4 Chapter 4: The Sober

The entire day yesterday, Dean was reminding me about the drinking session. At dinner earlier, Dean announced that there's going to be a party by the beach with free-flowing drinks. He had arranged his orders from Luis' friend who will deliver the drinks. He even asked Luis and Megan to invite their friends over so they can party with us. I laughed at his idea because there's no way the management will let other people in like that.

"You look so worried, Ami," Darren suddenly whispered to my ear. I was looking at the shore where they are preparing tables and chairs for the 'party'.

"Dude! You almost gave me a heart attack!" I slapped his arm.

"I'm sorry," he laughed. "Don't worry, I'll stay sober for you guys."

"Nah. You go enjoy the drinks. I can handle myself," I smiled proudly at him.

"Let's go," he told me then he started walking.

I followed him to the party venue. The party host even provided some loud music to complete the party ambiance. I noticed that there are other people partying with us. I was wrong on my assumption that the staff won't let other people party with us. They must have made these people sign a contract where they can't get drunk and spoil the show for us. The show's taking some big risks here.

"Hey Dean! You gave me an idea. I might just hold parties like this once we have a lot of guests in the camp," Luis tapped Dean's shoulder. Dean was smiling ear to ear while feeling the vibe of the music. He's far from the Dean I saw from the earlier days of the show.

Jake and Katherine have already started with their drinks and are dancing to the music as well. I went straight to Jake to remind him not to get so drunk.

"Hey, Jake. Don't get yourself drunk or you'll prove the rumors to be true," I whispered to him. "Also, you have to be sober enough to cockblock that dude if he tries to take advantage of me," I pointed my mouth towards Dean's direction.

"Sorry, what did you say?!" He lowered his ear near my mouth. I let out a deep sigh.

"Oh, look the challenger has arrived!" Dean welcomed me as he approached us. He got his phone from his pocket and did something with it then the music's volume lowered down. "Hey, everyone!" He invited us to gather around the table he prepared for the two of us. Twenty shot glasses filled with alcoholic beverages of different colors were lined up on each side of the table.

"So this table's for me and my challenger, Ami. Don't get drinks from here, alright? Free flowing drinks are provided on the other table," he explained. "Hey challenger, we will drink one shot glass at a time. Whoever gets drunk first loses, okay?"

"Hey loser! Are you sure you want to do this? Are you ready?" I glared at him.

"Are YOU ready?" He fired the question back at me.

I laughed at him and then rolled the sleeves of my oversized shirt to intimidate him. I sat on the chair

and surveyed the drinks in front of me.

"Alright everybody, enjoy the night!" He announced then he sat across me.

"Why are there only 20 shot glasses for each of us?" I asked him leaning back to my seat and crossing my arms in front of me. "Is that all you can take?"

He raised an eyebrow at me. "Don't be so confident, Ami. You might regret it later."

"I have a proposal," I said.

He's raising both eyebrows now.

"If I win tonight, you'll be subject to my orders for 48 hours."

"And if you lose?"

"You're free."

"I won't be under your slavery anymore?" He sounded excited.

"Don't be so happy. It's not gonna happen anyways," I said then took one shot.

Dean took a shot in response. The truth is, I've never been drunk. I get tipsy but no matter how much I drink, I don't seem to reach that point where I get knocked out and wake up on my own vomitus.

I drank another shot glass and so did Dean. Darren sat beside me holding a bottle of beer.

"Dude, this is so boring. Are we just gonna drink in front of each other?" I asked Dean.

"Then what can we do?" He seemed to be thinking of something. He looked at me then Darren.

"Let's play something." I thought of drinking games I have played. "Hey, how about we play 'I'm going on a picnic'?" I looked at both of them excitedly.

"What's that lame game?" Dean asked me.

"We're just going to say things that we're bringing on a picnic. Players will go through the alphabet naming items that we're bringing. Each time, a new item must be added. We must drink on each turn," I explained looking at both of them alternately. "It's fun! Come on Darren join us!"

I raised and lowered my eyebrows repetitively at Dean.

"Okay, I'll start. I'm going on a picnic and I'm bringing apples," I said then drank a glass of I-don't-what-alcoholic beverage. I looked at Darren to signal he's next.

"I'm going on a picnic and I'm bringing apples and bananas," he said with a smile. Does this guy ever not smile?

I looked at Dean, waiting for his answer.

"It's so lame. I'm not going to play your game," he said.

"Dude, don't be a killjoy! Come on just continue the game!" I shouted at him.

He rolled my eyes at me and said, "I'm going on a picnic and I'm bringing apples and bananas and my car." Then he took a shot glass onto his mouth.

I smiled and then said, "I'm going on a picnic and I'm bringing apples and bananas and car and a dress."

"Why would you bring a dress?" Dean asked annoyed.

"So I can change if I get my clothes dirty, duh!" I drank another shot. The drink felt too hot in my mouth I had to breathe it out. "What the hell is this?"

"I'm going on a picnic and I'm bringing apples and bananas and car and dress and Eiffel tower keychain," Darren continued.

"What?" Dean and I asked in unison.

"My car key has an Eiffel tower keychain with it. What's the car for if we don't have a key?" He explained with his hands in the air, palms up.

"I'm going on a picnic and I'm bringing apples and bananas and car and dress and Eiffel tower keychain and flute," Dean said and then drank his fourth glass.

"You know how to play the flute?" I asked Dean.

"No."

"Then what's the flute for?"

"Hey, you did not say we have to use all the stuff we're bringing!"

Darren and I looked at each other and sighed. "Fine. I'm going on a picnic and I'm bringing apples and bananas and car and dress and Eiffel tower keychain and flute and..." I struggled for a word. "...And a Gucci bag. I quickly drank my fifth glass.

"I'm going on a picnic and I'm bringing apples and bananas and car and dress and Eiffel tower keychain and flute and Gucci bag and Hansel," Darren continued the game.

"As in the Hansel biscuit?" I asked him. He nodded. "That's my favorite!"

"I'm going on a picnic and I'm bringing apples and bananas and car and dress and Eiffel tower keychain and flute and Gucci bag and Hansel and ice cream," Dean said, followed by a drink.

We're about to enter the sixth round. I can already feel the alcohol working its way in my body. Dean is not showing any sign of giving up any time soon. "I'm going on a picnic and I'm bringing apples and bananas and car and dress and Eiffel tower keychain and flute and Gucci bag and Hansel and ice cream and jam."

"I'm going on a picnic and I'm bringing apples and bananas and car and dress and Eiffel tower keychain and flute and Gucci bag and Hansel and ice cream and jam and kite," Darren answered.

"Ooohh! That's fun! Please bring me with you!" I blurted out excitedly.

Darren laughed. I'm not sure why he laughed though.

"I'm going on a picnic and I'm bringing apples and bananas and car and dress and Eiffel tower keychain and flute and Gucci bag and Hansel and ice cream and jam and kite and lettuce," Dean said.

"Are we having Samgyupsal now for the picnic?" I asked Dean with a laugh.

"If you don't like it then don't go to the picnic with us. You're not invited anyway," Dean answered.

I kicked his leg from below the table.

"Aw!" He grabbed his knee and moved side to side from pain.

"Drink!" I ordered him. He drank while still holding his knee with his other hand. "I'm going on a picnic and I'm bringing apples and bananas and car and..." Come on brain, don't disappoint me. "...dress and Eiffel tower keychain and flute and Gucci bag and Hansel and ice cream and jam and kite and lettuce and meat."

"Oh that's nice. That way we can cook the meat.. on the grass," I teased Dean.

"Idiot. We're bringing cooked meat. I was pertaining to body oil so you guys can give me a body massage," Dean said laughing.

"Huh! In your dreams."

I'm really starting to feel a little tipsy. My esophagus feels the burn on every shot I take. I can feel my face is starting to get red. "I'm going on a picnic and I'm bringing apples and bananas and car and..." Damn, why do I always forget this word? "Letter d.... dress! and Eiffel tower keychain and flute and Gucci bag and Hansel and ice cream and... " Oh no, what comes after I? "Wait what did I last say?"

Dean seemed to be enjoying my struggle. So I looked at Darren instead for help.

"Ice cream," he answered looking like an angel.

"Ice cream... jam and kite and lettuce and meat and Netflix and oil and... phone," I ended proudly. I drank my eighth glass. I drank it obviously slower than before. I instantly regretted it because the slower I drank, the more painful the burning sensation is.

I looked at Dean and I was surprised to see that he's face is all red, even his ears. He must be tipsy as well but just good at faking it.

"I'm going on a picnic and I'm bringing apples and bananas and car and dress and Eiffel tower keychain and flute and Gucci bag and... what's that? Letter H," huh! For the first time, Dan is struggling in the game. "Oh! Hansel and ice cream and jam and kite and lettuce and Netflix and.."

"Dude, you missed letter M. Are you drunk?!" I said trying to catch him because I really want to end the drinking bet already.

"Shut up. What letter am I on?"

"Letter M!" I shouted at Dean.

"Okay.. wait.. lettuce and meat and Netflix and... oil and... phone... and... shit what did Darren say... oh, uhm, quail eggs and it's my turn to add right? Letter R... hhmmmm... rose." He said and then drank.

I am screwed. He has not given up yet.

"I'm going on a picnic and I'm bringing apples and bananas and car and... dress and Eiffel tower keychain and flute and Gucci bag and Hansel and ice cream and..... jam and kite and lettuce and meat and netflix and oil and phone and quail eggs and rose.... and soup," the ninth drink went smoothly into my throat.

"Ami, you are so red. Don't push yourself," Darren said with concern in his eyes. I can feel I am so red as my heart is beating so fast.

No, I can't say I'm not drunk because that will make them think I am actually drunk. "Just... just continue the game Darren."

He let out a sigh. "I'm going on a picnic and I'm bringing apples and bananas and car and dress and Eiffel tower keychain and flute and Gucci bag and Hansel and ice cream and jam and kite and lettuce and meat and netflix and oil and phone and quail eggs and rose and soup and tulips."

"Okay my turn," Dean said and then he breathed deeply. "I'm going on a picnic and I'm bringing.... apples and bananas and car and dress and.... Eiffel tower keychain and flute and Gucci bag and .... Hansel and ice cream and jam and kite and lettuce and meat and netflix and oil and phone and.... quail eggs and rose and soup and tulips and ukulele."

"You play ukulele?" I asked him.

"No."

I rolled my eyes at him. "Stop bringing unnecessary things!" I shouted at him.

His eyes look sleepy now and I instantly regretted that I shouted.

"I'm going on a picnic and I'm bringing apples and bananas and car and dress and Eiffel tower keychain and flute and Gucci bag and Hansel and ice cream and jam and kite and lettuce and meat and netflix and oil and phone and quail eggs and rose and soup and tulips and ukulele and violin and the woman of my dreams," he said then he drank from his bottle of beer. He swallowed many times I'm not sure if he consumed the entire bottle.

"Okay, my turn," Dean announced. "I'm going on a picnic and..." he rested his head on his hand. "...and I'm bringing apples..." he then rested his chin on his arm which is now resting on the table. "And bananas..."

I'm a bit dizzy and I'm not really sure if he still said something after bananas. I shook his legs with my feet. "Hey!" The guy did not move an inch. "Dean!" I shook him again.

"Ami, that's enough. You already won," Darren stopped me.

"I won?" I stood up from disbelief. "Hey everybody, I won!!" I'm not sure if they heard me from the loud music but some of them congratulated me and clapped for me. I sat while laughing with happiness. "I won!" I told Darren as if he's not the one who declared I'm the winner. "I knew this guy's a weakling," I said while looking at Dean.

"He actually put some pretty hard alcohol on your drinks. He was so sure he's going to win," Darren laughed.

"You see? He thinks so lowly of me. Now he's going to do what I tell him to do for 48 hours," I said proudly.

"You're a pretty strong girl."

"I AM a strong girl," I said while flexing my biceps. He smiled and laughed at what I'm doing.

"Ami, I'm going on a picnic will you come with me?" Darren suddenly asked.

I am dizzy but I can still comprehend his words. I slowly put my arm down. "Wait, why are you bringing me?"

"I told you earlier I'm bringing the woman of my dreams," he answered.

"Wait you said that?"

"Are you not curious why they wanted me to sit beside you when you first came here to the camp?"

I looked at him with sleepy eyes. "Oh yeees, it's your W." He nodded. "You were saying?"

"I was telling you why they were teasing me to you on your very first day here. It's because the day before, we were just getting to know each other and they happened to ask who my type was. I answered you."

"Me?"

"You. Then, the next day you were here like the universe conspired to bring you here." There was silence. Darren seemed to be thinking deeply. It has gotten awkward on my part. I do not know how to respond anymore "I know we've only known each other for a few days but... I really like you."

I am the most awkward person to be in situations like this. I just drank a glass. "What?" And then pretended not to hear him. I rested my face on my hand. "The music's.... really loud." I made my eyes more sleepy than they already are and then pretended to be knocked out. I crashed onto Darren's chest. It's not the best place to crash on at this moment but it's the most natural thing I could think of.

Darren inhaled deeply and let out a long exhale. "I said I'd like to know you more." Then he stood up while holding me, and carried me into his arms.

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