Busy city lights and noisy environment. Those were the things that confronted me after I rode off from my gray Ferrari FXX-K. My tobacco corduroy jacket probably complimented well with my plain white shirt. The black ripped jeans on the other hand perfectly matched with my low cut white sneakers. As I looked around the parking lot, I knew that my friends were already inside the Up All Night Bar. For Pete’s sake, they’re not bluffing.

It’s evening, another drinking session with my friends. Night time’s our favorite time of the day because a lot of miraculous things happen during the day’s fall.

As soon as I entered the bar, my eyes were like a computer system that automatically searched for my friends' table. It didn’t took a minute for I actually knew where they were.

“Dude!” Javi, the one who’s blessed in life for he’s much more active in sex than me shouted. His brushed up hair suited on his thick brows and brown eyes.

“Good evening, Brothers!” I gladly said and had a fist bump from each of them. They were four to be exact.

“The hell with the way you greeted us. It seems like we haven’t met last night,” Harold jokingly said.

I laughed with what he said—no, all of my friends almost laughed except for Neinz who was silently sitting and seemed to be careless with the drinking session and the night’s topic.

“Are you okay? Is there something that bothers you?” I asked him and called the waiter afterwards. “You’re so silent, don’t tell me you’re heart broken again.”

Gideon suddenly rested his arm on my shoulder and said, “Aren’t you used of him. He’s always broke, Dude!”

We’re on a round table and sitting beside me, on my left was Gideon and on the right side was Javi. Harold sat next to Javi and then Neinz who was in front of me.

“Well, he doesn’t want to listen in me. I kept on telling him to follow the three-month rule and to stay away from Geminis but he’s a hard headed id*ot,” Harold reasoned out and shook his head. “I’m giving him the signs when to love and who’s the right one to love but still, he's a deaf jerk! He’s rushing love.”

He’s the youngest but his actions were like those old folks. He has a lot of things to believe in life. He believe in destiny, the significance of constellations in our life, compatibility of zodiac signs and to superstitious beliefs that limit our actions.

“Maybe he fear to get old with no one but himself,” Gideon explained but Javi immediately raised his hand.

“You said what? To get old alone? All he feared is to die a virgin!” he bellowed and it was followed by a loud laugh. If all of us were wallflowers, we would have hide under the table because other costumer’s eyes were on us. Javi’s putting me on risk! If someone suddenly realized that I’m a son of a governor who’s a party-goer and it reached my father’s knowing, I’d be punched again.

“Fuck you! Maybe it’s you who’s a virgin!” Neinz replied and jolted his middle finger on Javi’s face.

“Guys, calm down!” Gideon reprimanded. Together with Harold, we secretly laughed. “Can we talk another set of dish? I meant, another topic. If it’s not about girls, about our sex life. That’s our daily topic! Suggest a new one”

Our eyes widened and all gazed at Gideon. “It’s a sign, you’re going to become a saint! You’re the epitome of change,” Harold said, he stood up and placed his right hand on Gideon’s head.

“I think it’s about time to kneel and praise St. Gideon of Up All Night Bar,” I sarcastically said and they all laughed.

Gideon just shook his head and took a bottle of beer. I forgot that the beers were served. “I want a serious talk.”

“Okay,” Javi cut everyone off and all of us looked at him. “Seems like we forgot something.”

“What is it?” I asked. He forgot so why the hell I still bothered to ask? Stupid!

Javi’s eyes narrowed as he grimaced on me. A second or two, he looked away and meaningfully stared at Harold. Harold on the other hand had his eyes widened after he realized what were those stares of Javi meant. Shit, the hell are they doing?

“We’re not seers, dude. This isn’t a guessing game,” Neinz quipped and drank the beer in one go. With the thought that I don’t want to be caught up with those stares of them, I kissed the bottle and let its fluid irrigated my throat down to the rest of my system. I could have finish drinking the beer in one go but Javi suddenly interrupted.

“Draken, what day is it today?” he asked and a wide smile that was full of excitement plastered on his face. Seconds ago, he made us think we’re seers and now, he’s asking me as if I am a calendar.

I didn’t bother to immediately answer him for I didn’t know what’s the date. I pulled my cellphone from the side pocket of my tobacco corduroy jacket and opened its screen. “It’s August 27,” I seriously replied.

Harold unexpectedly slammed the table making me looked at him with my eyes being narrowed. “What?! Is that how you say things or you don’t care?”

“About what?” I asked, forehead creased.

“Dude, it’s your birthday in two days! Don’t tell me you have forgotten your own birthday?” Javi said with disbelief. “Are you preoccupied? Aren’t you excited with your birthday?”

It’s not that I’m preoccupied nor excited. After what I found last year, during my twenty-sixth birthday, I sweared to forget what I witnessed year ago. For me to totally forget what happened last year, I needed to forget my own birthday as well. But, it didn’t smoothly go. I temporarily forgot it but I remembered it again.

If I could only tell my friends what I saw, I would have done it. But, I couldn’t. Keeping it a secret’s a wise decision. The situation didn’t get worse and I was able to protect my Mom’s emotion, her gentle and fragile heart.

“Hey!” I didn’t know that my mind was suspended. If Javi didn’t tap me, I’d be out in reality for long. “You’re really preoccupied! What’s the matter? Do you need something? Someone? I’ll help you find a woman for this night.”

I simply smiled and gazed at Javi. “Good God, I already told you, I’m totally good,” I reasoned out and tried to keep the fake smile on my face. “I was laughing inside of my head. Imagine, you guys didn’t forget my birthday! All of you are thoughtful!” I don’t know if it was convincing. All I knew to myself, my reason was so lame.

“Draken James Pantaleon, that’s what we called, sign of friendship,” Harold said while moving his hands in the air.

“Don’t call me on my full name, id*ot!” I reminded and pulled his hand down.

“Harold, it’s not a sign of friendship,” Gideon said, opposing Harold’s statement. “Friendship isn’t tested by how far a person can remember the most important dates of your life. What about your forgetful friend? Does it mean his act of being forgetful nullifies your friendship?”

“Ha!” Neinz mockingly joined the conversation and massaged Gideon’s back. “I’m on Gideon’s side!” he added while laughing. “What are you waiting, Harold? Show us your rebuttals! Use your daily horoscopes!”

“The hell, Gideon! Hard pass, I’m accepting my defeat. I already lost,” Harold sarcastically replied.

For sure, if Harold answered Gideon back, Gideon would say another sentiments against Harold’s. That’s him, he’s intelligent and often oppose the common opinion. In our circle of friends, he’s the most intelligent. I really don’t know what’s running in his mind most of the times. But, even though he’s more decent compared to us, he knew how to get along. We’re no saints, we’re all going to hell.

“Dudes, let’s calm ourselves down. Since it’s Master Draken’s birthday the day after tomorrow, what if we start planning for that day?” Javi suggested.

I wasn’t able to held my laugh back so I laughed. “You jerks are going to plan in front of me? Surprises won’t exist then!”

“It’s quite better that we already knew what will happen next than have ourself broken in the end because what we expect didn’t happen the way we expected them to happen,” Neinz seriously mouthed, feeling dizzy and hardly leaning against the chair.

“It’s gross, Neil Heinz! If you’ll just share another love qoutes and cringey sayings, better shut up!” Javi interrupted Neinz. He should not feel bad. Javi said the truth, it’s corny.

“So, what’s the plan?” Gideon suddenly asked that made the conversation serious and left Neinz and his hugot or love jokes aside. “Where will be our venue?” He looked at me.

“Ask Javi, he’s the one who initiated this,” I stressed and worrisome didn’t take on Javi’s face.

“I couldn’t provide the venue but the preparation, service and finances, leave it to me!” He said, loud and proud. He’s no boasting, he’s being honest. Seconds later after Javi answered, Harold raised his hand, “I’ll manage! Leave it to me!”

“The rest, me and Neinz will collaborate,” Gideon added.

“Are you guys really willing to make that happen?” I asked, forehead creased. “Instead of going somewhere, we could just stay here and drink some beers and have some girls. A ratio of one is to two, it won’t matter!”

Javi suddenly shook his head and pointed the bottle on me. “It will be your birthday so the treat should be from us. Don’t worry about the preparation and all. Just be present, Bro!”

I would choose to celebrate my birthday with them than to stay at our house. Dad would be at home and with certainty, he’ll just throw some words on me.

“Okay, I’ll go!” I replied and raised my bottle for a toast and an assurance. “Make sure that the party’s going to be memorable!”