That Green-eyed Monster

Chapter 2-Out and About

Out and About

Everything she dreaded in Mahiki was all happening. She doesn’t like this club or any club in particular. She remembers this place so well. This is where Craig took her after their first date saying Matt and their friends would like to know her officially being his girlfriend, where she blushes so hard. Ugh memories she clearly doesn’t want to remember. She walks in expecting that Ricky, Lily, Cathy and Matt will be there.

 She’s a little nervous in meeting the four again. Hell, she knows she’s more nervous on the fact that Craig might be here. Which makes her wanna puke all the alcohol out. Oh wait, she hasn’t even started drinking yet. It’ll be the first in such a long time that she will be drinking again. She swore she won’t drink when they broke up, which she truly didn’t. Not even a sip of it. She’d be the better person, she claims. She succeeds in drinking though, but she’s not entirely sure whether she was the better person. Well, having locked herself up doesn’t really make you the better person. She hates how love ruined her and made her dependent on a person like as if her survival depends on it.

She sighs which makes Rebecca whip her head around.

“You okay little duck?” Rebecca asks with such genuine concern shown on her eyes.

“Yeah… Just kinda feels everything’s new, y’know?” Monique tries.

Rebecca tilts her head as if she’s examining Monique and then sighs.

“That’s why we’re here. We’re having fun and we’re healing Nini!” She exclaims while pulling her towards their table.

“Hey hey hey! Look who’s baaaccck!” Ricky exclaims. Ricky still looks the same though, although a bit manlier. She’s really happy seeing him and wonders if he moved on from that big crush he has on Craig.

“You look manly…” She just stares at him. Ricky just gawkes at her.

“Well, yeah. Kinda makes it easier to hook up. Men, or gays for that matter, look this way now.” He says with a twirl.

She giggles. Gosh how much she missed him. He looks terribly fit though and could pass for a straight guy minus the flair of his actions.

“OH MY GOSH!” Shrieks the blond named Lily. Monique wasn’t expecting it but she’s suddenly engulfed by Lily in a massive hug while sobbing.

“I missed you and your emo –looking shit!” She sobs. Well, if this was not her “friend” she would absolutely be hurt but this is Lily. The same Lily who went berserk on Craig after finding out that he broke up with Monique.

“Can I have my turn now?” A stern voice asks from behind Lily. Cathy looks at her as if she stole Christmas. She’s always like this, the uptight, high class and stout friend of Craig and his oldest friend as well.

“Hi?” Monique tentatively asks.

“Hi your face. What do you think you’re doing here?! You’re not returning back our calls or not even have the decency to open your door when we’re practically begging you to come see us!” She bellows.

“Well, I was a wreck you see… So..” She’s cut off by being crushed by Rebecca’s plump arms.

“I’m just messing with you Nini! But, please we’re your friends too right? Please don’t shut out of your life again. Please!” Cathy practically begs.

“There, there Cathy. It takes time you see. Well, I’m here now so we’re good?” Monique tries, really tries so hard to be sociable.

“Yep, we’re good. And you’re not going anywhere. We’re partying tonight!” She says.

“Enough of the waterworks you guys. We’re here to party! And to be honest, I was also gone for a month you twats! What? You didn’t even miss me?!” Rebecca complains.

“Well, honey how can we miss you when the first thing you do is latch yourself on Matt’s lap and snog him to death?” Ricky sassily remarks.

“Well, I never.. ugh!” Rebecca gives up and continues to snog her boyfriend Matt who happened to have traded his usual quiff for a shaved head.

“Hey Nini! Good you’re back and-“ He manages to slip out before being swallowed whole by Rebecca. Monique manages to wave back.

“C’mere you!” Ricky drags her to sit next to him with Lily beside him and Cathy next to Monique.

“We missed you!” The three of them chorused and Monique can’t help but feel that warm feeling she’s close to tears.

“Wait, are you gonna cry??” Lily asks with panic her voice. Ricky even stops drinking midway while Cathy seems up for it.

“No, silly! I’m just… well, I’m just touched that you’re still my friends.” She says all the while looking down.

“Well, duh!” Lily remarks. Ricky smiles then drinks up while Cathy seems a little down but smiles altogether.

She drinks and tries to have fun but she can’t still quite sit still dreading Matt’s entrance. She keeps fidgeting and looks at the entrance.

“Chill, love.” Ricky coolly says while holding her hand. Monique squeezing back.

“What if he’ll come?” She admits.

“Well, we’re here uhm I mean we can keep you guys at bay.” Cathy says.

But deep down, she doesn’t want to be kept at bay. She wants to see him and maybe talk. She doesn’t really understand why their romance ended. 1 year seems such a long yet short time altogether.  But she felt it still had a chance. As if it wasn’t supposed to end just yet. She wants to know why he just fell out of love.

It just doesn’t make sense. Just bugs her for him to walk out one day. Just saying bluntly he’s no longer interested and he needs to find himself. Of course, she was stupid enough to run after him and beg to stay saying they could fix this out, resulting to Craig just pushing him and running away. One would expect she should just stand up and cry herself to death in her room but, noooo. She was pathetic enough to just stay in the ground and scream his name and weep.

“Pathetic.” She sighs loudly which results to the whole table looking at her quizzically. This made Rebecca stand up and lead her to the bar.

“You seriously need to drink vodka and not just beer.” She says while pushing a shot towards her and totally ignoring the bartender checking her plunging neckline.

“Thanks.” She says while taking the shot and swallowing the bitter taste.

“So… still thinking about that day huh?” Rebecca says, looking her in the eye.

“No! Are you mad?!” She laughs unconvincingly.

“Nini, please stop pretending? You’ve been muttering that word when we picked you up. And how can you say that it’s not what you’re thinking about Miss-I-need-to-rebuild-myself-I-need-to-lockout-myself-in-my-room? Ha!”  Rebecca breathes.

She sighs. “You’re right. I just can’t help myself forgetting that you know? It’s just.. it just really hurts.” She truthfully admits.

“Well, it happens you know? All I can I say is that eventually, it becomes better and you’ll meet someone else.” Rebecca consoles her.

She’s wondering why the remark is so dismissive that she actually feels hurt. “Well, thanks Becs.” Monique replies and hugs her best friend. Rebecca just hugs her back.