OFF THE RECORD (First Person)

23. Champagne Problems

November 2014

Emma

I was excited for the weekend, which luckily for me, started tonight. Isaiah and Tomas were going to meet me at my apartment, to watch a soccer game, and the next day, me and Tomas would go to Corpus Christi, to a small reunion with our friends.

Isaiah's favorite team, the Chivas of Guadalajara, were playing in the quarterfinals for the season cup.

As he arrived, he wore his jersey, which had been signed by the whole team, whom he met on one of the games they had had in the city.

I had ordered pizzas and wings. The boys had brought chips, beers, and a bottle of white wine for me.

"The cup is ours, baby! Mark my words!" Isaiah claimed to us.

Tomas rolled his eyes. Cuca had sat next to him, asking for his attention. He rubbed her tiny head from time to time, as he heard her purring.

After eating, I did my nails sitting on the carpet, choosing a lilac tone.

Before the first half of the game was over, both men had finished one of the twelve bottle packs of beer.

"Calm down, they are not going anywhere." I exclaimed as I saw all the empty bottles around.

"Oh, please. You're done with your moscato, princess!" Answered Isaiah with a British accent.

"I still have more than half, wanker!" I spat back, as I dried off my nails by blowing at them.

The second half had been the most stressful for Isaiah. Tomas kept reminding him that his team was close to nothing of being eliminated.

"Shut up, puto!" Isaiah threw a punch to the arm of the brunette.

I laughed at both of them, even if I was as stressed as Isaiah. I didn't like watching sports for that reason. Because when I paid attention, I turned into an intense fan.

At the end, Isaiah's team lost.

He only let out a lazy, "Chales!"

Tomas, after making fun of him a bit more, gave him a pat on the back, comforting him.

To forget about the loss, I took out my playing cards. "Let's play, but let's bet big, to make it more challenging." I said.

"I'm not up for another disappointment." Answered Isaiah, crushed.

"Don't be a pussy. Go in!" Tomas presses him, while him and I moved the coffee table to the side.

Tomas sat on the floor across from me, each one of us with our back on a couch.

After that accusation, Isaiah had no choice but to play. I wasn't very good at playing, but Tomas would help me every time I would get stuck, showing him my cards.

"You know that's cheating, right?" Said Isaiah as he frowned.

"I'm going to give him twenty five percent of my earnings. Don't worry." I assured him.

"Cheaters!" Exclaimed Isaiah.

Nevertheless, both of us were not good enough to beat the tech ace in any match. He had won two hundred dollars in five matches.

Losing count, we had finished all the alcohol brought. Isaiah, without warning, fell asleep on the couch where he had laid, with his cards on his hands. Cuca had made herself comfortable, snugging on top of his chest.

"I think I won this match, then." Said Tomas, glancing at Isaiah, shrugging.

"We can keep going." I answered, drinking the last drop of my wine glass.