DRUNKEN KAYE

The room was silent after Kaye spoke. All three people looked at her. One was unbelieving, the other was smiling mischievously and the last one was indifferent.

Kaye looked them with a faint smile on her lips. "Ivan and I are friends. Don't just speak whatever nonsense came to your mind. Ivan likes a girl. What if that girl overhears us accidentally? How would she feel? How would Ivan win her? So don't tease me." Each word was spoken clearly but these words stabbed her heart so deep it won't stop bleeding.

Alex looked towards his friend. 'I knew Ivan like this woman so who was she talking about?'

Jestoni felt sad for his friend. 'You fell in love with him, but he loves someone else.' Jestoni couldn't feel any more bitterness towards her friend. This was really heart breaking.

Ivan just looked at her sadly. 'Why couldn't you realize it's you?' He wanted to drill her brain and paste these words inside but he knew it's impossible.

Kaye didn't know that her words brought them into a whirlwind of ideas. The atmosphere was still gloomy so she pour herself a wine.

"To Alex and Jess." She raised her glass and drank all of its wine. She poured another and raised it once again. "To wish Ivan good luck." She downed it again as if it wasn't a big deal. Truth be told, it made her dizzy.

The three of them looked at her once again. They continued eating like nothing happened. Kaye didn't say anything anymore to avoid making things awkward.

They ate and drank. Drank and ate. Kaye was so full and drunk. Her head was buzzing and she's feeling dizzy. Today, she let loose of everything since the people around could be trusted. Even if her relationship with Ivan isn't the same as before, she knew she could trust him.

This was the second time she's drunk. The first time was when she was alone in her apartment after graduation and today, meeting up with her friend's boyfriend.

"I hate him so much." Kaye said before putting another piece of meat in her mouth.

"Why do you hate him?" Jestoni asked like he was talking to a sober woman, but the fact is, he's talking to a drunk woman.

"I just hate him. He broke my heart so many time. Why shouldn't I hate him?" Kaye answered while she propped her chin with her hands.

Jestoni looked at Ivan carefully to see any changes on his face. After all, this was the man that Kaye was currently talking about.

"Does the person you hate looks like me?" Ivan hold her face and turned her around to face him.

Kaye widened her eyes when she saw him close to her. "Oh my god! You look exactly like him! But he was younger than you. I hate the younger version. I don't hate you." Her words confused both Alex and Jestoni but it didn't affect Ivan at all.

"Why do you hate him? Wasn't he good to you?" Ivan asked again but this time, Kaye remained silent. She just looked at him before she stood up and left with her bag.

Alex and Jestoni stood up in worry, but Ivan was quicker than them and chased after Kaye.

Kaye was walking on the street like a sober woman. If you won't get a whiff of the alcohol, you wouldn't know she's drunk.

Ivan was just following behind her three steps away. He knew something's going on in her mind but he didn't want to force her. If Kaye wanted to tell him, she would do it just how she did few months ago.

Alex and Jestoni paid their bill and left knowing that Ivan would take care of Kaye.

Jestoni got into Alex's car casually. It's not the first time they meet and he even met his parents already. Making out wasn't even a problem. When Alex got into the driver seat, Jestoni turned to face him.

"Tell me, does Ivan like Kaye?"

Alex was facing him seriously. "Does Kaye like Ivan?" He retorted back to him. They both stared at each other's eyes before slowly nodding their head.

"Yes." They answered the question together. The slumped on their seats and they both feel the oncoming headache.

Kaye found a place to sit so she stopped and sat. She looked up to see the stars in the sky. The night was chilly since winter is coming. She crossed her arms and rubbed her skin.

Kaye felt a sudden pull and a coat was draped over her shoulders to cover her from coldness.

"Still cold?" Ivan asked her while holding her hands, rubbing them with his palms.

"Not anymore. My head hurts." Kaye complained.

"I expected that. You're feeling better now? The cold wind must've helped you. Don't wander around after drinking. It's not safe." Ivan reminded her like a good boyfriend.

"Ivan." Kaye called out to him softly.

"What's the matter?" Ivan asked while scanning her face and body to see if she was hurt.

Kaye didn't speak for a while. She stood there in front of him like a child being scolded. Her head was bowed deeply that made it difficult to see her eyes.

Ivan just waited for her to speak. It was a long silence. He put both their hands on his coat pocket that she's now wearing to warm them.

A tear fell on the ground. Kaye sniffed and she wiped her face using the back of her hands. Ivan knew she's crying so he pulled her in tight embrace.

"What is it sweetheart?" Ivan asked her. His endearment made her cry even more. She cried in his arms like it was a natural thing to do so.

"Young master Harley, I'm so glad that you came back. I was really scared when you left." Kaye cried even more.

Ivan was stunned. The woman in his embrace right now was just like the little girl he was used to piggyback, small and fragile.

"I won't leave you anymore." Ivan patted her back to console her. She had stopped crying for a while. When he tried to see her face, Ivan shook his head with a faint smile.

Kaye fell asleep.