A TOAST

"Should we all make a toast?!" Eric says In a loud voice with his glass of wine in his left hand.

"That will be so amazing." They chorus.

"But what are we toasting to?" asks Darifa.

"Hmm." Eric says thoughtfully. "Maybe to long life and happiness."

"To Long life and happiness." They all make the toast clicking the glass of wine with their partners.

"What are your plans for tomorrow?" Eric asks Asma as soon as he sits.

"Nothing much, probably just rest a bit, and resume work back on Monday morning."

He hesitates for a while but pushes further. "Will you like to go on a date with me tomorrow? just me and you?"

Asma smiles, "that will be very nice. Do you have any place in mind?"

"I actually do not." He chuckles.

She joins him and chuckels too. "You don't have a place in your mind, but already asked me on a date."

"Take a look, take a look." Malik alerts almost whispering and pointing to Eric and Asma. "They are acting all loved up."

"Allow them please." Lola waves it off. "If Eric likes her, let him shoot his shot."

"Shoot his shot my foot!" Malik says in annoyance.

"Hold your pace young man. Love knows no bounds. A lot of people opposed my marriage with you too, but look at us now, we are living the best our lives as ever."

Malik exhales deeply trying to calm his nerve. "I will not allow their relationship."

"Do you want to meet them?" Darifa asks her date.

"You mean everyone here?" Helen asks again to be sure and Darifa nods. "Won't they be curious why your date is a female?"

"Don't worry about that, they already know the type of person I am."

"Really? And they are in support of it?" She asks again.

"Of course." Darifa replies with a nod again.

"You are so lucky that no one is criticizing or judging you for who you are, I have a lot of people doings that to me everyday."

"Do not mind them and just be you, your happiness matters a lot."

"I really envy the love between them." Helen whispers looking at Malik and Lola. "Theirs is the definition of pure and genuine love."

"This kind of love is very rare now, because no one is ready to prioritize anyone. We always have a plan A or plan B."

"What about you?" Helen asks and looks at her date. "What type of love do you have for people?"

"I don't use the word 'love'anyhow, I prefer to use the word 'like', but once I use the word 'love' just know I do genuinely."

"When are you resuming back to work?"

"In two days time, which is monday I guess." She sips her wine. "But at the same time, I think of taking some time off, I believe I need to clear my head."

"Is there something bothering you?"

Darifa smiles. "I have million and one thoughts in my head."

"Don't stress it, it's going to work out well soon."

"I believe that too."

"Why aren't you talking?" Juvenal asks.

"There is nothing to talk about." Shamim replies bluntly.

She scoffs angrily and says. "Maybe I should just go home."

"Hold on a bit, you should say hi to my father before leaving."

"You really don't have a problem with me leaving here?" She asks again.

"Why should I have a problem with that? If you do not feel comfortable anymore, you are free to go home." He pauses and continues. "Should I order a cab for you or do you want me to drop you off at home?"

"Are you mad at me because of what I said yesterday?"

"I have no reasons to be mad at you Juvenal." He says politely. "You don't want me to use you, and I am not even thinking of doing so."

"Shamim." She calls calmly. "This side of yours is too cold for me. I prefer your office attitude to this."

"You should have tried to consider that when I was being nice." He says with his teeth together trying to hide his pain and annoyance. "You don't even know how hard it is, do you? Do you have the slightest idea how it feels to be used or dumped by someone you really love?"

"Do you also have the slightest idea how it feels to watch the man you love, love another woman unconditionally?" Juvenal asks and they stare at each other for a while. "It's pretty painful."

"Hold on a bit, once you say hi to my father, you can go home." He whispers and sips his wine.

"Forget it." She sips her wine too. "It's of no use."

"Drink as much as you want." Malik announces as the ushering attendants serves a bottle of alcohol to each table. "Feel free to enjoy yourselves, you'd not be driving home, the entire hotel was reserved, so, we are all spending the night."

"Wow!" They all exclaim happily and clap.

"I guess, I will be spending the night." Juvenal whispers and she pours herself some liquor then sniffs it. "The smell alone is intoxicating me already."

"Don't drink too much, I can't take care of you and your hangovers too." Shamim warns.

"I bet I drink better than you, hangover my foot!" She gulps down the glass of alcohol at once.

"Juvenal!"

"This bottle can't even get me tipsy." She whispers and pours herself another glass of alcohol. "I am used to it cause it makes me feel better."

"Why should a lady be used to alcohol of all things?" He asks no one in particular. "Stop it!" He collects the glass from her.

"This is like depriving me of my right." She whispers.

"My parents and entire family members are here watching, it won't speak well if they see you drinking like this."

"Won't speak well? But your father just told us we can drink as much as we can."

"Yes." Shamim nods. "He did say that, but he didn't say finish the entire bottle all by yourself."

"Stop acting like you care." She whispers.

"Shut your mouth." He mutters to her ears to avoid anyone hearing by mistake.