Choices | e.b.c

Chapter 21

Is this fucking real?!

Standing right in front of me is the group. I mean, THE GROUP.

"Aren't you happy?" She asks me, realizing that she is still by my side.

My heart is beating so fast now, with my breathing became short. If I can just see my face right now, I will literally laugh because I look dumb. But, it really felt like the universe is kidding on me right now. Of course they will come here because it's their friend Erick's birthday. Stupid.

"We misses you Jenna" Christopher hugged me oh so tightly. He is still the jolly Chris I remember, but my bad because I am not the Jenna they used to know before.

"I missed you too. How's college?" I replied, trying to keep up my smile and mood to them because it will be too impolite if I treat them bad.

"Everything changed. Since you two left the uni" he said while accompanying me to other dudes.

I can't help but to release a tired sigh. A sigh that resembles guilt. It's true that almost everything has changed after we left them. Chris with his glasses, Rich with his dyed hair, Zabdiel with his girlfriend that I haven't met yet, and Celia whom failed her last semester because she is busy comforting me and making me okay. Everything has changed.

"Sorry we aren't complete" Celia apologized, for what? For Joel?, "he don't want to come. He is busy at his new intern at a publishing site down the road"

He is writing? Wow I didn't knew that.

"Since when?"

"Since-" she started to answer but she have been cut short by Erick who is now fuming with irritation? Why?

"We should start by now, we can continue greeting each other later at the table" he hastily commands before walking towards the table.

The area is lit up with green candles, resembling his eyes. The eyes I used to love before. The one that doesn't hate me.

There I see Don Manuel, sitting with all his posture perfect. Erick's dad Jack. My family and the group. Just a simple gathering it is.

"Good afternoon Don Manuel and Mr. Colon" I greet them with a smile before saying my greetings also for my parents.

=

The eating passed by quickly, with both our parents asking us how are the two companies. Well, can't lie we made the sales higher than before so it's a progress for sure.

We also sung Erick a happy birthday song which sounds too corny nowadays but why not? He didn't even knew that I am taking pictures of him while he blows the candle. Because that's what a wife should do, right? Maybe I can post this on our social media for publicity but I decided against it so quickly because I am very well aware now that the news and paperworks are now full of articles about his birthday. I will just keep the pictures for future preferences.

We are now at the living room. The oldies waved goodbye to us a while ago because they all have to go back to their work, but of course the group decided to stay here and have some quality time.

I am cross legged sitting on the couch with Celia on my right and Chris on my right, the others on the floor but Erick sat below me.

"You know what guys? We should really drink something. It's boring to just sit here watching movies with just popcorn" Chris said while wiggling his eyebrows.

"So what do you mean? Like we should drink beers?" I ask him, clearly not enjoying what he have just suggested.

I saw the change in their faces as I reacted to what he suggested. They are clearly off-guard.

"I-I'm sor-"

"No. It's obviously fine to drink because we have something to celebrate with" Erick confidently cut Chris's words.

I have no choice but to just shrink in my seat as he get the beers on the refrigerator. I know I sounded so rude but I don't want to experience what happened before. With Erick smashing the things all over the place because he got drunk. He even shattered the vase his mother loves to much. Frames cracked. Even the piano. Literally everything. And I do have a trauma because of that. He may drink beers but not inside the house or near me. He visits some of the unknown bars to just let the liquid run in his throat.

I shivered at the thought. We are not alone. Maybe I should not be nervous about it so much because I have the whole group to accompany him, lessening the chances of him behaving bad.

They all grab their cans of beers but I said no. I have to stay up awake and okay incase something happened.

"Cheer up girl. Enjoy the day" Celia whispered to me.

=

The light coming from the moon is shining brightly now. They are all snoring loudly in their respective place. Richard even have his mouth open wide.

I tried to stand up from my seat when I felt something heavy between my legs. And when I look down, I saw a peaceful Erick with his eyelids closed tightly. Trying my best to get out from his weight, finally I've succeeded. But my breathing became short when someone hold my wrist. It's Erick's hand. Still asleep but don't want for me to leave. Well, I hope that is even true. He tugs me closer to him. Too close to his body. But I have no force to fight. Instead, I just lay my head onto his shoulder, with his hand still connected on mine, just like we used before all of these happened.

I'm very thankful for this moment because even though we are now tied by a ring, only once in a blue moon this happens.

Pretending like everything is okay for now. Pretending like we are okay. Pretending that we are what we are now. Wishing that this moment can stay long, but I have no choice but to look at it as it fades away in my hands.

It is better this way.