Chapter 27 AFTER THE FIRE
Godiva's POV
“Wait up, girl,” Dina said, following behind me. I turned and smiled at her, giving her a high five.
“We did it!” I cheered.
“Oh yes, we did,” Dina replied, smiling.
“You’re really going to miss the epic fireworks?” Dina asked seriously.
“Yes, I need time alone to think,” I replied solemnly.
“Let’s go think together then,” Dina said, wrapping her arms around my neck.
“Di, I said ‘I need time alone, alone,’” I said, giving her a sarcastic smile. I could see her smile gradually turn into a frown as she let go of me.
“You know I’ll feel better by tomorrow,” I added as I gave her a hug.
I watched as she walked back to the bonfire, tears welling up in my eyes.
On entering the hostel, I headed straight for Dina’s box.
Her box had four wheels and was carefully decorated with write-ups. I carefully unlocked her box and went straight for the liquor she smuggled.
Who would have thought I was going to be the one to take the liquor?
I looked at the transparent bottle filled with brown liquid before me and stopped, contemplating for a while whether to take the liquor or not.
I had watched in movies how people drank alcohol and forgot their problems in a second.
Making up my mind, I popped the bottle open and gulped about half the content before stopping to catch my breath.
I had tasted alcohol before, but it was only in very small quantities. Dina and I would sneak out of Mama’s presence and attend night events. We were always very careful not to get caught.
During several of those events, I remember tasting liquor, not this brand though. I remember pretending to gulp large amounts and then going to the bathroom and spewing it all into the toilet sink.
I remembered how disgusting some of this liquor tasted, and I never wanted to take it. But I knew that liquor had a way of drowning away my sorrows, and I wanted to try it out for myself.
That was my first time, drinking this much, and last experience ever. I felt a little hurt in my chest, the taste was bittersweet and strange.
After pausing for a few minutes, I noticed there was no impact. I still felt very normal. I angrily popped the bottle open again and gulped down the remaining substance.
After waiting for about three minutes with no effect felt, I angrily got up to go to my bed when it suddenly felt like the room was spinning fast.
I attempted walking back to my bed when it felt like the ground before me was high. I suddenly felt nauseous, so I threw myself on the ground and managed to crawl outside.
The nausea disappeared the moment I got outside. I began crying for help in a not so audible manner and giggling in between.
I could barely hear my own voice. Everywhere was spinning and blurry.
I noticed a figure walk toward me and drop me on a bench not far from the hostel. When the figure attempted walking away, I held on to the figure’s leg and burst out crying.
I guess whoever that person was, the person felt sympathy toward me. The figure sat and listened to my sorry tale and nagging. I couldn’t really remember all I said, but I knew I was lamenting about my breakup with Leo.
The figure patted me gently on my shoulders as I cried and switched to laughter at intervals.
The last thing I could remember before I blacked out was the figure and I kissed him.
Who orchestrated the kiss, I couldn’t remember. Who the figure was, I didn’t know. All I knew was that it was my first kiss ever.
Still engrossed in the kiss, I blacked out completely.
I woke up at around 11:00am the next morning, lying wasted on Dina’s bed. I felt my head spin hard the moment I tried sitting up.
It took me almost forever to finally sit up straight. My head kept banging as I stood up to help myself.
I thought there was no one in the hostel until I heard the bathroom door swing open. My heart almost came out of my mouth as I turned swiftly and panicked in fear. I felt joy and relief the moment I saw Dina holding on to the bathroom door, laughing at me.
“Where’s everyone?” I asked gently, still trying to recollect myself.
“They went for a hike,” Dina said as she handed me a substance in a pet bottle.
“What’s that?” I asked, looking at the bottle with disgust.
“Jerald gave this to me to have you take it when you sober up,” Dina replied.
I looked away, completely lost. How did Jerald know I took alcohol? Could he have been the mystery boy?
It was as though Dina heard my thoughts. She added, “According to him, Hakeem told him you were wasted last night.”
I screamed at the top of my voice, causing Dina to panic. “Does that mean it was Hakeem I kissed!” I exclaimed loudly, making Dina confused.
I narrated to Dina what happened between me and the anonymous person the previous night.
I could see Dina trying hard to stop herself from laughing before she finally burst out laughing.
I had always imagined my first kiss with different guys, but never with Hakeem.
“Don’t worry, girl, you’re probably overthinking. I’m sure it wasn’t Hakeem,” Dina said, handing me the substance.
The moment I took the substance, I began feeling grouchy and indifferent. It was only after I threw everything out of my system that I felt better.
Everyone returned when I was taking my shower. It was as if what happened the previous night never happened. Everything was going normal, except for me, who had a wounded heart I needed to nurse.
After taking a shower, I decided to sit outside and watch the boys as they played football on the pathway. Watching boys play football was like therapy for me. I loved admiring their physiques.
When I stared at the boys, my heart jolted the moment I sensed something, and it skipped. He was staring at me awkwardly.
Oh my God! Was he the one I kissed?