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Chapter 1 •Don't Drink Anymore•

J H O A N A L O U I S S E

It's one of those nights again. I may or may not have drank enough alcohol for me to act like this. But then, maybe I drank more than I can tolerate because Jia is here with me (which only happens when I can't drive myself home). I might have drunk called her awhile ago, I can't remember.

"You know what Ji? I really thought she was the one. I mean, after everything?! Fucking hell. Everything's a big joke. I'm even surprised I'm still alive and talking to you."

"You're too dramatic." I rolled my eyes. Remind me again why I have this person as my best friend.

"Excuse you. I've wasted 7 years of my life for what? Nothing!"

"That was not wasting time and you know that, Jho. You're better than this." Oh okay. Now I remember why she's my best friend. She slaps me with the truth. "You look like shit, by the way." Yep. Not only does she slap me wth it, she shoves it in my face like it's not obvious enough.

"I don't look like shit. I've dolled up and I was really careful not to smear my lipstick."

"Really? After 1, 2... 8 bottles of beer? Actually, you can't smear your lipstick if it's not there anymore." Jia just shook her head.

I rolled my eyes and looked at myself at the glass in front of me. I really looked awful. Although the bar was dim-lighted and the glass showed more of the bottles of alcohol behind it than my reflection, I saw my tear-stained cheeks and puffy eyes.

"Fuck her." I mumbled under my breath. And even though the music was loud, Jia still caught it.

"Jhoana. Stop that already." I was about to gulp down another freshly opened bottle when she grabbed it from my hand.

"Beer or hating her?"

"Both."

"Oh so you're taking her side now?" I raised my eyebrow on her.

"You know I don't do sides."

"That's your problem. You should've favored me instead." I hate it that Jia had to hear her explanation and somehow, it made sense to her. Because it did not; to me at least.

"Come on. I'll drive you home. You're drunk."

"I'm not even fin-" I wasn't able to continue when Jia took a full swig of what was left in my bottle. I just stared at her in disbelief.

"Now you are. Let's get you home." She took me by the wrist and pushed our way through the sea of people; smoke, sweat and liquor lingering in the air.

As we got out of the bar, a cold breeze embraced me. It was already 2 in the morning yet the christmas lights of buildings were still flickering.

"Why do I still love her?" Jia turned around to face me before we could even get in her car. There was this certain look in her eyes; pity. "Don't give me that fucking look, Ji. You know I hate it when you do that."