I stilled as I listened to the man beside me. Then I just found myself confiding in him.
"I wasn't ready to die. I still have a lot of things I haven't been able to do in life…" I said in a small voice. "I still have a lot of things I haven't been able to experience."
I looked at the bottle of vodka in front of me.
"Like what?"
"I still haven't experienced being in a relationship."
I let out a silly laugh. I was twenty nine and an NBSB. My first and last relationship was in high school. And Marcus was right, I hadn't experienced a proper kiss so I shouldn't consider that a relationship.
Now, I'm afraid I'd die without even getting a boyfriend.
"How old are you again?"
"Twenty nine."
"You're an old maid."
I shot him a dirty look.
I heard his soft chuckle. His laugh sounded so good in my ears. It was manly and crisp. I wondered what he looked like behind that mask. Was as good looking as his voice?
"Why didn't you get a boyfriend?" You're attractive."
Even if I couldn't see his facial expression, I have a feeling he was looking at me behind his mask.
I felt my cheeks getting flush. Damn. I couldn't believe I'm blushing.
I slightly looked away from him. "I don't have time. I had other priorities in life."
I know I have the looks. I had men trying to get my attention. But I knew my priorities. I didn't get into relationships because I wanted to focus on my goals. I didn't want distractions.
When I went home to the Philippines and started working for our family's company, I still didn't find time to date.
I got occupied with work. And then Dad's health got worse. Chris was always out of the country, Chrome was still studying, I was the one left with my parents. I got burdened with a lot of responsibilities.
Now, I realized I spent my whole life living a life that my parents wanted for me, not what I want for myself. I live my life for other people, not for myself.
"You still have six months. You can easily get a boyfriend."
"I don't want to get a boyfriend," I told him. I don't want to waste my six months dating and trying to find love. What's the use of falling in love when I'm already dying?
"Then what do you want to experience before you die?"
I thought of the simple things that I wanted to do but didn't get the chance to in the past years.
"I want to go on vacation at a private beach. I want to travel to Iceland and see the northern lights. I want to paint. I want to get a pet. I want to attend a concert. I want to learn how to cook. And bake. I want to get a tattoo." I bit my lower lip. "I want to have sex… I don't want to die a virgin."
Now that I thought of all the simple things I wanted to do in life, I realized that my cousin Marcus was right. I've turned into a boring and stiff person.
"Well, you can easily do all those things within six months. Except for the Iceland thing, you need to have money to do that."
"I have the money."
"Then everything's easy."
"It's not. It's not that simple." I sighed. "I just can't leave my work."
"What? You're going to spend your six months working?" he asked incredulously. Even if I couldn't see his face, I felt like he was frowning at me.
"That's just… fucking sad and depressing."
"You don't understand," I said defensively. "You don't know me. I have an important role in the company."
I heard him snicker. "No matter how important you think you are, you'll always be replaceable."
I ignored his comment. "Who knows if I still have the energy to do those things?" I continued in a bitter tone. "My aunt, she was diagnosed with colon cancer and given a year to live. But her health deteriorated just three months after her diagnosis."
Who knows if I really last to six months? What if I ended up just like Aunt Aurora who died earlier than her expected death?
"Then start doing those things now," the man beside me said. "Start doing things while you can still do them. So even if you die in the next six months or three, next week, then you have nothing to regret. You only live once, make it worth it."
I looked at him. And I realized… He's…right. I should now live my life the way I wanted it to be. I already live my life according to my parents' liking. I already sacrificed too much for them. It was now time to live my life. Until I have time to do it.
I don't want to be stiff and boring—that's not the real me. I wanted to be my real self. I wanted to do things that would make me happy. I don't want to die with regrets.
I cleared my throat and stood up from the gutter. Then I looked at the man beside me. I gave him a small smile.
"Thanks for the talk… spiderman."
He stood up. Then I heard him chuckle. He sounded amused.
"You're welcome. And don't call me Spiderman."
I pursed my lips. "You're wearing a Spiderman suit."
He chuckled. "I attended my cousin's costume party." Then he took off his Spiderman mask. I was greeted by the face of the most handsome man I ever met in my life. I blinked. Three times. This guy… he's a more handsome version of Andrew Garfield, my favorite Spiderman.
"My name's Adam."
He extended his right hand to me.
I wiped my palm on the side of my skirt before I accepted his hand.
"Claire."
His hand was warm and a bit callous, his grip firm and strong.
My eyes went back to his face. He has a defined jaw… his hair black and a bit long. His eyes dark and deep-set, his eyebrows thick and in perfect shape. His lips were naturally pink and shaped like a cupid's bow. Damn. He was gorgeous.
My eyes moved to his body. His suit fitted him like a second skin. My eyes landed between his thighs. I saw his bulge there. I didn't know why my throat suddenly felt dry.
Before thoughts ran through my head, I withdrew my hand.
"I have to go."
I picked the bottle of vodka on the gutter and turned my back to him. Why didn't I leave this bottle inside the bar?
"Are you going home?"
I cocked my head to his direction. "I'm going to get a tattoo."
"Wait. I know a great tattoo shop. I could bring you there."