Feeling Brew

~11~

Isla sifted through her closet and tried to decide what to wear. Johnny was a really handsome guy, and part of her wanted to look good for him. She wasn't sure how she felt about him yet, but he definitely made her smile a lot more than most people. She had barely been able to hold back her fierce blush when he was taking pictures of her for his project.

"This is a casual meeting, though," she reminded herself. Slowly, she grabbed some jean shorts and a nice blouse. And she had to keep in mind this wasn't a date since Johnny's roommate would be there also.

As she was putting her earrings in, her phone rang, and she jumped in surprise. Taeil's name flashed across the screen. Quickly, she answered it and gasped when she heard his voice.

"Isla, how did I come to this?" he slurred.

"Taeil, where are you right now? Are you drunk? If you tell me where you are, I'll come get you!" She threw her earrings on the counter and hastily slipped into her shoes.

"Hello? This is the bartender. This young man seems to be quite inebriated, and I asked if he knew anyone to help him get home safely. This was the number he called. Sorry to ask you to come out, but he can't even stand straight right now."

Isla was already out the door and slamming the button for the elevator. "Please text me the address, and I'll be right there!" She hung up and immediately called Johnny.

He picked up, surprised. If she needed something, she could have just knocked on the door. But he still felt his heart thump a little as he slid his finger across the screen and accepted the call.

"Yo, what's up?" Johnny grinned into the phone.

"I'm really sorry, but I'm going to have to cancel today. Something urgent suddenly came up, and I need to go help someone!"

She sounded so out of breath, so he knew she wasn't making it up.

"Did you need any help?" he asked. He reached for his coat and a pair of comfortable sneakers. "If there's anything you need-"

"I've got it. Thanks for the offer, though. I'm really sorry that I wasn't able to meet you or your roommate, but let's try again sometime this weekend. I gotta go. Bye!"

Johnny slowly lowered his phone and slid it back into his pocket. He glanced down at the sweater he was wearing. It was his favorite. The last time he wore this sweater was when he was falling for the university's goddess freshman year- Bae Mi Ran. Just like every other boy and girl at NCTU, he had crushed hard on her. No matter how beautiful and genuine Isla was, his mind kept going back to his first love. He laughed to himself. There was no way she'd fall for someone like him.

Isla burst into the bar Taeil was supposedly in and saw him slumped over a glass of alcohol. He swirled the drink slowly before taking a few sips. She made her way over to him and took a seat.

"Taeil, I think you've had enough. If you tell me where your home is, I can take you," she shook his arm gently.

Taeil faced her with a puzzled expression. "Why'd you come here?"

"You called me, genius," Isla rolled her eyes. She pushed the glass of whiskey far away from him and tried to help him stand. That was her first mistake. He collapsed in her arms, and she used every ounce of strength to support his weight. Even though she looked weak and puny on the outside, she packed quite a bit of strength in her bones. But with all his weight on her while he stumbled around the streets of Busan, it was hard to keep him up. He lurched forwards, and Isla was forced to make him sit down on the steps leading up to a large corporate building. At this time of night, she doubted anyone would be coming by.