Chapter Three

Jayler Mendoza

Walking back inside the club, I was already expecting the neon lights to blast my eyes off and they did just as much as the booming music pierced right through my eardrums. The neon lights coming from the ceiling and who knows where else, were dancing crazily and at intervals they were going in sync with the beat of the music. I had to tardily usher myself towards the very back end of the room passing an entire sea of drunk people grooving to the remix of Roses by The Chainsmokers.

"What took you so long man?!!” Kenneth raged the moment I showed up to our table. He was sounding a bit more impatient but that’s so expected of him. He’s always been that one friend who just can’t live a day without fuming over something petty. “And where the hell’s our cigarette?" He followed up making his already loud voice even louder, the sharp fragrance of impatience lingered along with his tone.

“You have got to chill man,” I began as I slowly slipped my way back to the original spot where I was sitting right next to some blonde chick that we had just met earlier. “The cashier lady won’t let me buy one even with the fake ID that we paid good money for.” I continued telling them what just happened at the 7/11 store which was the case.

The fake ID that we just paid really good money for have been working for every bar and club that we have been on but it was quite unfortunate that the cashier lady clocked it without even trying.

“Seriously? What the actual fuck!!” Kenneth replied and I can totally sense the frustration already taking over him. While I do understand the feeling of wanting to smoke, I still chose to shut my mouth about the pack that I have in my pocket. “That’s a total bummer. Jasper just took the last stick that I’ve been saving.” Kenneth murmured in mad disappointment, his eyes giving Jasper a fixed gaze.

"Why are you putting the blame on me, dude? You've already had enough cigarette. You'll just burn your lungs." Pouring a peach-mango cocktail on his cup, Jasper commented with a firm conviction.

"Jasper's right, Ken. Tone down on the nicotine." Allyssa, the blonde chick who was sitting on my right butted in. She flipped her hair and I instantly caught the smell of her girly perfume.

"Fuuuuuuck!!!" Kenneth cursed heavily.

“Hold up. I think I saved a stick in my bag.” Grace chimed in. She was sitting right next to Jasper who was still pouring fair amount of cocktail to our glasses. “Let me check it for you.”

“Are you sure?” Kenneth asked.

“Yeah, I think I save one.” Grace replied eventually giving Kenneth a sliver of hope.

Grace had to wiggle a little bit away from Jasper and by the time she managed to pull the one last stick out of her bag Kenneth was quick to snatch it away from her. Kenneth acted as if that one last cigarette would save him from losing oxygen. He was almost like a predator who snapped the moment he saw his prey.

“Oohhhh!!” Grace was left surprised at Kenneth’s sudden action that she jerked her hand out of shock.

“What the fuck!!!” Kenneth cursed when the stick fell out of his hand and landed on the table. He picked it up quickly but it was already too late.

“Bro??!!!” Jasper spat giving Kenneth a furious look. He just spilled some cocktail on the table and on the cigarette. The cigarette was already soaked and there’s no way Kenneth could save it with burning the wet parts because it was clearly soaked wet.

“Oooops! What have you done?” Tiffany, the girl who was sitting right beside Kenneth bellowed.

“Urrgggghhh!!!” Kenneth urged in frustration.

I went quiet for a moment and I was just mentally laughing at the current state of Kenneth being pissed off all the while knowing that I could be that person too. If it weren’t for that random guy who just gave me a pack of cigarette, I would probably be pissed off as well.

I don’t know if I should just give him the cigarette that the random stranger just gave me or should I just keep it to myself. I’m not a greedy type of person but I should just probably keep it for myself since every single one of these guys voted for me to go out and run for a pack. I don’t even understand why everyone voted for me when I was busy flirting with the blonde chick right beside me.

I looked at Kenneth and Tiffany was trying her best to calm his shit down. I know we just met these ladies here but they are already getting clingy as fuck and that’s really what we came here for. Tiffany was holding Kenneth’s hand as she tries to distract him from acting up and I guess it was working because they were already back to flirting. Grace on the other hand was a bit quiet, maybe she’s just naturally shy or something but I still have to see her be clingy towards Jasper.

“So, where are we at again?” I asked Allyssa as I tried to recall what we were talking about prior to me being forced out to buy a pack of cigarette.

“Oh yeah, I was telling you about my ex-boyfriend who was….” Allyssa began but was cut off immediately by Jasper. Allyssa’s attention was instantly shifted from me towards the group.

"Cheers mother******s!" Jasper yelled the moment he was done pouring cocktail on each of our glasses. Allyssa was immediately distracted by that, forgot what she was just about to tell me and picked up her glass.

I’m not totally invested in her story; it was fun hearing her spill her ex-boyfriend’s rotten shit but I just want to slow down on drinking. I know it’s already midnight but that’s not the end of the night and I may have to slow down before I get so fucked up.

Everyone, including me took each of our own glass and raised it.

“Cheers!!!!!” We all screamed in unison subsequently taking a sip of the sweet yet totally strong cocktail.

The night went on and just like every other drunken night, everything was fuzzy but fun nonetheless. After finishing the tower of peach-mango cocktail that we just ordered, I thought it was already time to go home but then the ladies that we just met ordered vodka. At the moment I thought, well let’s get drunk then.

Jasper, Kenneth and I seemed to have come to the right place and found what we came here for. Girls of our type. This was Kenneth’s idea in the first place. Jasper and I just seemed to be passive about it but I have to say we do want to find some pretty ladies too aside from the fact that it’s almost impossible to say no to Kenneth. I guess we were all lucky, the stars seemed to be aligning for us and we met three girls that’s just our type.