Do You Kiss? J.
Dumaual
Do You Kiss?
Mindless
It’s a struggle to fit it in a tight dress and wear
stilettos just to dance around and sweat all night.
Why do women subject themselves to such
unnecessary torture? Why does a drinking spree
always end up on the top of a “How to Get Over an
Ex” list in Cosmo? Irritation overcomes me as I
struggle to zip my black bodycon. I hear “Lonely
Together” by Avicii play and frantically answer my
phone.
“Hey, hey, sorry. I’m almost done.”
“No girl, it’s fine. Take your time. We already have a
table here. Just making sure that you’re coming.”
“Yes, I’m coming, I promise. How’s Rachel?” I asked
while slipping into my black stilettos.
“She’s not that okay, but I think finally having you
come will make her feel better.”
“CADEN? CADEN, IS THAT YOU?” shrieked the
other girls over the background.
1
“Yep. Hi! I’m already booking. I’ll be there in half an
hour, I guess.” I put the phone down and actually
start booking a ride. It’s been a long time since I
went for a night out with my friends, I don’t know if
it will be awkward but good thing tequila always
rids me of my timidity.
Three minutes before the taxi arrives, I take a last
look at my reflection – a backless black dress short
enough to enunciate my long legs and my broad
shoulders, a ponytail to project a smaller face
shape, and enough make-up to conceal the dark
circles under my eyes. Average but presentable.
The taxi reeked of old leather and elderly perfume.
I didn’t want to seem rude to the cab driver and
spray my own perfume inside the car. I mentally
slapped myself as I remembered the horrid fact that
I wasn’t able to eat dinner because of how agitated I
was with preparing myself for the night. Crap. I
don’t really have a high tolerance for alcohol. Not
eating before a drinking spree lowers it more. I try
to compose myself throughout the ride.
The loud EDM music and the bright neon lights
blinded me as I entered Black Market. Bodies
crashed as the remix of Side Effects echoed through
the club walls. Millenials bobbed their heads to the
beat and I just kept on thinking why so many

people had to fill their existential dread on this
Friday Night through booze and boobs.
I narrowed my eyes and tried my best to spot our
table. “CADEN!!!” Someone shouted behind me. I
look around and see Priscilla standing on the dance
floor holding a Double Black.
“Where’s our table?” I yelled. She points her index
finger to the exclusive area upstairs and I see
Alyssa waving at me. I raise my thumb and signal
Priscilla that I’ll go ahead.
The smokescreen still perpetuated my eyes. I had to
sheepishly walk through the crowd along the
staircase. A guy wearing a white polo bumps my
shoulder with “unintentional” force. I halt for a
moment and narrow my eyes at him. I was peeved.
The neon blue hues exposed a smirk he made as he
looked back. I shrug him off and make my merry
way. As difficult it is walking through the dark; I
finally arrive at our table.
Rachel’s plump figure greets me as she stands up
to give me a big hug. We part and I caress her
cheeks and fix her long dark brown locks. I force a
smile. “How are you?”
“I’m hurting so much Caden but I don’t wanna drag
down everyone’s mood tonight, okay?” She replied
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Do You Kiss? J. Dumaual
with all the emotional strength she could have
possibly gathered. Her eyes had darker circles
around it and the eye shadow barely hid the
swelling of her eyelids.
As we sat down, Alyssa blew a flying kiss towards
me. I catch it and return my attention to Rachel.
“I’m always here for you, girl. We can talk about it
you know? How are you and how are you coping?”
“I’m not here to talk about Rob. I just wanna have
some fun with you guys tonight!”
I felt aghast and gazed at Alyssa. She just raised
her shoulders in surrender. I presumed she already
tried talking to Rachel. Rachel has an infamous
history of coping mechanisms – ranging from
alcohol, drugs, and cigarettes. Self-destruction was
written all over her face tonight, and I felt like we’re
in for the ride too.
“I WANT THREE STRAIGHT SHOTS FOR THE
FOUR OF US!” Rachel shouts. My eyes widened in
distraught signaling Alyssa to do something. She
awkwardly chuckles and tried convincing Rachel to
take it easy. I can’t do three straight fucking shots
of tequila this early in the night.
“Rach, can we calm down? I haven’t eaten dinner. I
don’t want to get wasted this early.” I begged.
 Do You Kiss? J. Dumaual

Before Rachel could retaliate, Priscilla comes At the behest of Rachel, the three of us take
running towards the table and immediately drops another shot.
on the couch. Her neon halter top glowed in the
I instantly recognize one of the four guys walking
dark because of the LED lights in the club, further
towards our table – it was the dude who I bumped
accentuating her anterior “assets”.
into earlier, the one wearing the fit white polo. The
“GIRLS! I met this group of guys downstairs and brighter lights in our area aided him to also
they want to buy us drinks. Should I say yes or noticing me, judging from how he smirked at me.
no?” The group comes closer and the dude in the white
polo glowed. The gleam highlighted his lean and tall
“YES!!!!!!!!!!! WHO SAYS NO TO FREE DRINKS??”
build. He had broad shoulders and toned arms. His
Rachel swiftly declares before the DJ could drop the
glasses could not conceal the piercing stare he
bass.
directed at me.
Priscilla turns her attention to me for consent. I feel
“Girls, this is Chase and his friends, Lionell, Paolo,
hysterical about the whole ordeal and look at
and Aleister.” Apparently, the man I bumped into
Alyssa. She smiles at me and nods, signifying her
was Aleister. The guys were decent looking. Lionell
reassurance that she’ll take care of us tonight.
was the shortest but had a muscular build
Alyssa has always been the big sister of the group.
complimented by a gray muscle tee. Paolo was tall
She tells the hard truths but really takes care of all
and lanky. He sported a ¾ navy blue shirt and
of us at the end of the day. I roll my eyes at her and
some black jeans. Chase went full bohemian with
raise my hands in acquiescence. Rachel hugs me
his patterned tee, shorts and boat shoes. The getup
with gratitude.
suited his Filipino-Chinese aesthetic and thick hair.
Priscilla stands up to fetch the group of guys who
Priscilla wrapped her right arm around Chase’s left
want to sit with us. I try to compose myself, fix my
arm. This is her nonverbal communication of
ponytail, and sit straight. Alyssa brushes her bob
saying, “dibs”. The guys sit in front of us with
and puts some burgundy lipstick.
Aleister directly in front of me.

“Hi guys! I’m Rachel!”

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 Do You Kiss? J. Dumaual

“Alyssa.” the disarray as she still deemed everything

manageable. I don’t.
“My name is Caden.” I said coldly.
“DAMN YOU GIRLS SEEM TO BE STRONG
“Nice name. Wish you also had better eyesight.”
DRINKERS” exclaimed Paolo as he sucked on a
Aleister replies arrogantly. Rachel gives a puzzled
lemon slice.
look while the boys let out a few chuckles.
“Not too bad yourself!” Alyssa is obviously flirting.
“Your friend here collided with me really hard while
Her reassurance is fading.
going upstairs. She even had the audacity to glare
at me and not apologize.” “Let’s finish this bottle so we can get a new one!”
Priscilla was foolish enough to suggest. Everyone
“Excuse me?? I had the audacity?” I protested.
else concurred. To be honest, I would have agreed
Priscilla gestured me to calm down. Aleister caught
to it too if not for my empty stomach or maybe it
it.
was something else. Maybe my anxiety stems from
“No, sorry it’s fine. I like women with fire anyway.” my peeve for Aleister? I felt tense when his group
joined the fray. I guess tonight’s party left no room
I rolled my eyes to the farthest corner that they can for my skepticism. I drink.
roll to. He kept on staring at me with a smug look
on his face as if he was deliberately trying to vex One shot.
me.
Two shots.
“Since we already know one another, why don’t we
Three shots.
take shots?” Rachel reaches for the Jose Cuervo on
our table and starts pouring out shots for everyone A fourth one.
like a madwoman.
Deafening jeers and EDM music.
“Let’s do the three shots!” Rachel shouted. I look at
Loss of physical sensation from my fingers to
her with disbelief and looked at Priscilla with even
different parts of my body
greater terror as she easily agreed to this madness.
Alyssa scratched her head and opted to ride with
4

Feverish internal temperature
This midnight mayhem seemed all too familiar.
Priscilla making out with Chase. Alyssa getting a
cigarette break with Paolo. Rachel having a
chugging competition with Lionell.
And where was I?
My field of vision felt obscure. My feet were
staggering, my face feels damp, and my body… my
body was inclined against another’s.
Intoxication physically numbs one’s senses but
elevates the internal desire to feel more. What a
paradox. I can feel my libido elevating. Not good.
His hands were caressing my thighs, and my
abdomen. I felt his groin as I pushed my ass
against Aleister, harder with every beat. He was
breathing against my nape as my hips swayed to
the beat. I wanted to feel him more and my dress
was starting to get in the way. Before I turn into
tonight’s Black Market succubus, Rachel pulls me
away from Aleister or did she pull Aleister away
from me?
“ALEISTER. DUDE. Lionell said, said that you, you
have some good stuff for us tonight?”
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Do You Kiss? J. Dumaual
Aleister chuckles and nods. I have no idea what
they’re talking about. My drunkard of a friend runs
towards the stairs giggling like a maniac. Aleister
grabs my wrist and drags me along for the ride. I
swear I rammed on every person I passed by on the
way back to our spot but I didn’t feel a thing.
Aleister guided me back to the couch. I crashed on
his shoulders as I sat down. I felt so tired and
queasy. I’m barely aware of my surroundings and
my body is burning up bad – both literally and
figuratively. I tried drinking some water, closed my
eyes, and took a deep breath. I look around to see if
our bags are still here and looked back at all the
girls and the guys. No one is at full capacity
anymore.
“I’M IN LET’S DO IT. CAN WE??? CAN, CAN
WEEE??” It was the last thing I heard before the
DJ’s bass drop. My intoxication and the club tunes
seemingly impaired my senses. I saw little light orbs
in my field of vision, and I didn’t know if it was the
club lights or the thing that happens when
someone is going to go full shit-faced after a few
more drinks. Maybe it was both.
My perception still caught sight of Aleister mixing
something in the drink of Rachel. Alyssa is kind of
going hysterical as she kept on pointing at Rachel,
and Priscilla is trying to contain the commotion.
 Do You Kiss? J. Dumaual

Rachel drinks the substance in the shot glass and

tilts her head up and raises her arms. I’m sure she
said, “FUCK YOU, ROB!!” or something along those
lines from the motions of her mouth.

“You okay?” Aleister chuckled as he moved closer to

me.

“I AM. Mind, mind your business.” I’m sure I said it

loud enough for him to hear.

“You’re cute when you act tough you know.” He

whispers into my ear. I felt a shiver down my spine
and let out a small gasp but tried to regain
composure.

“What are you trying to do?”

“Do you not want me close to you?” He asks as he

circles his index finger around my loose hair.

“How close do you want to be with me?” I spoke

into his ear. He smirks and gives me a tequila shot.

“Drink and let’s see how close I can get.” Mindless

drinking has been the recurring theme of the night,
so why stop now?

I drink.