"Hey, that's the 12th glass of bourbon. Do you want to die or something?" She said just a-matter-of-factly.
But he just gave her a half glance... didn't really pay attention.
He wanted to drown himself.
Have you felt so useless all your life? He wanted to respond but he's too drunk to utter a sound.
And yet, he's still so sober in the head.
This woman is a newbie bartender in this pub where he usually hangs out here in New York..
But she gives what he exactly asks for so no problem at all..
He wanted to drown himself to forget.
His conscience nags him to death. His father consequently asked him the past year and this year to return to the Philippines for good but he declined because he plans to marry his girlfriend, Franz, this year. They've been dating exclusively for a year and they are going steady...
Or so he thought.
But the sudden news yesterday gave and brought him all the toll and blame.
The genetic disease took his father's life.
It took him too by surprise many years ago, the reason why they migrated here in the US for medication. But he won over it.
The same disease which made him proceed Medicine in order to study about it and protect his lineage.
But he was so useless yesterday when his father battled for his life.
His father has been keeping it to himself to not trouble the family.
This is so his dad.. Never wanted to get in between priorities and be a burden to anyone.
Though he tried but failed, a lone tear made its way down his cheek. And he just let it.
How could this happen to him?
And he also thought to himself he was the main reason why.
He told his father about his hanging proposal for Franz and his Dad supported him. He was the only one who knew. His Dad always wanted him to be happy.
But how could he be?
The unnoticeable tear-fall went silently and unknowingly by others...
But not to the keen-eyed bartender of the night.
This man must've been going through something huge. She can feel it meters away. But she mummed herself and not pry on anyone's business. She already got a lot to deal with recently.
May this man make it. She feels like he is going to be someone who matter in the future.
But that's just her and her weird prejudices and feelings..
Clarke called it a night and wondered in the morning how he even made it home.
He owns a pad in the busy city of New York. His family's home is in California but he moved here just to be near to Franz...
Franz, his girlfriend, is a hotel receptionist whom he met a year ago while in a one-time convention where he was asked by his dad to attend on his behalf.
He paused.
A year ago, his dad had been frequent in asking him to attend on his behalf.
Maybe that's when it all started he thought to himself. His father might have felt the symptoms but decided to keep it to himself.
He reached for his phone hoping to connect to Franz but since two days ago, her line has been always busy.
He then decided to surprise her a visit in the hotel where she works.
Hangover mellowed now and hoping for Franz to miraculously take it away, he stopped by the flower shop near his pad, bought three roses and decided to call for a cab.
On his way to the hotel, the famous New York Pasta House was full-packed. Media is covering something inside too. Out of curiosity, he went near.
As he got a glimpse of what's inside, he saw a familiar silhouette of a woman whose back is on his view. His heart beat erratic and his chest somehow tightened.
He saw a familiar man, his face is in society pages most of the times as the famous director and producer of Hollywood movies.
As he sees him, he is on his knees proposing to the woman in front..
A petite woman, brunette with loose curls and seemingly sweet..
All too familiar for Clarke..
The woman seemed to be wiping her eyes.
Well, this is a moment her entire life to cherish on..
She must've waited for this..
What girl who doesn't?
The stunt is covered by media.
No less, the man on bended knees is a famous public figure and to pull a scene like this, it could make or break him.
But the woman said yes in a heartbeat after she recovered from her initial shock.
A glittering stone now decorating and sporting her ring finger..
All the while he has been holding his breath for what beguiling reason..
His breathing seemed to congest and his ears seemed burning from that utter pumping of your heart in anticipation and anxiety altogether.
The crowd applauded and cheered on now for a kiss from the newly engaged couple.
The man is teary eyed.. This could have been him when he proposes too.. He can see it..
But the woman..
The woman is giving the crowd her million watt smile which crumbled his world.
The three roses dropped to the ground and forgotten.
Air evaded his lungs all too suddenly.
The world turned upside down as his vision got blurry and pitch black..
Next thing he knew, he woke up in the all too familiar clinic, but he never wanted to be awake nor to be even breathing neither.
As tears flow now so fast, as helpless as when it rains on a day you wanted so bad for a walk, here he is with two life-changing realities hitting him so hard.
Every thing must be a nightmare.
His father now gone..
And that woman in the Pasta House..
It's Franz.