All The Right Noises

awkward

          "I thought it was just the three of us?"

          Tamara's forehead scrunched as she kept on glancing at the side mirror. Her car was parked in the loading zone, waiting with Alice for Keith and an unexpected 'guest' to finish buying the stuff that they need. Tamara wanted to hang out with her friends in her condo, but the two girls didn't expect another person to show up.

          "No offense Alice, I know she's your friend, but—"

          "Yeah, I get you." Alice interrupted her mid sentence because she already knew what she was about to say, "I was surprised as well."

          The three of them have been close-knit friends since high school. Their group stood out like a sore thumb even though they never really intended to. I mean, where else would you find a trio of misfits? A skinny nerdy-looking guy with a thick Filipino accent, a spoiled brat who bites off more than she can chew, and an introverted girl who acted mute because she was too embarrassed with her lisp.

          Everyone knew that it would always be just the three of them in their tiny little circle. They thought that that would never change, no matter how much time flies.

          Perhaps Alice was wrong.

          What's more, she didn't expect that of all people, it would be Daisy who would suddenly enter the picture.

          It's not as if she wasn't welcome to tag along. Daisy's an incredibly nice person, that's for sure. But it's just weird for Alice, in a sense. It's as if there's this unspoken rule in friendships—like if a clique has been established for so many years, they should no longer consider the thought of entertaining newcomers anymore. Or, if they do have friends outside their circle, they should not spend time with them in places filled with sentimental memories, such as Tamara's condo, something like that. It's kind of hard to explain, but Alice was sure that Tamara feels the same way.

          As much as they would like to object since the night was planned for only the three of them, it would be impolite since Keith had already, all on his own accord, invited Daisy along.

          "Took you long enough." Tamara shot Keith a look by the time they reached the car.

          The ride to the condo was hella awkward, and it got even worse when they were finally in the condo, with a few cans of beer chugged and bags of chips emptied while a horror movie was playing.

          Keith and Daisy had their own little world, whispering at each other's ear and flirting here and there, perhaps influenced by the alcohol. Alice tried her best to not pay attention and actually watch the movie. Tamara, on the other hand, was not having any of it.

          "Since when did they get so close?!" She asked Alice in this irked tone. Alice watched them intently and wondered as well. The last time she saw the two together was when she introduced the both of them to each other. What happened in between that time and now that led to this so quickly?

          "I have no idea."

          When there was a loud, eerie noise coming from the speakers, Daisy's entire body jerked, making Keith comfort her instinctively. The cliché nature of it all sent chills up Tamara's spine more than the horror movie did.

          "Why don't you guys go get your own fucking room?" She threw a bunch of potato chips at their direction and they laughed at her.

          What was supposed to be a bonding night for the trio ended up being a cringe fest for Tamara.

          And she thought she's seen the last of it, but she was wrong.

          "Aren't you bothered by this? Even just a tiny bit?"

          Alice was too busy doing her plates to even look at her friend when she responded, "I do feel awkward, but what exactly are you going to do about it?"

          Tamara crossed her arms and bit her lip, "He's not even telling us how this started. We're, like, unwillingly dragging along a cage of lovebirds everywhere we go. Keith even asked you to bring her along when it was only—specifically—you whom his parents told to visit, remember that one time?" 

          Alice sighed when Tamara brought that up. For the first time in her life, Alice felt wrong being there in her friend's home. He completely left her out. Even his mom asked her why she's not with her son and who Daisy was to Keith, and not knowing how to answer made her feel so embarrassed. It was one of the worst feelings she ever had, and she was kind of disappointed at Keith for making her feel like an outcast. 

          Yet, deep in herself, Alice felt bad for feeling and thinking that way. It was as if she was gatekeeping her friend, especially since she was the one who introduced them to each other. She should be glad that Keith is making friends, which could possibly lead to something more, but she couldn't shake this weird feeling in the pit of her stomach. 

          "Certainly, I'm not the only one who feels the raging hormones, right?" Tamara leaned her body towards Alice, waiting for her to agree.

          After hearing her question, Alice dropped her paintbrush and forced a smile. They were definitely thinking the same thing.

          If Keith gets a girlfriend, he'll treat her in a special way. He's going to spend more time with her, and possibly forget the two of them.

          On the ride back to her hometown, Alice couldn't stop thinking about Keith and Daisy, as well as what happened between Terrence and Kai days ago. The long ride home didn't tire her out, but the thoughts and feelings that haven't stopped bugging her did. She wasn't also particularly looking forward to seeing her family. She never really intended to go, but her brother wouldn't stop messaging her, telling her to at least visit.

          Why even bother? No one's even looking forward to seeing her again anyway. It would be the same as always since high school. Alice goes home, opens the door, and immediately feels unwelcome.

          She wasn't shocked when the moment she arrives home she is greeted by her mother and father arguing. Though it wasn't a new sight, it was an unpleasant one. 

          Alice didn't inform them that she was going to visit, so Asher was surprised to see his sister standing in the foyer. By the way he tries to avoid her eyes, Alice already knew the reason they were fighting. Gripping onto her long skirt, she was about to turn around when Asher grabbed her bag.

          "Alice! At least stay for the night for me, please."

          "Is she still going on about my decision?" Alice asked through gritted teeth, "It's been a year since I entered uni!"

          Asher scratched his cheek, "Mom got mad when she found out that Dad's been begging you to come home . . . "

          Without putting in any further thought, Alice dashed towards the stairs. When her mother and father noticed her, they momentarily stopped arguing. Alice and her mother locked eyes for a second. She shot her dead, piercing eyes. If it wasn't for her brother, she wouldn't even stay a second in there.

          Asher, and sometimes her dad, wouldn't stop taking a peek at her bedroom from time to time. Maybe it was a way to console her, who knows. As she bore her eyes onto the ceiling, Alice wondered if her father ever wanted to go back to the days when she gets this odd satisfaction from the smell of varnish while feeling the softness of knitting wool, surrounded by the warmth of that woman's laughter, light as a feather.