenched his jaw and so I traced that.

“So handsome,” I uttered and giggled. I heard him opening the passenger seat of his car, but I didn’t loosen my hold on his neck, I even buried my face in it.

“Kirsche, get down,” he uttered but I just shook my head and continued sniffing his neck.

“Smells good,” and I am well aware of what I’m doing but I still did it because of freaking alcohol in my system. I playfully bit his neck and that was his last straw of patience and in just a blink of an eye, I was slumped on the floor.

“Ouch!” I shouted and caressed my butt because Cove forcefully removed my arms from him, and I landed on the floor!

That seemed to bring him back to his senses.

“Shit, sorry, Kirsh. Damn, are you okay?” he worriedly asked, and he checked me up. I punched his chest, “Do I looked like I’m okay? Let me drop you on the floor butt first and I’ll ask if you’re okay,” I saw regret in his eyes but when his eyes looked down, I saw him gulped. I raised my brow because of his reaction and so I looked down and there I saw my dress slightly pulled up revealing my thighs because of his stunt earlier. I looked at him again and giggled. He looked up and so our eyes met, and I seductively looked at him. I saw how he clenched his jaw and how his adam’s apple moved. And I don’t know why I’m such a flirt drunk, but I reached for his jaw to trace it but before I can even do so, he held my wrist.

“Let’s go home,” and helped me stand up and even fixed my dress. I smiled to myself when I saw how much restraint he had while doing that. He helped me sit and even put on the seatbelt for me. And just when he was about to close the door, I grabbed his collar and he held on the side of my seat and on the dashboard. I saw how his eyes widened because of our closeness.

“How do you like this, Cove?” I was shocked to hear my own voice, it was slutty! I saw how his eyes darkened and his lips on grim line.

“Let go, Kirsche,” maybe if I am in my normal state, I would shiver with the tone of his voice but instead I smirked at him and pulled him a little closer. One move and our lips will kiss.

“What if I don’t want to?’ I whispered.

He stared at me, hold my wrist, and forcefully remove it. I let him go but before he can even stand up, I grabbed his collar again and this time our lips met.