The night was escalating fast, thanks to Riri and her endless quest to out-party everyone. Tonight's challenge? A tequila showdown, because why not destroy our livers on a random Friday?
Lincoln, bless his naive soul, had no idea what he'd gotten himself into. He stared at the row of tequila shots in front of him like they were tiny glasses of doom. "So... I just drink as much as I can?" he asked, a nervous laugh escaping his lips.
"That's the spirit!" Riri cheered, slamming back her first shot with the ease of someone who had made poor decisions her hobby. She gestured to the next one like a gladiator daring her opponent to strike.
Lincoln hesitated but grabbed a shot anyway. "Okay, here goes nothing," he mumbled, knocking it back. His face scrunched immediately, and he coughed. "That's—oh wow, that's strong."
Riri rolled her eyes. "Amateur. Keep going, champ. We're just getting started."
Aeri leaned back on the plush couch, swirling her cocktail lazily. She was watching the unfolding disaster with the delighted air of someone who had front-row seats to a live soap opera. "This is going to end spectacularly," she mused, taking a sip.
I, meanwhile, was trying to keep a semblance of control over the situation. "Riri, maybe don't kill him on his first night out?" I suggested, pulling a water bottle from the table and sliding it toward Lincoln. "You've already got him halfway to tequila purgatory."
Riri ignored me, grinning as Lincoln reached for his third shot. "He'll be fine," she said, waving a hand dismissively. "Look at him! He's a natural. Right, Lincoln?"
Lincoln wobbled slightly but nodded with an alarming amount of enthusiasm. "Yeah, I've got this," he slurred, his confidence already teetering as much as his balance.
From the corner of my eye, I felt that prickle again. That someone's watching me feeling. I turned my head and spotted Kiel near the railing, his drink in hand and his gaze firmly fixed on us—or, more specifically, on Lincoln. His expression was a mix of irritation and that broody intensity he always seemed to default to when things weren't going his way.
Riri noticed him too and nudged me with her elbow. "Uh-oh. Looks like Mr. Tall, Tattooed, and Broody is back for another round of emotional warfare."
"Don't start," I warned, already regretting everything about this night.
Aeri's eyes sparkled as she glanced over at Kiel. "Oh, this just keeps getting better. He looks like someone keyed his car and blamed it on Lincoln."
"Do you think he'll come over?" Riri asked, already plotting something diabolical.
"No," I said firmly. "And we're not encouraging him."
Riri smirked. "Oh, we don't have to. Look at him; he's practically a volcano about to erupt."
Lincoln, blissfully unaware of the brewing drama, reached for his fourth shot and promptly missed the glass, his hand landing with a loud thud on the table. "Oops," he muttered, laughing as if it were the funniest thing in the world. "I think I'm... I think I'm winning."
"You're winning all right," Aeri said dryly. "Winning at becoming a cautionary tale."
Kiel, still rooted to his spot, was now glaring with the intensity of a laser beam. I could practically feel his frustration from across the room. His jaw was tight, his knuckles white against his drink glass, and his eyes flicked between me and Lincoln like he was trying to piece together a crime scene.
Riri, noticing his death stare, leaned toward me and whispered loud enough for everyone to hear, "Is it just me, or does Kiel look like he's plotting Lincoln's demise?"
"He's not plotting anything," I said, grabbing a tequila shot for myself because clearly, I wasn't drunk enough to deal with this.
Lincoln, now on his fifth—or maybe sixth?—shot, raised his glass unsteadily and shouted, "To friendship! And tequila! And—uh, what was I saying?"
"To your downfall," Riri quipped, taking another shot like it was water.
Aeri chuckled, clearly entertained. "This is gold. Absolute gold."
Kiel finally made a move, stepping into the VIP section with a deliberate slowness that screamed I'm about to ruin someone's night. I braced myself, but instead of coming over, he leaned against a nearby table, his eyes locked on me.
Riri nudged me again. "He's brooding harder now. Like, epic levels of brooding. Should we take bets on when he's going to crack?"
"No bets," I said, rubbing my temples as Lincoln tried—and failed—to stand up straight. "And someone get him some water before he passes out."
"Water is for quitters," Lincoln declared, slumping back into the couch and giggling like a toddler who'd had too much sugar.
Kiel, now clearly done with just watching, pushed off the table and started walking toward us. Riri grinned like a cat who'd just found a bowl of cream. "Here we go," she whispered.
Aeri sipped her drink, her expression one of pure amusement. "Let the drama commence."
I, meanwhile, reached for another shot because clearly, this night was far from over.
Kiel finally arrived at our table, his expression unreadable but his presence absolutely magnetic—though I'd never admit it out loud. He didn't sit, just loomed there with his drink in hand, staring down at me like I owed him an explanation for Lincoln's existence.
"Hey, Kiel!" Riri greeted cheerfully, completely unfazed by his intensity. She leaned back against the couch like this was the best show she'd seen in months. "You here to join the tequila Olympics, or just to glare at us from the shadows?"
Kiel's jaw twitched, and his eyes briefly flicked to Lincoln, who was currently trying to poke a lime wedge into his own mouth and missing entirely. "Looks like you're having fun," Kiel said, his voice flat but with an edge sharp enough to cut glass.
"We are!" Riri chirped, reaching for another shot. "You should try it. Lincoln's already winning, though. Right, champ?"
"Winning at what?" Kiel asked, crossing his arms.
"Winning at being the most wasted person in this club," Aeri supplied with a smirk, never one to miss an opportunity to stir the pot. "He's a natural. Keiyi's been playing referee, though."
I shot her a glare. "I'm not refereeing anything. I'm just trying to keep him from, you know, dying."
"Aw, Keiyi's so responsible," Riri teased, poking my cheek. "Such a mom friend."
"Yeah, she's totally holding it together," Lincoln slurred, looking up at me with a dopey grin. "You're like... like my safety net. My tequila guardian angel."
"Tequila guardian angel?" Kiel repeated, his tone so dry it could've started a wildfire. "That's... new."
"Oh, don't be jealous," Riri said, her grin widening. "Keiyi has enough tequila wisdom for everyone."
Kiel ignored her, his attention fixed on me. "Can we talk?" he asked, his voice lower now, meant just for me.
Before I could answer, Lincoln perked up, or as much as a man drowning in tequila could. "Hey, Kiel!" he slurred, waving Kiel over with an exaggerated motion. "You're Keiyi's friend, right? Cool guy! Come drink with us! We're having a great time!"
Kiel's lips twitched, and for a second, I thought he might actually crack a smile. But instead, he turned to me, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Is he always like this?"
"Like what?" I asked, feigning innocence.
"Like a puppy on tequila," Kiel muttered.
"First time clubbing," Aeri supplied, leaning forward like she was narrating a documentary. "We're witnessing his natural habitat evolve. It's fascinating."
"I can still hear you," Lincoln pointed out, though his words were slurring together. He raised another shot glass. "And I'm still in the game!"
"No, you're not," I said, snatching the glass from his hand before he could tip it over. "You're on a water break."
Kiel arched an eyebrow at me, clearly unimpressed. "This is what you're babysitting tonight?"
"Hey!" Lincoln protested weakly. "I'm fun."
"You're drunk," I corrected, pushing the water bottle into his hands.
Riri leaned closer to Kiel, her grin turning mischievous. "So, Kiel, what brings you over here? Couldn't stand being away from us, or did you just want a front-row seat to the Lincoln Show?"
Kiel ignored her question entirely, his eyes still on me. "Keiyi."
"What?" I asked, exasperated. "Do you want to talk or just glare at me all night?"
"Both," he admitted, the corner of his mouth twitching like he was holding back a smile. "But mostly talk."
But before I could even say anything, Lincoln was now fully in performance mode. He stood on the couch, wobbling slightly but looking completely unbothered as he waved an imaginary microphone in the air. "Alright, alright!" he slurred loudly. "Next up... Lincoln's tequila-fueled greatest hits! Let's gooo!"
Riri leaned back with a wicked grin, swirling her drink like a villain plotting their next move. "This is better than reality TV," she declared. "But it's about time we upped the stakes."
"I can't watch him crash and burn any harder," Aeri added, though her smirk betrayed her enjoyment of the chaos.
"You're both terrible," I said, sinking into my seat. "He's harmless. Let him have his moment."
"Oh, we will," Riri replied sweetly. Then, her eyes slid over to Kiel, who had just rejoined us, drink in hand. She clapped her hands together. "Actually, you should babysit him, Kiel."
Kiel blinked, caught completely off guard. "What?"
Aeri, always quick to jump on Riri's schemes, sat up straighter. "Yes, perfect idea. You're responsible-looking. And tall. He might actually listen to you."
Kiel's expression shifted into one of pure skepticism. "Why on earth would I—"
"You're clearly invested in Keiyi's life," Riri interrupted, a mischievous gleam in her eye. "And Lincoln's part of her night right now. Consider this... bonding."
"Bonding," Kiel repeated flatly. He shot me a look, silently asking, Are they serious?
I shrugged helplessly. "Don't look at me. I didn't ask for this."
"Oh, come on," Riri pressed, her grin widening. "What's the big deal? He's harmless. Just keep him from, I don't know, falling off a table."
"And maybe prevent him from serenading the entire club," Aeri added, gesturing to where Lincoln was now loudly singing—completely off-key—along to the DJ's track.
Kiel sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "This is ridiculous."
"Ridiculously necessary," Riri corrected, shoving a bottle of water into his hand. "Here. Start with hydration. You're welcome."
Before Kiel could protest further, Lincoln stumbled toward him, nearly tripping over the low table. He grinned up at Kiel like they were lifelong best friends. "Hey, man! You're tall. Like, really tall. You should be in charge of stuff."
Kiel stared at him, completely unamused. "Stuff like what?"
"Like—" Lincoln paused, his drunk brain clearly struggling to find an answer. "Like making sure I don't die. Or fall. Or... whatever."
"There, see?" Riri said, clapping her hands. "He's already delegating. You've got this, Kiel."
Kiel groaned, running a hand through his hair. "I hate all of you."
"Not all of us," Aeri chimed in, sipping her drink with a knowing smile. "Just... most of us."
Lincoln flopped onto the couch beside Kiel, draping an arm over his shoulders like they were best buds. "You're a good guy," Lincoln slurred. "Like, a really good guy. Keiyi has great taste in friends."
Kiel stiffened, his jaw tightening as he carefully peeled Lincoln's arm off him. "Drink your water," he ordered, shoving the bottle into Lincoln's hands.
"Yes, sir!" Lincoln saluted clumsily before taking an exaggerated gulp, water dribbling down his chin.
I couldn't help but laugh, despite the absurdity of the situation. "Thanks for stepping up, Kiel."
"Oh, don't thank him yet," Riri said, grinning like the cat that caught the canary. "This night is just getting started."
And with that ominous promise, Lincoln leaned back against Kiel, closing his eyes like he was about to nap. Kiel shot me a look that could only be described as murderous.
"Don't worry," I told him, barely containing my laughter. "You're doing great."
He muttered something under his breath, probably about regretting every decision that led him here, as Riri and Aeri high-fived in the background.
The night was officially out of control.
Lincoln, beyond wasted from Riri's tequila challenge, was now swaying back and forth like a drunken windmill. His face was a mix of tipsy affection and utter confusion as he tried to get his words out, slurring them into a puddle of nonsense.
"Keiyi!" Lincoln grinned, his face lighting up like a Christmas tree. "You're... you're like... like a superhero. Like, perfect or something! You're so smart, and you're pretty, and you're like, way too good at everything!" He hiccupped, his words slightly more disjointed than usual.
I couldn't help but laugh, but I also tried to stop it. "Lincoln, you're drunk. Maybe you should sit down—"
"No! No, Keiyi, listen," he interrupted, leaning in way too close, his breath reeking of tequila. "You're just... you're like, the best. You're so smart. I can't even keep up with you, you're so perfect. It's... it's like you're in another league! You're like—like... the best!"
I felt the heat of everyone's gaze on me, and when I glanced over at Riri and Aeri, they were both barely holding it together. Riri had her hands clasped in mock prayer, barely containing her giggles, while Aeri was watching the whole scene with a smirk, clearly enjoying every second of it.
"Oh my god," Aeri whispered under her breath, turning to Riri. "This is better than Netflix. It's like watching a rom-com but with less charm and more tequila."
Riri was grinning from ear to ear. "I swear, if I didn't already have plans later, I'd just stay and watch this trainwreck all night."
Lincoln was still going, completely oblivious. "Keiyi, seriously. You're like... like a walking, talking, perfection machine—I just... I think you're amazing, okay? I want to be around you more. Like, we should totally hang out... sometime. You're, like, the best."
I could feel myself getting embarrassed, but what made it worse was the look on Kiel's face. He was standing next to us, arms crossed tightly over his chest, his jaw so clenched I thought he might break his teeth.
"Lincoln," Kiel said, trying his hardest to keep his voice steady, "maybe let's get you some air, yeah?"
But Lincoln was in full-blown admiration mode. "No! Keiyi needs to know!" He looked up at me, eyes wide and earnest. "I just like you! Like, I really do. You're... you're... you're perfect!"
Kiel's hand shot out to steady Lincoln, practically lifting him off the ground as he slurred his confession. "Okay, okay, that's enough. We don't need to hear all this," Kiel said, his voice barely hiding his frustration. He looked at me, but instead of saying anything, he let out an exasperated sigh. "I can't believe I'm doing this..."
"Doing what?" I asked, half-amused, half-worried about how much worse this could get.
But Kiel didn't even respond, instead pulling Lincoln closer to him like he was a sack of potatoes. "Let's get you home, buddy. You're saying way too much tonight."
Riri and Aeri were practically falling over in laughter behind us, with Riri clutching her stomach like she was going to burst. "Oh, Kiel, you're such a good guy, playing the babysitter while Lincoln confesses his undying drunk love for Keiyi," she teased.
Aeri chimed in, "This is the first night I've ever seen Riri not chasing after some random guy. She's too busy watching this trainwreck. It's beautiful."
Kiel shot a glare over his shoulder at them, but his grip on Lincoln tightened as he dragged him out the door. Lincoln, of course, was still attempting to talk but couldn't form any coherent sentences, which only made the whole scene more ridiculous.
"Keiyi, you're amazing. You're so perfect. Let me take you to dinner sometime, please! I swear I'm not this weird—" Lincoln hiccupped again. "—sober!"
I glanced at Riri and Aeri, who were still in fits of laughter as we walked away, and couldn't help but shake my head. "You two are the worst."
As we got outside, Kiel looked like he was about to explode, but instead, he just gritted his teeth and made a low, frustrated sound. "I can't believe this is happening," he muttered to himself. "I'm bringing Lincoln home."
He paused, then turned to me. "Keiyi, do you need a ride or something?"
I raised an eyebrow at him. "I'm not the one that's wasted, Kiel."
He sighed heavily, shaking his head, but he couldn't keep the jealousy from creeping into his tone. "I'm not the one trying to confess my undying admiration for someone who has no idea what's going on right now."
I tried to suppress my laughter. Kiel then helped Lincoln into the car, all while muttering to himself about how this night was just one more thing to add to his list of things I will never forget.
As we drove away, I could hear Lincoln softly snoring in the backseat, and I couldn't help but chuckle. "Well, that was... something."
Kiel glanced at me, still exasperated, but there was a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Don't ever let him drink again."
"Agreed," I said, though I had a feeling this wouldn't be the last time Lincoln tried to confess his undying admiration for me.
The car ride was quiet, the only sound coming from the occasional snore from Lincoln in the backseat. He was slumped against the window, drooling like a dog, his face smooshed up against the glass. I glanced over at Kiel, who was gripping the steering wheel so hard his knuckles were practically glowing.
After a few minutes of silence, Kiel finally broke it, his voice tight but still trying to maintain his usual upbeat energy. "So... Boracay, huh?"
I turned to him, surprised by the sudden shift in topic. "What about it?"
He let out a heavy sigh, his gaze fixed on the road ahead but his mind clearly somewhere else. "Look, I know it was just a dare. A game. But when I saw it happen—the kiss with Lincoln—I couldn't help but... I don't know, feel something. You know?"
I raised an eyebrow, trying to suppress a grin. "Kiel, come on. It was just a game. Nothing to get all dramatic about."
"I know, I know!" he said, his tone getting more animated. "It's dumb, I get it. But seeing you with Lincoln... laughing with him, looking all happy... it just... I don't know, something about it got under my skin. Like a little voice was screaming 'Why is it not you?' and I was like, 'Shut up, you're being stupid,' but it didn't stop it from screaming louder."
I blinked, taken aback. "Are you telling me you were jealous?"
Kiel's eyes flicked to me for a brief moment before he quickly turned back to the road. "I mean, I wasn't jealous exactly... but maybe a little. I don't know. I just saw you with Lincoln and thought, 'Why do you get to be all... perfect?' And I'm just here, watching it all happen, trying not to implode. It's... it's not fair."
I couldn't help but laugh. "Kiel, you sound like a character from a soap opera."
He shot me a look, looking slightly embarrassed. "Yeah, I know. But it felt like that in my head. Like I'm the best friend who's supposed to be supportive, but I want to scream, 'Why don't you see me instead of him?'"
"Wait, hold on. You're telling me you've been thinking that for the entire night?" I asked, incredulous.
He threw his hands up, clearly frustrated with himself. "I told you, it's dumb. But then Lincoln started talking about how you're the most talented, smartest, and prettiest person he knows and I just about lost it. I swear I almost shouted, 'I already know that! I've been saying it for years!!'"
I had to bite my lip to stop myself from bursting out laughing because it's exaggerated. "Kiel, are you really jealous of Lincoln right now?"
He groaned, his face reddening slightly as he glanced at me. "Maybe? But it's not about him. It's about me being a human disaster around you and trying to figure out why I'm so... fixated on this whole situation." He took a deep breath. "I mean, don't get me wrong, Lincoln's a great guy, but I just... I don't know, seeing you with him just makes me feel like I'm going to implode."
I looked at him, a strange mix of sympathy and something else creeping in. I could feel the tug in my chest, the way his words pulled at something inside me, but I quickly buried it. "You're ridiculous."
"Don't you know it," he replied with a dramatic sigh.
We were silent for a moment as I processed everything. Then, suddenly, a loud snore from the backseat broke the tension. Lincoln, in his drunken stupor, had shifted again and was now fully drooling on the seat. It was enough to get Kiel's attention.
"Look at him," Kiel muttered, shaking his head. "The guy's a mess."
I couldn't stop myself from laughing at the ridiculous sight of Lincoln, dead to the world with his face smooshed against the glass. "Well, you're the one who decided to babysit him."
"Hey, it's my duty," Kiel replied, trying to sound indifferent but failing miserably. "I'm the responsible one, clearly."
I smirked. "Uh-huh, and now you're telling me you're jealous of Lincoln being all... 'perfect,' yet here you are, playing the guardian angel?"
Kiel rolled his eyes. "You're one to talk. You're the one who's got everyone in a frenzy tonight. Lincoln can't stop talking about how perfect you are. It's like he has a crush on you or something."
I froze, my cheeks immediately flushing at the thought. "What? Seriously?"
"Oh yeah," Kiel said, an exaggerated wink in his voice. "The 'Keiyi is the best person ever' monologue was something else tonight. If it weren't for his alcohol-induced stupor, I swear he'd be planning his wedding speech right now."
I buried my face in my hands. "Oh God. Please tell me it's not that bad."
Kiel chuckled. "Oh, it's that bad."
But then, as we pulled up to Lincoln's place, I saw the shift in Kiel's mood. He was quieter now, like he was processing everything, still unsure about how he felt, but slowly accepting that his feelings—whatever they were—weren't going to go away by pretending they didn't exist.
"You okay?" I asked, genuinely concerned.
Kiel looked at me, his expression softening, and nodded. "Yeah. I'm fine. I just need a nap after all this." He shot me a sideways grin. "But don't think I've forgotten about the drama tonight. You owe me a proper thank you when this is all over."
I raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? For babysitting Lincoln?"
"Well, and for letting me get my emotions out, which is way harder than it sounds, you know," he replied, his tone light but still carrying that subtle edge of something deeper. "Also, maybe a pizza. But definitely a thank you. And, you know, I'll need some kind of trophy for my services."
I laughed. "A trophy, huh? I think you've earned it."
As we stepped out of the car, Kiel slung an arm around Lincoln to help him out, clearly relieved the night was almost over. But, just before I could say anything else, Kiel looked over at me with a hint of that playful frustration in his eyes. "Next time, we skip the tequila, okay?"
"Agreed," I said, smiling despite the tension that still lingered in the air. "Next time, we'll keep it low-key."
As we reached Lincoln's door, Kiel helped him up the steps, trying his best to support the drunken mess without letting him stumble too much. I stood by, watching them, feeling a strange mix of gratitude and something else I couldn't quite place.
"Thanks, Kiel," I said, my voice softer than usual. "I appreciate this. You really didn't have to... take care of him like that."
Kiel gave me a half-smile, clearly exhausted but still managing to keep up his upbeat facade. "Hey, what are friends for? Besides, somebody had to keep him from tripping over his own feet. And you owe me, remember?" He added with a playful wink, his usual teasing nature creeping back in.
I smiled back, my heart a little lighter, but there was something more in the air. Something unspoken. I felt the weight of the night, the tension that had been building ever since the Boracay incident, and the awkwardness of everything that had happened.
Before I could overthink it, I did something impulsive. Something that surprised even me.
I leaned forward, gently brushing my lips against his cheek. The kiss was soft, quick, and it lingered in the air for a moment, neither of us moving for a heartbeat. It wasn't anything too bold, but it was enough to make Kiel freeze, his eyes wide with surprise.
When I pulled back, I realized I was holding my breath, waiting for his reaction. His face was flushed, his eyes a little wide, like he didn't know what just happened, but the corners of his lips were tugging up in that familiar mischievous way.
"Uhh... I guess that's a thank you?" Kiel said, his voice slightly shaky, though he was still trying to play it cool.
"Yeah," I replied, trying to hide the warmth spreading in my cheeks. "A proper thank you."
He chuckled softly, clearly trying to mask the way his heart was probably racing under the cool facade. "Well, that's one way to say it."
I took a step back, looking at him for a moment longer, feeling a mix of nerves and something more tender than I wanted to admit. As I turned to walk away, I heard him say one last thing, his voice still teasing but with an undertone I couldn't quite read:
"Next time, maybe just a handshake... or... I don't know, a high-five?"
I couldn't help but laugh, my heart fluttering in a way I wasn't prepared for.
"Maybe," I called over my shoulder. "But no promises."
And as I walked away, the sound of Kiel's laugh following me, I couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted. Maybe it was just the chaos of the night, or maybe it was something else entirely. But as I stepped into the quiet of the night, I couldn't stop thinking about how Kiel's smile lingered in my mind, and how, for the first time in a while, I felt a little less alone in all the mess.
The night was far from over, but something had definitely changed. And it wasn't just the tequila.