Liquid Courage

Night 008

Some people think that when rich kids receive gifts, they don’t appreciate it unless it’s something expensive. I can say that’s true for some, but for me it isn’t. I’m one of those people who love gifts regardless of its prize.

My parents raised me up so well that no matter how rich we are, they made sure we will learn how to value even the small things in life.

Now that my life did a major turn, I realized it’s really the small things that matter.

All these big things around confuse us. They’re flashy, colorful and attractive qualities attract us and make us think we need them in our life. In reality, we don’t need all of those. By going after those things, people lose themselves in the process.

I’m glad that didn’t happen to me. I may not be loaded with cash right now, but I’m glad I have everything I need.

And maybe that’s what Alfonso thinks as well. He was unusually silent tonight. When I got here, he’s already settled on our favorite spot near the gutter. What really surprised me is he’s not drinking beer, he brought a bottle of vodka with him.

His white polo was on the floor along with his backpack. He’s just wearing his white body-hugging shirt and black slacks. When he saw me arrived, he didn’t smile like what he normally does. Instead, he poured tequila on a shot glass and handed it to me.

I don’t really plan on coming up here tonight. There are really a lot of paperworks that I need to finish but my feet have its own mind. I just found myself riding the elevator and entering the familiar steel door.

Or maybe it’s the look on Alfonso’s face earlier that made me a bit worried. Today has been a really exhausting day for him, I’m sure. We’re on different buildings so we rarely see each other unless we bump into the cafeteria or library. But since it’s Alfonso we’re talking about, news travel really fast.

Even though I tried not to listen, they’re so loud that I accidentally learned that today is his birthday. Of course, his fangirls would do something big for him. Even on my classes, I saw a lot of my blockmates comparing the gifts they will give to him.

So at noon, they made a big surprise party for him in the cafeteria. Unfortunately for me, I was there. I don’t really eat in the cafeteria though, I just buy food and I’ll eat it somewhere. But there were really a lot of people earlier so it was hard for me to go out.

I decided to stay and eat my meal there. I witnessed the surprise, it was so cringy I immediately went out the second I got a chance. But that’s not what bothers me. It’s what I saw on the parking lot.

Right now, we were just drinking. I’m still on my second shot because I really can’t get wasted tonight, I just wanted to check on him.

I don’t know how many glasses he already had but I’m sure it’s a lot. His cheeks were already red and his eyes look droopy. His gaze was fixed on the sky above us.

I looked up and saw that there were a lot of stars tonight. They shine so bright that sometimes I can’t look at them for long. And the moon was also beautiful, the way it changes shape never fails to amaze me.

“Why aren’t you asking me? I know you’re curious.”

His eyes were looking intensely at mine. I can’t fathom the emotions in it, all I know is it was a mixture of everything sad. I can’t even look at it without getting lonely as well.

The truth is, I wanted to ask him about it. He’s right, I’m curious. But I know it’s not what he needs right now, he doesn’t need more questions. “I am. But now isn’t the time, Alfonso.”