drowned ✔️

• t w e l v e •

•TWO YEARS AGO•

"Nara, have you ever consumed alcohol?" Leon asked me, his lips curled into its usual smirk.

"No," I confessed, "why?"

"Because," he started to explain, taking a large glass bottle filled with an ominous amber liquid, "if you're going to go to a party, you need to be able to hold your liquor."

"Why do I feel like this is going to end horribly?" I sighed, watching him carefully as he poured the alcohol into the shot glass.

"Probably because it is," he shrugged, sliding the shot glass across the wooden bar separating us, towards me.

"What is this?" I asked suspiciously, bringing the rim up to my lips.

"Don't you trust me?" Leon replied with small smile. "It's just vodka. For now."

In response, I quickly tilted the cup, dumping the liquid into my open mouth.

The effects were instantaneous. The alcohol impersonated electricity, slipping into my veins as a buzz. As it reached my head, I felt dizziness blur my vision, causing me to stumble slightly. Warm arms caught me, steadying me until I was leaning against the bar stool I had been standing next to.

"Are you okay?" Leon's asked, his voice unusually soft.

"Yeah," I nodded. "Give me another."

"You sure?" he chuckled, reaching for the bottle again. I nodded in response, impatiently waiting for him to pour me another shot. I took it from him before he could pass it to me, and poured the contents of the glass down my throat again.

"Another," I slurred, reaching for the bottle when Leon shook his head.

"Why don't you have some fun first?" Leon suggested, taking his phone out of his pocket. He tapped on it a couple of times, until music started to fill the empty room.

"You want to dance?" I asked, my eyebrows raised.

"Yes, Nara," he told me, jumping over to my side of the bar, "it's time for you to let go."