"High school? That's too young. Students don't know what love is." Jerome's indifferent response obliterated my youth like it was nothing.
Then, as if nothing had happened, he raised his glass for another drink. I, however, had lost my appetite entirely. My fork slipped from my hand and fell under the table.
As I bent down to retrieve my fork, I caught sight of Jessica's delicate hand, adorned with the matching couple ring Jerome always wore. Her fingers wandered across Jerome's abdomen.
The others at the table feigned ignorance, but I noticed Jerome's sweaty palms and the flirtatious glances Jessica threw his way. In the next round, Jessica won.
"Let's do a drinking challenge, Tania. What do you think?" she suggested coyly. Everyone paused mid-drink and looked at me with amused curiosity. I was about to agree when Jessica changed her mind.
"Oh, wait. Tania's so innocent, you probably don't drink." She feigned an apologetic expression.
Relieved, I relaxed a little. But Jessica wasn't done.
"How about this? I'll drink the alcohol and Tania can replace hers with mango juice." The group clapped in admiration, praising Jessica for her beauty and kindness. Even Jerome chimed in.
"Tania, Jessica has gone out of her way to accommodate you. Don't embarrass me."
He knew about my mango allergy. In high school, when I had my first allergic reaction, he carried me on his back for 10 kilometers to the hospital.
I gently tugged on his arm to remind him, tears welling up, "Jerome, I'm allergic to mangoes."
He leaned back lazily, standing up to fill a glass of mango juice to the brim, "Well then, Tania, you need to start building a tolerance. If you drink more, maybe you won't be allergic anymore. You should practice."
I understood clearly, tonight, I had no choice but to drink. If that's what Jerome wanted, then so be it. I forced a smile, "Alright." I sighed.
If not for Jerome's rescue back in high school, I wouldn't be alive today. If this was how he wanted me to repay him, I'd gladly give him my life.
Seeing my agreement, Jerome swept the bottled mango juices off the table and ordered fresh mangoes instead, instructing the server to blend them into juice on the spot, an extravagance that cost thousands.
My chest tightened. Fresh mango juice? Jerome seemed bent on shortening my lifespan.