Chapter 4: Drunken Mess
1969 Words
2009...
"You know, I could almost see your butt from those low-waist pants."
Seventeen-year-old Daniel commented with a grimacing face as he watched his sixteen-year-old girlfriend, Stephanie, dress herself in front of the mirror.
She was wearing a halter crop top and low-waist jeans—no wonder Daniel wasn’t in favor of it.
"What's with the face? We're going to a party; I should look pretty." She noticed how he wrinkled his forehead and couldn’t help but smile.
"Why can't you just wear something comfortable? You look like you want to display your whole body to those people. Let me remind you that there are a lot of jocks at that party. It's Cleo's house. I'm sure he invited his team, and I don't want you to be disrespected," he uttered, as if he were her father.
Stephanie turned to look at him. He was comfortably lying on her bed, his eyes fixed on her body.
"I won't be disrespected because I have you at that party. I'm taken. Besides, I'm certain all the girls will be wearing something cool and sexy—I want to stand out."
Content with what she wore, she walked towards him and pulled him to sit up on the edge of the bed.
"I'm pretty, right?" She puckered her lips, stained with red lipstick.
Daniel barricaded her legs with his and wrapped his arms around her, just below her bottom.
"You're not like the other girls. You're my girlfriend. And for the record, even if you didn’t dress up, you’d still stand out in a crowd."
He kissed her bare stomach before pulling her into a tight hug.
"And I know you're just saying that to convince me not to wear this outfit," she sing-songed, pinching both of his cheeks.
"Come on, we're going to be late." She pulled him up.
Lazily standing, he scratched the back of his head.
He disliked loud places, yet somehow, he always ended up going—because his stubborn girlfriend loved to party.
The night at the party house was a blast.
Everyone was loud, having fun, and grinding against each other like a bunch of itchy leeches on the dance floor.
Meanwhile, Daniel sat on one of the chairs like a loner, just there to monitor where his girlfriend went and what she did.
He trusted her, but he didn’t trust the guys around her. It boiled his blood whenever someone checked her out.
Sighing deeply, he clicked his tongue and scratched his right eyebrow with the knuckle of his forefinger.
Stephanie was having fun with her girlfriends, laughing and dancing. She had tried so hard to convince him to dance, but he couldn't—he wasn’t into this kind of atmosphere.
"Your girl?" someone asked beside him.
He recognized the voice—it was Cleo, the one who threw this party after winning another soccer game against the opposing school.
Turning his head, he nodded.
"Yeah." He breathed out as if it were a problem.
Cleo chuckled and offered him a bottle of beer.
"Just one. It won't make you tipsy, though. It's light."
With no real choice, Daniel took the bottle and clinked it against Cleo’s.
He wasn’t a drinker.
Sometimes, he wondered how an outgoing, party-loving girl like Stephanie ended up with an introvert like him. It was confusing.
"Never liked partying, huh? This is the first time I’ve seen you at one," Cleo commented before chugging his beer like it was water.
Admitting defeat, Daniel shrugged.
"Since Stephanie tied me to her waist, I’ve had to experience things I never liked doing."
Cleo let out a loud laugh.
"Man, that's a total risk! But you know what? That’s actually better. Sometimes, you've got to get out of your nest."
He clicked his tongue.
Daniel could smell the alcohol on Cleo’s breath—it was surprising that he wasn’t tipsy yet, considering how much he drank.
Talk about an alcoholic teen.
"Just like my little sister, Zarina. Bookworm and a total nerd. She never liked parties either."
Daniel lifted an eyebrow, shifting his gaze from Stephanie to Cleo.
"Zarina? She's your sister?" he asked for confirmation.
It was kind of hard to believe. Cleo looked like every girl's dream—masculine, pretty-boy features, and tall. But Zarina? She’d been bullied all year long because she resembled a kettle—an ugly duckling.
"Yep. I tried my best to boost her confidence, but freaking bullies won't stop coming at her."
His brotherly side kicked in as he wore a serious face.
"I mean, she's my sister. I'd do anything for her," he added before glancing at Daniel’s beer, which remained untouched.
"Are you just going to hold that, or are you going to drink it?"
Chuckling, Daniel lifted the bottle, letting the bitter liquid touch his lips. He winced at the taste, letting out a quiet groan.
"Whoa."
"That's good! Have some more!" Cleo nudged him.
But after just one sip, Daniel put the bottle down and raised both hands as if surrendering.
"I can't. I'm driving Stephanie home."
Making a whooshing sound, Cleo snorted and placed the bottle back in his hand.
"You're not gonna get drunk, silly. Like I told you, it's light, just one bottle. Have some fun! I'm sure Stephanie will love the idea of you finally getting along with her nature."
Still hesitant, Daniel made sure not to finish the bottle. He just wanted Cleo to leave him alone.
He hadn't even taken more than four gulps before dizziness hit him.
Was his alcohol tolerance really this low? It wasn’t even strong.
"Dude, you good?" Cleo asked when he saw Daniel gripping the side of the stool.
"Nah, I'm good. Just a little shake," he chortled.
But just as he denied his wooziness, darkness swallowed him whole.
It was all a blur.
Daniel couldn't remember what happened that night.
He just woke up in someone's bed, alone, wearing nothing but his boxer briefs.
His head ached so badly, but he forced himself to get the hell out of there. Turns out, he was still in Cleo’s house.
There was no one in sight, so he just left without saying anything.
Besides, he had to check on Stephanie.
He was nervous. Was she mad at him for ghosting her?
This was going to be a huge war.
Finally regretting drinking that beer, he cursed himself.
Who knew it would affect him that much?
Even he didn’t know what had happened. He just blacked out.
And whoever put him in that bed—just whatever.
He tried ringing Stephanie’s phone, but no one answered.
That confirmed Daniel’s hunch.
She was mad.
He should’ve just convinced her not to go to that party in the first place.
He didn’t go home, knowing his mother would rant about him staying out all night.
The millions of missed calls from his parents and younger brothers told him he was dead meat the moment he stepped inside their house.
Having no license but still driving a car, Daniel was extra careful not to break any traffic laws.
If he did, his dad would never let him drive again.
He reached Stephanie's house and made sure his hair was fixed and looking better than a newly woken man before stepping out of his car. Hopping like a bunny in a hurry, he pushed the doorbell twice and waited for the doors to open.
Feeling all the guilt, he even knocked and peeked through the curtained windows.
Hearing footsteps from inside the house, his heart beat quicker. And the moment the door cracked open, his heart stopped.
Stephanie looked in pain. Her eyes were puffy, obviously from crying, a red circle around them. Her nose and ears were flushed.
"Baby?"
"Where were you?" Her cold tone made his tongue roll backward as he fumbled for words to say.
"You see, I was just sitting on a stool at the bar, and Cleo offered me a drink. Just one, I promise. I—I—I don't know what happened next because I blacked out or something. Baby, I swear I didn't ditch you, okay? I think I got drunk. I still have a headache." He explained, but Stephanie looked unconvinced.
"Baby, I'm sorry, okay? If you're mad that I didn't show up last night—look, I know I was your ride home. I should've refused Cleo's—"
"Just that? Haven't you forgotten anything else to say to me?" Her voice got even colder.
Her arms were crossed tightly—her signature move when she was seriously furious.
Having no clue what else she was expecting, he shook his head.
"It's all over the page that you were sleeping with Lia last night. In bed. Naked. You're even hugging her!" She burst out and slapped his chest.
Startled and completely clueless about what she was talking about, his eyes widened—way wider than usual.
"Baby, I don't know what you're talking about! I'm telling you the truth!" He defended himself, grabbing her wrists.
Pulling away from him, she cried and sobbed right in front of him. "Telling the truth? Then why does it look like you enjoyed a steamy night with her?"
Her tears masked her cheeks, and Daniel wanted to wipe them away. But how could he when she was pushing him back? And frankly, he had no idea what was going on.
"Where did you even get that idea? Baby, you know how faithful I am to you. I love you, and I would never, ever, ever replace you with anyone! You know that, right?"
He tried to explain while racking his brain for any memory of last night.
"You know I'd never do anything that could lead to a fight, right?"
"Right?" she repeated, then stormed inside the house to grab her phone.
Marching back, she shoved the screen in his face, showing the pictures circulating on the private page for students at the Academy.
With wide eyes, Daniel took the phone and stared at the pictures posted on the page. It was him—lying in bed, with Lia wrapped around his waist. They looked like they were cuddling after some fiery "something."
The comments were all over the place—some people were thrilled about the scandal, some were making fun of it, and others were feeling sorry for Stephanie, convinced Daniel had cheated on her.
"Now tell me you didn’t do anything."
Turning her phone off, Daniel wiped his face with his hands and looked straight at his girlfriend.
"I didn’t do anything." He repeated himself, seriously and honestly. "You know I’m still a virgin, even at my age, Stephanie. Baby, you're the only woman I'd ever want to be with." He lowered his voice, still standing outside. He wouldn't step in.
His respect for Stephanie was his boundary—if she didn’t want him inside, he wouldn’t take a step.
"Then how come this picture exists?" She spat on him.
"I—" He tried to piece together what happened last night.
Biting his lower lip, he shut his eyes tight.
"I don’t want to jump to conclusions, but… Cleo. He was the only one who talked to me and offered me a drink. I mean, he never talks to people he’s not close with. Especially not me—I’m not as sporty as him. And… I don’t know."
He yanked his hair, looking lost.
"Baby, I swear I’m telling you the truth." His eyes were turning red now.
Stephanie looked away.
"Baby?"
"I don’t want to see you for now. Go find out what the hell happened last night and prove to me that you didn’t do anything wrong. Or you can say goodbye to me." She spoke coldly, not making eye contact, before closing the door.
- Writer
