Calypso's POV
Sitting on the sofa with Kent and Finn while we are waiting for James and Ralph to join us. Finn mentioned earlier that he had something to announce, so he wanted us to come together to talk about that matter.
I looked at my casted foot.
It took me two days before being discharged from the hospital. They said I recovered fast from the trauma as my bruises healed quickly. The doctor later on said I was able to go out, my foot was already casted, I just needed to take extra care. They gave a crutch.
"How long have you been in the bathroom? Did you flushed after using the toilet?" Ralph said to James. He sat down next to Kent.
James smiled as he sat down next to me.
"Of course...
...not"
They both looked at James with disgust on their faces.
Ironically, James' face wrinkled slightly,
"Im just joking! Hahahaha!"
Hahaha
"So... Here's the news. Sir Andy just updated us about the opportunity we have in Manila. Sir Germano is the owner of that bar himself, he approved Sir Andy's proposal to him and they would like us to perform in front of them so they know if we can play in their bar "
Mmm.
"Woah" Ralph
"That's okay, bro!" James
"Nice, when's the audition?" Kent asked.
"Thursday... On thursday"
A-Already?
...
We fell silent.
"So by tomorrow, maybe tonight we should be able to return to Manila. Then let's practice right away, next day" he turned to me.
"Cal, can you still play?"
I nodded.
"Okay, okay" he nodded.
Haaaay...
"Guys, Finn and I talked, since this will be our last day here, let's fix our things right away and we'll go somewhere later" Ralph said with a mischievous smile.
"Ohohohokay"
Ralph stood up, and so the rest of us.
I reached for my crutch laying on the sofa's side table and stood up as well. I walked into the bedroom and reluctantly put my clothes in the closet back in the bag.
The days passed very fast.
We're coming back now yet it seems like we just got here. And I barely know to myself why. I know who the reason is. Her again, of course.
I hope I made the most of the time I had with her... when it was still okay.
Crazy thoughts are coming through my mind about… confessing.
Pffff, nevermind.
…
Lyrie turns around and is about to close the store's roll-up door.
"Lyrie..." Finn called to her.
I was surprised…
When Finn suddenly stopped the car in front of the store. He said that he will invite Lyrie to come with us. Everyone thinks that's a good idea, to say goodbye as well.
But really, I thought he read my mind and he would help me confess hahahah… silly me.
Her eyes widened when she heard Finn called her name from behind her, rubbing the edge of his dress before finally facing him.
I remembered how she was flustered every time I showed up to her.
"Pshh" I chuckled, still looking at her.
For a moment our eyes met. It still caused me a strange nervousness. It was just quick and it immediately moved to Finn who was right in front of him.
"Mmm?" she asks.
"We're just wondering if you want to join us tonight? Unfortunately we need to go back to Manila tomorrow so we want to at least hang out before we go. Are you in? Finn asked.
Wearing her pretty serious face, she bowed like she looked at her feet thinking, then quickly looked up at Finn.
"Where?" she asked.
"At the bar, just near the town"
"Mmm..." she sighed slightly as she nodded,
"I don't drink, I'm not used to going to those places, and it might be uncomfortable for me..." she said, shaking her head.
Tss.
"Aah.. okay" Finn nodded,
"I guess you'll pass for now"
Until now this woman still impresses me...
"Yeah, you guys just.. have fun and have a safe trip tomorrow"
"You sure?" I heard Finn again ask while I turned myself around and smiled as I walked closer to the car.
I have no regrets that I liked her. That's for sure.
I opened the car door and entered. I picked up my phone first and fiddled with what was there while I waited for them to finish. All that moment, I avoided looking outside and kept my eyes on the screen of my phone.
...
Just a few minutes later they followed the car. I felt that when it suddenly opened just a while.
We reached that place and this establishment was really remarkable because of the yellow light coming from inside the bar.
"Dayang" I looked up and read the bar's name.
That's the big name of the bar placed in front of it. From the outside, the design is also vintage. Kent pushed open its french wooden door and there we saw the beauty of the place. Almost everything is made of wood and beautifully designed from the bar, tables and paired with incandescent lights. The place is cozy and cold enough, there was a big ceiling fan in the middle of the place.
We spotted a seat in the right corner, it was the only available seat that would fit for all of us. We each sat down while Kent raised his hand to call the waiter.
As I watched them I felt James's tap on my arm.
"Hey, are you okay bro? You're too quiet" he said. I just looked at the glass in front of me and smiled a little.
One by one the wines and dishes were prepared in front of us. I'm not used to drinking so I also don't expect to get much now.
"You know this barrio is kinda awesome, right? I don't think there is such a place in the Philippines, it looks like..." James said.
"Old town" Kent responded.
"Yeah! Exactly! The vibe and experience that this place gave us was also unique. I won't forget how solid it was when we climbed up on the mountain and for a night lived there" said James.
I think I will miss this place too.
"Hahaha thank you, Finn" said Ralph, talking to Finn.
"Yeah this is how the place still looks since I left" Finn said as he looked around.
"When was the last time you came here?" Kent asked.
"I last came here when I was sixteen years old, so it's been a few years... I'm twenty two now"
Six years.
"Six years?!" and Ralph.
"Mmm..." Kent nodded as he put down his glass to the table.
I took the bottle of wine placed in the center of the table and poured it into my glass with only ice. I even rolled my mouth looking at it while shaking and then drank straight. I winced when I tasted the bitterness and courage of its taste.
"Oh haha just slow down" said Ralph.
The conversation went on and what they were saying didn't seem to sink in to me. I just put a drink in my glass and drink it, then repeat. I also can't get rid of what happened these past few days since we came here. How memorable what happened to me was because of how I felt at those times. As James said, this place has a unique vibe, a vintage vibe. But I can't deny that this place became more of a highlight for me when...
… nevermind. Haha.
Annoyingly, her face still flashes in my mind.
How she looked...
Smiled...
And note, she's appearing there in slow motion.
Grumpy mind. I don't know if I'm being tortured or dreaming right now.
I shook my head and just turned my attention to them.
"I just want to know... What were you and Kent talking about the other day outside the hospital?" James asked Ralph. He looks drunk.
"What?-" Kent said.
"Yeah aren't you? He pointed to Kent,
"You asked him there... I also remembered what the old man said that a friend of ours, specifically curly one he said, has the fault why they knew where to wait for Cal and then beat then" he drunkenly chuckled as he lay his head down the table,
"I knew it, I'm now a detective for noticing that…"
What did he just say?
Curly friend?
I looked at Ralph, he's mouth is slightly open in disbelief while looking at James.
"Hey James, what are you saying?" Kent tapped his shoulders and acts like...
Like he's covering up something.
I looked at Kent.
Are they hiding something to me?
I frowned as I turned my eyes to James,
"What's that again, James?"