Happily Ever After (16++)

It was a blurry night. Like all night, depression will tail along the heart-broken individuals. Clueless and undoubted dishevelled after having few rows with the big cheese, Walter’s eyes were hunting for nothing but a nearby off-license, thinking that booze could eliminate the pain. Hitherto, he nevertheless found himself leading a complete wasteful life -- a wife who's secretly a two-timer; cheating with his best friend who turned out to be his “noble” employer and his one-year-old baby, Jaz or Jazzy or Jasmine or whatever her name was. He jabbed on his disposable phone for his closest friends or his past lovers. None bothered to answer his call. His brows furrowed and he shuffled towards the off-license with fine thin layer of discontent.

He purchased a bottle of Bordeaux finest wine and more Budweisers. These to him will answer his prayer for a night of serenity. Perfect for one night destruction; a liberty from what he used to fight for when he found himself divided between bachelorhood and a husband. No more coke, no more beers, nothing! He found himself lost in his self-reprimand. He went out from the shop with massive blast of satisfactory laughter. A strip club outshine the rest of the place, dilapidated but ironically hoarded with sexually deranged men from diverse backgrounds. Cajoled, Walter crossed the road. After all, he was at a loose end. Sacked and chaotic; he felt more like a scoundrel with complicated life instead of a married man with a daughter at home.

The place was clouded with strangling thick layer of nicotine. Several abominable men were sitting on the couches with beer bottles in their hands, cheering and some even vomiting due to overdose alcohol intake. Some were obviously in another space, ignoring the titillating views of the under-aged girls posing in front of them. Walter gluttonously swallowed his first Budweiser and spilled some of it to the floor, purposely done and contented when one of the girls in bright red evening gown approached him.

“…are you okay?”

“Damn you okay.”

“Care to share?” The girl settled next to him as he patted the empty space. She took out one long Marlboro and lighted it.

“What’s your name?”

“Sahara…” and she puffed trailing smoke. Not her real name, maybe a name that only came across her mind. “So what takes you here? Not a regular face. Want me to dance for you?” Her languid pace bored him. Beautiful ebony skin. Young and her pouting lips were succulent red. Walter was her first customer.

“…shit with the dance,” he coughed and starting to drift away. Artificial. He continued, “You know how suck my life is? My own best friend fucks my own bitch. Left me with a banshee who kept wailing 24/7. Life is full of shit. That you should know.” He saw the girl hands were in the pose of praying.

“What are you doing?” Walter poked her shoulder with his knuckles only to discover that the girl was busy texting. “Shit load!” He grabbed the girl’s phone and threw it aside.

The man who wore friendly smile that let him in just now, came with full pumped power caught him by his shirt and threw him out of the place like he was kind of an interloper.

“You son of a bitch,” he cussed. He searched for his wallet, his proud credit card but his pockets were empty. A bulge on his left stocking was his only option – a creased 20 pounds note that smells of his own piss. That was enough for the taxi to take him home or another shot nearby.

In the end, he decided to pull over in front of a random house that he believed as his best friend’s house which in fact was his best friend’s house. He paid the driver with the money and the disgusted driver took the money that smelled acrylic between his thumbs.

“Emily! Where are you!?” He was completely drunk.

The real Emily was still groggy when he was woken up by Walter’s voice. He was drunk again. What caused him this time? Three years they hadn’t met each other and plainly weird he searched for her at this wee hour when she had already found a new man. Much more worse, tomorrow will be her wedding day. She found her cheeks in pink when she peered through her window. Her old flame was downstairs, staring at her way. He had gained weight. Within his late 30, he still looked delectable. Strong jaws and deep piercing green eyes. She can’t believe that she used to write those poetries for him. His newly tanned skin caused her heart to leap further. He was just a friend. A friend in distress.

The door creaked open. “Em…” Walter embraced her. “Now, we just going to clean you,” Emily said in apathy.

Walter was in no mood of appraisal. He just wanted to set things straight. He knew he should have done this a long time ago but his ego was paramount. He had wasted his thirties for a slut. He should have realized what he was searching for was right in front of his eyes.

“Emily…” He pecked her hard on her lips. Emily was breathless and her eyes were watery. She wanted to gulp the sparkling water that she had just drunk. She was startled and her waist forced the kitchen table to move. She pushed him aside.

“Walter. I can’t.”

“Why not? You’ve promised that you’ll wait for me.”

“10 years for god’s sake. I own my life Walter. I’ve found my man.”

“But you’ve promised,” he was sulking. He dragged his feet further from her. His life meant nothing.

“Can’t you see? …Look, tomorrow is my big day. I don’t want to ruin my mood…just...just. Awwww, you’re a grown man. Look at you. A husband and a father. What more can you ask?” unnoticed that she had just thorn his life into shredded pieces.

“I mean…you have a blissful wedding. I was alone and some people even accused me as a spinster. Where were you when I needed you the most? And this guy came and he made me glow. He teaches me about life and confidence that I miss these years. Walter, snap out of it.”

“…” he lost his words, “I’m glad you’ve found someone. Thought we could get back together and start a new life. But I was wrong. I’m just a little too late.” He sobbed.

“…but I guess it’s better than nothing at all.” He picked up the holster from his pocket and shot at her aimlessly. A bullet hit her hard on her lungs. Blood was oozing and spouting from the wound. A bullet ricocheted and hit an aquarium. Sharp glasses torn the room. Walter was insane. He knew he had no choice. Gallows or immortality. In fact, he had nothing left to be proud of. His career had just ruined by his infidel so-called best friend, a wife that was no less than a harlot and Jaz...and now Emily, his sole hope had fluttered with an unknown guy. He pushed the trigger and the bullet when straight onto his head.

Happily ever after, I guess?