Chapter 14: Fucked Up

MJ

AS SOON AS Alexis takes her leave, I hastily dial Bella’s number and impatiently wait for her to pick up.

“Hiyah, bitch—”

“What the fuck, Bells!” I billow. I feel so furious with the fact that this girl left me last night and even called Alexis to take care of my shit. I am embarrassed beyond measures.

“Seriously, what is wrong with you?” Bella asks, flaring another wave of anger within me. I clench my fist and prop myself on the bed, feeling exhausted.

“Among all people, why does it have to be Alexis?” I ask, feeling my jaw tighten.

A brief silence crosses between the two of us, irritating me even more. Realizing that Alexis was dead tired from her work but she was obliged to attend to me makes me feel guilty to the bones. And Bella doesn’t even care about that. I just want to know why it has to be Alexis!

“You know what, MJ, you were really drunk indeed. Are you even sober right now?” she asks, chuckling.

“I don’t have time for small chats, Bella,” I reply, heaving a sigh. “I need to know why you have called Alexis—”

“It wasn’t me who called, alright?”

What?

“W-what do you mean by that?” I stammer. I could feel my heart suddenly hammering my chest.

“Try to remember what happened, MJ, because I’m not telling you. I’ll hang up now—"

I shake my head as if Bella could see me. I feel so confused and worried about the things that might have occurred when I was drunk. “Come on, Bells. Don’t do this.”

“Goodbye—”

Shit!

I toss the phone on my bed and comb my hands through my hair. I sit on my bed, checking my phone and hoping that a message or maybe a voice record from my most recent phone calls last night are recorded. Nevertheless, the only thing that’s registered on my phone log is the one I sent to Bella and another one sent to Alexis at around 1:45 am. Fuck. This might be it. The phone call is brief, recorded as 1 minute and 34 seconds, and yet I can’t help but feel bothered.

Drawing a heavy breath, I decide to strip my clothes off, lazily get my green towel and walk naked towards the shower. And as warm water travels my exhausted and already-sober mind, hazy thoughts start to cross my mind, bringing memories from last night’s event.

And when every hazy thought turns crystal clear, I know I fucked up.

Alexis

“Hey. I love you, you hear that? I fucking love you!”

I am doing my usual rituals before going to bed when I received a call from MJ, only to hear her on the other line shouting over a very loud music in the background.

“MJ? Are you okay?” I ask in a hushed tone. “Why’s it so noisy over there? Where are you?”

I could hear MJ muttering something but the sound appears muffled.

“Hey, Alexis—it’s me, Bella. MJ is being shitty right now because she’s so drunk and she’s been repeating your name over and over again. So please hurry up and fetch her. I’m just gonna leave her here, alright? I’ll text you the address using my digits—”

“Bels—give me that—” I hear MJ says, I could imagine her grabbing the phone from Bella. “Alexis, listen to this… I love you, okay? I—”

The line is cut-off. And just like that, I drag my sleepy butt off the bed and hastily put on a skinny jeans and checkered top. I bind my hair into a messy bun, dab a small amount of powder on my face and shove my purse and keys on a small sling bag. Wearing my white Converse shoes, I jog through the door and click the lock open. I don’t have the time to ask permission from my land lady, Mother Pearl, since it’s already 1 am and everyone else in the boarding house are already asleep. Maybe I’ll just come back at 5 am and explain everything to her.

I’ve decided to stay in the boarding house over the weekend since I can’t go to Kelly’s anymore and also because a pile of paper works is on the line which are to be submitted on Wednesday this week. In fact, I’m currently working on the papers when I received MJ’s and Bella’s call. Nevertheless, it won’t hinder me from checking on her because judging from the noisy background and MJ’s unusual outbursts on the phone, I know she’s drunk as hell.

I settle on my motorcycle and wait for Bella’s text about the address. And almost immediately upon receiving the text, I let the vehicle roar to life and speed away.

~~~

Bella is about to leave the bar when I arrived but I convince her to at least help me in bringing MJ to her apartment. Bella half-heartedly agrees and together, we haul MJ towards my motorcycle. I drive awkwardly with a drunk MJ behind me and an irritated Bella behind her. I try to ask questions along the way while MJ’s head is helplessly tucked over my shoulder but Bella doesn’t even want to explain everything to me.

“Just ask MJ when she’s sober. I don’t wanna talk about it,” she says dismissively.

Fine, I grumble to myself.

When we reach MJ’s apartment, we struggle to bring her to her bed, knowing how heavy she is.

“Geez, this woman seriously needs exercise and diet!” Bella grumbles.

I let out a soft chuckle and feel dizzy when the weight from MJ’s body is finally lifted from me.

“I’ll go get MJ’s motorcycle back at the bar. I’ll use yours for the meantime.” I give her my key and MJ’s and off she goes without saying anything more. I wonder why she’s become so distant all of a sudden.

“Hey. I love you, you hear that? I fucking love you!”

I shake my head when I suddenly hear MJ’s stupid line earlier echoing at the back of my mind. This girl’s really crazy, I say to myself, clicking my tongue between my teeth.

“Hmm.” 

MJ’s moans send me back to reality and realize the work to be done. I decide to get a small basin from the kitchen in case she’d vomit. I also get a warm water from her thermos and pour it into another smaller basin, adding just the right amount of tap water to it. Then I look for a clean face towel in her cabinet.

Not long after, I already hear her vomiting her stomach out. The smell of liquor instantly rises to the air. I hastily go to her side, rubbing a hand behind her back. Then I stop when I realize Bella has arrived with a friend. I greet and thank them for bringing MJ’s and mine’s motorcycles back. Bella draws an unsure look at me before she scornfully settles on her friend’s motorbike.

“I’m sorry for bothering you, Alexis,” Bella says over the noisy sound from the vehicle, “but she wouldn’t want nobody else but you.”

And with that, they take their leave, disappearing through the night.

xoxoPAxoxo