Echoes of Transformation

NAMES

It had been a week of leisure and fun , and most of my days were spent hanging out with Joy and his girlfriend. I had decided to take this time to refresh my mind from the days of relentless work, where my workaholic boss wouldn't spare me even on weekends.

 Typically, during my off time , I'd clean my house and attend to chores, finding enjoyment in nearby places to ensure I wasn't too tired for the next day's work. I didn't have much experience in long-term leisure activities, and Joy, who was always seeking fun, had suggested coming along. Considering my relative inexperience in having fun, I thought it was a good idea, so I agreed to his company.

Over the past week, it had often been just Joy and me, although his girlfriend joined us occasionally. The three of us were currently sitting at a food truck, savoring some fast food in the evening. We sat on a bench outside, enjoying the beautiful and mesmerizing side view. As our food was served, the three of us dug in. Joy, as usual, was in high spirits, teasing his girlfriend playfully. I joined in by supporting her in the teasing, forming a friendly alliance against Joy. His girlfriend and I had grown close over this week, and I felt comfortable and free around her. . I asked Joy about their relationship, which had reached the eight-month mark.Joy explained that she occasionally had moments like this, where she seemed distant, but she always returned to her normal self. It had only started happening recently, over the past three to four weeks. I hummed in response, taking in his explanation, and we continued enjoying our meal. After we finished, Joy dropped me off at my apartment before leaving to drop his girlfriend at her place.

Back in my apartment, I washed my face and changed into my nightwear. I settled on the sofa to watch a movie, but I ended up getting engrossed in a thrilling suspense series instead. Time flew by, and I realized it was already 2 in the morning, but I was determined to finish the series. Just as I was caught up in a gripping moment on the TV screen, my mobile buzzed, and I felt frustrated by the interruption.

 I reluctantly picked up the phone, expecting it to be Joy, but to my surprise, it was someone else on the line. However, I recognized the voice instantly. I had been thinking about him since my birthday, even though we hadn't talked much that day. His voice seemed to linger in my ears, and I found myself thinking about him at odd moments.

The voice on the other end of the line was calm and somewhat shocking. He told me to come to the bar right away. My heart raced with a mixture of happiness at hearing his voice again and frustration at the unexpected interruption. He explained that Joy was heavily intoxicated, passed out, and causing a disturbance for other customers. He had called me to come and pick him up .

I quickly changed into suitable attire, grabbed my keys, and hurried to the parking lot to get into my car. Normally, I relied on public transportation, as I didn't go out much, and when I did, my friends often picked me up, or my office provided a cab. As a result, I rarely used my car. I reached the bar, entered the establishment, and began searching for Joy. I found him slouched on a couch, surrounded by empty alcohol bottles. I initially thought he had passed out, but upon closer inspection, I realized he was blabbering unintelligibly.When he noticed me, he abruptly awakened from his semi-stupor, hugged me tightly, and started talking, though his words were a jumbled mess.

I glanced around and noticed the bartender standing behind Joy. He looked at me and uttered, "You are a girl?" I was taken aback by the question. When he had called me, I hadn't had a chance to respond, and Joy had saved my name as "bro" in his contacts. So naturally, the bartender might have assumed that I was a boy when he called me. Now, with me here in person, he had probably asked the question out of genuine surprise.

I felt incredibly embarrassed, and it seemed like the bartender was also uncomfortable with his earlier statement. The situation was awkward, to say the least. Joy continued to babble, and it was becoming increasingly challenging to decipher his words.

Joy: "Baby, I lost my love. She said she doesn't love me."

I gave him a perplexed look, trying to make sense of his incoherent speech. He went on:

Joy: "She herself said that she loves you more than me. Before, she used to say she loves me more, and now she says she loves you more."

I shook my head in disbelief. It was clear that Joy was not in a state to have a coherent conversation. I asked him about his girlfriend's absence, knowing that she had been dealing with her parent's illness. However, Joy's response was unexpected:

Joy: "She is seriously in love with you. She said it herself. Why are you always so charming that both boys and girls are drawn to you? I've noticed that she looks at you more than she does at me when you're around."

I couldn't help but facepalm myself out of embarrassment and shyness in response to his candid comment.

Me: "Thanks for that... Now, let's go."

Joy was in no condition to move his body, so I took charge. I reached for his wallet, picked out his credit card, and asked for the bill to settle it. I also booked a room for him to stay in at the same place. I gave him a stern warning not to provide him with any more drinks, and I made it clear that I wouldn't pay for them even if they did. Joy didn't have any money on him as I had taken his wallet, phone, and other belongings. I instructed the staff to send him to the room I had booked once he sobered up, and I left the bar, hoping that Joy would eventually regain his senses.

I sat outside the bar at a side table, enjoying the fresh air after the storm. I knew Joy had a tendency to find excuses to get drunk. He could drink as much as he wanted, but he always seemed to need a reason to do so. It was just a part of who he was, and I had grown used to it.

As I savored the moment, feeling the cool breeze on my skin, I sensed a presence beside me. When I turned my head, I saw the bartender from the bar. I offered a friendly greeting, and he returned the gesture. Then, he started a conversation and apologized for mistaking me as a boy earlier, bringing me here at this time. I nodded and reassured him, telling him it was okay since he was my friend, and that's what friends do.

He fell into a brief silence, and I took the opportunity to ask him if his owner ever had any issues with him roaming around instead of working. His reaction was quite surprising – he appeared almost incredulous. I realized I hadn't quite understood his response, so I asked him to clarify. That's when he revealed that he wasn't an employee but a CUSTOMER in the bar. He liked to create his own drink concoctions. It dawned on me that on the day I first came to the bar, he had filled my glass when I asked him to.

A sudden flashback from the events of that day crossed my mind. I recalled that he hadn't been wearing a uniform, and today, too, he wasn't dressed like a typical bartender. It was no wonder I had mistaken him for one. I mentally berated myself for jumping to conclusions and apologized to him. He offered a reassuring nod, and I returned the gesture with a smile.

Taking the opportunity to clear things up, I introduced myself as Katelyn. He reciprocated by introducing himself as Aiden. Our conversation continued, and I found myself enjoying our chat outside the bar.

It's intriguing how our names, Katelyn and Aiden, seem to evoke both the ominous and the uplifting, like "The purest intentions can be consumed by the littlest fire of temptation," and "In the darkest of times, even a little fire of purity can light the way." My habit of matching names usually brings clarity, but with Mr. J, it's a blend of complex emotions that keep me guessing.

I'm not sure how to make meaningful connections with just a single letter; it may simply remain a standalone character in my life.