Sam coughed for a while, and Mia looked at him, both embarrassed and annoyed.
"What do you mean by that? Are you that scared of my question?"
Sam wiped the corner of his mouth.
"It's just that you asked so suddenly. Weren't we talking about me? That was quite the abrupt turn."
Mia huffed.
"That's the point, to catch you off guard. Look at you, such a scaredy-cat... That last drink doesn't count. You didn't even swallow it; you sprayed it all out."
"You're the one being petty."
Sam took another drink. There was no way around it; drinking seemed safer than answering that question.
They had a few more drinks, and all the barbecue dishes were finally served.
Both of their faces were tinged with a bit of redness. In the bright lights and lively atmosphere, Mia remembered something and looked at Sam.
"By the way, New Year's is coming up. What are your plans?"
Such a familiar question.
