Celebration

* Barbie *

"This is fun!"

Erich exclaimed while looking around the bar where a few men were dancing. The bar is fancy, with all the modern decorations and women wearing sexy if not flimsy dresses with minimal jewelry. Only the three of us proceeded to have a drink as Mama Irma decided to rest early for her flight in the morning. Rafael smiled at me and led us to a table for four.

"So ladies, since you two have been good girls and now earned your college degrees both can drink and order bill is on me."

My smile widened, and Erich and I looked at each other. I had no idea what I should drink but I was thrilled.

"Oh, wow! Erich tell me what should we order?"

She giggles as if she can't afford anything if Rafael's not treating us. Erich has more money than I am, I didn't have a source of income yet aside from my money from Dad which is getting lower every day. I refuse to ask Rafael since I know that he needs a solid foundation to get married soon.

"I'd like to have tequila, what about you?"

I nodded. "Then I will have that too!"

Rafael was on his phone when Erich waved her hand towards the waiter. She then ordered two shots of tequila, I have never taken anything yet aside from wine but I felt excited to try and drink with her.

"Sorry girls I have an urgent call. I have to take it."

"It's alright bro, go ahead."

I nodded and watched him leave with the phone beside his ear. "I hope he doesn't come back."

Erich uttered while watching him too. "I don't think that would be possible, given how he is saying that he would pay the bill."

A little bit of disappointment mirrored on her face as she looked at me and agreed. "Yeah right, and another overprotective brother is coming too."

She was referring to Tom who told Rafael that he would join us after his client. "That's alright, I mean we haven't seen him for a while as he was busy with his business and all."

Erich shrugged her shoulders. "But it's not fun to go to a bar with both of them, for God's sake Barb! I wanted to flirt and see gorgeous men but these two are going to hinder us."

I laugh and look around us, there are only a few men, and mostly ladies are sitting with them. "Well, I don't think that there is any of your type here either."

She followed my eyesight and exhaled. "Yeah you are right, then let's just drink."

After a few minutes, the waiter brought our order together with the bottle of whiskey that Rafael ordered. Erich giggles as she puts her glass up for a toast to mine.

"Cheers!"

We clinked our glasses and drank it all up, the liquid made a coarse sensation down my throat and I couldn't help but cough. "Oh! I'm sorry Barb, are you alright?"

Erich worriedly rubs my back as I put back the empty small glass on the table. She handed me some tissues to wipe my mouth and I nodded.

"I'm alright, huh that felt good actually."

She laughed and called the waiter. "Let's order another one before they both come."

Erich ordered another shot which we waited to come. Rafael walked back to our table, sitting beside Erich and then he opened the whiskey bottle.

"Your orders didn't come yet?"

Erich looks at me and answers him. "Nah, just yours for now."

When the order came it was two tall glasses with a drinks that looked fruity. "Here's our drinks Barb!"

Rafael looked at the glasses and smiled. "Punch? Good choice!"

He wasn't aware of the last drinks that Erich ordered and I am keeping my mouth shut. With a smile on her lips, Erich raised her glass for both me and Rafael. After that, I turned around expecting someone to come. The music is getting louder but my ears are deaf to the other people dancing and laughing around.

"What did I miss?"

I almost broke my neck roughly from turning back as he spoke in front of us. "Oh! Good that you are here Tom!"

Rafael stood up to greet him and also to give way so that he could sit beside me. He looks at me and the short dress that I'm wearing, it has a thin strap on the shoulder and the color is as red as the lipstick that I put on my lips. The fabric fitted my body and showed the curves that I couldn't believe I had.

"Hey you, you look great tonight Barb, and you too Erich. I'm glad there's no other men with you aside from Rafael."

Erich rolled her eyes upward but laughed at the praise she received from Tom and I felt my cheeks blush, thank God the lights are semi-dimmed to detect the color from my cheeks.

"Thanks!"

I replied shortly, admiring how Tom managed to keep himself blend in with the men, wearing his long-sleeved shirt with thin blue stripes, tucked in a slim fit dark blue trouser. While Rafael is only wearing a shirt and jeans, Tom looks more formal but has his shirt opened three buttons down to get the night-out look.

Rafael's phone rang and he excused himself from us. "Sorry you guys, please excuse me."

Tom taps his shoulder. "It's alright if you need to leave Raf, I'm here. I'll make sure the ladies return to their rooms before I go to sleep."

"Are you sure?"

Tom nodded and Rafael looked at me. "Enjoy your night ladies I have to go for an emergency at the office."

I smiled and nodded, he was holding his phone in the other hand as he kissed me and Erich goodbye for the night. Erich's smile widened as she looked at me and then at Tom.

"I need to get a retouch Tom, but I'll be back in a second."

She looks at me with a wink and then walks graciously on his tank top and short skirt. Tom and I sat side by side as the music started to change into a sweet tune, the air around us suddenly became hot.

"Come on Barb, let's dance."

Just like he could read my mind, his hand reached out to me for permission to let us go together on the dance floor. And I happily accepted it.

"Sure!"

His warm hand held mine in a tight grip as there were a few couples that we had to pass through until we reached the middle of the dance floor. Tom is taller than me in my current five foot six inches height. He must be over six feet two just like Rafael.

"How's your love life going Barb?"

His voice casually sounded like a mature man asking his daughter or sister if she was dating. "Boring, I have zero love life for now Tom."

I answered in a friendly manner taking time to inhale the scent of perfume and whiskey on his fragrant breath. "Good, you know it is better to focus your attention on a job first before you think about men."

I don't like the way that he's talking like he is Rafael to me. But it felt good to be held in his arms, I pressed myself closer toward him as the music slowed. It might be my imagination, but I swear I heard him groan in his throat as his other hand glided on my back.

"Are you cold from the air conditioning?"

I would have said no, even when I felt the heat of tequila and punch through my veins. "Yes, I guess I am."