Chapter 4 QUITE THE NIGHT.

CHAPTER 4: QUITE THE NIGHT.

An awkward silence engulfed the atmosphere, as the trio looked at each other without saying a word. Michael couldn't believe what his eyes beheld.

"Hey man, it's- It's not what it looks like," Dan stuttered.

"Clarice? Dan? Are the two of you-"

Michael refrained from saying what came to his head.

"But why, Dan?" Michael asked softly. "I thought you were supposed to be my best friend."

Dan bent his head, trying to hold back his laughter, but couldn't. He began laughing mockingly. Clarice who was scared earlier on, was impelled to be bold by Dan's disdainful gesture at her ex-husband.

"You know what, enough with all the act," Dan said, clearing his throat, and placing his right hand on Michael's shoulders.

"Buddy, it's nothing personal. But someone had to fill in for you. And I've been doing a pretty awesome job, keeping her satisfied."

Michael looked at Dan with disbelief, as tears welled up in his eyes. The pain he had shoved aside resurfaced.

He clenched his fists, trying not to do something improper.

"Was I that terrible that it made you seek comfort in his arms?" Michael asked Clarice.

"He'll yeah! What else were you expecting?" she replied, rolling her eyes. "And Dan is ten times the man you'll ever be."

Michael knew for sure there was no hope of trying to patch things up with Clarice. He had considered doing so eventually. What he just witnessed killed that hope.

"I guess you both were sleeping with each other before the divorce huh?" he asked, chuckling.

"And?" Clarice shrugged.

"And if I was the way you claimed I was, how come no accusation of infidelity was raised? Hmm? Because if I was getting some from you, I must have been getting it somewhere else, right?"

Dan and Clarice were caught off guard by that question. They didn't know how to answer the question.

"If you'll excuse me, I just came to get my work documents," Michael said, pushing Dan aside as he entered the house.

"You're not aware, are you?" Clarice laughed derogatorily. "You were fired! The mail arrived yesterday."

She walked over to him and handed him the mail.

"Lin & Co. has nothing to do with people like you. Am pretty sure you'll not be missed, at all."

He opened it and read through it. He chuckled softly, shaking his head.

"You both deserve each other," Michael said lastly, looking at the two of them, and walked out of the house.

He covered the hood of his sweatshirt over his head, placing both hands in the front pockets of the same, as he walked down the street, and out of the gated community.

Michael was overwhelmed with all sorts of emotions and thoughts. He felt betrayed by the two people he thought loved him. But at the same time, he didn't know if what they did was justifiable, due to what Clarice made him believe, about being abusive to her.

He didn't know what to believe at that moment, and it drove him nuts.

He just kept on walking, wandering around, not knowing where exactly he was headed. It was not like he even knew where he was anyway.

The night fell as he kept walking, with his mind and heart overwhelmed. The leaves of the palm trees along the street he walked swayed as a gusting breeze blew across the region, carrying with it the fresh smell of the ocean.

Instinctively, Michael felt he just needed to head to the beach. Something was soothing about the sea breeze.

Shortly after, he got there. The beach was still accessible at the time of his arrival, although it was nighttime.

He took off his shoes and folded his pants. He held his shoes in one hand, with his index holding one, and the middle finger holding the other as he walked on the bare sand.

He walked over to the edge of the ocean, not getting to the point where the water would reach beyond five inches above his ankles.

He closed his eyes as he listened to the sound of the crashing waves. The sea breeze caressed the exposed skin on his face.

Tears ran down his cheeks for a brief moment, as he was bombarded with intrusive thoughts.

The lifeguard on duty kept an eye on Michael via his binoculars. He had seen many cases where folks, sober as Michael was, attempted drowning themselves. He didn't want that to be the case again.

Shortly after, he wiped his tears, and sighed, pulling himself together. He walked away from the water, heading back to the motel.

Seeing that the lifeguard sighed in relief, happy that his fear didn't come to pass. But he wondered what ailed him.

Michael walked away from the beach and passed a bar. He stopped, looking at the bar. Without much thought, he went into the bar.

Getting in, he saw that the bar was crowded, and filled with a lot of chattering. A jukebox was playing much in the background, at the right-hand corner where some folks were playing pool.

He walked over to the counter and sat, taking off his hood.

"What can I get you?" the bartender asked him.

"A shot of tequila. No, double shots of tequila," he replied to her.

"Coming right up."

She went ahead to have it served and placed before him. He nodded in acknowledgment, cracking up a smile. She smiled back also as she continued wiping clean some cups.

Michael looked at the drink for a bit, not drinking it.

"Girl problems huh?"

"Excuse me?" Michael responded. He didn't hear what the person sitting beside him had said.

"I see you're having girl trouble."

"Mmm. That, and a lot more," he said and sighed.

"You don't say. Care to share?" the stranger requested.

"Hmm. Where do I start?" Michael said, then he gulped down both shots of the tequila. He scrunched his face, clicking his tongue as he felt the sting of the drink.

Michael went on to pour out his heart to the stranger, speaking out loud. While he spoke, he kept ordering more drinks, and the stranger chose not to stop him. He just watched Michael drink himself to a stupor and smiled.

When Michael was done pouring out his heart, he got up in his drunken state and attempted to make his way out, but stumbled, falling.

"Hey! Aren't you paying for the drinks, or what?" the bartender said angrily.

"Keep the change," the stranger handed the bartender a hundred dollar bill, which was more than sufficient to cover all Michael had drank.

"Alright. Let's get you out of here buddy," he said, helping Michael up as he led him outside.

He signaled a man who was dressed in a suit and standing by an SUV, and he opened the car door. The stranger got Michael into the backseat of the car, while he sat in front, and they drove off.

"Where am I? Whe- Where am-"

Michael passed out in the vehicle, as they drove off from the bar.