Three

Not another minute later when David noticed Kathryn was starting to have a more worried expression on her face. She looked at David seriously and spoke a few words David wasn't really expecting to hear. Though in the end, David could only sigh and look where Kathryn was secretly glancing at.

"All right. Just give me a minute," David said, determined and clear.

The club started getting wilder than he thought, the people on the dance floor doing more lewd things than an ordinary birthday party should have. Well, fuck it. It was his birthday anyway, David thought to himself as he walked towards Zachary's and Earl's table. Earl had just arrived a few minutes ago actually, and so Zachary was left alone with the others who he considered as friends for the past few hours. 

Women in short dresses flocked around their table, kissing, almost throwing themselves at the boys who only laughed after they did them. Again, David sighed. He realized the need to sigh when Zachary and Kathryn were around would be tripled up from now on. He just hoped it wouldn't be too high to the point he'd explode and spill out everything he knew. For this very reason, those two must absolutely never make him mad. Ever.

"Hey guys, are you all enjoying the party?" David asked with a smile on his face.

The boys nodded and answered all a yes thankfully which made David smile for real. At least he didn't make a bad host. He turned at the side and watched as Earl gave him a knowing look, then membered his head to the side, pointing at Zachary's direction. David glanced at Zachary.

He was still staring at Kathryn.

There was a woman in a red dress desperately caressing his thigh but Zachary wasn't giving any attention to it. He took a swig of his drink but his eyes still didn't leave Kathryn. They never did.

"Zachary," David called. He could at least try to make this tension a bit... lighter? Maybe for David because it was his birthday?

Zachary took another swig, emptying the glass content, before turning to David, face emotionless. "What?"

"Can we talk for a second?" David showed his usual sympathetic smile. It only managed to make Zachary's eyebrows twitch though.

"What do you want?" Zachary asked, suddenly irritated. Earl mouthed a quick 'sorry' to David, and even though he didn't, the birthday celebrant already knew it can't really be helped with Zachary's situation. Anyone would clearly be upset if they were in his situation. Even the word upset was too light to be used in his situation.

"In private?" David tried to smile again.

Zachary huffed and poured himself another glass of strong liquor. He uninterestingly said, "Just say it here."

David watched as the man brought his drink to his lips, his eyes still not leaving the person two tables and an open area away from him. Just how many glasses did this man have by now?

"It's about Kathryn," David softly said.

It was then Zachary's head finally turned around, meeting David's face fully. There was a bit of a hopeful shimmer in his eyes as they tried to read David's face.  David knew it. Zachary was trying to ask if it was good or bad news he had brought to the table.

"Oh. What about that cheater?" Zachary's words were full of bitterness. His eyes glimmered against the club’s dim room, pain and sadness written in each.

David sighed, "Kathryn said you shouldn't drink too much."

Zachary's smug face left him, but he quickly composed himself. David could see how his fingers were gripping hard on the glass he was holding. "And? What else?"

Oh no. David gulped. This was what he was avoiding happening: Zachary asking him for more news about Kathryn, and Kathryn's words about Zachary, her words precisely that were exclusively only for Zachary to hear.

"That's it? I shouldn't drink too much? Wow." Zachary laughed in disbelief, shaking his head as he took another swig from his glass. "Why can't she tell me that herself? Does she even really care if I get into an accident after this?"

"Zack!" Both David and Earl looked at Zachary, eyes widening in shock. They couldn't help but be alarmed by what their friend had just uttered.

"Would she care? Does she?" Zachary asked, his eyes showing he was a bit drunk now. 

Ever since Zachary and Kathryn got together, Zachary had rarely taken any kind of strong liquor. Kathryn wasn't fond of it and would always scold Zachary about his old habits, and with just one kiss from Kathryn, Zachary would already be throwing the bottles and boxes of cigars into the trash bin.

Earl could drive Zachary home, but the problem was, Zachary would surely put up a fight if anyone dared to go against him when he was drunk. 'Anyone' also applies to his friends, even closest ones, and best friends... like Earl. If Zachary said he'd drive his car by himself, he'd really drive alone. He was too stubborn and wasn't ready to obey anyone. Well, of course, except for one person, that is. She had always been an exception to every rule he had, hadn’t she?

"Of course, why wouldn't she not care? Hehe, come on, Za-"

"Cause she cheated. She cheated on me, David. So how could I think she really does care? Do you even know what I'm saying right now?.. What about her? Does she even know what she's trying to tell me? ‘Don’t drink too much? Ha, don’t drink too much..." Zachary ranted with a sad laugh, shaking his head. 

Earl and David gave each other quick knowing glances. Earl got up and walked over to Zachary.

"Bro, let's go." Earl tried to get Zachary but Zachary brushed his hand away.

"No, I still want to drink. This glass is better than dealing with my shitty life right now."

David sighed, mumbling. "This is what Kathryn's talking about..."

Zachary seemed to have caught it up. "Kathryn? Why did Kathryn even send you here?"

Earl tried to pull Zachary's arm to get up, but the latter shoved Earl away again. Earl was pushed toward a random lady in a red dress.

"Zachary, you're drunk. You can't drive like this. Let Earl drive you home, okay?" David tried to help. But even he was left powerless under Zachary's trained arm and was also pushed to a random lady in a red dress.

"You don't understand... You... You still talk to her... But I... I can't! She doesn't even want to talk..." Zachary mumbled, swallowing all the content of his recently poured drink.

"Zack, we should-" Earl's words were cut off as Zachary pushed him away again.

"Earl, stay out of this. I'm talking to David here."

David sighed. "Zack. Do you really want Kathryn to see you like this?"

Zachary paused. He was drunk but David knew he was still aware of what was happening. And what he could hear.

"Kathryn... Kathryn said if you got drunk, you should let Earl drive you home."

"And?" Zachary asked.

David looked back, "Huh?"

"I'm asking what Kathryn would do in return if I do what she says," Zachary asked, his half-lidded eyes showing the sadness his heart probably had right now.

"She-She said she would talk to you then."

Zachary's head shot up. "Really?"

David nervously smiled. "Y-Yes, really!"

Zachary slouched and let his headrest on the club couch, his eyes shut closed. "Tell her she should kiss me too... in... return..."

David sighed. "All right."

It was the first time in a while David had been in such a situation and he hoped it would be the last. He glanced over Kathryn who, on the other hand, had her eyebrows knitted in worry as she watched Zachary being helped by Earl to stand and head out.

David sighed and shook his head. This couple was the most complicated people he had ever thought of helping, indeed.