Summerdaze

Sudden and Entire

Friday night

"Come on, man," Dew clasps Apo's shoulder, causing him to falter. "Lighten up a little bit," He raises his glass to the group, "To our last weekend in Rome!"

Apo downs the shot, vodka burns his throat. Pleasant chat is all over him, and he watches his classmates joke around and throw back more shots, joining them until he is mellowed down. He doesn't realize he is smiling. It could be the alcohol slowly making its way into his bloodstream or perhaps he is indeed happy.

He actually needs this trip to end on a good note. He needs his last weekend in Rome to remain a good memory that he will cherish in the future. When Dew invited him on a trip to Rome with a bunch of people from his class, Apo laughed at first, then groaned, then called and said no, because that would be foolish and pointless as he is only close to Dew from his class. But, after a 3-hour long meditation session, he felt that this was something he would like to try. So he worked extra shifts in his meager time left from school.

Apo tugs on the collar of his t-shirt clinging to his skin. Sweat and alcohol pours from his pores and the purple bar light clings to his eyelids. The music roars against his eardrums making it harder to follow the conversation. He doesn't want to be here and it is getting so tiring to pretend he does. He mirrors their actions, shouts when they shout, smiles when they smile and nods when they talk about doing this again next summer. This time in Prague.

He smiles for pictures and joins them when they want to get a drink. and as the night progresses, he lets one of the girls, what was her name, kiss him after she is eager and pliant with too many limoncellos. He does not like it, and he hates that he does not like it. It would be very easy to date a popular girl, make friends with her friend circle, and then be normal and easy and-,

Someone walks into the bar. The first thing Apo sees is a pair of dark eyes staring at him shamelessly and his stomach lurches, sweat prickling down his neck but weirdly he doesn't hate how it feels. The newcomer sips a martini and Apo wonders who drinks a martini in a bar full of young people drinking beers or happy hour cocktails. He checks dark eyes out as discreetly as possible and something grows in his chest. Tall, lean, with a strand of ink-black hair falling on his forehead. Apo watches him as he takes a delicate sip from his drink, pretty lips pursing as he swallows. He makes an effort to tear his eyes off the beautiful mouth. The girl, what was her name, brushes her shoulder against his softly. He pays her no mind and turns to the mysterious stranger again.

The dark-eyed boy is not wearing a t-shirt like everyone else. He is dressed in a thin button-up with rolled-up sleeves that show off his solid forearms. A wispy silver necklace blinks around his neck. He looks approximately Apo's age and-

"Are you okay, P'Po?" The girl asks gently, her brows furrowing. Kaew, Apo thinks, must be the name. Her mouth is not as beautiful.

"Yeah," Apo says, trying to look casual. "Getting a little tired."

Kaew smiles, easy and friendly. Her cheeks are pink from the sun and the alcohol. "Would you like to go back to the hotel?"

"Uh-" Apo says, still seeing the curve of a beautiful mouth and dark eyes in his peripheral vision. Is he drunk? "Not yet," He says finally, trying not to squirm in his seat. "Besides. Don't let me spoil the fun."

"What are you talking about?" Dew cuts in. "Everyone knows you are the life of the party!" he says with a sarcastic grin, and some other people join the laughter as well. Well, that is just great. Apo shakes his head and laughs with them, so that the attention wavers from him so that he can keep looking at the-

"I was thinking of going out alone tomorrow," Kaew says conversationally. "Discover some hidden streets by myself."

Apo takes a long sip from his beer. "Hmm."