Confessions of the Band P.A. (The Strypes)

19

We were back in Ireland for almost a week now. This was just a short break from almost 2 months of non-stop gigging before going back tomorrow to start a series of Asian and American festivals. The lads were in Cavan doing whatever they should be doing when they’re at home. I’m not from Cavan, so, I don’t really go there unless it is an emergency or one of the lads call to hang-out and do some non-work-related stuff.

Before we took this break, the crew and the management team threw a birthday party for me, Ross and Josh in a small pub somewhere in Spain. My birthday is just three days apart from Ross and Josh’ isn’t far behind. Since it was hectic on the nights of our birthdays, the whole team decided to celebrate it before we’re off for a short break. It was also the management’s thank-you gesture to the hard work of the crew and staff.

I chose to stay in a hotel in Dublin (courtesy of my parents) for the last three days of our short break to meet with family and officially celebrate my birthday tonight with a few friends. It’s also a much-awaited off for me. I know Josh and Ross would be celebrating their birthdays too with their friends. So, the three of us will have proper 17th and 19th birthday celebrations before we head off for another month on the road.

“Hello you!” My friends greeted me at the club in Dublin where we chose to celebrate my official birthday.

I hugged each one of them. Gosh, I haven’t seen them for a long time. I was determined to take advantage of this break. Even if it meant to be sloshed by the end of the night, then so be it.  The flight to Korea tomorrow will be at 3pm anyways, that would be enough time for me to recover from a hangover.

We immediately went to a corner where we can have our own little space to dance and chat. We usually don’t stay long inside the clubs. Two to three hours would be enough to get one drunk and then we would head off to the nearest coffee shop dragging the smashed friend along with us and give him/her coffee to sober her/him up. It would be our way to cap off a night, talking in a quieter environment until 4 in the morning.

“Cheers to Y/N’s birthday!” We raised our shot glasses. Our first one for the night - then it was followed by one shot glass after the other.

I fanned myself as I’m beginning to sweat and I can already feel the light buzzing in my head. I think I will be the ‘smashed friend’ that will be dragged to the coffee shop tonight.   

My friends danced closer to me before shouting “One of your babies is here!” and pointed out to the other side of the club.

“Babies?!!” I shouted back and craned my neck to where she was pointing.   

Josh just came inside the club and went straight to the bar to order a beer. He was with his group of five friends.

“Hey!Hey! Where are you going?!” My friends tried to stop me when I started making my way to Josh.

“I’m just going to say hi, that’s all!”

“You better be not working!”

“Fuck no! Of course not. It’s the lad’s birthday too. I’ll be back. ”  

I made my way to his direction. His back was turned to me as he was chat-screaming with his friends. When I was near, I slowly crept up behind him. One of his friends recognized me but I shushed him.

I was just behind Josh and he still wasn’t aware of my presence. I gently wrapped my arms around his neck and whispered close to his ear.

“Can I take you home?” I purred.

I felt Josh stiffened at first but instantly relaxed after I whispered.

The little flirt had this smirk when he slowly turned to face me. It was a bit dark inside the club and his eyesight isn’t that sharp. I noticed his friends were trying really hard not to burst into laughter.