10 Summertime Blues (The Promise)

The past two weeks has been smooth but as the time for me to live the bar drew nearer, I found myself feeling more anxious. I never mentioned to Mark that this was just a summer job for me nor did I mention about my schooling. This past two weeks, Mark dropped by three times already to give me some dozen of doughnuts, bouquet of roses with chocolates or tea time snacks but he didn't stay long. He came mostly morning when we were not so busy. Apparently, he was busy with either his internship in the police force or with his summer classes.

It was now my last week at work. I was feeling regretful that I did not bid him farewell when he came last time. 'I have to stay strong and hold on to this newly found relationship' I swore to myself. Atleast I have a valid reason to think of when I go back and happen to be confronted by Lester. Also those classmates who kept pestering me and even go to the extent of bullying me that I am a lesbian, I have a good reason to silence them. 'I am a "one-man woman", I would tell them. This thought occupied my mind while staring blankly at my things one night when we were about to sleep. To my disappointment, Marie didn't want to leave. She wanted to continue working. She said she planned to stop first and maybe go back to school uf she earns enough. I advised her that there will never be enough unless we step out to do first. Little did I know that she was seeing someone from the other shop next to us. I was quite dismayed that she hid this to me until now. I kept quiet but my mind was raging in anger.

I was frustrated because I thought she shares the same view as mine. I decided to vent my frustration to drinking, adding to it my curiosity of what it feels like to be drunk. Off course, I saw people black out and forget their world when they were drunk but I never really experienced getting drunk myself. Now is the best time to experience that, I told myself. I grabbed a litre of beer from the shelf, took two glasses then set them on the table. Marie came out from the bathroom with her hair wrapped with towel. Her eyes widened when she saw me gulping down half of the glass content.

"Yucccckkk!!! this tastes like urine!" stucking my tongue out while squinting my eyes.

"Haha, what made you drink?" Marie tried to be calm while drying her hair. She knew that I was mad at her.

"I'm just curious about how I would speak my mind when I am drunk. I heard Edgar Allan Poe becomes a great poet when he is drunk." I said trying to sound casual then stood up to program the music box so there was soft music in the air.

After drying her hair, Marie grabbed some chips from the display then came to join me. By this time I have already downed one and a half glass of beer and was beginning to get used to the smell and taste.

It was quarter past 11:00 o'clock when the phone rang. It was rare that there were callers at this time. I stood to pick it up. "Shane's Place good evening!" I greeted trying to sound formal.

"Can I speak to Fem? " came the voice from the other end. It sounded deep but gentle.

"Speaking, who is this?" I had a hint that it probably was Mark but I don't remember giving him this phone number.

"Oh right, that's you sweetheart. Can I possibly come over now?" he said.

"Why, what time.is it? We're already closed" I reminded.

"Im just few blocks away from your place, I'll be there in a few minutes. Please open the door for me, Im coming." he ordered as if he has authority over my work place.

"Was it you who gave Mark this number? " I asked Marie. She smiled sheepishly and said,

"That was when he almost turned the table when you were not here. He said he will call to check on you."

I opened the door and was greeted by Mark's tall and rugged aura. He was holding two small boxes which appears to be some take out food. I let him in and quickly pushed down the steel door again. I felt suddenly nervous so I quickly went to check myself in the washroom. My face flushing red with the beer I just consumed. I splashed some water then dried it with tissue paper but still cannot hide the blush. I just decided to come out and face Mark, come what may.

"We're drinking ." I said winking at Marie as I saw Mark's face flustered on the table as if he was disappointed by it.

Lifting his face to look at me he said, "Do you always do this?" pointing to the table in a circular motion.

I was left speechless. 'What on earth! it's my first time doing this and yet still got caught!' I sneered at myself inwardly. Before I could say a word, Marie spoke, " It's our first to drink together. I think she just missed you, that's why she thought of drinking to forget you!"

I was so shamed by Marie's declaration and my blood started to rush to my face. How can she twist things this way? It dawned to mind that she can actually create a false story and tell it as if it was the truth. I'd get back at her but I then it wasn't sensible to argue at this time. I just frowned and downed my third glass.

Seeing the bottle was empty, I went to grab another one from the shelf, opened it and placed it front of Marie with a deliberate 'bam'!. "I was mad at you earlier and are you angering me more now?" I fixed my eyes on Marie's eyes. Her smile slowly faded when she saw my reddened face.

"That's enough Fem! I think you had enough already", Mark's voice came soft as he tugged my shirt to pull me closer to him.

"I hate people making up stories, no matter how good it sounds!" I said with eyes still fixed on Marie. "Someday, you will betray me with that caliber of tongue." I added with a sound of warning.

"It's ok sweetie, you dont have to be mad. I just asked out of concern. " Mark pulled me by my waist and let me sit beside him.

"Mark, Im sorry, I may be tipsy but my mind is still clear. Im not drunk yet." I said bravely looking up at his stoic face. His face seemed tired and unshaven for like a week.

"Can we eat now? I haven't had dinner yet actually. We just came from Inspection Site." Mark tried to divert our attention to the food he just brought.

"Inspection Site? What did you inspect that you look so rugged?" I inquired.

" There was a report that certain place in the far flung area has become a home for the rebels. We were sent to gather some intelligence data. Anyway, we are back now and I'm starving." He said picking a piece of potato wedge from the box.

"Won't you go and wash your hands first? I think you haven't had washed yet. I'll get a dish for you." I said standing carefully to heed to the kitchen while he walked to go to the washroom.

Mark ate quickly while I sat beside him cupping my glass with two hands sipping its content once in a while. After he ate, he asked to borrow a towel, a t-shirt and heeded to the bathroom to take shower. When he came out he was wearing my t-shirt and my towel wrapped around his lower body. I went to rummage my clothes and found a three fourth lengths pant large enough for me, handed it to him with a stare.

"Thanks sweetie," he said as he turned and went back to the washroom to wear it. It became a knee length shorts for him instead which looked funny.

"Do you feel comfortable with it? I don't mind if you take it off and wear skirt instead." I said starting to laugh.

"It's ok, this is better than nothing." He answered hanging the towel back to the corridor.

I tidied up the table with just the glass and beer left. We sat together to finish the drink talking mostly about other costumers who make a scene when they were drunk.

Finally, I got the courage and opportunity to tell Mark about what I was thinking. But before I started, he embraced me with his right arm and bent down to look at my face.

"Fem sweetie, I was thinking these past few days if I can take you home to meet my parents?" Are you okay with it?" he said with eyes like studying my reaction.

"Wowww! " was all I could utter. My heart skipped and my eyes widened in excitement and my mouth formed an "O" shape for long. Then realizing that I was just a waiter, I decided to tell him my mind.

"Mark..." I started, " I feel really honored to be introduced to your parents but I don't think they will like to see you with a waitress. If you are serious with this relationship, will you give time to prove myself worthy for you? This may take years though. I know you know what I'm saying.... Don't you think I should go to school first?" I found my tongue loosened by that beer in take.

Maybe considering the idea, he kept silent for some couple of minutes then spoke, "That's wise a decision. Off course its always best to get an education. We'll be fine,everythings gonna be fine my sweetheart" He nodded while squeezing me against himself.

"Okay. I'll take my commitment with you as my inspiration to go on. I will not marry unless it be you. But if you find yourself liking someone else, I won't blame you. Feel free," I said looking at my hands which were still cupping the glass of beer.

"Fem.." Mark lifted my head and kissed me on my forehead then embraced me. " I'm glad you decided to go to school. I'll wait for you." He said then brought out his wallet, took some photos of him and the pendant which we bought when we went to horseback riding. He took the beer out of my hands and changed it with the pendant and his photos. "Unfortunately, I only have this with me now. Take it in case you miss me." he said with a teasing tone added. I just nodded. I brought out my pendant which we bought together. I wore it just to make sure it will nit be misplaced. I rolled the tie in a circular form then put it into Mark's palm. "Will this be enough to remind you of me?" I said looking up to Mark's eyes.

"Off course, this has a lot of sentimental value" he said nodding while carressing the letter pendant.

It's already half past twelve midnight and I was feeling a bit dizzy and sleepy.

"Where will you sleep? My bed is just good for one! Can you sleep on the table?"I said worriedly.

"Nahhh, why is that? We should be together through thick and thin, don't you think, sweetie, hmmmm?" he said pinching my nose with a wide smile showing his perfectly even white teeth.

"Okay, we can sleep together on our sides though, but I'm afraid you'd fall down!" I said.

"That, we need to hold each other so no one will fall off the bed. " He said hugging me the lifting me off my feet to place me on the bed. Marie was now sound asleep as she had very low tolerance with alcoholic drinks. She was now snoring like a pig.

"Can I atleast touch you like this? "Mark teased as his hand hovered over my body igniting my desire to be held more by him. "And kiss you like this?" He whispered as he pressed passionate kisses on my lips. I was still learning to respond to his kisses and I felt his manhood down there became hard. It was a warning for me to stop no matter what.

Surprisingly, after parting our lips from deep kisses, he embraced me tight and with a deep sigh he said, "We should not rush. You still have a plan and I'm building my career this time. Once we do it, there will be a huge sacrifice."

I nodded and carressed his face feeling those hairs which started to grow. "I'll remember that. Thank you, Mark." I said then initiated another round of kiss before we fell asleep hugging each other.