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‘’Come on, Princess Homebody, stop being so stuck up! A few shots to loosen up never hurt no one! Besides, if you are that worried, I’m right beside you. Do you really think I’m all that unreliable?’’
‘’It’s not that… I’ve never drunk before, how are you sure I can handle it? What if I do something I regret..?’’
‘’I’m here to ensure that doesn’t happen! Don’t worry, you will be just fine. All that will happen is that you will feel all nice and relaxed, and all your troubles will go out right through the window. If anything, maybe you will like the feeling so much that you will become an alcoholic?’’
The purple haired woman gave her friend another concerned look.
‘’Alright, let’s get started on a few shots of tequila. Usually I’d go for vodka but that’d be too bitter for your delicate self. Don’t be surprised when your throat burns a little, you just gotta chase after the initial sweetness in your next shot.’’
Picking up the small glass, Castorice watched as Cipher easily downed a shot, smiling at her like it was a source of pure joy. ‘’See? It’s job is to relieve your tension, not make you more tense than you already are. Just go for it, you can stop if you don’t like it.’’
The warm sweetness, followed by the sharp, peppery kick left the girl confused. ‘’I don’t feel anything other than a burn..? Is this how it's supposed to be?’’
Her friend chuckled, ‘’Give it a bit more time. First, you’ll feel tipsy; as if your strict consciousness is slowly slipping through. Then, before you can understand, you will be on top of clouds! A white one if you are a happy drunk, gray if sad. I place my bet on happiness though, considering you are pretty sad as sober. Let’s hope it changes things.’’
The gray haired woman clicked their glasses together with a ‘’Cheers!’’. Castorice followed her lead, trying to focus on the tingling in her body after the second shot.
‘’Starting to feel it?’’
‘’...Yes.’’
‘’Do you dislike it?’’
‘’...No.’’
Cipher laughed, putting another empty glass on the table. She made a hand gesture to the waiter nearby, signaling for more, ‘’Thought so! It’s good to be carefree every once in a while, you know? You are always too proper for your own good, princess. I know how painful a crush can be, just let it out tonight.’’
‘’A crush?’’
‘’Oh, come on, it's so painfully obvious that you like our beloved Cyrene! No need to hide it.’’
‘’She is just a friend-’’
‘’A friend that you have a crush on. Well, just keep drinking. Maybe it will get you to admit it to yourself first.’’
A voice in her head told Castorice perhaps it really was fine to listen to Cipher upon the growing smile on her face. Despite her lingering hesitation, she picked up another shot.
‘’Look at the flush on your cheeks! It seems Princess Homebody has a lower tolerance than I guessed. Feeling giddy?’’
The purple haired woman’s hands touched her cheeks. ‘’Different than when I blush around Cyrene,’’ she almost spouted out. She could feel her tongue loosening slowly but surely. The thoughts were scattered around with one prominent voice telling her she could open up.
‘’Don’t think too hard. I brought you here because you don’t take care of yourself properly and I hate that. You don’t have to open up or anything, but at least take things easier.’’
‘’It feels hard to hold onto… thoughts?’’
‘’Reality feels far away?’’
‘’Yes. I don’t think I want to reach for it…’’
‘’There we go! You don’t have to constantly carry burdens, Castorice. Let the tequila do its job.’’
‘’Do you come here often?’’
‘’Sometimes. It usually ends up with Mydei telling me he won’t take any money from me as long as I go back home safely.’’
She could feel the effects of alcohol intensifying minutes after her fourth shot. The other guests of the disappeared in the background as all Castorice saw was Cipher’s blue eyes. At times, only a friend could understand.
‘’I like Cyrene…’’
‘’I know. Glad to see you are aware too.’’
‘’But there is no way she likes me back…’’
‘’I wouldn’t be sure about that,’’ The girls clicked their glasses one more time, eyes closed as the liquor went down their throats, leaving them feeling higher in its wake.
‘’Please don’t give me false hope, Cipher…’’ The purple haired woman rested her head on the table, speaking through the spin, ‘’It has become painful. I wish I could see her as just a friend… I wouldn’t even dream about confessing. It feels awful to have these secret feelings when I know how uncomfortable and awkward she would feel if she knew…’’
Her companion put a few tissues before Castorice’s head.
‘’I like everything about her. Her eyes, smile, voice, personality… She is so lovely. But I’m not worthy of her.’’
‘’Let’s not get ahead of our self worth, princess,’’ Cipher took the shot tray away from her friend, ‘’I think you two would be a great match actually. Have you really not realized Cyrene has been flirting with you?’’
‘’Not funny…’’
‘’Would you believe me if I said tipsy me is the most serious me? You only have a couple sentences left before I get drunk so I’ll get to the point: Cyrene has been flirting with you, and everyone other than you sees it. Seriously, I knew you were oblivious but I didn’t expect this much!’’
The girl didn’t lift her head, focusing on nowhere in particular as the intoxication blocked out the rest of the world.
‘’You don’t believe me? Fine. It was fun to watch you being clueless but I think I’ll enjoy teasing you as a couple more.’’
Castorice didn’t hear the notification of a sent message.
────୨ৎ────
‘’Goodness, Cipher, why did you let her get drunk? Are you even alright yourself?’’ The sweet voice Castorice would recognize anywhere finally pulled the girl out of the blurred dreamland.
‘’Ah, here comes the other princess! Don’t worry about me, I can handle my drink. Here is your perfect chance to have a heart to heart, handed to you on a silver platter by yours truly!’’
While Castorice tried to make out the conversation through the mental fog, her eyes widened at the two hands gently holding her from her shoulders. ‘’Heart to heart when she seems so out of it? Cipher, what were you thinking? Has she even drunk before?’’
‘’She will be fine. Besides, she has you to take care of her. Maybe this will be the perfect confession? The best ones are a little messy, don’t you agree? It’s more heartfelt that way.’’
When Cyrene ignored the cheesy smile of their friend to cup her cheeks, Castorice was thankful to the alcohol for the pre-existing flush on her face. ‘’Oh dear, Castorice, are you alright? Do you feel uncomfortable? Come on, I’ll take care of you, let’s go back to your apartment. Cipher, let me drive you back home as well.’’
‘’No need, I haven’t had my fill of fun yet. You two lovebirds go ahead and don’t worry about me, I can look after myself.’’
‘’Are you sure?’’
‘’Yes. I expect to hear all about it tomorrow!’’
‘’It..?’’ With a murmured whatever, the pink haired woman urged the purple haired one to get up and lean on her. Castorice smiled faintly to herself at the contact. Her mind was too weak to hide her excitement. Unbeknownst to her, Cyrene was smiling to herself at the spark in her eyes. The woman left behind requested another round of shots with a content sigh.
Half of the short ride home to Castorice’s apartment was quiet until Cyrene interrupted the silence with a gentle flicker on her friend’s forehead. ‘’Don’t fall asleep just yet, Castorice. I don’t think I could carry you back inside.’’
‘’Sorry…’’
Another few minutes of silence passed by.
‘’Do you think you can hold a conversation right now?’’
‘’I still feel like myself… I just feel carefree like Cipher said I would.’’
‘’I didn’t expect you to actually go along with her,’’ a playful sigh, ‘’Why did you drink?’’
Leaving drunkenness aside, Castorice couldn’t bring herself to lie to the sincere concern on Cyrene’s face, even about something small; nor could she admit she was unknowingly the reason.
‘’You don’t have to tell me, I understand.’’ There she was again, caring beyond limits. Cyrene always had a silent way of making others feel seen without words.
‘’I didn’t mean to trouble you, I’m sorry… It won’t happen again.’’
‘’You didn’t trouble me at all, Castorice! I’m glad you trust me enough to take care of you when vulnerable. You don’t have to make any promises, just drink responsibly if you want to, alright?’’
Inside the house, The pink haired woman immediately moved to get the other one a big glass of water. Castorice fidgeted with her hands, the effects of alcohol not yet subsided. The usual nervousness when around Cyrene was replaced with giddiness. If only she could also treasure the joy instead of holding herself back when sober as well, ‘’If only…’’
‘’What’s wrong, Castorice?’’
Castorice. The girl loved the way Cyrene said her name. She had heard many pronunciations of her name; whether with fear or hatred or excitement or like. Yet none of them was as captivating as the love in Cyrene’s voice. Each time she heard it, even if unreciprocated, Castorice knew she could never come to regret falling in love with her.
‘’Thank you, Cyrene.’’
‘’Don’t mention it! Let’s get you to bed now-’’
‘’Can you stay for a little longer?’’ Words left her mouth before she could think them over. Was this what they meant when people said being drunk makes people do things they wouldn’t usually do when sober?
The other woman sat down on the couch, ‘’Of course. Is being drunk too fun to sleep early?’’
‘’No… I just want to spend more time with you.’’
‘’I love spending time with you as well,’’ the smile on Cyrene’s face was enough to send another layer of blush on the young woman’s face again.
‘’I love you.’’
‘’Aw, Castorice, I love you too-’’
Castorice only realized what she had just admitted upon Cyrene’s answer. The stress bypassed the intoxication’s calming effects. The glass she was holding slipped and cracked, scaring the girl next to her.
‘’I didn’t mean to-’’
Was her face really that dreadful that Cyrene’s first thought was to embrace her? For a short moment, the hand stroking her hair made her think that it would be alright to confess more, merely for the sake of letting Cyrene know how loved she was even if it was one-sided. However, it would burden her as she always cared-
‘’I’m so happy you feel the same, Castorice! I didn’t think you would be the one to confess actually, I was beginning to think you didn’t understand my flirting at all.’’
‘’What?’’
The happiness on Cyrene’s face was enough to calm Castorice’s nerves down when the other woman pulled away, still holding her shoulders. ‘’Didn’t you confess?’’
‘’I, uh…’’
‘’And I said I reciprocate! Why are you still frowning?’’
‘’Oh,’’ Cyrene held her hand moving towards her mouth.
‘’Are you shocked that I like you back? Castorice, how many times do I have to tell you that you are lovely? Why wouldn’t I like you? Cheer up, sweetheart.’’
The purple haired woman chose to answer by wrapping her arms back around her now girlfriend. After all, what would bother Cyrene more would be to not accept her feelings. The future teasing of Cipher sounded more enjoyable to her ears than sobriety would have allowed.