"Okay, bro. I gotta go," I said tiredly, propped myself up with my both elbows while his gaze followed my movement.

"Where you goin'?" he asked.

"Home, it's late." I answered shortly.

"I thought you'd stay the night. You always have," he said with a little concern in his voice.

"What for? So you could pop my cherry and shag me?" I said sarcastically. "I doubt it. You won't even have the appetite."

"Oh, come on!" he groaned, lifting his upper body up from the couch to sit. "ZJ, I'm sorry. I talk crap, have no intention to hurt you. It's just that I have crummy days past me that I just wanna sit here with me friends and chill. Blow off some steam, if you like."

"I don't know if I can be that friend." I lift my both shoulders to a small shrug, still standing and unable to look at his face, hiding away the sorrowful mist in my eyes. "Besides, I'm tired. I got class in the morning. I need to sleep early tonight. I am that old hag bitch, remember?"

Abs stared at me for a moment and slouched forward and hung his head downwards, staring at his feet in regret. Then, he looked up to me and said "ZJ, I know I shouldn't have said it. But you shouldn't have to pop that stuff up either. Not tonight, when we've fucked up the game and a I have a bleedin' arm."

I paid no attention to his fault-finding and ambled across the hall for my backpack that I left by the heating panel. "Gotta chip, won't mither you no more."

Abs planted his feet firmly to the floor and pushed himself up to catch me. "I'll send you halfway across Princess Road. The least I could do."

"Nah, I'm sorted." I said sharply ignoring his chivalrous gesture. "You're drunk, ain't it? Get Sid and James to look after you."

"Leavin' soon, eh, Zed?" Sid popped his head through the door of the hall, still high from the weed. "Whot's the rushin'?"

"I got class tomorrow mornin'," I answered in an official tone and Abs waited for me by the side grabbing his North Face green jacket hanging by the door.

"Aight, mate. See ya 'round." Sid held his index and middle finger towards his temple and waved outwards to a small salute. I did the same, returning the gesture at him.

As he insisted, Abs accompanied me all the way from his neighborhood areas in Great Western Street to the bus stop in Princess Road. It was a short five minutes' walk which I find it futile for him to follow but I was actually glad he did.

"You're still mad at me?" he asked guiltily with his hands in his pockets. "Cheer up, will you?"

"I am, Abs, I am fine," I repeated. "I just realised that I need to recollect my thoughts, my own principles and how I could– revamp it."

"Revamp on what? Look –" Abs took a few steps ahead, turned to face me and halted my stride. "What I said may not be entirely true. Honestly, I am upset with my life after what Sas did to me, so you became my punching bag. But you are right about one thing, you are here regardless how screwed up my life is. You were there when I was attacked, you were there to help me with the game plan, you were there when my Dad wasn't around. And you are still here, watching dickheads run around in the football field.

"You want to hold on to your principles, I respect that. I might sound bitter but I was just giving advice from one bro to another because I believe you are better than this. I believe if you could flaunt yourself more beyond your current looks once in a while, you'll be cool."

"So you're saying that I look horrendous in this boyfriend shirt?" I asked.

He sucked his teeth, carefully choosing his words to answer, "Nah, it ain't like that. You do look fine in it. But I meant what I said about you in that black dress. I'd imagine your boobs be round and beautiful, I mean would you look at that size? Fits my fist, I reckon," he gestured at my chest and then giggled on how funny it was to put fits and fist in a sentence.

I gave an uncomfortable chuckle and he sensed my discomposure talking about my breasts. The awkward silence filled the cool air as both of our eyes locked at each other when he stopped giggled, the smile faded away. He curled his lips to a soft grin, reached his left palm to my face and gently caressed his thumb on my right cheek. I held up my right hand and caught his hand and looked up to face him. He moved his hand from my cheek to my chin, leaned forward and pulled my chin closer to press his lips against mine.

At first I froze, sensing jolts crossing through my nerves down to my spine. I wasn't really sure what to make out from this, or how I should react. He tilted his head to the side for an open mouthed kiss. The smell of alcohol and after-smoke heat from his breath traveled into my mouth which I tried so hard not to cough and endured every moment of that kiss I secretly yearn for, regardless how bitter. I pushed myself closer, savouring the moment.

Just as our kiss deepened, I felt the scent of ethanol followed by nitrogen, carbon dioxide and a tinge leftover from the crisps suddenly forced its way out from his throat as he gagged. I tried to release my mouth from him but it was too late. The second wave of gas flew in too fast within a second, and I was unable to stop the thick mixture of consumed liquid from coming into my mouth.

Shat!!! I screamed.

I shoved him away seconds later with half of my strength and disgorged the foul-tasting liquid from my mouth several times until I felt there was none. The stench smell of whatever that is from his digestive system still permeated around my nasal area and was unbearable, I felt nauseated.

Abs lost his balance and fell sideways on the pavement, feeling tipsy. I spun around, waving my hand aimlessly, swatting the smell away and quickening my pace to balance my body. I instantly felt regret with the wanting of returning his kiss, it was clearly not a memorable one. I squatted by the pavement next to him, studying the residue of the vomit stain which Abs left on my gingham shirt – my favourite shirt.