Part 2. Drunk words sober thoughts

Jane was not sure how their conversation moved to questions about her relationship. Those alluring eyes were so entrancing that she let him get away with it. Who can blame her? It was not every day that someone like Tristan walks into the bar and starts talking with her. It’s a miracle. 

Tristan was slurring his words now, having one too many to drink. All thanks to her dear friend, Krista. While Jane was serving the rich brats and topping their champagne drinks, Tristan was getting drunk on vodka and sweet lime. A perfect blend of Krista's signature ‘Ice breeze’. Whatever happened to him

hating citrus juices?! Guess everyone will eventually have to give up when it’s Krista serving drinks. 

Jane wanted to stop him because he already had two Red Affair and three Ice breeze. His vision looked unfocused and lipped bright red. Despite that Tristan was steady on his seat, a lazy smirk playing on his lips. 

“J, have you ever been on a blind date?” He asked, his eyes comically wide. Tristan sure does move fast. He already nicknamed her. She had no idea if it was him or his drunk self-talking. Whatever it was, she decided to entertain him. 

Jane thought about it.

“Um… once, back in my first year.”

“How’d it go?” He asked excitedly. Jane nearly jumped at his voice. 

“Pretty bad,” She answered honestly. 

Alicia, her friend from uni, set her up with a guy who had a pet monkey. No that wasn’t the weird part, but he kept talking about that animal throughout their dinner. He also kept mentioning his previous flings and how he was interested in sleeping with her. She had made it clear that they won’t be hooking up, but his attempts were so lame and over the top. Jane managed to walk out of there as soon as possible, faking a stomach ache. 

A shiver ran through her body at the memory. 

“Strange. He was not my type.”

Tristan hummed, “And me?”

“What about you?” She asked, her heart racing at the question. 

Working in the bar made it easy for her to deal with drunk people. She also managed to figure out the types of drunks. There were the angry ones- cursing their family, boss, friends or people close to them to relive their frustration. Then the affectionate and flirty ones- who cannot stop with the lame pick up lines and hit everyone in their way. Oh, the creepy ones as well. Jane managed to steer clear of them because they always get handsy. Then lastly the criers. They were pathetic, sobbing over heartbreak mostly. 

Tristan seemed to be in the second category. She was sure that he wouldn’t remember any of it the next day. 

“Would you go on a blind date with me?”

She inhaled sharply, “I think you are drunk

on sugar and fruits.” 

“I may or may not have had too many of these Ice breeze! Thank you, pink-haired bartender!”

Tristan yelled, raising his glass in the direction of Krista. Jane stared at her friend, who rolled her eyes and waved at him awkwardly. Formality. She was quick to attend back to her customers. 

Tristan was not helping at all. Jane had too many people to attend, but her full attention was focused on the charming man in front of her. A little less sober man now. 

“Yeah, I may have to cut you off now” Jane quietly said as the bouncers stared in her direction. She politely smiled at them as if to reassure that everything was fine. They usually take out the people who cannot hold their ground and create a nuisance. 

“How very dare you!” Tristan hiccuped, gulping the last bit of his drink. 

Jane rolled her eyes, wiping her hands on her, apron, “You are barely hanging on. All that vodka and lime has started affecting your head.” 

Tristan made a face at her words, tightly gripping his empty glass as if she would pull that away. Yeah, he was drunk. 

 “Hmm, maybe you could help me get them out of my system?”

Jane raised her brows, “How may I make myself useful then?”

“I heard that physical activities make you lose lots of sweat and water, a great way to eliminate the toxins from what I’ve understood.” Tristan slurred, managing to hold her stare. She was impressed actually, trying not to swoon at the way his thick lashes kissed his cheekbones. How was it possible that even drunk he managed to look so perfect? Not a single hair out of its place, face still gleaming under the disco lights. There has to be some kind of trick. 

“Are you propositioning me?” She leaned forward, her stomach pressing against the counter. It was extremely unprofessional, she was aware of that, but no one has to know. 

“I am.” Tristan nodded his head, his eyes red. 

She breathed, standing back on her feet. 

“Maybe when you are sober I can think about it.” 

From the corner of her eyes, she noticed Zee, Tristan’s friend walking towards them with a frown on his face. She quickly busied herself into pouring champagne, trying not to let the blush on her cheeks evident. 

Zee waved at her, “Hey. So still not done with champagnes huh?”

Jane shrugged, making a pitiful sound “Guess people can’t stop drinking our expensive drink. Sucks for us.”

Tristan made a sound of protest and lazily pinched Zee’s arm, urging him to help. Jane tried not to roll her eyes at his childish attempt of breaking their conversation. 

Zee helped his friend, wrapping an arm around him to steady him. “Again I’m so sorry for my friend. He says a lot of shit when she’s drunk.” Jane thought about it. Tristan did say a lot of things which she was sure he would be embarrassed about. Or not. It will depend on if he can remember. “Well sometimes when he’s sober too, but he’s harmless. Trust me” Zee tried to joke. 

Jane giggled, her eyes automatically shifting towards Tristan. He had a frown on his face. 

“It’s alright. Don’t worry about it! I’ve handled much worse. Sometimes I think people treat us bartenders like therapists and say all sort of personal shit. Haha, I think it’s the alcohol talking.”

“It’s not” Tristan huffed, somewhat composed himself. He was standing on his own, his arm gripping Zee awkwardly.

“Oh, really?”

Tristan nodded his head, “Drunken words sober thoughts...”

“You are not making much sense right now!” Jane muttered, placing the flute on the bar. 

Zee narrowed his eyes at the two of them, “Looks like you two talked a lot.” 

“We did.”

“We did not” 

Both of them mumbled at the same time. Jane blushed at Tristan's agreement. Why did he say that? She was going to deny ever talking with him for her sanity. 

“Jesus, the two of you are something!“ Zee laughed, no resentment whatsoever in his voice. She thought that he would be upset or something. Jane smiled in return. 

Tristan poked his friend, “Is that a good thing?”

Zee shrugged, “I have no idea, bud.” 

Jane shook her head, trying to get back to her work, but the two men were bickering right in front of her. It was difficult for her to focus on something else. They were like children honestly. 

“Just admit you hate that we hit it off” Tristan loudly muttered.

“Whatever makes you leave from here.” 

“Hey!” 

Jane grinned at the look on Tristan's face. He was really something. Too bad she couldn’t get more time with him. 

 “Alright, we will be going then. Thanks for the drink and well... everything honestly.” Zee waved at her, using his other hand to hold Tristan steady in place.

“But the party is not over yet!”

“It doesn’t matter! I need to get you home by midnight.” 

Tristan snorted and pushed at his friend with a playful huff. Jane tried not to chuckle behind the bar. Zee shook his head and dragged him towards the entrance. 

 “I think I need better friends.” Tristan dramatically exclaimed. That’s the last thing Jane heard before he disappeared into the crowd. 

***

The rest of the evening went by in a bit of a blur; it’s a constant rotation of pouring champagne flutes and wiping up the bar which seems to become increasingly more sticky with every passing minute. Jane felt her legs almost give away by the end of midnight. Before she realised the crowd started filtering out around midnight. A sigh escaped her lips because it meant that they could finally close on time.

“I’m done!” Krista threw the bar cloth as soon as the clock hit two in the morning. The bar was finally empty. 

Jane bid her friend goodbye, ready to go back to her tiny apartment. She was so ready to hit the sheets and dream about the man who spent his evening talking to her. Because of him, her job seemed a bit bearable. 

***