Chapter 9: Chapter Eight

“AVON, could you please slice these lemons,” Joanadel said as she passed the plastic of lemons to her.

She grabbed the plastic bag and passed it to Janina. They already finished three bottles of vodka, and Avon was now feeling dizzy, so she could not do that. Her alcohol tolerance was high back in the days, but it went down after she stopped drinking hard drinks for years. Now all she could tolerate were wine and beer.

“It’s time for tequila,” Merc announced as he opened the bottle.

“I’ll pass,” Avon told everyone.

“Madam, don’t be a killjoy, okay? You’re not even drunk,” Merc narrowed his eyes on her.

“Yeah. But too much alcohol will make my blood sugar level high. I drank vodka for old time’s sake,” she explained.

“Let’s not force Avon if she doesn’t wanna drink anymore,” said Inay Maricel. “What matter is that, she is with us tonight.” Their teacher looked at her and smiled.

Merc poured tequila on the shot glass and passed it on to Daevid, who was sitting beside him. Avon was just watching her friends drink and chat with them. Then suddenly, someone poked her arm. It was Roeden.

Janina was sitting between them, so he leaned back on his seat so they could see each other.

“What?” she asked Roeden with her brows furrowed.

“Taste this. One sip will do.” Roeden was handing her the shot glass filled with tequila.

She shook her head. “No. I don’t want to.”

Roeden’s lips pouted, which made her laugh.

“I guess the wind changed its course,” said Inay Maricel, who noticed them. “Avon declined Roeden’s offer. Back in the days she couldn’t say no to Roeden.”

Everyone laughed at that and teased them afterwards. Avon would not mind it back in the days, but now she suddenly felt awkward, and she did not know why. Perhaps things had changed for her because now she knew what it really meant for her. She rose from her seat and excused herself to go to the toilet. Yeah, that was the only way she knew to escape. She needed space to calm her heart.

Avon lay down on the tub when she went inside the bathroom. The coldness of the empty tub that touched her bare arms seemed to calm her pounding heart and brought her calm.

It was okay for Avon to be teased by their friends. But then, she noticed that she was sensitive, and her emotions were heightened. Or maybe it was because of the influence of alcohol in her system. She decided to stay in the bathroom a little longer.

Avon closed her eyes. If she sleeps there, her friends would either make fun of her or wake her up, and she preferred the latter. She was on the brink of falling asleep when she heard the bathroom door creaked. She suddenly sat up, only to be startled upon seeing Roeden inside the bathroom. He seemed shocked too.

“What are you doing there?” he asked as he sauntered towards the bathtub. Roeden sat on its edge and looked at her intently.

She folded her legs and hugged them tightly. “Nothing. I just want to escape the noise out there.”

He smiled at her, showing his deep set of dimples that once again captivated her heart and soul. Avon was tempted to raise her hand and poke it, but she would not dare.

“Don’t smile at me like that.” She pressed her lips together.

“Why? You’re falling for me again, aren’t you?” Ah, now he was the one teasing her.

“Oh, shut up, Roeden. I no longer have feelings for you.” Avon rolled her eyes. “I don’t l-love you anymore.”

“Oh, really?” There was this glint in his eyes that she could not name. Amusement? Maybe. “I don’t believe that.”

“Why won’t you believe me? Don’t you know that when a person is drunk, they tend to tell the truth. I don’t have the courage to tell you that I don’t love you anymore if I’m sober.” She hissed. “I’m telling the truth. You better believe me.”

“Liar. You don’t look drunk to me. You’re just tipsy.” His lip twitched.

“What makes you think that I’m not drunk?” She arched a brow.

“I know you, Avon.” Roeden heaved a sigh. “If you are really drunk, you should be crying by now.”

Yeah, right!

She stood up and left the bathtub. “You’re going t use the toilet, right? I better get out of here then.”

She marched towards the door and held the knob. Avon twitched and pulled it open, but to her astonishment, the door would not open.

“It won’t open! It’s stuck!” she exclaimed.

“Perhaps you wanna watch me pee,” he teased.

She turned to him briskly, only to find out that he was already standing close to her.

“Darn, Roeden! I’m not kidding here. Go and see for yourself,” she said with narrowed eyes.”

“Get out of my way then,” he said.

Avon moved to the side and watched him try to open the damn door. And just like her, he could not open it even if he tried to pull it under.

“We are trapped.” He looked at her. “This could only be opened if someone will push it from outside.”

“See?” She folded her arms across her chest and scoffed. “How dare you accuse me that I have malicious intent towards you. Hello, my feelings for you remains wholesome and pure,” she said and rolled her eyes.

“Now you’re telling the truth.” Roeden grinned.

Her eyes grew wider when she realized what she just said.

“Wait. I’ll call for help.” She inserted her hands in her pockets, but she could not find her phone. “Shit. I think I left my phone outside. Do you have yours?”

Roeden shook his head.

Avon drew a breath and banged the door. She even screamed for help. But her knuckles hurt, and her throat ached, yet no one came to rescue them.

“Maybe they don’t hear you.” He pulled her away from the door. “They were at the garage having fun. No one will hear you unless someone will come here to use the toilet. And you must stop screaming. You might wake the sleeping elders and kids.”

Her brows furrowed. That was her intention. If she caught someone’s attention, then they could get out of the bathroom.

Roeden sat on the edge of the bathtub again while she kept pacing back and forth in front of the door. The bathroom was well-ventilated because it was big enough for both of them. But Roeden’s presence made it hard for her to breathe.

“Avon, could you please stop? I’m starting to feel dizzy watching you. Come and sit with me.” He tapped the spot beside him.

She was having second thoughts if she would sit beside him. In the end, Avon did what she was told.

“I think they heard me, but they chose to act as if they don’t. They have an idea that we’re trapped here together and decided to leave us here,” she said afterwards. “It’s impossible that they never wonder where we are.”

“You think so?”

She turned her gaze on him. “Yeah! They used to play cupid. We’ve done this game a lot of times, locking pairs inside one room for a night.”

Roeden looked at her in the eyes. “Are you afraid of me now?”

“No.”

“Then, stop acting like a scaredy-cat.”

“I’m scared for you, Roeden. I don’t know how long I could hold back before I eat you alive.” Yeah, she had to cover it up with humor.

To her amusement, Roeden laughed out loud.

“So, are you telling me now that your feelings for me aren’t wholesome?”

Avon bit her lower lip. It was too late to take it back.