That Blonde Guy

Chapter 19.2

I have never tasted beer before.

I've always wondered what it tastes like that people enjoy it so much but I finally understood why when I took my first sip. Tonight, with my friends and everyone else, it met my mouth for the first time. It was good. Surprisingly. Specially since I was fond of cold drinks. Flavored beer tasted like juice with somewhat bitterness and it felt good in my mouth that it didn't even take me three minutes to finish a bottle.

The night was getting deeper.

Empty bottles and cans around the room, the smell of beer in the air, and tipsy teenagers gathered around. We were a huge circle of fourteen people in the middle of the spacious room, all smiles while seated comfortably on the floor. I was seated between Sayuri and Emma. On my hand was my second bottle of flavored beer and though the drink was considered as not that strong, my head was already starting to get heavy. The insides of my body was also starting to get hot but I was unusually in high spirits. The tipsy and hyper Peh-yan suggested the we play spin the bottle and everyone happily agreed. He was there, seated beside Sayuri, his face all red as he held an empty bottle of beer in his hand. Everyone was looking at him as he started to speak.

"Whoever gets pointed by the bottle's mouth will be punched by everyone on the face," he said, a wide grin on his face. "How's that?"

Inui scoffed. "Damn, what kind of rule is that? That's bullshit, Peh."

"Come on, don't you wanna punch people in the face? It's fun!"

"We have girls here, asshole," Draken said. "Quit it!"

Peh scratched his head.

"Let's leave violence out of here, Peh," Emma said. "How about we just play the original rule of the game?"

All right. It was truth or dare.

"Let me do it." Mitsuya grabbed the bottle from Peh's hand. "Whoever gets pointed by the bottle will be asked truth or dare by the one who spun it. That good?"

And everyone agreed.

As Mitsuya was about to make the first spin, Kei suddenly interrupted and spoke. "Wait," he said. "I feel like we should have a toast first."

He grabbed his beer and lifted it up in the air, initiating a toast. He smiled. "To Toman!"

I realized that it was the moment that represents the essence of this gathering. The night was for them, for their gang, and for their friendship. Seeing everyone raising their beers shouting, "To Toman!" all together, it warmed my heart. Their gang was not just a gang--it was family. The smile on their faces were of pure joy, hoping for many years to continue celebrating a night like this.

"To Toman!"

The sound of beer bottles hitting each other filled the air. It caused a smile on my lips the moment it met my ears. For a moment, it seemed as though I was part of them. Somehow. It was a feeling of warm happiness.

Amidst the laughs and cheers, I drifted my gaze to Mikey and tried catching his eyes, but he didn't look at me. He was clashing bottles with Draken and Hakkai, his lips stretched into a smile. Why do you think he'd look at you? I sighed and drifted my eyes away. Stupid. I caught Kei looking at me instead. My eyes widened a bit because he probably saw me looking at Mikey. He mouthed, 'you okay?' so I smiled and nodded. He smiled back.

"All right!" Hakkai shouted. "Taka-chan, spin it!"

The very first who got pointed by the bottle was Draken. The bottle spun and spun and everyone watched until it eventually stopped, it's mouth pointed directly at him.