|30 Minutes After|

*Love Drunk (Acoustic) - Boys Like Girls*

"♪ Top down in the summer sun

The day we met was like a hit-and-run

And I still taste it on my tongue.. ♪"

It was Christinna who were lead singing and playing the guitar.

"♪ (taste it on my tongue) ♪" while the guys were second voice.

I admit, this was the thing that I really missed. Many years had passed before our friendship reunited. It was my fault, anyway. I was an asshole. If it wasn't that I got involved with Christinna our friendship could have remained fine as before. Though looking at the moment we seemed okay, we all knew that our friendship had ruptured already.

"♪ The sky was burning up like fireworks

You made me want you, oh, so bad it hurts

But boy, in case you haven't heard ♪"

I wanted to sing with them, like we used to before but I was ashamed.

Christinna and I used to sing that song in duet. I had never forgotten the first day that we met, this was the song on the background. And when she was gone, I've gotten this Last Song Syndrome. I could mentaly hear it.

♪ I used to be love drunk,

but now I'm hungover

I love you forever, forever is over ♪

I was confident that I had a good voice that even if I sing along together with the background music, I could justify it. Anthony and I were in a bar. Minors were not allowed but we were surprised that the bouncer did not have a doubt on us. Thank God for mature demeanor.

Well, we were here because we were both broken. We've courted some girls and ended up being rejected. We really were bestfriends!

This was actually our first time to get drunk because of that sht.

"You know what, man! Girls are indeed difficult to understand."

I stopped singing when I heard Anthony started to whine. I looked at him.

"She said that I have a chance. What happened now?"

I chuckled. While me had already forgotten that I got rejected, Anthony here was still hurt. I just realized that there were a lot of fish in the ocean. I was actually looking at few across us.

"Maybe she meant that you have a chance to get rejected?" I said as I took my third shot.

"You're probably right. I was just too stupid to believe her lie."

I shook my head. "I don't know. What I knew is that girls are so picky. As if they could still find a rare gentlemen like us." I proudly stated.

When somebody caught my attention as she deliberately cleared her throat aloud. We looked around only to see a girl seated on the stool beside us. I noticed the four beer bottles infront of her which made my brow arched.

If I were to ask, the girl looked like a minor. So, how did she get in here?

"Uhm.. Do you have a problem, miss?" Anthony asked, he was stammering because of too much drink.

The girl took a bottoms up drink first before turning to us. "What I can't understand witg you boys is that you are so full of yourself. You really think you can make all girls yours in an instant?"

What?! She had the gut!

I did not let Anthony to rebutt. I knew it would not do any good especially that he's drunk.

"Excuse me, do we know you? Could you just mind your own business?"

♪ We used to kiss all night, now it's just a barfight

So don't call me crying, say hello to goodbye ♪

"Christinna San Diego. Sophomore, gothic-punk, loner but not a rebel." She introduced which surprised me. She did not even too a glimpse on us. "Not that I am meddling. I just want yo remind you that no girls are fool. You know, if they give you a chance they only want to know you better. If they see you're good, then you're in luck, guys. But if they don't, you'll get rejected. In your case, tell me which is which."  then she chuckled.

"You're judging us, aren't you?"  I said.

♪ Cause just one sip, would make me sick

(Oh yeah!)

I used to be love drunk, but now I'm hungover

I love you forever, ♪

She shrugged her shoulders. "I'm a girl. I should know. Besides, your friend was whining. And it hurt my ears hearing your self-proclamation of being a rare gentleman.Tss.." She shook her head and knocked out a bottle of beer once again. I couldn't tell whether she was drunk or not yet. Though, her face was tomato red.

"The way you say things seems like you have experienced being rejected, huh?"

"Would you believe me when I say yes?" She stared at me for like ten seconds.

And it was like the start of my happiness.

♪ but now it's over... ♪

I came back to reality when I felt someone was pushing my shoulder lightly. It was Miko. The rest was gaping at me then they laughed altogether. Some of them accused me of gawking at Christinna and that was embarrassing!

She stopped playing the guitar.

"Oh no! As expected!" Anthony taunted.

I felt gay when I noticed my own self blushing. I never ever thought of daydreaming. And I kind of couldn't get over by being starstruck with my ex-girlfriend. I was like a fool, really.

"Tsk.. Tsk.. Tsk.." The boys tsked almost in unison..

I just shook my head.

Another 30 minutes had passed.

The more the night was getting deep, the more we all got drunk. The hard drink was now replaced by strong beer. Trixie was already knocked out. That's why Anthony did the honor to take care of her. It"s no big deal, though. We were all good friends,.more like brothers and sisters and nothing else more. It was only me who impelled a relationship with our friend. Who had ruined it all.

Nonetheless, I happened to feel love at first exist with Christinna. But during that time, she did not want to be in a relationship yet. She was too young and she was scared even if we hid it. So we becamce friends instead, until the time came that we failed to stop what we really felt towards each other.

I guess, I was half-seas over that's why I was already thinking unnecessary thoughts at the moment.

The shot glass turned its another round for Christinna. When she took it, bottoms up, she lose herself. Good thing Renz was just beside her, he was able to catch her before she fell om the ground.

"I thought she was fine. Didn't notice she's drunk already." Renz uttered. He was about to carry Christinna when she spoke.

"I-I'm going.. home." Christinna slurred.

"C'mon! You're jagged up." Miko chimed in.

Christinna might have stood up to let us see how she could still handle herself but it only took her two seconds before she feel again. Renz helped her stay still. Miko even gave them a hand.

"I-I really need to.. go home." Christinna insisted while rummaging in her pocket. "Wh..o can d-drive m..e ho..me?" She then raised her keys up.

I saw the hesitation on my friends' faces. Renz and Miko affirmed that they didn't. Kieffer was dead drunk on the bench. While Karl and Anthony might've gotten asleep inside the house.

I stood up, running out of choice and grabbed the keys from Christinna's hand.

"Help me get her in her car." I asked my friends who were a bit perplexed.

Even I was as perplexed as them but could I do anything about it, couldn't I?

"'If Anthony ask where am I, tell him I just drive Christinna home." I reminded the two before I climbed up to the driver's seat.

"You Sure you can drive?" asked Miko.

I tapped his shoulder. "Of course! If ever that Jess would go here just tell her you don't know where I am."

"What if she go crazy?" Renz said.

I looked at him. "Just do me a favor for tonight. I just have to take her to her house. If you want, you can come with me."

"Better idea." Miko was about to go inside the car when Renz stopped him. He even had this meaningful look on his face.

Miko scratched his head.

"We're not coming. We still need to fix the mess here. Anthony's sister will come later on and if she sees this, she would definitely go insane."  Renz explained.

I nodded. And then I drove Christinna home.

* * *

{ C h r i s t i n n a }

My head was having this massive pain when I got up. The last thing I could remember was Renz held me because I was going to fall and aftee that, everything went vague. I didn't even know how the hell I went home.

I stood up from my bed. When I was able to see my reflection from the full-length mirror, I noticed that my clothes had changed! My eyes broadened as I got puzzled. Did I get myself home and changed my clothes?

I saw the clothes that I was wearing yesterday discarded on the floor. I closed my eyes to recall what had happened but to no avail.

Ohh.. Christinna, you're so stupid!

I tugged my hair.

What happened?

I pick my clothes from the floor. I really hate mess!

I felt the need of having a cold drink so I decided to go downstairs. I was in deep thought of how did I get home last night?

My humble abode was big for loner person like me. I didn't have anybody with me unless my brother and very close cousin would go visit me here.

The moment I was downstairs, I noticed a hand from the sofa bed. I hurriedly scratched my eyes to see if I was dreaming but when I was done that's when I believed that I wasn't dreaming at all.

I slowly skipped forward to that person. On my way I saw the broom so I picked it up and rested it over my shoulder. I handled it too tight so that any moment, when this stranger dare to hurt me I would gonna show him what he'd never seen before.

As I strode toward him, I could hear him snoring. I could tell that he's a guy. He's wearing men's shoes which I could actually see clearly. So I thought he's sleeping. But I was still not sure if this person was harmful or not. I didn't even know how on earth this man came inside my house!

When I stood in front of him, I was shocked! This couldn't be!

I sighed and put the broom down before he could see me in that crazy way. I shook my head before I stared at him. Then I decided to go to the kitchen before I could start fantasizing him.

I prepared breakfast for two. It's necessary. One, as a way of saying thanks to him for taking me home and; two, I knew, he couldn't last a day without eating breakfast. I still remember his favorite dishes. I'd never forgotten any of that, anyway. Anything about him.

The reason why I was always getting bananas everytime I accidentally thought about his favorites. Damn! This was not me! I should not be attracted to him. Past is past and there's nothing to continue, anymore.

'Coz I didn't want to get deeply, madly in love drunk on him again.

Never again.

Once was already enough.

And might be good for the both of us to stay good friends because I was really hurt by him before.

Well, I thought this was just the effect of hangover. I shook off the unnecessary thoughts rounding around my head.

After I washed my face, I drank cold water to refresh my mind and soul. I had to keep myself cool so that I could stop thinking about the past.

Nonetheless, I still prepared a good breakfast for us. But I'd thought about whether to cook his favorites or not.

* * * *