From the Start

Chapter 6

Paprika's

"Sorry, Pi. I don't think I can drive anymore." She tried to vomit again, "Maybe I can ask Gale or Gael to drive us home." Pyre replied while she was still in one of the bathroom's cubicles.

"I don't think Gale can drive, he looks so drunk already," I commented, which is true. I saw him grinding into a woman that is giving him a lap dance. Disgusting. Why do I even have to see that? And the Gael that Pyre was talking about? I didn't even see that guy's hair so I guess he's not here already..

I went to the cubicle where Pyre was in. "Hey, Pi. Are you still okay?" Pyre gave me a thumbs-up while her other hand was holding up all of her hair so it didn't go to the toilet bowl. She tried to continue what she was doing and I told her that I would wait for her outside. The women's bathroom has a huge vanity mirror. It's like the usual bathrooms in the mall, but this one is not that spacious. Thankfully, there's no line and I guess everybody was so busy partying that they even forgot to pee. I chuckled because of that thought.

I heard a toilet flush and Pyre came out of the cubicle. She stood next to me in the huge vanity mirror and then she started to fix her hair and tied it up in a bun. She's wearing a fitted dark brown tube top that matches her boyfriend's jeans. She's wearing a long and very thin gold bar necklace that reaches her exposed cleavage. Pyre is now reaching from the inside of her clutch to get her phone. From my peripheral view, she dialed her boyfriend's number. She put down her phone and continued to retouch her make-up.

"I'll book an Uber since we need a ride home," I started, she looked at me in our reflection, "I'm just waiting for Cyrus to answer my call. So I can tell him to pick us up." She widely smiled even though I knew it was fake and as if she was not trying to vomit earlier. This woman is really tough. I turned to her, "Seriously, what's wrong? I feel like you have a problem," I reached and held her hand. She frowned and then she ended the call she made for her boyfriend.

She sighed, "Cyrus has not been returning my calls and texts lately, I know he's busy. But I'm also busy yet I still find time to update him and check on him." Pyre pouted. I haven't met Pyre's boyfriend ever since I set foot in New York. Based on what I know, Pyre's boyfriend is also a businessman from a known family in Albany. Aside from that, I don't know anything else. I only know that my best friend loves that man so much.

"I think I still need to drink," Pyre said and we both chuckled, "Then what are we waiting for? Let's drink more for tonight, Pi!" I exclaimed and I hugged her right after.

We went back to our spot, and most of our friends who were on the couches seemed to be drunk already. "Unfortunately, we ran out of lemons. I'll just go and ask at the bar counter!"I said to Pyre with a loud voice since the music was still blasting up. She just nodded while sipping the last lemon we had on the table. I brought the empty plate of lemon to the bar counter. I smiled sweetly at the bartender. "Refill for lemons, please. Thank you." The bartender smiled back at me and he took the plate. "Don't forget the salt," I reminded him. I waited for the bartender to go back with the lemons I asked for and while I was waiting, I just saw from the far end side of the bar counter a woman who had been dancing in front of a man holding his glass of whiskey.

The man wears a white shirt with a black bomber jacket. I saw his jaw tense when he saw me staring at him. He quickly turned to the other side. He has those velvety brown eyes that seem to hold a universe full of wisdom and as well as warmth. Their shape was gently almond, framed by meticulously groomed eyebrows that accentuated their natural depth. His eyes were of moderate size, neither overpowering nor understated, but it's perfectly proportioned to his chiseled features.

I almost chuckled when I saw the man's reaction like he was somehow disgusted and degraded by the woman dancing in his torso. The bartender came back with the lemons and before I left the bar counter that man from the other side of the bar counter slammed his glass hard on the top of the counter. I quickly got out of there and I don't want to be caught up in any drama. I went straight back to our couch and I saw that Pyre was on her phone.