Who to trust

Chapter 13 Bar

I was already fixing my things, ready to leave the office when Jasmin called out to me, "Mia, you still owe us that hang out! We're going to go to this bar. Come join us."

"Yeah, Mia. Just this time." Another colleague persuaded. They looked at me expectantly making it hard for me to decline.

"Uhm, okay. Maybe just this once." I agreed.

"Finally! Let's go. We have to get changed." I heard an officemate say.

Just then, I hear my phone ring. I took the call seeing Alessia as the caller ID, "Hey, Alessia."

"Hey, sis. It's your out now right? Want to hang out? I haven't seen you since you moved to your new apartment."

"Uhm, actually, I'm already going out with my colleagues to this bar tonight."

"A bar?" 

"Yeah."

"Are you sure about this? I mean, how well can you handle alcohol?"

"You sound like a mom. Do you want to tag along? So can keep an eye on me?" I joked.

"You know, that sounds tempting." My eyes widen.

"You aren't serious are you?"

"Yeah, I am. And I made up my mind, I'm coming with."

"Wow, you're unpredictable."

"Send me the name of the bar, I'll meet you there." And with that, we ended the call.

***

My office mate gave me this 'simple' green velvet dress as she described. We arrive at the bar and sat at an empty table. They ordered drinks and poured each of us a glass. "Cheers! We shouted and drank all at the same time. The sound almost made me deaf and the lights almost made me blind, but I can feel a surge in my blood. I feel alive and excited. I've already had a few drinks when I saw Alessia walk inside the bar.

"Alessia!" I called out, I waved my hand in case she doesn't hear me through the loud music. When she spotted me, she quickly went and sat beside me.

"What are you doing here alone?" She asked me.

"All my officemates are dancing in the middle," I pointed at the crowd that's on the floor, dancing. I poured Alessia a drink and she accepted.

"You already smell like alcohol, how many have drank already?" She asked, eyeing me, "And where did you get that dress?"

"Just a little, I'm still okay." I smiled at her. "My officemate lend it to me." I pointed at my dress.

We poured a few more drinks when Alessia grabbed my hand, "Let's dance!" She exclaimed and I laughed at her.

"I don't know how to dance!" I admitted.

"Just go for it, I'm not a dancer either!" We were already on the dance floor, and I watch her sway and turn her body. I laughed harder but tried to copy her moves.

The alcohol was already kicking in me, I didn't even mind how crowded the floor was. We were already bumping to other bodies but we didn't care. I was in my own world now, I didn't even notice where Alessia has gone, she just disappeared out of sight in this sea of bodies. I think I've been dancing for a few minutes now when I suddenly felt a hand on my waist and it pulled me close. I looked up to see a guy smiling mischievously down at me. He was still dancing to the music and pulled me even closer to him. Feeling a little bit brave, I entertained him. We danced together and he kept whispering things in my ear. I'd always just give a light laugh, and sometimes whisper something back. Our bodies were already so close to each other we were practically hugging. I felt him dip his lips on the crook of my neck, and I don't stop him. Someone else did.

"Okay, that's enough. Fun's over. We're going home." I shrieked when I felt someone grab my arm and pull me.

"What the hell?" I almost lost my balance. "What are you doing, Alessia?" I grunted.

"What am I doing? What are you doing?!" I saw her face go red from anger.

"It's called flirting if you haven't tried it before." I sarcastically said and walked to our table. I sat down and pour myself a drink.

"Did you just admittedly tell me you were flirting?!" Alessia shouted at me. She now stood in front of me. 

"Relax will you? What are you so worked up about?" I said, taking another shot of alcohol.

"Mia, you're a married woman for crying out loud." She took my left hand and raised it to my face, but she got all confused. "Where's your ring?"

"What ring?" I faked innocence.

"Your wedding ring?"

I huffed, "Seriously? Why would I wear that ring? My so-called husband has abandoned me. I'm a free woman, Alessia." I laughed humorlessly and took another drink.

I stopped wearing that ring the day I learned about the truth.

"Shit. My brother's going to kill me." She mumbled something, but I couldn't understand through the loud music. "Okay, let's go, we're leaving." She declared, but I protested.

"What? It's too early! My friends are still here too. It's rude to just leave."

Alessia tried to pull me but I fought her and stayed seated. "It's already late Mia. It's almost 1 am!" I drank another shot ignoring her, I think I must have finished a quarter of the bottle alone.

Suddenly she was just gone, I didn't notice where she went, but I took it as an opportunity to have some more fun. I stumbled my way to the floor again. My vision was already spinning, but I convinced myself I could still go on.

I just kept dancing when suddenly I felt a hand on my arm again, "Alessia, let go!" but it wasn't Alessia anymore.