Chapter 6: Melancholy
"That is a large quantity, I must say", she replied with so much interest, "don't tell me you are a philanderer?", She finally gathered the nerves to ask him.
"Whatever you think, dear", he said moving closer to her, the little distance they shared was now less than two feets, "but I'd say you should not think I am", he advised whispering into her ears.
"We should go join the others", he said taking a step back. Jessie finally released the breath she didn't know she had been holding. The same person that just accepted a dare for a night stand about an hour ago could not now stand his closeness for few seconds, "I'm a case", she said in her head.
They walked together to meet up with the others before going separate ways. Charles met up with some group of guys playing the game of cards, while Jessie moved towards Luciana.
"Babe, what was that?", Luciana said with a tone mixed with excitement and surprise, "you never told me you were seeing Charles".
"I never did? Oh yes, because I'm not seeing him", Jessie replied like she was surprised too and she had every reason to be. She still had not gotten clarity of the show he made minutes ago and he did not do a good job explaining to her.
"I am not seeing Charles, according to him, he just needed some drama", she added.
"Babe, really? You aren't daft to believe that, are you? Of all people to create the drama with, he chose you, not long after making you accept the dare with him.."
Everything began to make sense in Jessie's head, just that she didn't want to run faster than her shadow now, the last time she tried it, it was not a good one. "I don't even know, I've not been seeing him and he didn't ask me out. You know I'll definitely tell you if I'm ever going out with anyone", she Complacently said.
"I wish you had seen Oswald's face, it was so gloomy.", Luciana giggled.
"I don't even know what to do about him, I told him nothing can work between us. So...", Jessie said allowing her voice to trail off.
"I am just happy you are gradually getting a life", Luciana empathized, "I'll be right back"
The last thing she wanted was to be the reason why someone feels hurt, she was really at crossroads about what to do, on one side, it was Charles whom she wasn't sure liked her but gave her this tingles and there was Oswald, who claims to be head over heels for her.
Exactly two years ago, she remembered ending things with Jason, sadly Oswald's actions reminds her of him. While Jason tried to woo her, he acted to be everything she ever wanted and gave her the comfort and warmth she thought she was missing out on, it was barely two months and the whole charade was over.
Jason started ignoring her calls, making her feel like she was disturbing, it even got to a point that he gave another girl, his supposed girlfriend, his phone to just insult her. That was like the stroke that broke the camel's back, all along she was swimming in this pool of depression but at that point, she just wanted to let herself drown.
She felt so fucked up, coupled with the fact that her parents threw her away like she meant nothing to them and she also felt like a burden to Luciana's parents even though they never complained. It was at that time she tried killing herself before Luciana saved her. She realized life hasn't been fair to her, but she just had to live it, at least for Luciana.
The memories brought a wave of terrible emotions to her, she strutted towards the bar to help herself with some drink. "Maybe lightening my head and having a hangover tomorrow morning will hurt less", she said with a sigh of melancholy. Forgetting that she was in a party and had to keep an eye on Luciana who had a very low tolerance to alcohol, she requested for a glass of red wine and gulped down the whole content without thinking.
Luciana walked away from Jessie searching for the restroom. The restroom was built in a way that a single door made access to a line up of toilets for male and female. At the other end, there was another door that made entrance to the patio. She walked down to the extreme to use the toilet there, as it was the only free female toilet among others.
Just as Luciana was about leaving the toilet, she heard some erotic sounds coming from the door behind her. Out of curiosity, she stretched out for the door knob, silently opened it and was slack-jawed at what she saw.
Never will she have thought that the same Oswald who was bent on showing Jessie how much he loved her, was making out with another girl at the same party.
Charles sat with his guys playing the game of cards in a gamble, they had to bet some amount of money each for the game and the winner takes all. He was fortunate enough to win the first round and they proceeded to another round.
He enjoyed the game not just because he had the opportunity to get some more money, he was also trying to while away time and it was a good help. Just in the middle of the third round, he felt the urge to leave. Excusing himself, he stood up and walked aimlessly.
Meanwhile, Luciana was so irritated at the sight she witnessed and hurriedly left looking for Jessie. Luciana rushed back to where she left her and surprisingly, did not find her. She tried looking around, definitely she was around the place as it was not long since she stepped out, she thought.
Luciana was already tipsy from the tequila and extra alcohols she consumed, she carried herself anyway as finding Jessie was her top priority at the moment.
On the other side, Charles strolled to the bar to help himself with a glass of wine. Upon getting there, he took a seat and requested for a strong alcohol since he had much tolerance to it.
"Your drink, Sir", the bar attendant said as she dropped the glass on the part of the counter close to him.
"Thank you", Charles replied politely as he took a sip from the wine.
Just few bar-stools away, Jessie was drowning in her fourth glass and was really drunk already. Charles stayed on the single glass he had requested and mused on the conversation he had with Jessie earlier.
Since the first day he saw her, he felt something for her though he won't put it as love exactly. He just wondered how long he will be able to control his sprouting emotions. Taking a glance around the bar, the corner of his eyes caught a very familiar figure.
On seeing Jessie wasted, his brows furrowed. Wondering what must have put her in that state, he stood up and walked over to meet her.
"More wine", Charles heard her say with her voice slightly breaking. Signalling the attendant to not respond to her order, he sat close to her.
"Hey, what is it?"
"I just need more", she said with her lips puckered-up like she was going to cry if she doesn't get more wine.
"Okay, you will definitely get it", Charles responded. He immediately asked the bar attendant for a glass of water and gave it to Jessie.
"Why does it taste different", She babbled with a sad grimace.
"That's because it is different and much sweeter", he told her like he was trying to convince a small child that her drug was a chocolate.
Jessie's face lit up in excitement,
"then drink with me", she said making a burp sound.
Luciana tried calling Jessie, it was going through but there was no response. She suddenly became scared and tried asking the security, the security officers told her that the whole place was secure and no girl with that description had stepped out. She became a little relieved and kept on calling.
Charles heard vibrations from Jessie's purse, so he assumed someone was calling her. Being a gentleman, he decided to ignore it but the phone continuously rang. He managed to maneuver his way around Jessie to take the phone as she held her purse tight and didn't want to let go of it.
"Jessie, where have you been?", He heard a voice yell out just immediately he tapped on the answer button, "Hey, it's Charles", he vaguely said.
"Charles who? and what are you doing with....", Luciana's voice trailed off as she realized it was the Charles she knows and he was probably with Jessie, "oh... Charles, where's Jessie?", she asked.
Charles who was glad that he didn't have to explain himself anymore, "she's with me drunk", he said without mincing words, "Come over to the bar".
"Okay, I will be there", Luciana said as she hung up. Yes! the bar, she wondered why she never checked there, maybe that's because she never imagined that Jessie will be there, not just being there, but drunk with Charles being the sane one.
She hurriedly moved to the bar, making silent prayers in her head that Jessie stays okay and Charles or any other person does not take advantage of her. Reaching the bar, she searched around and her eyes finally caught Jessie resting her head on Charles' thigh, with Charles rubbing her back in a soothing motion. She finally exhaled a sigh of relief that Jessie was okay at least from what she saw.
"What happened to her?", Charles heard Luciana ask, making him raise his head to catch a glimpse of her. He lowered his gaze and continued staring at Jessie, "I don't know, I saw her at the bar", he said.