“Hello, looks like you’re having fun, Sam,”
I looked up and saw Gerry, the bartender who just came back from wherever he was from — I don’t care — after sipping the second shot of whiskey at the third bar I went to that night.
“Yeah, thanks to this!” I replied, waving the empty glass in front of him. “And now, please give me a shot of vodka! I mean, shots because I want you to give me two shots!” I pushed the shot glass towards him with a wide grin causing his eyes to widen.
“Wait! Sam, even if I wanted to sell all the beverages here I still don’t want to harm my customers! And I think you’re getting drunk!”
“Hey! What are you talking about? Whoa drunk? I’m not drunk! And it’s not as if I’m going to drink all the alcohol here, so what harm are you referring to? Besides, that’s the purpose of this establishment, right? To sell alcohol, beverages and make people drunk!” I couldn’t help but laugh at him.
“You said you already had rum and brandy in the first two bars you went to before coming here, and then I already gave you two shots of whiskey earlier. What will happen to you if I give you two more shots of vodka?”
I was momentarily stunned by what I heard. It’s the first time I’ve met a bartender who cares so much about his customers and doesn’t just think about money.
It’s funny because he’s the opposite of the bartender I met a long time ago… the one who caused my complicated past and roller coaster life. But anyway, I’m already over that part of my life.
-‘The irony.’- I thought.
“Oh, it’s fine, trust me, I’m fine!” I gave him two thumbs up, but that didn’t wipe the frown off his face.
“Are you sure?” He asked, worry laced in his voice.
“Yes, don’t worry about me! I’m good at drinking, I mean I have a high tolerance for alcohol so rest assured I’ll still make it home later even if you give me a few drinks … even a bottle!” I waved my hand and gestured to him that I could seriously still drink the entire bottle.
He raised an eyebrow… he didn’t believe it.
“I’m afraid you might end up hugging the toilet bowl later or —”
“Ow! Come on!” I cut him off with a cringe creeping my skin. “That’s not going to happen and … that’s gross! Yucks!”
“But —”
“Come on, just give me my drinks and don’t worry about me. I can handle myself and I know my limit. Thanks for the concern though,” I winked at him.
He was left with no other choice… he gave me my order eventually. But you know what… he was right. I was kinda tipsy at that moment. I felt my nerves slowly go numb after drinking the second shot of whiskey.
Yes, I have a high tolerance for alcohol, but anyone would get drunk if they drank mixed drinks with a higher alcohol content in each drink. I had three shots of brandy in the first bar I went to, three shots of rum in the second and just a few minutes ago, I finished two shots of whiskey. And not to mention, I forgot how many times I paced back and forth on the dance floor, which added to the slight… just a slight dizziness I was feeling at the time.
But wait — even though I felt like my head was slowly getting lighter, I’m enjoying it. I’m enjoying the moment. I’m free and no one was watching and stopping my every move.
I gulped the first shot of vodka before running back to the middle of the dance floor. I started to sway and dance to the music like there was no tomorrow. I danced with the crowd … free and without care whatever the world and fate may give me the next morning or even the next moment. The smell of sweat, the scent of various perfumes and the strong smell of alcohol dominated the atmosphere as we all rocked on the dance floor, but who cares?
-‘I don’t know what will happen later or when I’ll get home… I mean when I get back to the cottage, but I’ll just think about it later, for now, I’ll have fun like the sky’s the limit! Go, Samantha!” I muttered to myself. Since the music was so loud, no one heard about it.
After an hour of freedom and madness in the middle, I slowly walked back to the counter where the last shot of vodka was waiting for me.
“Whew!” I exclaimed as I slumped on the high chair in front of the counter. Gerry was still there and thank God all the seats were empty except mine.
I smiled at him and without a word, I drank the flavorless drink in front of me.
“Argh!” My face scrunched up as I felt the taste and warmth of the vodka slide down my throat. “Damn! Why does it suddenly taste different? Why do I feel like the taste of vodka suddenly changed?”
With that stupid question, Gerry suddenly burst out laughing inside the counter. I turned to him with a frown and was ready to ask when he spoke.
“The taste is the same, it is you who changed because you’re drunk.” He said still laughing at me.
“No, I’m not drunk!” I defended. “Why don’t you give me a single shot of tequila?”
“What —” He hasn’t even started his sentence, but he was immediately cut off.
“No!”
A loud growl echoed in our ears as we both turned towards the man who did it. And since I was slowly getting the effect of all the alcohol I stupidly drank, I didn’t recognize his voice immediately.
“That’s enough! You’re not having anymore drinks tonight because you’re going home! We are going home!” The man said and I giggled. I don’t know why I giggled to be honest. I also felt the warmth of the jacket being wrapped around my shoulders. I tried to remove it but he wrapped me in his arm so that I couldn’t move
“Excuse me, Sir, but may I know who you are and what your relationship is with Sam —”
“I’m her boyfriend!”
“Oh!”
“Oh?”
Gerry and I exclaimed at the same time. The only difference was that mine sounded like a question.
“You are my boyfriend?” I asked the man with a deep frown whose hand was holding my waist and the other was holding my elbow.
“Yes, I’m your boyfriend and you are my girlfriend, Sam!”
Hmm… his voice sounded mad as he gave me a stern look.
“Excuse me again, sir, but it seems Sam doesn’t know you— ” For the second time, Gerry didn’t get the chance to continue what he was about to say.
“Shut up!” The man shouted at him. “It’s because you gave her more than she can drink!”
“What the — ” But this time, I was the one who interrupted him. And I don’t know how many more times this nice guy should be interrupted.
*
“Why are you yelling at him? It was me who asked him to give those sweet drinks!”
“Sweet drinks — for God’s sake, Samantha, what is going on with you?”
I blinked my eyes twice … thrice… why do I think I know this man?
“How did you know my name, by the way?” I asked instead of answering his question. It was as if at that moment my mind was completely clouded by the effect of alcohol.
“Of course, I know your name, you’re my girlfriend!”
“Girlfriend?” I repeated. “What is your name then?”
“Do I really need to answer your question?” He asked me again.
“Yes, so I would know —” Now it was me who didn’t get to finish my sentence. I would have said … “so I would know how to call you whether by your name or by our endearment” … if he hadn’t interrupted me… with a kiss.
He cupped both my cheeks and kissed me right in front of Gerry and in front of everyone he gained attention with because of his voice. He gave me a firm, hard kiss that sent shivers down my spine and slowly made me short of breath. But then in that moment, I don’t know, but my body, my mind and my heart suddenly came together. Even my lips seemed to know what to do at that moment.
And not even a few seconds when suddenly I recognized whose pair of lips was covering mine… whose kiss I was responding to. My heart knew in an instant who that person was.
David.
Even though I knew it was impossible, I started kissing him back with passion. It seemed like a dream. I felt like I was dreaming.
And since I thought it was just a sweet dream and I was in a dream land, I poured all my feelings into that kiss because I know that when I wake up the next morning, we will be back to reality. He will be a different David again… a stranger who already belongs to others.
When he pulled his head back, I gazed up at him and was surprised by his next words.
“I love you,” He whispered.
“I love you, too.” I replied, smiling at him.
He returned that smile as he wiped the corner of my lips with thumb. He then cupped my cheeks and whispered again.
“I hope you still remember this when you get sobber.”
I wanted to ask him what he meant but the words died in my head even though I hadn’t yet formed them when he pulled in to kiss me again. His next kiss was different from the one earlier. Now it was all-consuming, yet passionate and sweet.
Lost in the moment, my arms wrapped around his shoulders and threw away all the worries and everything in my head and I began to remember how incredible it felt to be the center of his world again.