solace: chapter 2

Kip mindlessly counted the cigarette butts on the ashtray in the middle of the table. There were many, and he tried to guess which ones are his and which ones are Brad’s. He found this pathetically childish, and worried that this lonesome waiting was not about to end soon. It wasn’t that he minded Brad’s presence or the fact that he was waiting with him. It was because of whom they were waiting for. He picked up another cigarette and lighted it quickly. He motioned to the waiter for another ashtray, determined to keep track of how many cigarette butts were his. He checked the time: it was a quarter until midnight. Now is a perfect time to arrive, he thought, wishing that the one he was waiting for would barge through the front door and with that ever charming smile of hers pasted on her face, sit directly in the empty chair he had set in front of him. Now he was imagining, and he found himself more pathetic than he was a couple of minutes ago. So he returned to counting the cigarette butts.

Kip checked his phone, and was surprised to find a message in it. He wondered why he didn’t hear the message warning, but shoved it aside. He fished his phone and read the message. “b ther soon. Gotta do somthng.” It was from Jason, and a hint of disappointment surfaced in his eyes. He didn’t feel the need to reply. He thought he wasn’t interested and yes, it was the shortest most valid text message that Jason could compose. He let go of the chance to inquire. Instead, he got his bottle of beer and took a very big gulp. “pare, Jason has something to do daw, baka matagalan. Text mo nga, baka makulitan. Sabihin mo bilisan nya.” He said to Brad, to which his friend complied.

Kip’s mind was floating again. He thought of something, then of another, and still of another until his thoughts were a myriad of incoherent thoughts. He slapped himself silly so that he could wake up and focus on something. It couldn’t be the alcohol, I only had two so far, he reasoned with himself. So he picked up his phone and composed a message. This time it’s an invitation. “pare, r u stil up? Maybe ud lyk a bottle r 2?”. As he pressed the send button, he thought that there was something he should have said but couldn’t remember what it was. “Oh shit!”, he blurted out loud, and made Brad swing his head into Kip’s direction. Kip had forgotten the Happy Birthday part.

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The traffic light burned bright red and Cathy was amused by the way it reflected on the roof of the blue car in front of her. Farther away, she could make out the familiar neon sign of Gloria Jean’s coffee. She could almost taste the coffee now, and caffeine would definitely help her tonight. Her attention returned to the traffic light as she became impatient for it to turn green. She remembered she still had a text message to reply to so she took this time to do so. She silently whispered to the traffic light to delay its turning green. “Ey thanks pare. Yep, am driving around. Watup?”, she wrote and pressed the send button.

The traffic light cooperatively turned green and Cathy shifted to drive, stepped on the pedal, and proceeded straight down the road to that coffee flavor she imagined in her lips. She chanced upon her watch, it showed 12:05. “No way!”, she thought, “I missed midnight? Aw shucks, and I didn’t get to greet myself earlier…” she sported a frown on her face that made her even more adorable. And as suddenly as the frown was, it was replaced by a childlike smile, a happy face that celebrates a birthday. She was officially 24 then. If only she had someone to share that night with, maybe over a joyous bottle of beer or two. Then she remembered Kip and his invitation. Girls do change their minds, and she was no exception. Cathy composed a message for Kip, “ey, r u still there? Am n my way.”

Cathy passed by the coffee shop, the taste of coffee no longer in her lips. In its stead was the taste of cold beer. She turned to look at the people inside the shop, and noticed a girl with a funny hat at the counter ordering. The girl had long hair and a short skirt, and looked like she probably came from a night of partying. Cathy examined herself, and concluded that although she also has long hair and tiny skirts, she wouldn’t be caught dead with that funny hat. A smile again crossed her face as she continued down the road towards Kip and Brad.

Another message came into her phone, and she read, “wer to? Wid whom? Was wondrin mayb ud lyk 2 go out tnyt. It’s Friday.” The devil’s message again, she quipped. Amusement never seemed to stop for her tonight. That’s one sweet devil of course, and she thought Jason was indeed one. On the other hand, another idea came to mind. If Jason, Kip and Brad were together, why would they invite her separately? Hmmm, the boys are on to something. She replied to Jason, “am on my way there, Kip already invited me. R u nt 2gther?”

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Kip waved for the waiter, and asked for additional beer. “And wait,” he said, “bring a glass with lots of ice.” Kip remembered this little fact. Subtle maybe, but he’s sure Cathy would notice it. He slid back on his chair, still holding his phone, and smiled a bit. Brad looked at him inquisitively. Finally he asked, “what are you smiling about?” Kip told Brad about Cathy’s message, that she was on her way there, and this made Brad’s face light up. That’s good, he thought, and anxiety almost filled his face. Brad took the ashtray near Kip and shoved aside the old one next to him. He dunked his cigarette in and got the pack for a new stick. He paused, thought of something, then lighted the cigarette slowly. He sucked in the smoke, and heaved it out like he was sighing. He grabbed his beer and took a sip.

The loud club music blared all over the room, just the way they all liked it. But particularly this night, Kip wished they would quiet down. He somehow wanted to be somewhere else more serene, perhaps where they could really talk, and not shout to each other just so they could be heard. He imagined that they were on a beach perhaps, with the sun setting and casting a golden red color across the horizon. Then he would find him with Cathy talking while sitting on the sand, the waves barely reaching their feet. They would have a bottle of beer each on their one hand and a good smoke on their other hands. He pictured this perfectly, because it was what Cathy told him when he asked her what her perfect get away scenario would be. He hadn’t forgotten since.

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The girl on the counter turned her head slowly towards him, and Jason was quick enough to turn away. He didn’t get caught; he was sure of it. He was interested however, on where the girl was going, or where she had just come from. He thought it funny that someone would wear a hat like that at this time of the night. The hat had pineapple prints in it and was shaped like one too. Or he could be just imagining it. Either way, it was sure to catch attention. But other than the hat, Jason’s attention was caught by how the girl looked from behind: long hair that touches her bra line, a very sexy figure and that distinctively small skirt that rides high above the knee. Way up! This reminded him of someone – someone he had hoped would be next to him tonight.

He checked his phone, and saw an incoming text message. He eagerly read it, “am on my way there, Kip already invited me. R u nt 2gther?” His face turned to dismay. He should have known Kip better to not only invite him, but Cathy as well. He had hoped for a different thing tonight, one that didn’t involve alcohol consumption. Well, he reconsidered, maybe a little alcohol and after a long talk of course. Jason couldn’t think of anything to say back to that message. He knew that there would be no convincing her otherwise, short of pleading to her and telling her his true reason for the invitation. He regretted having erased that last line in his last message to her. Now he has no choice but to follow the gang into that smoke filled cavern if he wanted to see Cathy tonight.

He stood up from his seat which had been home for about two hours. He wanted to say goodbye to the man next to him and tell him to go home, she’s not coming whomever you’re waiting for. But of course he didn’t. As he was going out the front door, he consciously avoided looking at the girl with the funny hat. He can feel her staring at him. Maybe she knew he was looking earlier, or maybe she knew that he had an opinion about her. Or her hat. Jason stopped a few steps down the stairs out front. His gaze followed a red Toyota Vios passing by. His eyes were fixated on the car’s license plate. It read VCN 968. He knew whose it was.